Asbury Graphite Mill is celebrating its 125^th anniversary!

Straddling the village of Asbury and Hunterdon County, the company dates back to 1895 when Harry M. Riddle repurposed a 1700s flour mill, powered by the Musconetcong, to refine graphite.

Since then, the company has expanded into Asbury Carbons, with locations around the globe. Asbury remains its headquarters, though its original facility has been deeded to the Musconetcong Watershed Association.

The Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored the anniversary at their final meeting of 2020 (and their final meeting as “freeholders”).

“People don’t really appreciate everything we do is surrounded by carbon,” said Noah Nichelson, president of Asbury Carbons, while accepting the proclamation with gratitude on behalf of the Riddle family and the company’s more than 300 employees.

Some of the things that use carbons include art supplies, cell phones, brake pads, lights, eyeglasses, and more.

“We are proud to have Asbury Graphite in Warren County,” said Freeholder Director Richard D. Gardner, who was raised and still lives within a few miles of the company. Gardner said he was happy the company chose to stay in Asbury and keep it part of its name.

Freeholder James R. Kern III recalled attending a function in 2019, where he learned much of Asbury Carbons’ history, as well as its prominence in the industry today. “It was just incredible to see the breadth of how large this company has become and the history of being a premiere company in that space,” he said. He was happy to highlight the family and its Warren County history with this gesture.

Nichelson thanked the community for its support of this family-owned, family-focused company, adding, “We will be here for another 125 years.”