George Luck, Jr. led a well attended but abbreviated tour of taverns and tavern locations in Kingston, NJ on May 21st.
George Luck explains the history of the Union Line Hotel
George Luck, Jr. led a well attended but abbreviated tour of taverns and tavern locations in Kingston, NJ on May 21st. We were able to capture video of some portions of the walk, and will be editing them together for posting on this website.
Although the walk was shortened, George did agree to answer further questions in air conditioned comfort at Eno Terra Restaurant on Route 27 near the Kingston Lock. The building was actually intended to be the final stop on the tour, having been Fisk’s Store, Feldman’s Store, The Kings Inn, and the Winepress Restaurant before being converted to Eno Terra. We thank the owners and staff of the restaurant for their hospitality.
We will create another event in the future to share more of George’s research. We will post the video when it is available.
On April 9, 2022 a new display opened in the display space of the Locktender’s House. Visit HERE for more details, and THIS EVENT to view the press release
The display of maps showing Kingston’s evolution from pre-history to the 20th century is now available HERE Below is the press release announcing the opiening of the display.
Press Release
Kingston: On The Map, opens April 9th 2022 in the History Room at the D &R Canal Locktender’s House, on old Lincoln Highway (off Route 27) in Kingston. On view Saturdays and Sundays April to November from 10 AM to 4 PM. Air circulation is limited, so masks and distancing are requested.
Kingston 1850 from “Map of Middlesex County, New Jersey,” Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
The village of Kingston has hosted colonial taverns, armies during the American Revolution, canal boats, railroad trains and travelers on the Lincoln Highway. One of the oldest settlements in central New Jersey, Kingston evolved with America over its 340-year history.
The display uses journal entries and prints of a dozen historical maps to illustrate Kingston’s evolution, from settlement to commercial center to modern community. One map shows how Kingston moved between the colonies of East and West New Jersey. Another shows both Kingston and Princeton divided by county lines. Railroads appeared in the 19th century, disappearing by the 20th. The Delaware and Raritan Canal was built for commerce, but is now a recreation destination.
This display follows a talk by George Luck, Jr. and Charlie Dieterich, titled “Why is Kingston Here?” given this past February.
Dieterich explained that “in preparing for our talk I looked at dozens of historical maps of central New Jersey. I was struck by the ways Kingston reinvented itself in every generation. In the 1600s it was a place to rest after crossing the Millstone River. In the 1700s Kingston thrived as the midway tavern stop on the Kings Highway and a place to change horses. During the American Revolution, Washington used the Kingston hill to gain perspective, returning to pass through the settlement in several directions during the war.
“In the 19th century Kingston changed to a prosperous mill town, a port on the canal, a station on two railroads (now long gone) and a stop on the Lincoln Highway. The village included two schools and supported two industries: Kingston Quarry and Princeton Nurseries. In the 21st century Kingston has become a multicultural community with many parks and open space.”
The display allows visitors to go deeper on each of these “Kingstons.”
The Kingston Historical Society is planning events including a community walk on May 21st and a panel discussion later this spring. Details of future events and a video of the February talk are available on the organization’s website, https://www.khsnj.org/.
About the Kingston Historical Society:
The Kingston Historical Society (KHS) was formed in 1997 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization to preserve, enhance and promote the history of the village of Kingston, New Jersey. The KHS has its headquarters in the Locktender’s House on the Delaware and Raritan Canal where it maintains the original circa 1834 home of families who operated the Kingston locks on the canal.
From pre-history to the present, Kingston has a “Place in History.” George Luck, Jr and Charlie Dieterich present a survey of moments from the settlement of Kingston, New Jersey.
Kingston Firehouse, Tuesday, February 8 at 7:30 PM
From pre-history to the present, Kingston has a “Place in History.” George Luck, Jr and Charlie Dieterich present a survey of moments from the settlement of Kingston, New Jersey. The talk was especially designed for those who are new to town or unfamiliar with our evolution. Over 40 people attended in person, and 70 online. Those at the firehouse were treated to cookies, hot chocolate and coffee, courtesy of Harbor Chase Assisted Living. www.harborchase.com/
Thanks to the Kingston Womens Chorus and all who attended the December 5, 2021 Holiday Tree Lighting by the Kingston Lock. Once again, the event was outdoors only, but the gathering was warm and joyful.
Join in the celebration! The annual Holiday Tree Lighting will happen, December 5, 2021 at the Kingston Lock, 4:30 PM with outdoor music and familiar faces! There will be music and carols outside, thanks to the Kingston Womens Chorus.
Join in the celebration! The annual Holiday Tree Lighting will happen, December 5, 2021 at the Kingston Lock, Old Lincoln Highway at the Canal. 4:30 PM with outdoor music and familiar faces! The building will not be open this year, so no refreshments, but there will be music and carols outside, thanks to the Kingston Womens Chorus.
GPS:39 Old Lincoln Highway, Princeton NJ 085430 (Kingston Lock)
The KHS annual Holiday Open House and tree-lighting had long been a well loved Kingston Community tradition. Unfortunately, due to the Covid -19 pandemic we were unable to have our traditional Holiday Open House, but we were able to have a “socially distanced” community holiday tree lighting; furthermore, thanks to the generosity of Karin Linder, who provided new lights for the tree and the McParland family, who provided the essential lift to install them on the 65 foot tall tree (which had outgrown its old lights several years ago) the tree was properly and beautifully lighted. To celebrate and give thanks to the generosity of Karen and the McParland family a “socially distanced” tree lighting was held outside the Locktender’s House on the first Sunday in December.
New lights for the tree and, even more, installing them, had long been a challenge – the tree is 65 ft tall – just 10 ft short of that at Rockefeller Center. In addition to the McParlands, Doug Miller, George Luck, Jr, and Tom Jacoby assisted in preparing the lights.
Here are some photos from the 2019 KHS Annual Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting.
The KHS annual Holiday Open House and tree-lighting has long been a Kingston Community tradition. Unfortunately, due to the Covid -19 pandemic we were unable to have our traditional a Holiday Open House, but we were able to have a “socially distanced” holiday tree lighting; furthermore, thanks to the generosity of Karin Linder, who provided new lights and the McParland family, who provided the necessary lift to install them on the tree (which had outgrown its old lights several years ago.) New lights for the tree and, even more, installing them, had been a challenge for several years – the tree is 65 ft tall – just 10 ft short of that at Rockefeller Center. Finally, the tree has been properly and beautifully lighted.
We are most grateful to Karen and the McParland family. In addition to the McParlands, Doug Miller, George Luck, Jr, and Tom Jacoby assisted in the preparation and installation of the new lights.
We look forward to having our traditional Holiday Open House – with refreshments and a tree-lighting with singing. We hope all of you can join us next year on Sunday December 5th 2021!
KHS members, fellow Kingston resident, and many others attended our annual Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting December 1st, 2019 at the Locktender’s House on the D&R Canal. They enjoyed holiday refreshments, decorations by the Kingston Garden Club, the annual tree lighting, and music by the Kingston Womens Chorus.
Two videos about canals were featured at the Kingston Historical Society meeting at the Kingston Firehouse on Tuesday, June 7th, 2016
After some background on the D&R Canal and its past and present importance to Kingston, KHS president Robert von Zumbusch led us through two videos: one, “D&R,” produced and directed by Cliff Crawford in 1976 — before the Canal Park was established; the video included historical footage and interviews with ‘canalers.’ Here is a link for the video on YouTube.
The other, “The Canals of New Jersey,” produced by the Canal Society of New Jersey, provided a comparison with New Jersey’s other navigational canal, the unique Morris Canal, which was very different from the D&R.
