Yesterday The Lenster and I took a drive back in time to the nearby town of Cranbury, NJ where the first recorded evidence of buildings goes back to 1698 on a deed of sale between Josiah Prickett and John Harrison for land "with all improvements".
The Federal style Cranbury Inn dates back to 1800.
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Back then, in the 18th century, it took three days to travel between New York City and Philadelphia....a ride that now takes us just an hour from my house !!
It was also the time that the Lenape Indians lived in that area.
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Cranbury is now a state Historic District.
There are a lot of architectural styles in Cranbury. Federal style, Greek Rivival, Carpenter Gothic, Tudor, Queen Anne, Craftsman and......on and on.
Here is some of the architecture......many carefully restored.
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The First Presbyterian Church, Main Street, organized 1738, present building 1839
The A.S. Cole Son & Co (below) c.1858 is the oldest business in continuos operation in Cranbury. It began as a cabinet shop and developed into....of all things, a funeral home !
Below: The House of John S. Silvers c.1886
This is in the Queen Anne style and was the first house to have a flush toilet installed in 1900 before the advent of town water !
it also has a porte cochere over the driveway and a carriage house with living quarters for the groom.
Below..the United Methodist Church c.1848
In 1977 four teenage members used fragments to restore the rose window that had been destroyed by a hurricane in 1960.
Below is The House of Doctors c.1800 & notable for the cast iron grillwork on the front door and as one of the only pre 20th century brick homes in town (there are 3).
House calls were $1 and $8 for delivering babies !!!
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A beautiful day in the village park
there is a memorial in the park to Todd M. Beamer, a Cranbury resident who was aboard one of the planes on 9-11 and is famous for saying "Are you ready? Okay. Let's roll."
and lastly a visit to the historic cemetery
There are five acres donated to the Presbyterian Church in 1740. More than 40 graves predate the 1800's.
It was a beautiful day outside and very fitting for a little trip back in time.
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Next report will be from sunny ARUBA !!
Someones getting married !!