Category: kingston

News or events in Kingston which we participate in or promote

Conference on Horseback 2026 photos

Fife and Drum along Church St.

The third event of Sunday, January 4th was a reenactment of Washington’s Conference on Horseback, as announced (with background information) HERE. The event followed “Lunch with Washington and his Generals” held at Eno Terra, by the bridge in Kingston, and the morning battle reenactment on Princeton Pike in Princeton, NJ.

Map from December 1776 showing Kingstown and army movements from American Revolutionary War
British Map of troop movements in Kingston (Library of Congress)

While the generals were lunching, the army enjoyed a free meal (and warmth) at the Kingston Deli. The squad included at least one soldier killed in the morning battle on the Princeton Pike.

Event organizers from Franklin Township, Somerset County NJ mingled with the troops.
What’s a battle if you don’t get a picture first?

Meanwhile… (NEXT)

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Holiday Tree Lighting Photos 2025

The Kingston Locktender’s House was decorated, and ready for guests….

Members of the community assembled…

The kids got front row seats…

And the Kingston Women’s Chorus sang “O Christmas Tree”…

And led the crowd in several sing-alongs…

As the crowd listened and enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies.

But some kids would rather see the fire truck.

Thank you to members of the Kingston Historical Society board and archivists, and their families.
Thank you to the members of the Kingston Women’s Chorus and their leader Heather Robbins.
Thank you to Doug Miller for sound.
Thank you to the Kingston Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 for providing lighting and for showing off the engine.
Thank you to all who came, especially those who brought their neighbors.
Come back next year!!

Dressed For Winter

The Kingston Locktender’s House sports winter-appropriate decorations for the end of 2025.

Thanks to Anne Zeman and Karen Linder, the doors now have wreaths…

And the windows have greenery.

Even the old Toll House has some decorations

Even though the Locktender’s House is closed for the winter, you can still learn what’s happening by looking at our community window.

And maybe grab a trail map by the front door.

Two American Revolution Events Scheduled

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

Map from December 1776 showing Kingstown and army movements from American Revolutionary War
British Map of troop movements in Kingston (Library of Congress)

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

Poster of Conference on Horseback event, January 4.2026
Poster from Franklin 250 click to enlarge

2025 Annual Meeting Videos

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

Table of Contents

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.

Click on image to play video (in new window)

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)

Click on image to play video (in new window)

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)

lick on image to play video (in a new window)

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.

Five Canal House Open House a Success!

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.

KHS President Robert von Zumbusch covered part of the afternoon session, demonstrating the model of the canal lock and the A-frame swing bridge.
Archivists Ruth Randall and Charlie Dieterich take a break after welcoming Open House visitors

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 :

  • East Millstone Bridgetender’s House
    • Blackwells Mills Bridgetender’s House (Blackwells Mills Canal House Association)
    • Griggstown Bridgetender’s House (The Raritan-Millstone Heritage Alliance)
    • Kingston Locktender’s House (Kingston Historical Society)
    • Port Mercer Bridgetender’s House (Lawrence Historical Society)

Spring Talk Video: Carrie Fellows

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

Volunteer!