Philip Weise House and Tannery Site
Philip Weise House and Tannery Site, 2026.
Philip Weise House and Tannery Site
Philip Weise House and Tannery Site
8 Schooley’s Mountain Road, Long Valley, New Jersey 07853
The original building on this site dates to the mid-1700s, although the present structure reflects later construction and expansion.
This was the location of the first Weise original farm, or homestead—a log cabin that once stood just behind the existing house. Nearby, Philip Weise maintained a large stone barn on the site where a Volvo repair shop now operates. Between the house and barn stood a substantial woodpile, ensuring a steady supply of firewood for the family.
Philip Weise acquired the property in 1749, purchasing 262 acres for £335 as part of the Logan Tract. Much of present-day Long Valley was once included within his farm. Weise was an active and respected member of the community—operating a gristmill in the 1760s, running a tannery, and farming the land.
In 1770, Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg stayed at the Weise cabin while traveling through the valley on church business.
When Weise died in 1790, his estate reflected both prosperity and stability. It included a clock valued at 10 pounds, 201 pounds in cash, and 609 pounds in bonds and notes.
Philip Weise House and Tannery Site, Historic Image.
Philip Weise House and Tannery Site, Front.
In the 1920s, the property was home to Dr. James, a local physician who served the surrounding community.
The site was also home to a tannery operated by the Weise family—an important early industry in German Valley. Tanneries were essential to colonial life, producing leather for shoes, harnesses, belts, and other everyday goods. Using bark from nearby trees—especially oak—workers ground the material with a large mill wheel and used it in the tanning process.
The tannery operated into the late 19th century and extended from east of the Union Church graveyard south toward the South Branch of the Raritan River. A large circular stone, once used to finish hides, was pulled in continuous rotation by horsepower. A historic bark-grinding mill wheel still remains on the property today, offering a tangible reminder of this early industry.
South Branch Raritan River Ford
The Old Union Church (Old Stone Church)
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