Warren County kicks off bicentennial celebration with gala at David’s Country Inn in Hackettstown

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (Warren County) – Transporting some 200 guests back 200 years, Warren County officially kicked off its Bicentennial Year with a gala that celebrated the November 1824 legislation that created the County.

Held at David’s Country Inn in Hackettstown, the Nov. 12 gala featured music, a period dance demonstration, honors from federal and state officials, and an awards presentation, with many of the attendees’ wearing outfits that reflected the 1820s era.

“It was so exciting to kick off our bicentennial with friends and neighbors from around Warren County,” Warren County Commissioner Director James R. Kern III remarked. “As we look towards next year, I invite every resident to check out upcoming events so they can enjoy the festivities,” Kern added.

Information about the County’s history and upcoming bicentennial events is available at www.warren200.com .

An act passed by the New Jersey Legislature on November 20, 1824, carved off the southern portion of Sussex County into a new entity named for Dr. Joseph Warren of Boston, one of the early advocates for independence from England. Commissioned as a General, Warren was killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775 and was a revered figure in the early days of the United States.

The initial legislation appointed three commissioners to set and mark the new boundary by May 1 of the following year, and in the early months of 1825 Belvidere was selected as the county seat and the first Board of Chosen Freeholders – two from each of the initial seven townships – was elected.

Kern and Commissioners Lori Ciesla and Jason J. Sarnoski accepted a proclamation by the 23rd and 24th District Legislators who represent Warren County in Trenton, and a ceremonial copy of honors entered in the Congressional Record by U.S. Rep. Tom Kean, Jr.

The Commissioners then presented four awards:

• Mackey’s Orchard in White Township, honored as Warren County’s longest continually operated farm and business. In the early 1700s, the Mackey Family was among the first settlers of White Township and in 1846 William Mackey established a farm there. The farm now features an orchard, farm stand, bakery, cider, and ice cream. Farm owner Devlen Mackey, his daughter Hannah, who is the ninth generation involved in the operation, and her partner, Aiden Nelson, accepted the award.
• First Presbyterian Church of Oxford at Hazen, located just outside of Belvidere, was recognized as the oldest church in Warren County – and Sussex, too – that is on its original site. The first log church was built in 1734, followed by a wooden church in 1806, while the current brick structure which stands today was constructed in 1856. The adjacent burial ground is one of the oldest in Warren County with many historically significant people buried there, including: Mary Croxall, daughter of Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence; John Blair, patriarch of the Blair Family; Captains John Craig, Joseph Mackey, and John McMurtrie, Revolutionary War Veterans; William White, the namesake of White Township; Major Robert Hoops, a founder of Belvidere; and numerous Native Americans and enslaved people. Susan Marsh and Janet Rasely received the award on behalf of the congregation.
• David Detrick was honored as the County’s longest currently serving volunteer. Born and raised in Warren County, Detrick first began volunteering on the County’s Morris Canal Committee 42 years ago, in 1982. He continues to serve as an active member on that committee as well as on the Warren Heritage Scenic Byway Committee. He has also served on the Warren County Municipal and Charitable Conservancy Trust Fund Committee, which recommends preservation grants for towns and nonprofits; the Warren County Solid Waste Advisory Council, which develops and implements the county’s solid waste management plan; and he was a long-time, instrumental member of the Warren County Board of Recreation Commissioners, which helps oversee the county’s open space preservation efforts and parks management.
• The final award recognized long-time public servant Garabed “Chuck” Haytaian as Warren County Citizen of the Bicentennial. Haytaian was informed of the award and had planned to attend, but died on Nov. 1 at age 86. His legacy in public service began with his election to the Mansfield Township Board of Education in 1972. He served as a Warren County Freeholder and in the New Jersey State Assembly, where over 14 years he held many roles, including Minority Leader, Majority Leader, and ultimately Speaker of the Assembly in 1992. Born to immigrants of Armenian descent, one of his most impactful contributions was advocating for legislation that mandated the teaching of the Holocaust, Armenian Genocide, Cambodian genocide, and other genocides in public schools—a testament to his dedication to remembrance and education.

The awards portion of the evening ended with a contest to recognize the participants who wore the best period costumes, as determined by applause from all attendees. The winners took home a container of specially printed commemorative M&M candies provided by Hackettstown-based Mars Wrigley, manufacturer of the world-renowned confection.

“The bicentennial gala was all I hoped for plus more. I cannot thank the committee enough for pulling this beautiful event together and truly helping us transport our guests back to 1824,” said Commissioner Ciesla, who serves as liaison to the Bicentennial committee.

“Many thanks to everyone who attended as well. To see so many people in period costumes was amazing,” Ciesla added.

Ciesla gave special thanks to David’s Country Inn; Classic Ballroom Dance Studio of Hackettstown for their dancing demonstation; DJS.C.3 Entertainment; strolling musicians Brian Kathenes and Peter Taney of The Muskrat Ramblers; Mars Wrigley for providing the bicentennial branded M&Ms that all attendees received; Belvidere FFA Chapter for providing floral centerpieces; and photographer Cathy Miller for documenting the event. “Most of all, thank you to my fellow commissioners for agreeing to underwrite the majority of the cost for this truly magnificent kick-off to our 200th birthday!” Ciesla remarked.

Commissioner Sarnoski gave particular thanks to all who volunteered to make the bicentennial kickoff a success, as well as to county government employees and to all those who volunteer to help make Warren County a great place to live.

The gala venue, which dates to the County’s earliest days, was initially a log structure built in 1787 and named The Warren House in honor of Dr. Warren. The existing frame structure was constructed in 1840 and served as an inn for decades. Decorations that evening included posters that told the history of the County’s formation, with images of the founding legislation and minutes of the first Board of Chosen Freeholders meeting, while another provide information about namesake Joseph Warren and a third reproduced the first map of Warren County in 1825, which also adorned the sheet cake the Commissioners ceremonially cut before it was served. A large poster showing a map of Warren County and its current municipal boundaries was displayed and attendees were asked to autograph the poster for posterity.

More events are being planned to celebration Warren County’s bicentennial, including a Community Day event on Saturday, June 28, to be held at Warren Community College; a parade; and the annual Explore Warren History Trail the first weekend in November.

Municipalities and organizations are being invited to plan their own commemorations of the county bicentennial, which will lead into the national celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America declaring its independence in 2026.