In the 1800s, most of the land in the High Point area had been cleared by settlers for use as farms. However, by the early 1900s many of the hill farms were abandoned, as better farmland became available out west. While farming continued in the valley along Clove Road, many of the hill farms returned to forest. The woods in this area are full of old stone walls and foundations.
In the 1930s, a World War One veteran owned the property now called High Point Farm. He was cutting trees to sell for mine timbers. The old farmhouse was located by the current picnic area. The foundation is still visible. Karl Keller, bought the property in the late 1930s so his son, Alfred, who lived with mental illness, would have a quiet place to live. After buying the land, the Kellers started constructing the various farm buildings that you see today. Most of the lumber came from the surrounding woods, hauled out by a team of horses. A series of dams was also constructed, providing habitat for wildlife. The largest dam created the pond below the chalet where only a stream once ran. Fields were cleared to provide grazing and hay for brown Swiss cows. Farm operations were handled by a farm manager hired by the Kellers, who lived in Summit, New Jersey, but spent most weekends at the farm.
Additional land was purchased when it became available, and by 1960 the farm was over 1,000 acres. A small cemetery was built in the woods across the pond. Over the years the area continued to change. The last of the working dairy farms on Clove Road stopped selling milk in the 1960s. By 1970 (Old) Mashipacong Road was paved and we no longer had to go down to Clove Road to check the mailbox. The number of homes on Mashipacong Road has more than tripled in the last 30 years. Interesting characters like Potato John who lived at the top of Mashipacong Road are gone, along with his run down house.
Karl Keller's Swiss heritage is reflected in the design of the chalet where the family lived whilst at the farm. The cemetery is the resting place for Karl Keller, his wife Margaret Keuffel Keller, and their son Karl Jr. who died during childhood. Alfred, born in 1911, will also be buried there someday.
The property was given to Fountain House in recognition of their important work with people with mental illness. The Keller family hopes that members of Fountain House will enjoy this special place that has meant so much to our family.
