The Hoffman Grist Mill is the only surviving historic industrial building remaining in the Asbury Historic District. The mill was constructed in 1863 for James M. Hoffman. In 1895 Harry M. Riddle converted the mill for commercial graphite production. The graphite mill remained in use until 1970 when its graphite production was transferred to the neighboring plant. The stone and stucco mill has a distinctive gambrel roof and still contains its barrel-vaulted stone headrace and its 1920 Leffel turbine and power transmission system. Following its closure, the building remained unoccupied until Asbury Carbon deeded this and two other buildings to the Musconetcong Watershed Association in 1998.  

The 2021 Trust grant helped fund the development of a Musconetcong Watershed-wide Interpretive Plan, a Visitor Readiness Assessment, and the creation of two online interactive maps. The 2020 Trust grant helped fund Phase IIIA of the adaptive use of the former Hoffman Grist Mill. Specifically, this phase will make improvements to two floors of the mill and provide a new code compliant stair tower and elevator. This work will allow some use of the building for public meetings and events until future phases are compete. The 2019 Trust grant helped fund the preparation of detail plans for the interior rehabilitation of the former mill for use as the organization’s office space, community meeting space, shared office space and exhibit space. The 2017 Trust grant helped fund interior stabilization and floor restoration as well as exterior restoration.  

For more information, visit: https://www.musconetcong.org/restoring-the-asbury-mill