Hageman Farm

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Hageman Farm House in 2006

The Hageman Farm is a historic house located at 209 South Middlebush Road in Somerset, New Jersey. It is a registered historic place of New Jersey.

The progenitors of the Hageman family were Catherine and Adrian Hegeman, who emigrated from the Netherlands around 1650 or 1651. They first settled in Flatbush, New York, then in 1702, four grandsons of Adrian and Catherine moved to Six Mile Run, New Jersey.

Adrian's great-grandson was Benjamin B. Hageman (1812-1890). In 1845, Benjamin married Jane Van Wickle (1823-1901), and they moved to Somerville, New Jersey and farmed there for the next sixteen years. Jane Van Wickle was a descendant of Symen Van Wickle. In 1861, Benjamin moved to the Garretson-Hageman farm, and in 1868, he renovated and expanded the house. Benjamin had two sons: Samuel Hageman (c1845-1876); and Garretson Hageman (1846-1915) who married Caroline Gano Staats.

[edit] Garretson Hageman

Garretson graduated from Rutgers College in 1868, and he became the area's land surveyor, civil engineer, and notary. Garretson was the next owner of the house. Garretson had the following children: Jane Ann Van Wickle Hageman (1888-1978) who married Frederick Locke Bascom (1887-?); and Peter Hageman.

[edit] Peter Hageman

The house passed to Peter Hageman in 1933, after the death of his grandmother. Peter was the Franklin Township Tax Collector from 1928 until his death in 1943; his wife assumed his duties, continuing for another 24 years from the house. For nearly 40 years, the large room off the south porch served as the Tax Collector's office. Peter's son, Garretson Hageman continued to live on the farm with his family until 1972, when the land was condemned for the proposed Six Mile Run Reservoir.

The Hageman Farm remained deserted for five years, deteriorating from the weather, neglect and vandalism. Public concerns and the postponement of the Six-Mile Run Reservoir moved the state to agree to dispose of the farm buildings. On July 13, 1978, the Franklin Township Council passed an ordinance authorizing the purchase of the farm and out-buildings for $100 and an annual lease of the surrounding 1.5 acres to be returned to the Township in lieu of taxes.

The house is currently operated by the Meadows Foundation.