Much of early Sussex County history centers around mining activities and although Branchville was not a part of this phase, it was to benefit indirectly.

The Dutch in 1640 prospected the present Franklin region for mineral deposits. In the years immediately preceding the Revolution, William Alexander, the Earl of Stirling, acquired the ore-bearing lands around Franklin and attempted to develop irom mines.

It was not until 1810 that the Franklin deposits were recognized for their greater value. Robert Ogden had purchased lands from the Earl of Stirling. His son-in-law, Dr. Samuel Fowler, saw the economic possibilities in the local ores. His friend Dr. Archibald Bruce of New York discovered the chemical nature of the rock and called it Zincite. In 1819, Pierre Berthier, the French discoverer of Aluminum ore, analyzed the ore as containing both zinc and manganese. He called it Frankinite. Dr. Fowler did not succeed in producing metalic zinc, but developed zinc oxide powder used for making paint. Metalic zinc was produced by Hitz and Hasler in 1835.

In 1896, the New Jersey Zinc Company was formed out of conflicting smaller interests.

Branchville's share in the mining industries came from a railroad which was started about 1830 and years later extended to Branchville. The railroad began with carts hauled by mules connecting the mines at Waterloo to the newly opened Morris Canal. In the course of time steam engines were adopted. On March 9th, 1848, the line was incorporated as the Sussex Mine Railroad Company. In 1854 tracks were extended to Newton. By connecting with the Morris and Essex line, the Sussex Railroad provided transportation to eastward cities. On February 5th, 1853, the railroad's name was changed to the Sussex Railroad Company. Extension of tracks to Branchville was accomplished by 1869. A spur line reached Franklin in 1871 but tracks were never extended beyond Branchville.

In 1881 the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad, which had gradually grown from a small linking independent coal and iron carrying line into a major transportation system, gained the controlling interest in the Sussex Railroad. It was finally merged with the Lackawanna in 1945.

During the height of railroad importance in Sussex County, passenger trains to New England, Albany, and Philadelphia made connections at Branchville Junction, a point enroute to Newton.

The advent of the Railroad, as has been noted, brought so great a growth to Branchville that it was expected to outstrip other towns and become the industrial center of the county. Forty new dwellings were built, described as "all of the latest architecture," during 1869 to 1871.

The ample water power and the prospering of grist mills and other manufacturies gave support to the hopes for greater expansion.

Besides the economic assets, Branchville had become the supply depot for the increasing dairy industry, which had eclipsed the mining as the country's chief industry by the end of the Civil War.

To look back, to the days when the railroad was THE means of transportation, we can envision the station as a lively place, with six trains a day and attendant excitement as the locomotive would make its grand entry, puffing smoke, and exhausting steam along the rails. The development of resort areas around the lakes near Branchville brought summertime crowds on the trains. Wagons and later automobiles from neighboring hotels met the trains. Mail was dispatched, and milk was carried from local creameries and dairies to eastern cities. In the latter connection, swift transporting of milk was essential in the days before adequate refrigeration. The first milk trains were run in 1863.

The final days of railroad service to Branchville were like a man who was being amputated, limb by limb. passenger service was cut back to Newton excep for one train which ran on Saturdays and Sundays only. The gradual closing of creameries cut the railroad off from this revenue which had been largely its lifeline. The railroad lost its contract to carry the U.S. Mail; and so the struggle was given up on July 10th, 1966 when the last passenger train was run. Even service to Newton, where some semblance of commuter use had persisted, was discontinued.

The station was then leased for various storage purposes. A committee was formed to fix-up its appearance for the nation's Bi-Centennial in 1976. Time took its toll on the station and a new roof was put on by resident Mr.Dick Roy, who purchased the station. In January of 1990, the station was moved to another lot to make room for the new Branchville Hose Co. The winter of '93/'94 was severe in this area. During this time Sussex County was hit with 17 bad winter storms and the old station just couldn't bear up under the weight of all that snow. Sadly, this icon of a grand era in railroading was destroyed beyond repair.