The Kingston Historical Society
Kingston, New Jersey
We have added two Kingston, NJ events to our calendar, both on Sunday, January 4th. (click on highlighted links) The Franklin 250 Celebration poster for these events is available HERE
January 4, 2026 @ 12:30 pm
Lunch with Washington and his Generals (LINK)
Eno Terra, Kingston 4484 Route 27, Kingston
ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED– PURCHASE ONLINE
(click link to learn more.)
January 4, 2026 @ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
The Conference on Horseback
Kingston Presbyterian Cemetery, Church Street, Kingston
Three videos are now available from the KHS annual meeting on November 11, 2025. The first is a report during the meeting and the other two are presentations by our invited speaker
The business meeting consisted of opening remarks by Robert von Zumbusch, president of the Kingston Historical Society, and a review of KHS events since the previous annual meeting by Charlie Dieterich, society secretary.
The society then reelected Sharon O’Donnell Hansen, Charles Dieterich, and Robert Brown for three years and
Robert McAuley for a one-year term. President Robert von Zumbusch closed the meeting and introduced our speaker.
New Jersey has always been a diverse and complicated place, with many people of differing ideas and beliefs. In the increasingly tense years before the outbreak of the rebelion in 1775, New Jersey was alive with activity. Will Krakower, author and interpreter at the Princeton Battlefield, discussed some of people, places, and events which drew the Jerseys ever closer to a war which would pit neighbor against neighbor.
This first video includes a brief introduction by Robert von Zumbusch. Questions about part 1 are at the beginning of Part 2 (see below)
Park Historian Krakower shares improvements to Princeton Battlefield State Park as well as future plans to enhance visitor experience at the Battlefield, during and after the 250th anniversary. The video begins with questions about Part 1 (above)
Videos are hosted on Archive.org, a donation-funded website providing streaming (and downloadable) videos. We thank them and encourage you to donate to this civic minded organization.
The Kingston Historical Society wants your functional-but-not-Windows 11 up-gradable computer! We need a few laptops for:
We are interested in Windows 7,8 or 10 Laptops in working order with a working Display, Wifi, a Power Supply, and Battery.
We will be modifying the laptops to add a new hard drive and operating system and will be removing your hard drive (files) and giving it to you to save or destroy.
We will give you the hard drive and a letter of donation thanks from our 501(c)3 organization.
Because we will be removing the hard drive in front of you, we ask you to donate in person (or someone you designate.) We will plan some sessions at the Kingston Locktender’s House for this process. Please fill out the form below and we will arrange a day and time via e-mail.
Display = The screen in the lid of a laptop computer
WiFi = Usually built in to the laptop, sometimes something that plugs in to a USB port. It connects to the Internet using a digital method 802.11b/g/n, etc.
Power Supply = a small block that plugs in to the 120V outlet and has a wire that connects to the laptop to power it or charge the battery.
Mouse = Either a computer mouse, Track Ball, Touch Pad, or a Touch Point.
Battery= Usually built in to the bottom of the laptop computer. It powers the laptop when not connected to the power supply.
Locktender’s House Open House and “Five Canal House Challenge” was a great success. Thanks to the 40 groups who visited us on Sunday, September 14th.
Attendees told us that it was hard to find the “Old Lincoln Highway” so we have added a new page to our website: https://www.khsnj.org/directions/ This has directions to the D&R parking areas by Kingston lock and other local destinations.
The D&R Canal Watch coordinated the “scavenger hunt”. The goal is to visit five of the remaining D&R canal houses from Lawrence Township to northern Franklin Township. Some were bridgetender houses, some were locktender houses, and Kingston’s was both. Members of local groups stamped your “Canal Passport” at each House to win a small prize.
Participating Locations and Organizations :
Carrie Fellows, Executive Director of New Jersey’s Crossroads of the American Revolution Assoc. Inc. came to Kingston on June 10th to talk about RevolutionNJ, celebrations of the 250th anniversary of New Jersey’s role in the American Revolution. Below is a video of her talk.
To view the video, click the link below. You will watch the video streaming from Archive.org, a free, non-commercial website.
https://archive.org/details/khs-spring-2025-talk
This is the announcement of the talk LINK
With the appointment of George Washington as Commander in Chief, Kingston’s moments in the American Revolution begin. Our web page:
KHSNJ.ORG/250th will list moments in history involving our crossroads. Stay tuned for more!
Download the latest Kingston Historian from our Archives Page
Or click HERE
Six short (20 minute) videos came out of the Kingston Historical Society’s “Tea Time Talk” series this winter. The videos are stored on Archive.org, and freely viewable (no commercials, no paywall.) You can also download them to your computer, or share the links with friends and fellow Kingstonians.
All talks were recorded at the Kingston United Methodist Church, Kingston, New Jersey. We thank them for providing the hall and space for tea and conversation. Thanks to Doug Miller for recording the February talks. Direct links shown at the end of each description
Mapleton, Preserved: Karen Linder, president of the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands, speaks on the preservation of land along Mapleton Road in Kingston. https://archive.org/details/mapleton-preserved
Everybody Wanted the King’s Town: KHS Secretary Charlie Dieterich traces the evolution of boundaries in Kingston– from the first English settlement to modern Girl Scout Cookie distribution. https://archive.org/details/everybody-wanted-the-kings-town
Bottled in Kingston: Kingston resident Alexandria Trevena shares research which started when she bought a bottle online. Learn about a half dozen bottle companies with links to Kingston. https://archive.org/details/bottled-in-kingston
The Kingston Green Belt: Tari Panaleo, president of the Kingston Greenways Association, describes the evolution of a preserved greenbelt around the village center of Kingston. https://archive.org/details/kingston-greenbelt-2025
Kingston in the American Revolution: Local historian and vice president of the Kingston Historical Society. He gives a brief overview of how the warring armies used the village of Kingston during the Revolutionary War. https://archive.org/details/kingston-in-the-american-revolution-2025
The Road Through Kingston in 1679: Kristina Hill, member of the archivist team, shares diary entries from Jasper Dankers. His was the first written description of the route from Piscataway to Trenton, NJ. Charlie Dieterich adds context. https://archive.org/details/road-thru-kingston-1679
Although the day was cool and damp, our Locktender’s House opening day “open house” was a wonderful success.
Visitors from New Jersey and beyond saw our press release in local papers (including page 4 of Town Topics, page 10 of US1) and came in spite of the misty rain.
Members of the Historical Society trustees and archivists pitched in to set up, bring refreshments and do demonstrations using our canal lock and swing bridge models. About two dozen visitors enjoyed a cold drink, a brownie or a Toll House Cookie.
Our archivist team provided demonstrations using two study models built by Paul Kane for the D&R Canal State Park twenty years ago.
The opening day celebration is a reminder that our historical society exists to educate the community. History is learned by sharing stories. We are thankful for those who braved the weather to visit!
Also thanks to Archivist Bob B. and his son Nick who helped set up, and Sheila for the cookies!
Charlie
The Locktender’s House on the Delaware and Raritan Canal at the Kingston bridge is closed from December through March, so on April 5th we celebrate the re-opening of our display rooms.
Our open house begins at 10 AM and runs through 5 PM, with demonstration models of the Kingston swing bridge and canal lock.
You are welcome to come browse our current displays:
