Current Projects
- Hosting a concert by Jericho Grass on Sunday, April 18, 2:00pm in the Quakertown United Methodist Church , 1187 Croton Road . This group of five musicians is widely recognized for its distinctive sound with arrangements from jazz and country to mountain music, all with a bluegrass core. Admission is $10. Tickets go on sale March 1 from Rural Awareness members; also available at the door.
- Sponsoring the fourth annual Scholar Award essay competition at Franklin Township School for third, fourth and fifth grade students. See details on Awards page.
- Providing a matching grant in support of the Food Bank at the Quakertown United Methodist Church that is open from 9am to 1pm on the third Wednesday of each month, except in April, when it is open on the second Wednesday. The church is located on Croton Road just south of its intersection with Quakertown Road. Click here for details
- The book signing for Franklin Township , Hunterdon County is postponed from Sunday, February 28 to Sunday, March 7 from 2:00 to 4:00pm at the Quakertown Friends Meeting House on the corner of Whitebridge and Quakertown Roads. Meet authors Dan and Marty Campanelli and Lora Jones of Rural Awareness on March 7 and get your copy signed. The book is priced at $21.99. Refreshments will be served. Overflow parking will be at the United Methodist Church around the corner on Croton Road . A shuttle car will ferry guests to and from the Meeting House. All proceeds benefit Rural Awareness civic projects in Franklin .Requests for books after that date can be made by calling 735.4271. Mail orders may be placed by writing to Rural Awareness, Inc., PO Box 314 , Quakertown , NJ 08868 . If shipping is required, send a check made out to Rural Awareness for $25.99.
- Creating a comprehensive listing of Franklin Township farms which sell produce and other farm products directly to the consumer and providing the list on this website.
Past Projects
- Initiated the listing of Quakertown and Pittstown on the New Jersey State and National Historic Registers
- Created a 17-minute film, Passing Glances: Franklin Township, 150 Years narrated by Retired New Jersey Superior Court Judge John W. Fritz. The original video is now converted to a DVD, which may be borrowed for viewing from Franklin’s Municipal Building or purchased for $5 from The Quakertown Store on the corner of Routes 579 and 616 in Quakertown. [CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONLINE]
- Preserved a 600-pound Lenni Lenape stone mortar found in a tributary of the Capoolong Creek. The artifact, estimated to date from 4,000 to 2,000 B.C., is now on display in the Teaching Garden of Rutgers’ Snyder Research and Extension Farm, 140 Locust Grove Road.
- Conducted tours of historic houses in Franklin Township 1982-1990 and revived the tradition in 2008. Next tour planned for 2010.
- Sponsored August Knispel Monument unveiling, August 2006
- Traditionally host Candidate Nights before Township elections
- Hosted Colonial Christmas Concerts in December of 2007 and 2008 in Quakertown.
- Fall 2009, Raffle to benefit Food Pantry: Geri M. from Stockton, NJ, won the framed, signed print of Dan Campanelli's water color, Wash DayŠ . Her winning raffle ticket, # 186, was purchased at Ralph Anthony Automotive on Croton Road in Quakertown.
Franklin History
- Facts and Fantasies of Franklin, compiled and written by J. Edward Stout (1923-2001), Franklin native, long-time Township Historian, and Rural Awareness member, offers a comprehensive history of our community. The 418-page historical account includes the 1850 census, maps and many photographs. It is available for purchase at the Municipal Building and the Clinton Book Shop for $20.