Historical Society of West Windsor

Name: Historical Society of West Windsor
Address: 50 Southfield Road, West Windsor, NJ, 08550, US
Telephone: +16099039013
Price range: Not Applicable

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Historical Society of West Windsor

Our 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit preserves & promotes West Windsor Township, NJ's history.

08/31/2026

Thanks once again to South Jersey Cemetery Restoration Society for their ongoing work on the Schenck-Covenhoven Cemetery!

Here are some more pics (courtesy of Peter Ligeti) from a recent restoration day, focused on the vault of George Washington Schenck (1812/13-1849). The cemetery is ~2,000 feet north of where Washington Road crosses Route 1. Dating to the 1730s/40s, its 80-100 burials hold West Windsor Twp founders, likely Revolutionary War soldiers, and more. After its last legal owners, the Penns Neck Cemetery Association, dissolved (~1940s), it decayed over decades. We became stewards (not owners) last year and started restoration this year.

While our all-volunteer nonprofit can clean some stones, we need professional help for the broken/shattered ones and the perimeter wall, hence why we thank SJCRS. Thanks as well to all neighbors who have donated to this effort, to the Princeton chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for grant funding, and to Princeton University for granting vehicular access (they don't own the cemetery but do own the land surrounding it).

And no, despite the Maxwell House can, he's not using coffee to restore the vault! 😁 He's using a special mortar blend (low compressive strength so expansion and contraction won't damage the original stones).

Want to help? Volunteer or donate: https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/contact.html

08/28/2026

PLEASE SHARE: MUKTI BELAHAL, A WEST WINDSOR NEIGHBOR, IS MISSING.

She and her family have volunteered for the Historical Society of West Windsor for a few years, and have given so much back to this community. Mukti was on the pilgrimage trip with the Isha S3 group in Nepal, a country recently hit by flash floods. Her last known location was at:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jgjS1Fb5PPC2UR1y6

If anyone has family/friends/contacts in Nepal or Tibet, and they happen to have any relevant info about Mukti or the Isha group, please call (609) 379-5176 (leave a voicemail) or email [email protected].

Sonia Gawas

08/23/2026

NEW WEST WINDSOR HISTORY MARKER: RAGGEDY ANN & ANDY!

Congrats to Akash Myadam of Troop 66 for installing his Eagle Project - a permanent kiosk detailing how West Windsor is directly linked to one of the most influential children's franchises of all time: Raggedy Ann & Andy.

It now stands at the entrance to the tennis courts off North Mill Road, just next to a few historic buildings that were part of the home of Howard Cox, publisher of the RA&A book series in the mid-20th century. Cox was a major reason RA&A was a worldwide franchise. In fact, in the late '50s, he ran the business out of the garage, which still stands right behind the kiosk. Thanks so much to Akash, and to his fellow scouts and adults.

The kiosk reads as follows:

*****

"RAGGEDY ANN & ANDY FARM

This park was once linked to one of the most influential children's franchises ever.

This farm near the "Vanhiseville" crossroads passed through several families in the 1800s, then in 1912 to Maurice Hawk (pronounced "Morris"), a longtime Board of Education member and Township Clerk. Maurice Hawk School is named for him. In 1933, Hawk sold the farm to Howard Cox, publisher of the Raggedy Ann & Anndy stories. Created in the early 1900s by Johnny Gruelle, the books and dolls - and later TV shows, records, films, plays, and more - have been a cultural phenomenon for generations.

Cox grew the franchise into an enduring brand, serving as company President after Gruelle died. By the late 1950s he ran part of the business from this farm's garage.

The Cox-Scheffey family lived here for decades. In 1989, West Windsor acquired the farm and soon turned it into this park. They demolished the house but some original buildings remain as lasting links to one of America's most influential children's franchises."

*****

There's a lot more history; learn more: https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/coxscheffeyfarm.html

And if you're looking for a scout project, let us know! We have plenty. Reach out: westwindsorhistory.com

GOOGLE MAPS PINPOINT: https://maps.app.goo.gl/j6RvmyiotiK6RBou6

08/19/2026

THE HISTORY OF WEST WINDSOR'S WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

It's in a tiny park at 501 Village Road West in the historic “Dutch Neck” community (where South Mill Road meets Village Roads East/West). It lists 227 residents who served during World War II (about 14% of the town's entire population, of any age), including 11 women, and identifies seven servicemen who died in the conflict.

During World War II, Washington Camp No. 180 of the Patriotic Order Sons of America (a fraternal organization) maintained a temporary honor roll for local servicemembers. On Nov. 8, 1945, members of local churches, fire companies, civic groups, and town government met to discuss replacing it with a permanent memorial and formed an “Honor Roll Committee.” After considering several locations, the committee selected property in front of the old Town Hall (this was back when an older Town Hall was in Dutch Neck; the current municipal center wasn’t built to replace it until the 1970s). Harry Kersey prepared the design, Joseph Jingoli received the masonry contract, and Edgely Brass Works produced the plaque. The roughly $1,200 project was funded by residents, businesses, organizations, and local government.

The dedication ceremony on May 25, 1947 included placement of a memorial scroll, laying of the cornerstone, music, floral tributes, an American Legion wreath, and an address by Congressman Frank A. Mathews Jr. Old Town Hall was demolished in 1977. Later, the site became a public park and the memorial, originally directly at the crossroads was moved a few dozen feet farther from the street corner. In 1990, the grounds were renamed “Veterans’ Memorial Park” following a naming contest. Annual remembrance ceremonies continue at the site.

GOOGLE MAPS LOCATION: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7fBhMwinMggn7wfL8

08/18/2026

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WEST WINDSOR'S "LIBERTY TREE?" 🌳

Near the three flagpoles at Rogers Arboretum is an American elm surrounded by mulch and benches (see Google Maps pin below). There's a sign below it, posted by Troop 40 scout Noah Wolfe in 2014, designating it as a "Liberty Tree."

This is not the original liberty tree, however. The very first one was a specific elm tree in Boston, Massachusetts. On Aug. 14, 1765, near the start of the American Revolution, a group of revolutionaries hanged an effigy of a stamp distributor from its branches to protest the Stamp Act. This act turned the tree into a central staging ground for public meetings and protests. Soon, other colonies established their own Liberty Trees, turning the living symbol into a network of resistance.

The tree represented freedom, self-governance, and colonial defiance. Recognizing its symbolic power, British soldiers and Loyalists cut the Boston tree down in Aug. 1775. However, this act only cemented the Liberty Tree’s symbolic power throughout the Revolution and beyond.

In the centuries since, countless other “Liberty Trees” have been planted across the nation as a continuation of this history. West Windsor's was planted around 2013/2014 and Noah soon installed the surrounding benches, interpretive sign, and landscaping for his Eagle Project. However, the sign's not in great shape anymore (the years have taken a toll), so perhaps a quick service project can restore it...

More history: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/boston-liberty-tree

GOOGLE MAPS PIN: https://maps.app.goo.gl/M6aATzTxkPcSV8Qq8

08/12/2026

It's finally happening - work underway for restoration of the historic Schenck-Covenhoven cemetery!

Thanks to South Jersey Cemetery Restoration Society for their ongoing work on this 1730s/40s era burial ground. Holding West Windsor township founders and likely Revolutionary War soldiers, it's about 2,000 feet north of the intersection of Route 1 and Washington Road and is one of West Windsor's oldest and most historic sites. After the old Penns Neck Cemetery Association dissolved circa 1940, it fell into significant disrepair (stones toppled and shattered, vegetation grew into the perimeter wall, and there was some vandalism), so we're working to revive it.

Our nonprofit, which became the cemetery's unofficial stewards (but not owners) last year, recently started cleaning stones, but actually putting back together the cracked and shattered stones requires professional expertise. Thus, we hired SJCRS. They're repairing several dozen of the worse-condition stones as well as the perimeter wall. Here's just one example of a stone whose top half fell off, probably decades ago. I'll post more photos in the coming weeks.

HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE: They still have more work to do, so we ask the general public to PLEASE NOT ENTER this fragile site while restoration is ongoing.

Thanks to Princeton University for providing access to SJCRS (the University doesn't own the cemetery, but they do own the land surrounding it). And thank you to the Princeton chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for providing grant funding. And, of course, to the Historical Society's Schenck-Covenhoven Cemetery Committee for overseeing the entire restoration.

Learn more: https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/SCCem.html

08/10/2026

FREE HISTORY/NATURE WALK: AUG. 23 AT 10AM.

Join three community nonprofits: West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance, Friends of West Windsor Open Space, and us! Start at Van Nest Park, walk through the historic "Grovers Mill" neighborhood (made famous by Orson Welles' 1938 "War of the Worlds" broadcast), learn about colonial-era and Presidential history, and traverse through Ron Rogers Preserve for a pleasant nature stroll, complete with new signage co-funded by FOWWOS and installed by the WWBPA. Please register below. You'll get a reflective armband, gardening gloves, and snack!

bit.ly/45NXDHU

(redirects to https://sites.google.com/view/semiquin-ronrogerspreservewalk)

08/05/2026

DO YOU CARE ABOUT PRESERVING WEST WINDSOR'S HISTORY?

Join our next meeting, next Tuesday August 11, 7PM, at the Princeton Junction firehouse (245 Clarksville Rd).

All volunteers and members of the public are encouraged to attend. Per usual, we'll discuss preservation initiatives, community events, volunteer opportunities, more. This is the best way to stay current on Society business. We strongly recommend attending in-person (it's much easier to see/hear everyone else) but have a Zoom link for those who need it.

More info (including the agenda): https://WestWindsorHistory.com/Meetings

08/04/2026

EN ROUTE/FABER NEWS CAFE

Tucked in the lower level of the Princeton Junction train station ticket building is a take-out food concession selling meals, newspapers, snacks, electronics. If you commute into NYC, you might pass by it daily.

The original occupant here was “En Route,” opened in Dec. 1989 by Louise Mathews, a former engineer at the Princeton Plasma Physica Lab, and Cuyler Matthews, also an engineer, chef, and designer. After securing a lease agreement with NJ Transit, they renovated the unfinished basement area beneath the ticket office (built in 1987). The shop offered commuters hot breakfast items, coffee, fresh baked goods, daily lunch and dinner specials, reading materials, and train schedules. Some food was prepared by Adrianne Galletta, owner-operator of Galletta’s Galley (where Brother’s Pizza at 948 Alexander Road in the "Berrien City" neighborhood is today).

En Route operated here until around 2010, when NJ Transit awarded Secaucus-based Faber Coe & Gregg Inc. a lease (Faber is a larger chain; it has locations in airports, train terminals, and highway rest stops across the U.S.). As part of the agreement, the company performed physical renovations and, accessibility upgrades. It still operates in this location as a traditional concession spot.

Address

50 Southfield Road
West Windsor, NJ
08550

Telephone

+16099039013

Website

http://westwindsorhistory.com/, https://www.tiktok.com/@schenckfarmstead, https://www.youtube.com/@schenckfarmstead, htt

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