Changewater is located on the Musconetcong River2.3 miles (3.7km) southeast of Washington. The community was named for its location at the confluence of the upper and lower branches of the river.[3]
Remains of a trestle constructed by the Warren Railroad across the Musconetcong River at Changewater in 1856, part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. A station was built nearby. Passenger service ended in 1926, and freight service stopped in 1958. The trestle was removed in 1959.[3]
One of the early iron furnaces in the county—known as the Changewater Forge—was established here in the mid-1700s by Mark Thomson [3] and later purchased by a well known local Van Leer family. Ledgers show Samuel Van Leer's sons B. Van Leer and Isaac Van Leer owning the property in the early 1800s.[6]
In 1843, members of a local family—the Castner's—were murdered during an apparent robbery. The crime attracted widespread publicity, and in 1845, two men were convicted and hanged at the Warren County Court House.[3][7]
During the 1800s, a number of industries were attempted in Changewater, including a tannery, woolen factory, flouring mill, picture frame factory, snuff factory, and distillery.[3]
In 1874, the village consisted of a looking glass and picture framing factory, a store and post office, a grist mill, and eight residences.[3]
By 1918, Changewater had a population of 200, and the A. T. Skerry woolen mill was its only industry.[3]
Lee, Francis Bazley. Genealogical and Memorial History of the State of New Jersey, p. 345. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed May 7, 2023. "Colonel Mark Thomson the first member the family of whom we have definite information settled first in Changewater and then in Marksboro, Sussex (now Warren county), New Jersey the latter of which places was named in his honor."
