Fredon Historian Report

Jacob L. Bunnell

Engaged in the newspaper publishing business for almost half a century, Mr. Bunnell was one of the most widely known and highly respected newspaper men in northwestern New Jersey.  A part owner in 1888 of the “New Jersey Herald” of Newton, he became president of the company owning the publication at the time of incorporation in 1924.

Jacob L. Bunnell was born on July 15, 1855 in Hainesburg, Warren County, New Jersey.  After graduating from Blair Academy , he established the “Blairstown Press” in 1877.  Eight years later, in 1885, he bought the “Sussex Independent”.  In 1924 the Sussex Independent and the New Jersey Herald were incorporated to carry on business.

In spite of his devotion to journalistic work, Mr. Bunnell was interested in agriculture and became owner of one of the finest farms in Sussex County.  For a number of years he owned Worthwhile Farm located on the principal road from Newton to Blairstown.  It was one of the many fertile and attractive farms situated along this much-traveled highway.

Today only the three-story farm house with its mansard roof, remains along Route 94 in Fredon Township, just south of the US Gas building.  A smaller addition was added on the NE side sometime after the turn of the century.  The unoccupied barns burned in the 1950s’.  The house today is occupied and wells kept and the farm fields remain mostly undeveloped.