Elton-Adelphia Road Area and South:

1. Hall’s Mill –
The Mill formerly stood at the northwest intersection of Halls Mill Road and Elton-Adelphia Road. Just a short walk into the wooded area along the creek reveals what remains of the Mill’s foundation and waterworks. It was in this general vicinity, which includes the Rutgers Soil Research Center across the street, that General Morgan’s crack troops known as “Morgan’s Riflemen” encamped while they sat out the entire Battle of Monmouth because they failed to receive direct orders from General Anthony Way to “move up”.

2. Paradise Grove Schoolhouse –
One of the eight original schoolhouses of the Township was located at the intersection of Jackson Mill Road and Elton-Adelphia Road. The school dating back to 1825 the school was preceded by the “out lot” school, which was situated on property owned by the Hendrickson ‘s near Stillwell Corner. The Paradise School had integrated classes of both black and white children in the late 19th century. More information on this school is available in “Freehold Township The First 300 Years” by Jeanette Blair.

3. Georgia Schoolhouse –
Located on the corner of Jackson Mills Road and Georgia Road this and the West Freehold Schoolhouse are the only two original schoolhouses remaining in the Township. Situated on a parcel of land that was granted to the Township from the proprietors of East Jersey in 1735. A stipulation in the original deed was that the property must always be used for education. Since King George originally owned the land the folklore has it that the area be named “Georgia” there were two prior structures on the site. The original school was a log house and when it burned down it was replaced by a wooden structure not as large as the present building. In 1862 that building was taken down and replaced by what stands today. The wood for the buildings was harvested from trees situated on the original 11 acres of property that surrounded the schoolhouse. This school was in continuous operation from 1735 until 1956. Laura Barkalow Donovan was the last teacher at the school. Mrs. Donovan’s story is unique in that she started as a pupil in the school at the age of four. Upon finishing eighth grade, she proceeded to go on to normal school and then came back and was a teacher at the same school where she gained her education.