MORRIS COUNTY — One of the largest land preservation efforts in Denville’s history reached a major milestone as the township officially acquired the first 17 acres of the historic St. Francis property, marking the start of a permanent preservation effort covering nearly 50 acres.
Mayor Thomas Andes signed the closing documents to secure the property on Thursday, August 27. The newly acquired parcel, located at the corner of Diamond Spring Road and Pocono Road, is the first phase of a landmark acquisition intended to protect one of Denville’s most recognizable and historically significant properties from future development.
The township expects to complete the purchase of the remaining 33-acre parcel in October. That second phase includes the property’s historic barns, athletic fields and festival grounds, bringing the total preserved acreage to approximately 50 acres.
The acquisition was made possible through grants from the Morris County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, the New Jersey Green Acres Program and the Denville Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund.
“This is truly a once-in-a-generation achievement for our community,” Andes said. “Preserving a property of this size and importance in the center of Denville is an opportunity that may never come again. Thanks to our funding partners and the commitment of Denville residents to open space preservation, this remarkable property will remain a public asset to be enjoyed for generations to come.”
A Property With Deep History
The property’s significance in Denville’s history goes back more than 130 years. It was known as Rockaway Farms when it was part of the historic Glover estate, and was later associated with Jeremiah G. Hamilton, the prominent nineteenth-century Wall Street investor, and Louis Fenn Wadsworth, one of the “Forefathers of Baseball.” In the early twentieth century, the property became home to the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother and later the St. Francis Residential Community. For decades, the Pocono Road property and festival grounds hosted Saint Clare’s Hospital and St. Francis festivals.
Although most of the institutional buildings were demolished following the property’s sale in 2022, the historic barns, open fields, woodlands and scenic landscape remain. Township officials say the preservation effort is meant to ensure the historic landscape continues to serve the public rather than give way to development.
Beyond its historical value, the acquisition protects one of the township’s last remaining large open spaces, along with wildlife habitat, environmentally sensitive land and scenic views.
Township officials envision the property becoming a destination that blends conservation with recreation, including preserved athletic fields on the Pocono Road property, walking trails and passive recreation on the St. Francis property, and the eventual restoration of the historic barns as a potential future community center.
“This acquisition is more than preserving land,” Andes said. “It is about preserving Denville’s history, protecting our environment, expanding recreational opportunities, and creating a place where future generations can gather, celebrate, and enjoy everything that makes our township special.”
Andes also thanked Springpoint, Morris County and the State of New Jersey for their partnership in making the acquisition possible.
“This investment protects not only open space, but an important piece of Denville’s identity,” Andes said. “It is a legacy that today’s residents are preserving for tomorrow.”
