Historic Community: Clarksville
Historic Clarksville sites overlaid over 2002 aerial.
A village called "Clarksville" once existed at the intersection of Route 1 and Clarksville/ Quakerbridge Roads. Straddling West Windsor and Lawrence Townships, this historic community developed as a stagecoach stop in the early 1800s. Even before that, it was the site of significant Revolutionary War action. It remained a farming hamlet until the arrival of a chemical company called American Cyanamid in the late 1950s. The surrounding landscape has since been developed with shopping malls and apartment complexes, and may see significant future development, but its history remains documented. Explore Clarksville and its historical sites below!
Historical Overview
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“Clarksville” was a West Windsor-Lawrence community that no longer exists. It largely centered on the intersection of Route 1, Quakerbridge Road, and Clarksville Road, but also included the surrounding landscape. It was presumably named after the Clarke family, who settled in present-day Princeton following Benjamin Clarke’s purchase of 1,200 acres of land in 1696, overlapping present-day West Windsor and Princeton.[1] Although the hamlet’s name (dating at least as far back as the 1820s, if not earlier) was originally spelled “Clarkesville,” the “e” was dropped at an unknown date.[2]
It is currently unknown exactly when pioneers first settled the “West Windsor” part of the 1696 purchase - as opposed to the “Princeton” part. However, we do know that farming families lived here at least by the 1770s, if not significantly earlier. British troops were apparently captured on December 30, 1776 during the American Revolution at a local farm (where the “J. T. Flock” farm is in the adjacent 1875 map), about one quarter of a mile northeast of the intersection of Clarksville and Quakerbridge Roads. These soldiers may have divulged crucial information about British troop movements to George Washington’s army.[3] Only four days later, nearby residents witnessed the American army marching up Quakerbridge Road on their way to victory at the Battle of Princeton.[4] |
Clarksville, 1875.
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We can pinpoint a particularly influential individual in early 1800s Clarksville: Dr. Israel Clarke, who served as West Windsor’s town physician for years and may be the specific person after whom Clarksville was named.[5] He owned an inn called “Windsor Hall” at the crossroads in the early 1800s.[6] This building was eventually acquired by William West, Jr. in 1864 (again, see the adjacent 1875 map).[7] West hosted most West Windsor meetings from the 1870s-1890s before the township moved back to the community of Dutch Neck in 1891.[8] His hotel was one of a few that were licensed to serve liquor[9] – undoubtedly a draw for many!
In the 1800s, Clarksville flourished as a farming community that profited from Route 1’s stagecoach travel. Throughout the century, it also featured a second inn, blacksmith, wheelwright, store, and, of course, several farmsteads.[10] A schoolhouse, reputedly erected c. 1822,[11] initially served 40 students under the tutelage of David Dye.[12] It stood just inside Lawrence Township, at the southern corner of the intersection of Clarksville and Quakerbridge Roads.[13] It was also used as a Sunday school, meeting house, and festival site.[14] The building reputedly burned in 1937.[15] |
Clarksville, pre-1960.
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A structure called the “Clarksville Inn” catered to early-1900s tourists. It sold liquor during Prohibition and was consequently the subject of prosecution.[16] It seems to have been demolished to make way for Route 1 improvements in the early 1930s.[17] This building, however, should not to be confused with two other establishments: the Clarksville Motel[18] and the 1940s-era “Clarksville Diner.” The latter establishment is easily West Windsor’s best-traveled building. Originally called the “Princeton Grill” and located at the Penns Neck traffic circle, it was a popular c. 1940 eatery that was relocated to Clarksville in the 1940s or 1950s. In 1988, the diner was purchased by Gordon Tindall III, who relocated it to Iowa and restored it. Ten years later, for reasons yet unknown, it was purchased by the Canal+ media company based in Paris, France. It was shipped across the Atlantic and converted to office space. It now sits overlooking the Seine, its prominent lettering alluding to its original hometown across the ocean.[19]
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Clarksville Diner in Iowa. From Chip Peterson.
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Throughout the 1900s, Clarksville remained a farming community, home to several longtime families including (but not limited to) the Colemans, Dilatushes, Dohertys, Reeds, and Schencks.[20] One of the town’s largest tracts of farmland still exists here in January 2024, on the northeast side of Quakerbridge Road.
Starting in the 1950s, American Cyanamid - an industrial chemical conglomerate - opened an agricultural research and development facility on the site of several old farms. One of these was the Flock-Coleman farm where, as mentioned before, British troops were apparently captured on December 30, 1776.[21] The company acquired the surrounding properties over the next few years, razing old farmhouses in the process. However, the agricultural land was largely preserved and livestock thrived - it was not uncommon to see pigs nearly the size of cows! The facility closed in the early 2000s. |
John & "Father" Reed with cows Bess and Nancy, 1927.
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In the ensuing years, the property passed through a few owners, some who presented plans for development many township residents vehemently opposed. In 2019, Atlantic Realty purchased the ~650-acre site, following a protracted and heated conflict between Howard Hughes (its previous owner) and locals over a plan to construct thousands of new residences and multiple commercial buildings.[22] A proposed complex of massive warehouses spanning much of the property is currently (January 2024) the prevailing - and intensely debated - future for the site.[23]
Virtually nothing remains of Clarksville today. The Lawrence side of Quakerbridge Road features apartments and shopping complexes. The West Windsor side is primarily dominated by the recently-demolished American Cyanamid complex, Nassau Park Pavilion, and likely-soon-to-be-gone farmland. Still, the “Weber’s Kennels” building at 3440 Brunswick Pike remains in use and, per tax records, may date to c. 1800. As an isolated building along Route 1, it is an appropriate symbol for one of West Windsor’s most disappeared communities. |
Amerian Cyanamid entrance off Quakerbridge Road, 1962. From Howard E. Schrader.
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Historical Clarksville Landmarks
Click on each of the images below to explore some of the landmarks that used to make up Clarksville! We recommend reading them in order. More may be added as research improves.
Bibliography
- Warne, Thomas, and Benjamin Clarke. Ms. New Jersey State Archives, 1696. Deed - October 26, 1696 - Thomas Warne to Benjamin Clarke. Found in New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deeds, F (E): Folio 76 (SSTSE023)
- Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. “A map of the state of New Jersey : with part of the adjoining states” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 6, 2022. https://digitalcollections.nypl. org/items/510d47da-edf2-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99. Map published in 1828.
- Reed, William B. Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed. 1. Vol. 1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Lindsay and Blakiston, 1847.
- Kidder, William Larry. Ten Crucial Days: Washington’s Vision for Victory Unfolds. Brentwood, Tennessee: Knox Press, 2020.
- Woodward, Evan Morrison, and John Frelinghuysen Hageman. History of Burlington and Mercer Counties with Biographical Sketches of Many of Their Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts & Peck, 1883.
- Brearly, Samuel. Ms. Petition of Samuel Brearly. West Windsor, 1811. Petition for Tavern License, 1811. Allowed by the Court of Common Pleas. Found in New Jersey State Archives Manuscript Room - Middlesex County Tavern Licenses, 1758-1826.
- Forman, David G, Lewis Forman, and William West. “Indenture.” West Windsor: Clarksville, n.d. Found in New Jersey State Archives, Mercer County Deed Book (1838-1919) - Book 58 page 571.
- West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center. For this specific citation, look at the years 1870-1891.
- West, William. “William West Tavern Licenses, 1888-1902.” West Windsor, n.d. Accessed April 14, 2022. William West’s Tavern Licenses from 1888-1902, located in the West Windsor History Museum’s archives.
- Woodward, Evan Morrison, and John Frelinghuysen Hageman. History of Burlington and Mercer Counties with Biographical Sketches of Many of Their Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts & Peck, 1883.
- Lee, Francis Bazley. Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey. Lewis Publishing Company, 1907.
- Ms. West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes - May 10, 1828. West Windsor, 1828.
- “West Windsor Township.” Map. 1875 Historical Atlas of Mercer County, New Jersey - Map of West Windsor. Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Stuart, 1875. https://www.loc. gov/item/2010587333/.
- MacAdam, Henry Innes. West Windsor, Then and Now: Commemorating the Bicentennial of West Windsor Township, 1797-1997. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Corridor Rotary Club, 1997.
- “Broadside,” 2002 Historical Society of West Windsor newsletter, Fall, 2002. History of West Windsor’s School Houses.
- “Notorious Resort Is Enjoined.” Trenton Evening Times, January 20, 1924.
- “Jury Generous at Clarksville Inn.” Trenton Evening Times, June 12, 1930.
- “Clarksville Motel,” n.d. Postcard in possession of Historical Society of West Windsor within the West Windsor History Museum.
- Hester, Thom. “France Imports Bit of Americana.” The Times. October 31, 1998.
- Fryer, H L. “Tax Maps of West Windsor Township.” Map. Trenton, New Jersey: H. L. Fryer, C.S., 1938. Revised by C. S. Sincerbeaux, 1938.
- “Cyanamid Co. Gets Title to West Windsor Tract.” Trenton Evening Times, May 15, 1957.
- Sciarrotta, Samantha. “Housing Nixed for Howard Hughes Land Tract.” West Windsor and Plainsboro News, December 24, 2020.
- “Preliminary and Final Site Plan Application for Bridge Point 8 Industrial Park.” West Windsor, n.d. Last updated March 15, 2022. Created by Langan Engineering.Received from Heidi Evans at City Connections LLC. Made public to West Windsor residents by West Windsor Township at https://cc-ftp.sharefile.com/ share/view/sa8cf6d5768c6449ab1f1730d6a67b44e/fo6449af-d802-4d6c-8636-199b301a4c77
