Hightstown and East Windsor

by Richard H. Pratt

Overview

The historic gristmill, railroad and farms and homes of Hightstown are revealed here in postcard images.

Located in the easternmost pocket of Mercer County, New Jersey, Hightstown traces its beginnings to 1747, when John Hight bought an 80-acre parcel alongside Rocky Brook. He built a gristmill there, abutting the road that became Main Street. The mill attracted other small enterprises, including a dry goods store, two taverns, a blacksmith shop, and sawmill. With the rise of the steam engine, the town grew to become a thriving transportation hub. As this community evolved into a contemporary downtown corridor, the farms and homes spread across what is today both the borough and East Windsor Township. The advent of the automobile, retirement of the rail line, and construction of the New Jersey Turnpike challenged Hightstown's role as a destination. With a recently established historic district and strong downtown association, the town is enjoying a rebirth as a treasure of America's past and present.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467120982
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	07/28/2014
Series:	Postcard History Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Richard Harlan Pratt is a Hightstown resident and lifetime member of the Hightstown—East Windsor Historical Society, from which many of the postcards were drawn to compile this collection. He provides historic preservation consulting services through Stockton Street Solutions, LLC.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 6

Introduction 7

1 Hightstown's Historical Houses 9

2 Past Schools in Hightstown and East Windsor 27

3 Trains and Bridges 45

4 Celebrations and Old Downtown 51

5 The Big View 65

6 Churches on High 69

7 Town Buildings and Memorials 77

8 Scenery around Hightstown 95

9 This and That 111

Bibliography 127