Blackwells Mills, New Jersey

Blackwells Mills is an unincorporated community located within Hillsborough Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey.

Blackwells Mills is situated on the west bank of the Millstone River about two miles south of Millstone. A mill was first built there in 1746 by Peter Schenk. Through his daughter, the mill passed to the Mercer family, and later sold to Blackwell, who built a house on the land. The mill burned down and was rebuilt in 1885 and further restored in 1943. The Delaware and Raritan Canal along the river from Millstone to Blackwells Mills was a major force in the commercial development of the entire State of New Jersey. It was built to complete connections in the Intracoastal Waterway from New York State to Florida.

Blackwells Mills Canal House

The Blackwells Mills Canal House, located at Blackwells Mills Road and Canal Road on the Delaware and Raritan Canal, was built around 1835, at the same time as the canal. It was constructed to house the bridge tender, who would open the swing bridge when canal boats came through, then close it to allow traffic to cross over the canal. The canal house is on the other side of the canal from Blackwells Mills and is located in Six Mile Run, New Jersey.