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52. The Modern School and Ferrer Colony HS School
Street, Water Street, Poplar Road and Brookside Road Tel:
(518) 861-5544 The Modern School of Stelton was a remarkable experiment in libertarian education. It was founded in New York City in 1911 by anarchists who were outraged by the execution of Francisco Ferrer who had established the Escuela Moderna in Spain in 1901. The school was moved to Piscataway in 1915 and the parents founded the utopian Ferrer Colony to support the school; the school closed in 1953. The colony included homes on School Street, Water Street, Poplar Road and Brookside Road. About half of the former colony homes are still in existence and can be recognized by their small size and older style. A memorial marker is located at 79 School Street next to the location of the school. The Goldman House (pictured) is located at 143 School Street. In its heyday, the Ferrer Colony became a center of libertarian ideas, art, and politics. Children of the colonists and those in a "Living House" for boarding children experienced "freedom in education" in which students were allowed to make their own educational choices free of established curricula, conventional classes, and grades. It was the hope of the leaders of the colony that this process would foster citizens who would have a responsibility toward others and a profound belief that government is best when derived from the people. For additional information see http://www.libraries.rutgers.rul/libs/scua/modern_school/modern.html, and http://www.talkinghistory.org/stellton/stelton.html. |
The
Modern School |
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54. Cornelius Low House, Middlesex County Museum HS/HM 1225
River Road Tel:
(732) 745-4177 Recently restored to its original splendor, the Georgian manor home now serves as the Middlesex County Museum. This 3-story stone structure has been home to five families since it was built in 1741 and is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Original fireplaces, Delft tiles and a center hall staircase highlight the architectural features of the house. This award-winning Museum produces changing exhibitions on state and local history topics, and offers student workshops, lecture series, outreach components, educational guides, tours of all exhibitions, and traveling trunks for community and school groups. |
Cornelius Low House |
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Raritan Landing |
Johnson
Park (north side of Landing Lane) Tel:
(732) 745-3900, Middlesex County Parks & Recreation A plaque with a narrative about this once thriving Colonial river port, composed by John E. Brush, historian and professor (retired) at Rutgers. The State University is located within this national and state archaeological district. Sponsored by Carol Cleveland Natarelli. |
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Landing
Lane New Jersey's first covered bridge, and one of the earliest in the nation, was situated approximately one mile upstream from New Brunswick. It was erected in 1772 with private subscriptions led by John Duyckinck and Charles Suydam, although the total sum had to be augmented with equal funding from Middlesex and Somerset counties. In 1776 the bridge was partially burned by the Continental Army in order to slow the British pursuit of George Washington as he retreated from New York to Philadelphia. However, Lord Cornwallis' quick attack prevented the Patriots from completely destroying the bridge. After its capture, the bridge was a mustering point for British troops. In the summer of 1777, the British withdrew and on the second anniversary of the Declaration of Independence-July 4, 1778-Washington led his troops along River Road, across Landing Lane Bridge to a celebration on the New Brunswick side of the river. In
1895 an iron and steel bridge replaced the wooden structure. This structure
stood until the fall of 1991 when it was demolished and another one built. |
Landing Lane Bridge |
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57. Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission 703
Jersey Avenue
Tel: (732) 745-4489, (732) 745-3888 Designated a Major Service Organization by the NJ State Council on the arts, the MCC&H Commission was honored with the title LOCAL LEGACY by the U.S. Congress for future generations. The Commission administers two nationally acclaimed historic sites, Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum and East Jersey Olde Towne Village. The Commission provides art and history grants to worthy local organizations, presents the Folk life Program for NJ, sponsors VSA arts NJ, and publishes educational guides in conjunction with its programs. All sites and events are accessible to persons with disabilities; materials are printed in large type and Braille. |
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58. East Jersey Olde Towne Village HS/HM River
Road and Hoes Lane West
Tel: (732) 745-3030 Open to the public for tours, public programs and exhibits, the village is a collection of original, replica and reconstructed 18th and 19th century structures, representing the vernacular architecture typical of farm and merchant communities of central New Jersey. Visitors to the village can enjoy student tours and workshops, monthly storytelling sessions, cultural and historic exhibitions, folk life demonstrations, special kids' days, lectures, concerts and holiday programming. In addition, a permanent exhibit relating to the History of the Raritan Landing is located in the Runyon House. The newly restored Indian Queen Tavern re-opened in September 2005. |
East Jersey Olde Towne Village |
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60. Metlar/Bodine House Museum HS/HM 1281
River Road Tel:
(732) 463-8363 The house, circa 1728 with two 19th century additions, functions as the community's historical and cultural museum. Listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places the site is a rare survivor from "Raritan Landing" a colonial river port and is considered one of the finest examples in the state of a New Jersey vernacular style building-the structure, through the use of carpentry and craftsmanship from the period in which it was constructed truly typifies the socioeconomic mores of the American experience. In
2003, plans were underway for the restoration, rehabilitation and expansion
of the Metlar-Bodine House as the preeminent regional museum interpreting
Central New Jersey's remarkable history as a vital transportation corridor.
Soon after receiving planning and capital funding from the State of New
Jersey toward these efforts, the house was devastated by a fire that severely
damaged the building and destroyed over 40% of its permanent collection,
forcing the closing of the facility. Events and programs are varied. Please call the museum for calendar updates or visit the museum's website, http://www.metlarbodine.org for this information or restoration bulletins. |
The Metlar/Bodine House Museum |
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Fieldville Dam |
On River
Road, off Route 287 Parking: May be accessed from Riverside Park off River Road. The section of the Township of Piscataway near today's Route I-287 was known as Fieldville, named for the Field family who were the first settlers here in 1668. Their farms and homesteads were located on The "Road Up Raritan" (River Road) leading to Raritan Landing from New Market and Bound Brook. At that time, the boundary of Piscataway included the Township of Franklin until 1709 when Somerset County seceded from Piscataway. Just above Route 287 bridge is the former site of important mills, the foundations of which are still evident. Peter Conover Onderdonk, Mayor of New Brunswick, had a saw mill here around 1860. Sponsored
by Piscataway Historical & Heritage Society. |
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Off
Hadley Road near Franklin Street In 1924, an airport was built on John Hadley's farm. The site became the first eastern airmail terminus, and on July 1, 1925, U. S. Postmaster General Henry New officially inaugurated the first night airmail long distance service. Overnight service to Chicago took 9 hours and 15 minutes. The first transcontinental mail flight from this site took 33-1/2 hours. Two planes of the Bell Telephone Company used for experimental radiophone work flew from this airport, as did Bendix Aviation experimental planes and helicopters. Sponsored
by Marjorie and Bruce Freeman.
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Hadley Airport |
