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2005 HISTORIC HOUSE AND BARN TOUR
13. Hainesburg Inn, disembark (Polkville Road). According to Snell's History of Warren County, "this locality for many years bore the name of Sodam. Whether to warn the dwellers therein of the fate that befell its ancient namesake, or for other and better reasons, we cannot say." The name eventually was changed to Hainesburg - in honor of the village Post Master John Haines, after he
made a liberal donation to the local school. A stone grist mill built on the South side of the Paulins Kill prior to the Revolutionary War, no longer survives. In the hey-day of railroading, the Hainesburg Station was the junction of the Susquehanna and the Lehigh and New England Railroads. The Paulins Kill Viaduct at Hainesburg was constructed in 1909 as part of the Lackawanna owned Hopatcong-Slateford cutoff. Engineered by George J. Rays, the seven arch span is 1,100 feet long and 117 feet high. Another bridge at the end of the line crosses the
Delaware River and merges with the old line at Slateford Junction. This section, carried by nine arches, is 64 feet above water level and stretches for 1,140 feet. These awe inspiring structures, which opened to train traffic in the winter of 1911, continue to impress as engineering marvels. The beautiful Hainesburg Inn, which dominates the ancient looking village as a stately, expansive
Victorian Mansion-house, was built upon and incorporated into earlier buildings that have been traced back to as early as 1790. Previous owners have speculated that elements of the older portion of the house date back to 1802. Wealthy railroad tycoon Jacob Andress purchased the building in 1873, and substantially expanded the house by adding the third floor and the impressive twin towers that make this mansion so unique. The home has been regularly featured in the publication Weird New Jersey, mainly to claim that the spirit of Andress' young son Gilbert, who died while a child, continues to frolic and play harmless tricks on visitors to the house. Through the
years, this wonderful old home has been a disco, bar, Antique Shop, Restaurant, and Ice Cream Parlor. In the early 1990's the grand old building had fallen into disrepair, but thanks to the foresight and efforts of Paul Mikalionas, the Mansion was carefully and tastefully restored.