They came from all over Jersey to the sleepy section of West Millington in Bernards Township for some of the freshest farm goods anyone could get anywhere. Once a quiet enclave a few miles north of Rt. 22 would be one of the most famous farms in all of New Jersey – The Dewy Meadow Farm. And what could you get there? The best chicken pot pie in the world!
As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn stories and are sent photos from our community. We will continue to expand this piece as information becomes available. If you have any stories to share, please post in the comments section at the end of the piece.
Mr. Local History
Back in the 1930s, poultry farms were a big deal in Somerset County. As you can see by this 1930 announcement of what they called the “Pen Records” project to document just how many chickens were in the area.
Gunther H. Krogoll, born in Germany, came to America in 1926 first settling in Minnesota. In 1932 he moved to West Millington in Bernards Township NJ and began cultivation of a family run operation, naming it Dewy Meadow Farms. Providing chickens, eggs, and prepared meals to the grateful customers who mostly came from many miles away for the legendary homemade chicken pot pies and homestyle fruit pies, is what they became famous for. Their phone number was 254.
. Gunther and his wife Elsa had one daughter Ursula, and three sons; Gerhard, Randolph, and Gunther. Gunther Sr. would pass in 1978 in Florida.
My dad Gunther saw an egg carton with the words “Fresh as Morning Dew.” Morning dew stretched as far as he could see. The name stuck!
Randy Krogoll
Three buildings were on the farmstead; a house and egg store, a three story building, and a 200 foot by 40 foot one story building. Our research takes the story back to at least the 1930s where the Dewy Meadow farm was a working farm including raising poultry. Chickens, eggs, and what became their signature item, a homemade chicken pot pie. Yup, chicken, peas, carrots, chicken chunks with that famous gravy goo all wrapped in a flaky pie crust served fresh or frozen. They would also have prepared cooked food including chicken and homestyle fruit pies.
As a kid growing up in Westfield, I always used to say to my mom; “Why mom, why do we have to go OUT THERE? ANSWER: You know!
Brooks Betz, writer and Trustee at the Mr. Local History Project remembers his mother visiting family and ALWAYS having to stop at Dewy Meadow Farms for some baked goods and those chicken pot pies.
Working at Dewy Meadow Farm
We introduce you to Randy Krogoll , one of the two sons, was the Dewy Meadow farm manager in the 80s who was always looking for farm hands. Many young adults got their first jobs at the farm ranging from cooks, cashiers, stockers, pie crust makers, fillers, and other jobs related to running one of the largest farming food operations in the area.
“Freshly sliced apples were delivered twice a week from Reading, Pennsylvania to make the apple pies,” said Steve Cygon of Appeeling fruit. “A part of every apple must be cut by hand.” The farm used over 10,000 pounds of of flour each week. There were NO preservatives in any of their products. James Canfield of South Plainfield commented, “When you’re out back in the summertime and they’re baking pies, you’ve never smelled anything better.”
Second generation brothers Randolph (Randy) Krogoll and Bernhard (Bernie) carried on the traditions into the middle 1970’s, when Bernie retired, while Randy charged on with inspiring passion for the business. Building a well- earned reputation as a knowledgeable friend who never met a problem he wouldn’t attempt to solve, Randy supplied countless accounts and food distributors along the east coast.Â
In 2018, at 88 years old Randy faced the challenge of an expired lease which could not be renewed, requiring a move of the company during already stressful times. With a strong desire to see his family’s legacy continue, Randy reached out to his longtime friend and fruit supplier for help. Paul Wagner, founder of The Program, agreed to do what he could to help and recruited his own longtime friend for added support. Brian Heffernan, founder of Win-Win Brokerage joined the challenge and an effort to find a new home and relocate the large wholesale operation began.Â
His brother Randolph (Randy) Krogoll also worked the farm. He would be instrumental to growing the Dewy Meadow Foods, Inc. brand and business. Officially founded in 1974, Randy became the President of the corporation. Randy recently passed on January 4, 2021.
Changing Times
So what happened to what everyone felt would last forever? Progress happened. The first big evolution to the area was the opening of the western spur of Route 78 through the Watchung Mountains reservation, which gave people easy access to Basking Ridge. In the short term, it was great for the farm stands, but it was a bigger opportunity for real estate developers. And the builders built fast, gobbling up many of the farms around the area, and the Dewy Meadow Farms was an obvious development target.
In about 1965, the 403 King George Road property started to come in play. Poultry had not been raised on the farm since 1962. Gunther and Elsa Krogoll recognized that West Millington was changing due to Route 78 opening. A new regional power station opened across the road. Also, a new high-tension wires station opened Randy started to hand off the day to day operations to his niece and husband which wasn’t the same as Randy’s dedication. Randy’s attention shifted to operating a new business, Weissberger Moving and Storage, a moving company and storage facility, an extension to his Allied Van Lines business.
Development Seed is Planted
In 1965, what was referred to as “the Dewy Meadow development ordinance,” didn’t pass the Planning Board. So the Dewy Meadow Farm continued doing what it did best, offering roadside favorites for years until 1998 when developers came knocking AGAIN. This time, the 22-acre site was targeted for retail development. After years of negotiations, in 1972, ordinances were revisited again but the farm still didn’t get everything it needed to develop. But the developers didn’t give up.
New Chapter: Dewy Meadow Foods
Sometime around 2018, without a farm, Randy still had his offices for what morphed into Dewy Meadow Foods, with offices in Martinsville, New Jersey, employing approximately 15 people. Dewy Meadows had become a food distributor focusing on grocery stores and supermarket food distribution. Annual sales for Dewy Meadow Foods were still selling over $1.5 million in food products per year, produced then at a Rutgers Piscataway facility.
Randy passed his 88th birthday and his age began taking a toll. When he lost the Rutgers facility, he was down to only a few options. In came a lifelong business partner and friend Brian Heffernan, a food broker who had been involved with Randy for decades.
After a couple months of unsuccessfully seeking a suitable and affordable new location in NJ, some believe Karma and Fate collided and a super cool building was found available, basically at the deadline. Randy’s goal relied on a considerable move to Kutztown PA, converting an abandoned toothbrush plant, previously a feed mill, into a pie shell factory. It consumed and created the next phase of their lives.
At this point, Richard Bontempo the founder of RB Bake Tech, was begged for help and provided a huge boost, sharing his time and knowledge and increasing the groups confidence that they could accomplish this dream. Those efforts will be eternally grateful for.
Fred Jenkins was hired as the General Manager and the leadership team was complete. The renovation was a great opportunity to start fresh and sparkling clean with a well thought out and laid out bakery production floor. A new crew of employees were hired and trained. Production was up and running again within 30 days. Randy was grateful and proud. Everyone was.
Dewy Meadows lost Randy in 2021. His wife June told his friends the last few years of his life were some of his happiest, which thrilled everyone. He had been driving to the factory from NJ, a couple days a week, 90 minutes each way, until the end. He made sure we knew almost everything we needed to know. He had enough time to instill his strong values, loyal character and high standards, which we have committed to carry on in his memory.Â
Dewy Meadow Foods continues to provide and use the same recipes, choice ingredients and quality products the Krogoll family created. We have no plans to ever do things any differently. Fred frequently solves problems and makes decisions based on his thought of “What would Randy do?”Â
Dewy Meadow’s Land Development
Since 2000, over the past twenty plus years, the property that once had the area’s best noted local fresh eggs, chickens and pies of all flavors was developed into Bernards Township’s southern hamlet into a shopping destination anchored by an A&P supermarket. With over 20 retailers, the development was simply inbetween the major highway to the south, and the Lyons and Basking Ridge villages to the north.
Then the A&P went bust and the future looked bleak for a period of time. Retailing struggled and it seemed that an anchor store wasn’t going to be found. And then yet ANOTHER development idea came along. The “enclave at Dewy Meadow” would become a new residential and shopping destination. The new village contains two, four-story buildings housing a combined 198 rental apartments.
Featuring a classic clocktower and gazebo, a glistening pond with splashing fountains, a picturesque village green and charming shops and restaurants right at your door, The Enclave at Dewy Meadows is a wonderful way to live. (From developers).
Share a Memory
A big reason why we do this research is to hear from people who got to experience something before it was gone. Did you ever have a Dewy Meadow chicken pot pie? What do you remember about the Dewy Meadow Farm that once stood on the side of the road in Bernards Township? Tell us below.
More MLH Related Local History Stories
Good morning. I am one of the partners continuing the proud traditions of the Krogoll family and Dewy Meadow Foods. I came across your article and enjoyed reading it and learning more about the history of the company.
I would be happy to discuss current operations and share with you the nice story of how the transition came about and our plans to carry on the legacy the family built. If you wanted to visit the new plant, I would happily provide a tour.
After revisiting this story, I had to take a treck over to Bardy Farms in Warren, NJ (Somerset County) to see if the Dewy Meadow pies were still available. YES they were and I grabbed a few, a fruit pie, cookies, milk and some fruit. I was set for the night. AWESOME CHICKEN POT PIES! History in a pie crust Basking Ridge!
My mother was the Ursula in the story. We left NJ in 1965, I spent a summer working at the farm in the retail store in the 70’s. The farm house had a burglar step I always tripped on, the top step was few inches taller than the rest. Also one of the trucks from the near by quarry ran into the house, the house won. Can you imagine a quarry truck running into a current house? My grandmother said she thought it was an earthquake.
Yes the chicken potpies were very well known! If I remember correctly the smaller one was 45 cents.
I lived in Plainfield in the 70s thru the 90s& used to travel to Dewy Meadow farms not only for the pot pies & fresh eggs but also for the best &freshest chicken livers to make my chopped chicken livers for the holidays-it broke my heart when everything was sold-& then I found the pies@ Bardy Farms-Yay!I now live in Somerset & am ecstatic 🤩 to learn those pies r still available @ Bardy Farms—thank u so much for the info!!!!!