Chester Historical Society

 

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A view of "Muskrat Valley" looking towards Pleasant Hill in Chester, NJ.  This is the area that the DL&W Train Station was located.
"Muskrat Valley"
This is the "Muskrat Valley" area.  Up to the right is Pleasant Hill and if you look closely, you can see the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.  Off to the left is where the DL&W Railroad Station, also known as the "Muskrat Station" sat.  And farther to the left of the station sat the Anthracite Hotel.

 
In 1810, Zephaniah Drake and his father, Jacob Drake, Jr., built the “Brick Hotel,” pictured on the left, which was also a stagecoach stop for a route that crossed the state.  Each of the original rooms had a fireplace with a carved mantelpiece.  In 1854 it was enlarged for a private school and sometime after 1868 it became a hotel again.  Daniel Budd had hopes of using this building for the Chester Institute, but decided there were too many rough mining men loitering around the area and moved it to another location away from the center of town.
Main Street - Chester, NJ
 
Chester Historical Society
PO Box
376
~ Chester, NJ  07930
Phone: (908) 866-6717
chester.historical.society@gmail.com

Preserving the history of Chester, N.J.