The THSSH Archives contain a wonderful record book from The Somerset Water Company with the original stock certificates issued by this early public utility and its successor, the Bedminster Water Company. Seventy-six beautifully engraved certificates are filed alongside their issue stubs. See certificates and catalog record including name index. High-quality images are available on request.
The Somerset Water Company was incorporated and approved by Bedminster Township in December 1909 to provide a water supply for the region. The objectives of the company were to “acquire, construct, own, enlarge, maintain and operate water works and to supply municipalities, corporations, and individuals with water and water power.” The areas to be served were envisioned as Gladstone, Peapack, Far Hills, Bedminster, and Pluckemin, together with Mine Brook and Bernardsville.
The total authorized capital stock of the corporation was $100,000 divided into 10,000 shares of the par value of $10 each.
The company’s initial investors were:
George R. Layton, Bedminster
W. V. D. Layton, Bedminster
George H. Logan, Bedminster
John W. Tuttle, Bedminster
Samuel C. Bloodgood, Bedminster
John McLaughlin, Bedminster
Nicholas T. Ballentine, Peapack
John Mitchell Harper, Gladstone
Theodore S. Hill, Gladstone
Daniel Hulick, Gladstone
William H. Horton, Gladstone
David B. Melick, Gladstone[1]
Land for a watershed and reservoir along upper Peapack Brook in Chester Township was purchased May 13, 1910, from Theodore S. Hill, who was president of Somerset Water.[2] In 1912, the Somerset Water Company reorganized as the Bedminster Water Company, [3] but the P-G Borough Council rejected its plans.[4]
On February 3, 1916, Peapack-Gladstone bought the watershed and reservoir from Bedminster Water.[5] The borough operated the Peapack-Gladstone Water Utility until the 1980s when it sold the watershed to Chester Township and arranged for water from Elizabethtown Water. The watershed is now Tiger Brook Park in Chester Township.
[1] Somerset County, NJ, Corporations, Vol. 3, p. 66-71.
[2] Morris County, NJ, Deed Book K-20, p. 148-152.
[3] Morris County, NJ, Deed Book W-22, p. 27-31.
[4] Bernardsville News, Sept. 4, 1914, p. 4.
[5] Morris County, NJ, Deed Book, M-23, p. 17-21.
