Historical Society of West Windsor, 50 Southfield Road, West Windsor, NJ (2026)

06/01/2026

"Why, oh why, didn't I submit to the West Windsor Time Capsule?!"

We want to avoid wails of woe like this one! That's why we've been promoting the WW Time Capsule for several weeks now. Don't miss your chance to submit to this once-in-a-generation experience. BUT ACT FAST - the deadline is JUNE 14.

As we've mentioned before, our nonprofit will seal an industrial-grade community time capsule at the West Windsor History Museum, to be opened by future community members in 2076. We invite ALL current and former WWP residents, and WW businesses & community groups, to offer items that preserve a modern snapshot of life in our township, to be uncovered in 2076. Items must be SMALL, DURABLE, AND REFLECTIVE OF WEST WINDSOR. It could be a photo of a school, a religious item, something showing local diversity & culture, infrastructure, a community event, a business memorabilia, or something else entirely - the possibilities are virtually endless!

Our website has more guidance. TO PARTICIPATE, COMPLETE AND READ THE FORM AT HTTPS://WWW.WESTWINDSORHISTORY.COM/TIMECAPSULE

05/31/2026

WEST WINDSOR COLONIAL DAY IS A WEEK AWAY!

This free, family event is held for the USA's 250th birthday year. Visit the Schenck Farmstead any time from 1-4PM for:

✯ MUSEUM TOURS: Explore our farmhouse, barn, school, & more.
✯ HISTORIC MUSIC: live artists like Karl Dentino and Joe Sherbin.
✯ TRADITIONAL ARTISANS: Enjoy soapmaking & more.
✯ REENACTORS: Meet Ben Franklin and others,
✯ CRAFTS & GAMES FOR KIDS.
✯ COMMUNITY BOOTHS: from area community groups.

🌟 we dedicate a new HISTORY MARKER: SLAVERY IN WW.

Want to set up a community booth? Email us: [email protected]

📍WHERE: 50 Southfield Rd, West Windsor, NJ 08550 (look for the red barn).
📅 WHEN: June 7, 1-4PM.
🌐 URL: https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/colonialday.html

This program is made possible by the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the NJ Historical Commission.

05/30/2026

WEST WINDSOR HISTORY, THEN AND NOW: JERAB'S MARKET

(reposted from 2023)

Pictured is a building originally known as Jerab’s Market, a longtime fixture of the historic West Windsor neighborhood of Penns Neck. It has has served many purposes over its lifetime.

This 2-story commercial building (now a Papa John's) with apartments above stands at 175 Washington Road. It was opened in October 1936 by Joseph and Jane Jerab (Jewish Czechoslovakian immigrants), after they built it with help from the Tucillo family of Trenton. Just the month prior, they attempted to have a slaughterhouse opened in a different building. However, enough neighbors complained that the NJ State Board of Health overruled West Windsor Township's approval of the plan. So the Jerabs just opened a general store/butcher's shop the following month.

In their general store/butcher's shop, the Jerabs sold vegetables, fruits, meats, groceries, and more. The business is said to have operated seven days a week, from early in the morning until 10 or 11 PM, and the Jerabs imposed a strong work ethic on their children. They also hired Frank Danley to work in the kitchen; he would eventually become a short-order cook at the nearby Princeton Grill (later the Clarksville Diner).

By the early 1960s (if not earlier), management of the “Penns Neck Food Center” (as the store was called then) passed to Aaron and Libby Salkin. By this time, the business also sold cosmetics, toys, stationary, and more. After the Salkins was Isadore “Izzy” Straussfogel, and the establishment was affectionately known as "Izzy's." By 1978, it had further become "Anne's Family Deli," specializing in Greek foods. In 1985, it turned into "Mrs. Pasta & Deli," then "Domaine Catering & Delicatessen" around 1994. Finally, by the late 1990s, the building had become the current Papa Johns pizza joint. During this entire time, the apartments have continued to be rented out.

More Penns Neck history: https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/pennsneck.html

05/29/2026

WEST WINDSOR CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE TODAY & SUNDAY

In 2022, a volunteer group called West Windsor Gives Back helped raise funds for our nonprofit, which we've been using to restore the historic Schenck Farmstead and for general operations. That year, a Cricket championship was also held synced up with WWGB's fundraising efforts.

Now, WWGB is again similarly helping to support another longtime (1950s) community group: the West Windsor Little League! The cricket championship, raising funds for them, is TODAY from 4-7 and SUNDAY at 8AM at Conover Park - see attached flyer. Teams are named for some of our township's local historic hamlets: Clarksville, Dutch Neck. Edinburg, Grovers Mill, Penns Neck, and Princeton Junction. Consider coming out and supporting your local team - and our local Little League!

05/29/2026

PLEASE HELP PRESERVE & PROMOTE WEST WINDSOR HISTORY!

America’s 250th anniversary is here! West Windsor has an opportunity to celebrate and preserve our direct connections to the American Revolution and our nation’s founding. But we need YOUR help!

HTTPS://WWW.WESTWINDSORHISTORY.COM/SF26.HTML

Our nonprofit has made exciting progress in preserving our township's Revolutionary-era heritage. The Schenck Farmstead’s 1700s-era barn is now eligible for the NJ & National Registers of Historic Places. We’re also restoring the colonial Schenck-Covenhoven Cemetery, likely holding the graves of AmRev veterans.

These build on Revolution West Windsor, our commemorations of our township's Revolutionary role. But history is fragile and we need YOUR support. Please donate to our Summer Fundraiser!

You'd help us Preserve the Schenck Farmstead, Schenck-Covenhoven Cemetery, and other local historic resources, fund a community time capsule to be opened in 50 years (for America’s 300th), offer educational programs and student opportunities, and share West Windsor’s history for generations to come.

To donate (website or mail), see the link below. Thank you so much.

HTTPS://WWW.WESTWINDSORHISTORY.COM/SF26.HTML

05/28/2026

WEST WINDSOR’S HISTORIC HAMLETS (PART 2 OF 2)

Let's continue exploring some of the old farming neighborhoods from the 1700s-1800s that helped define our township’s identity for generations. Although most of WW's old farms are gone, most of the old hamlets actually still exist! This is a continuation of Tuesday's post, which covered Clarksville, Dutch Neck, Edinburg, Grovers Mill, and Penns Neck. USE THE MAP TO LOCATE THE HAMLETS!

6. PORT MERCER: Grew in the 1830s as a canal/train stop after the D&R Canal was opened along with an adjacent railroad. Overlapping WW and Lawrence Townships, it had a hotel, swing bridge, canal house (now a museum run by the Lawrence Historical Society, and much more. Still exists!

7. PRINCETON BASIN: Another 1830s-era canal port, overlapping WW and Princeton. It had a hotel, canal house, swing bridge, and numerous manufacturers. Unlike Port Mercer, it disappeared by the early 1900s (by which point it was also one of the area’s seediest neighborhoods, with several known murders). Rex Goreleigh, an influential Black artist, lived here. A few old buildings still stand.

8. PRINCETON JUNCTION: Grew in the 1860s around the train station (est. 1863/4) and the junction of the Dinky line & NE Corridor. First grew along Station Drive in the 1800s but grew with Berrien City (south of the station) in the 1910s/20s and a commercial artery along Rte 571 in the 1930s. Still exists!

9. SCUDDERS MILLS: Grew in the 1700s around mills powered by the Millstone River. Also called “Aqueduct” after a structure built to carry the D&R Canal over the river in the 1830s. Carnegie Lake’s creation in 1905/6 flooded the Millstone, destroying the hamlet as a cohesive neighborhood. Still, about 9 or 10 original buildings still stand.

10. VANHISEVILLE: Arguably more crossroads than hamlet. The “Vanhise” family had a store/post office here in the early-mid 1800s. Howard Cox, publisher of the iconic “Raggedy Ann & Andy” book series, lived and for some time ran the business out of his farm here (now the western half of Community Park). Most of this hamlet's still stand (it was never large to begin with).

WANT TO LEARN MORE? VISIT: HTTPS://WWW.WESTWINDSORHISTORY.COM/HAMLETS.HTML

05/28/2026

DURABLE MATERIALS WANTED FOR THE WEST WINDSOR TIME CAPSULE

As we've mentioned before, our nonprofit will bury a 50-year township time capsule at the West Windsor History Museum on July 4. We're still inviting all current/former WWP residents, and WW businesses/nonprofits, to offer items that preserve a modern snapshot of life in our township, to be uncovered in 2076. The deadline is JUNE 14 and items must be SMALL, DURABLE, AND RELEVANT.

What qualifies as "durable?" Many items that may seem good at first could actually decay over time from natural internal processes or emit harmful gases. So, use this "cheat sheet" to help you evaluate your item's materials! Want to contribute an item? Download and submit the form at the link below. Good luck!

HTTPS://WWW.WESTWINDSORHISTORY.COM/TIMECAPSULE.HTML

This program is made possible by the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey Historical Commission.

05/26/2026

WEST WINDSOR’S HISTORIC HAMLETS (PART 1 OF 2)

West Windsor has some old farming neighborhoods from the 1700s-1800s that helped define our township’s identity for generations. Although most of WW's old farmland is gone, most of these hamlets actually still exist! Here’s a quick snapshot of the first 5 of 10, listed alphabetically (Part 2 is on Thursday). USE THE MAP TO LOCATE THEM!

Note: this is just a SNAPSHOT - the link below has more history.

1. CLARKSVILLE: Settled colonially (including by the Clarke family) in the 1700s and cluster into a hamlet in the early 1800s. It also had a blacksmith, tanyard, and schoolhouse in the 1800s; and in the 1900s, a diner, motels, gas stations, and more. It disappeared in the mid-1900s when American Cyanamid opened an agricultural R&D facility and shopping centers and apartments were built along Quakerbridge Rd.

2. DUTCH NECK: Settled largely by Dutch families in the mid-1700s, it's WW’s best-preserved hamlet. It's featured homes, churches, a schoolhouse, a school, tavern, a store/post office, chapel, library, courthouse, pauper’s burial ground, fire co., town hall, and more. Still exists!

3. EDINBURG: Originally called “Assunpink” when it grew in the early-mid 1700s. It's had a store/post office, hotels, basket shops, cider mills, blacksmith, schoolhouse, broom factory, and more industrial establishments, and homes. Still exists!

4. GROVERS MILL: Centered on its mid-1700s grist/sawmill, surrounded by tenant houses and pond. It's nationally famous as the site of a fake “Martian Invasion” during the 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio play. Still exists!

5. PENNS NECK: Named for early landowner William Penn (yes, that one), it was settled colonially in the mid-1700s and clustered as a hamlet in the early 1800s. It featured a cemetery, Baptist church, inns, wheelwright, schoolhouse, pool, and much more. Its suburban area grew starting in the 1920s. Home to the renowned Sarnoff Research Center (now SRI). Still exists!

On Thursday, we'll cover PORT MERCER, PRINCETON BASIN, PRINCETON JUNCTION, SCUDDERS MILLS, AND VANHISEVILLE.

BUT CAN'T WAIT TO LEARN MORE? THEN VISIT: HTTPS://WWW.WESTWINDSORHISTORY.COM/HAMLETS.HTML

05/17/2026

WHAT WOULD YOU PUT IN A WEST WINDSOR TIME CAPSULE???

That's not a hypothetical question. On July 4, our nonprofit will bury a 50-year capsule at the historic SchenK Farmstead and WE INVITE YOU to include items!

All current & former WWP residents and WW businesses & community groups are invited (DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: JUNE 14). Want people from the future to remember a local school? Or local transit? A community event? A local bridge or roadway? All of these (and more!) are relevant. We just ask that YOUR ITEMS BE SMALL, DURABLE FOR 50 YEARS, AND RELEVANT TO WW IN THE 2020S.

To participate, visit the following link, and download, fully read, and sign the submission form (the forms are required). Good luck!!!

https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/timecapsule.html

05/15/2026

JUNE 7: "COLONIAL DAY" WINDSOR HISTORY MUSEUM!

This free, family-friendly event is organized during the USA's 250th birthday year. Visit the Schenck Farmstead any time from 1-4PM for:

✯ MUSEUM TOURS: Explore our farmhouse, barn, school, & more.
✯ HISTORIC MUSIC by live bands.
✯ TRADITIONAL ARTISANS: Enjoy soapmaking & more.
✯ REENACTORS - Meet Ben Franklin and others,
✯ CRAFTS & GAMES FOR KIDS.
✯ COMMUNITY BOOTHS - from area community groups.

🌟PLUS: At 2 PM, we'll dedicate a new WEST WINDSOR HISTORY MARKER, on SLAVERY AT THE FARMSTEAD/WEST WINDSOR!

Want to set up a community booth? Email us to register for a table space: [email protected]

📍WHERE: 50 Southfield Rd, West Windsor, NJ 08550 (look for the red barn).
📅 WHEN: June 7, 1-4PM.

Event page: https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/colonialday.html

This program is made possible by the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the NJ Historical Commission.

Historical Society of West Windsor

06/01/2026

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