About Vernon Chamber of Commerce
Vernon Chamber of Commerce
The Vernon NJ Chamber of Commerce is the collective voice of area businesses. It gives us strength and influence when advocating important positions on issues at all levels of government local, county and state. The Chamber serves as a watchdog for business interests and constantly keeps an eye on issues that affect or could affect your business.
2024 7th Annual TOV
Red Tail Lodge
200 NJ-94, Vernon
Monday, April 22, 2024
6:00pm - 9:00pm
As part of its mission to promote local businesses and support the community, the Vernon Chamber created the Taste of Vernon Fundraising Event to highlight local restaurants, eateries and caterers. Proceeds are used to help Vernon community organization and other philanthropic purposes such as high school scholarships.
Join us for a wonderful night of food, friends and fun!
We are very grateful to our sponsors, our entree & desert contestants, our program advertisers and our silent auction donors for donating their talents and resources to make this event possible.
We hope you join us!
Got questions? Call/Text Theresa at 973-919-9439 or email us at info@vernonchamber.com
See all things Taste of Vernon
Sponsors
We are very grateful for our generous sponsors:
Platinum
McAfee Hardware, Ron Williams
Would you like to see your business' name on our sponsor list? Get your application here.
Entree & Dessert Contestants
Thank you to our wonderful restaurants, eateries and caterers for donating their talent, time and resources:
Entrees
Arbour Restaurant at The Culinary Institute at SCCC
Desserts
Would you like to showcase your culinary talents at our event? Get your application here.
About Vernon
A Thriving Community
Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Sussex County, Vernon Township thrives as a vibrant community, embracing over 24,000 residents who proudly call it home. Beyond its residential charm, countless individuals traverse Vernon annually, whether for a rejuvenating day retreat or to traverse the scenic Appalachian Trail. Originating as an independent township on November 19, 1792, Vernon's expansive 68 square miles have remained unchanged over two centuries. Despite this steadfast boundary, the township's demographics have undergone a remarkable transformation. Once a modest hamlet with just 1,548 inhabitants in 1950, Vernon experienced a steady rise in population from the 1960s, fueled by the introduction of the ski industry. Presently, with a robust community of 5,451 students, Vernon boasts the largest school system in Sussex County, a testament to its dynamic growth and enduring appeal.(Photo: Appalachian Trail: Bob Breese/breesepix.com)
Historical Excerpts
On April 19, 2009 the Vernon Township Historical Society held a dedication for the new historic marker at High Breeze Farm on Barrett Road. The historic marker for this important landmark, which is on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places site was purchased through donations by the VanDien family, relatives of the Barretts who owned High Breeze Farm; the Myrtle Hanke Fund, a memorial fund set up for the beloved late trustee and curator of the Society; and by the society.
- Hi Breeze Farm
St. Thomas Episcopal Church was founded in 1847 and is the oldest church structure in Vernon Township. It is a quaint church that sits below Route 94 on the southbound lane in Vernon, NJ. It is a board-and-batten construction with a belfry that is mounted at the rear of the building. The church’s design is Carpenter or Rural Gothic. The congregation was incorporated a year after it was built. It sits near a cemetery, vicarage, parish house, and a new St. Thomas Church.
- St. Thomas Church
Friends of Wawayanda State Park, an Officially Recognized “Friends” Organization (ORFO) of the state, is a sister organization of the Vernon Township Historical Society. All members of the Society are members of “Friends.” The official purpose of the Friends of Wawayanda State Park is to restore, preserve, and promote historical and cultural resources in our state park, such as the Wawayanda Iron Furnace, High Breeze Farm, and the Black Creek Site. We have several events each year to raise funds for that purpose.
- Friends of Wawayanda State Park
The Black Creek Site in Vernon Township is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places. The site is one of only three Native American sites in New Jersey listed on the historic registers.More than 6,000 artifacts dating back 10,000 years were found at the Black Creek Site. These artifacts represent the Early Archaic to the Late Woodland Periods.The Nanticoke Lenni Lenape Indians of New Jersey joined efforts with local residents to nominate and preserve the Black Creek Site.
- Black Creek Site
VERNON NJ HISTORY
Vernon Township's destiny has always been shaped by its geography. On the east are the rough and rugged Wawayanda and Hamburg Mountains. To the west is Pochuck Mountain and beyond lie the Wallkill River and meadowlands. Between the two lies narrow but fertile Vernon Valley. This geography is a product of the last ice age when a mile-thick glacier plowed over Vernon.
As told by Richard M. Stevens of Greendell
So join me, if you care to, for a seat-of-the-pants, completely idiosyncratic barnstorming tour of historic Vernon Village--some old, some new, some long-gone, with the caution that far more research needs to be done to fully understand the history of the sites herein mentioned. Sources for this include: a 1920 newspaper article by Henry B. DeKay, giving his recollections of Vernon Village going back into the 1850s; the 1860 Map of Sussex County; aerial surveys, and a plotting of historic deeds in the village.