Excerpt from the “Passport” showing Kingston Locktender’s House on D & R Canal
October 21, 2023 was South Brunswick Township’s History Day Scavenger Hunt. The goal was to explore South Brunswick’s historic buildings and sites in a family friendly way. Participants received a “Passport to local history” which would be stamped at five locations in the township
The event was sponsored by the South Brunswick Library and the South Brunswick Historical Society. The Township was celebrating 225 years.
Trustee Sharon Hansen stamped passports on the Kingston Bridge, built in 1798– the first stop on the Scavenger HuntRev. Dixon affixes a stamp to a Scavenger Hunt Passport at the Kingston Presbyterian ChurchKHS President Robert von Zumbusch demonstrates how the lock works, at the Kingston Locktender’s House, a stop on the Scavenger HuntMembers of the Friends of Princeton NurseryLands opened their classroom at the Mapleton Preserve (The Princeton Nurseries) 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston. A stop on the Scavenger HuntThe Titus Farm, in Kendall Park, NJ was the final stop on the 2023 Scavenger Hunt.
The Marker says:
The Titus Farm
For 53 years, Thomas Titus and his descendants farmed this plot of land. Once an enslaved person, his remains lie here in an unmarked grave, as if keeping watch over the old farmstead.
Gerardus Beekman, the slave holder, was a member of the prominent Beekman family of New York and New Jersey. In 1814, Beekman penned his final wishes, ” I will that my Negro man Thomas shall have freedom after serving my heirs, or any man he shall choose, so long as the time to make fifteen years from the first day of March eighteen hundred and two.”
Although not yet a free man, Thomas and his wife, Sarah TenBroeck, purchased a small farm for #50 from Ferdinand Van Dyke, in August 1817. On August 2rd 1818, the official manumission was written and filed at the County Clrek’s office in New Brunswick. Thomas farmed this land for the next 32 years. Oats, wheat, potatoes and corn were cultivated near an orchard of peach trees.
Thomas and his wife Sarah also raised twelve children, six of whom were born after the family’s manumission. On July 21st 1849, Thomas Titus died of the Plague at 64 years of age.
Blanche Woolf, born Blanche Peebles, spoke of running Peebles General Store in Kingston
Senator Charles B. Moore (1822-1904) (Nick Robinson)
Senator Charles B. Moore spoke of life in Kingston and in the New Jersey Senate.
Reflections were based on research by George Luck Jr. and Peyton Dixon.
Video of the event….
Although the event was planned for the cemetery itself, the rain that day caused us to move to the lower level of the Presbyterian Church, a location which allowed us to record the event for posterity. The video of the event (1 hour and 21 minutes long) is available HERE.
“Memorable Places,” the Fall 2023 Art Show of the South Brunswick Arts Commission at Municipal Building 8:30AM- 4PM through November 24, 2023 Free and open to the public. (Monmouth Junction)
This show features the Princeton Nursery Lands as one of the township’s memorable places. More information at www.sbarts.org
Sept 30 FPNL Public Lands Day (change)
New Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023, 2 to 4 PM (postponed from 9/23) Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands is celebrating National Public Lands Day with a cleanup at the Mapleton Preserve on Saturday Sept. 30 from 2 to 4 PM Pre-register at http://fpnl.org/
Oct 14 Cemetery Tales, Kingston Cemetery
Join members of the Kingston Presbyterian Church at Kingston’s historic graveyard on Church St. for a Saturday, mid-day remembrance of those buried in Kingston. Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 2pm
NOTE: In event of rain, talks will be given at the Presbyterian Church on Main Street. (4565 Route 27, Kingston)
Meet some of Kingston’s ancestors, as they tell you their story, during an afternoon stroll through KPC’s historic cemetery. The event is free, but an RSVP is requested. call: (609) 921-8895 or email: kingstonpresnj@gmail.com
Oct. 15 Pancake Breakfast– Kingston Vol. Fire Co.
Sunday Morning- before or after church! It has been a few years since this many-decade old tradition was last offered. Come 8AM-1PM at the Kingston Fire House. Good food, good community, show our volunteers how much we support them. This year you can reserve tickets, or make a donation, at https://kvfc-breakfast.cheddarup.com
The Fire Company regularly provides space for KHS public meetings. We thank them for their part in community building. Learn more about the Kingston Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 (and directions and how to become a firefighter) at https://kingstonfireco.com/
Oct 21 South Brunswick Twp. History Day 11 AM
Presented by the South Brunswick Township Historical Society. A Saturday “Scavenger Hunt” encourages groups to visit locations across the township over a three hour period from 11 AM to 2 PM, with a birthday cake at Woodlot Park at 2:30 PM.
The Kingston Historical Society will be participating in this Saturday mid-day event. Tours and docents will at the Kingston Bridge, the D&R Canal Locktender’s House on the Delaware and Raritan Canal, and the State Park Headquarters at the Princeton Nursery Lands on Mapleton Road, as well as the home of Kingston’s 300 year old church community, the Presbyterian Church on Main Street.
“Seeds, Nuts, & Whirlygigs” Kingston Greenways is hosting a 1.5 mile family-friendly Saturday afternoon stroll admiring fall colors and exploring methods that trees use to spread into new territories. Meet at the D&R Canal State Park Headquarters 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston at 3 PM. See kingstongreenways.org for more details
Nov 14 KHS Annual Meeting Tuesday Evening
Local author Markus McParland will speak on his new book about Kingston at 7:30 Tuesday Nov 14 at the Kingston Fire House on Heathcote Brook Road.
“Community Collection for Kingston, NJ” is a book compiled by Markus McParland for the benefit of the Kingston Historical Society.
We plan to have the talk available online as well as in person at the Kingston Fire House.
Nov 23 (new) Thanksgiving Day Hike
Join the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands for a mid-morning all-ages “ramble” around the Mapleton Preserve. Check fpnl.org for details as the day approaches (and photos from last year!)
Dec 3 Holiday Tree Lighting– Sunday
Come down to the Locktender’s House! The Kingston Historical Society, with help from the Kingston Womens Chorus will brighten the canal at our traditional tree lighting. Event will be at 4:30 PM. Dress warmly!
Taverns of Kingston, A Saturday Afternoon walk led by George Luck, Jr. on May 6, 2023
Half way between New York and Philadelphia, Kingston, New Jersey was a natural place for inns and taverns for travelers. The first inn/tavern was established by Henry Greenland in 1683 on the west side of the Millstone River; subsequent taverns/inns were all on the east side.
The two hour walk was led by lifetime Kingston resident (and KHS Vice President) George Luck, Jr. George is frequent speaker on Kingston history, both in character as a historical figure, or as himself.
We started at the Kingston Presbyterian Church parking lot (4565 NJ Route 27), then proceeded down Main Street (Route 27) toward the D&R Canal. On the way George points out the sites of the various former inns and taverns that once made Kingston an important and busy stopping place for travelers as well as a gathering place for locals from colonial times, through the Revolutionary War, the early republic, the Lincoln Highway and today.
The talk ends at Eno Terra Restaurant, formerly “The Kings Inn” and then “The Winepress” The video is 70 minutes. Video and Audio by Charlie Dieterich, Post-Production by Doug Miller.
Images are from various Kingston Historical Society collections.
The Kingston Historical Society thanks Archive.org for hosting our community video. The video can be downloaded from their website https://archive.org/details/@khsnj
The Kingston Historical Society’s walking tour of Main Street will be held Saturday, April 29th. George Luck, Jr will share his knowledge of the history of Kingston’s Inns and Taverns.
For more Information on the walk, which begins at 1 PM, see this “Event” HERE
Preregistration is required. To Register, go directly to the registration page HERE
It is a chance for folks in our community organizations to show off, and for neighbor to meet neighbor. We usually have some music, and maybe some games.
The Kingston Historical Society and the Kingston Village Advisory Committee are looking for other organizations and individuals who are willing to help make the Kingston picnic an annual event open to the entire community.
So far we are looking for volunteers… by mid-summer we hope to have a general invite for everyone in the greater Kingston community.
Want to learn more and volunteer? Fill out our form HERE
To promote interest in the history of Kingston, NJ and to foster research skills, we present our first “Kingston History Mystery” at our dedicated webpage. All are welcome to propose answers. To propose an answer, fill out the form on that page. We will verify identities before posting results at the end of the month.
Our first mystery involves dating a photograph of Kingston. Good luck!
Last fall Markus McParland came to the Kingston Historical Society with a proposal. As a school project he wanted to do research on Kingston’s history.
Since that time he’s found hundreds of new items and stories related to Kingston’s past. He recently put out a call to the community, placing these posters around town:
He recently visited a trustee’s meeting and shared some of his work. We at the historical society wish him luck as he completes the project!
And his dad, Glenn McParland, has joined the Kingston Historical Society as a trustee!
Take a look at this article in the Franklin Reporter!
