Mercer County Buys Historically Significant Land For $20,000

Mercer County has finalized the $20,000 purchase of a small but historically significant lot in Hopewell Township.

Referred to as the Peters Property, this almost 1-acre property on Church Road is an important trail link and creek crossing on Baldpate Mountain. The land contains the Honey Hollow bridge abutment, where the bridge once crossed the Fiddlers Creek along Honey Hollow Road.

The plan is to build a pedestrian bridge at the remaining bridge abutments for access over Fiddlers Creek.
Funds for the purchase were covered by county Open Space, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. D&R Greenway assisted by providing legal representation.

Known as the Honey Hollow settlement on Baldpate Mountain, it is the location of a long-forgotten community believed to have been in existence from at least the early 19th century into the mid-20th century, and settled by African-American families, according to county officials.

The Mercer County Park Commission has hired well-respected Hunter Research, which will undertake historical and genealogical research on the subject of Honey Hollow.

Hunter Research was established in 1986, and offers a full range of cultural resource services to public and private clients throughout the region, according to its website.

“The foundation of our company is a belief that the physical remains of the past can and should make a vital contribution to everyday life,” the company says.

At this point, county officials say more than 20 percent of the developable land in Mercer County has been preserved by the county and/or its partners.

“The richness of Mercer County’s history cannot be overstated, and it’s truly exciting to discover the heritage of this settlement and its people,” Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes said. “Our ultimate goal is to share the story of these early settlers and how they helped shape this great county.”