Cook-Tindall House

Village Road East, 2022. Left to right: David Bergen House (409 Village Road East), Mount-Reynolds House (411), Hiram Cook House (413), Cook-Tindall House (415).

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Historical Overview

A 4-bay, 2-story, L-shaped house with a single-story rear extension stands at 415 Village Road East near the heart of the historic community of Dutch Neck. This building - hereafter called the "Cook-Tindall" property - is also a member of West Windsor's "100 Club." 

The date of construction is unknown but the house is perhaps from the mid-1800s.[1],[2] In 1843, part of a 120-acre farm owned by Henry and Rebecca Applegate was split off and sold to William and Susan Bergen. This much-smaller joint tract (1.74 acres) encompassed the properties of 415, 413, and 411 Village Road East. This same deed refers to a "premises," suggesting that at least one house existed on the small tract in 1843, although it's unknown if this referred to either of the houses at 415 or 411 Village Road East (413 Village Road East was built in 1907).[3],[4]

William was active in West Windsor's government from the 1840s-80s: as Constable, Poundkeeper (animal control), Tax Assessor, Township Committeeman, Tax Collector, and Overseer of the Poor.[5] A picture of him can be found in the Post-Long house webpage. It's presumed that William and Susan raised at least some of their children on the property.

Dutch Neck in 1860. Notice "R. Henry" - possibly 415 or 411 Village Road East.

Subsequent owners included:

• Robert and Mary Ann Henry (1855-65)[6],[7]
• William Davis (1865-70)[8],[9]
• Arthur Howell (1870-70)[10],[11]
• Euphema Davis (1870-71)[12],[13]
• John and Mary Van Pelt (1871-78)[14],[15]
• Joseph Mount, Sheriff of Mercer County (1878-79)[16]
• Sylvanus Grover and others (1879-1883)[17],[18]
• Eleanor Hutchinson (1883-1888)[19],[20]
• Henry Bayler, assignee of Eleanor Hutchinson (1888-1889)[21]

In 1889, the property was further sold to Carrie Cook, beginning over a century of Cook family ownership.[22] Carrie was the wife of Hiram Cook,[23] a prominent Dutch Neck resident who built the house at 413 Village Road East in 1907.[24] That same year, Carrie split off a small portion from the joint tract, containing 411 Village Road East.[25] It's presumed that the Cooks raised their children in at least one of these three houses (411, 413, or 415 Village Road East) in the late 1800s/early 1900s. 

Cook family, 1910s. Left to right: Hiram and Carrie, and daughters Sara, Reba, and Carrie Jr. Also Dan, their horse. Click to download.

One of these children was Fred Cook, who is said to have built a house next door at 419 Village Road East between 1914 and 1920.[26],[27] He was one of twelve children.[28] Sadly, four of them (Edith, Richard, Beulah, and William) - died around infancy, and one (Ada) at twelve years old.[29] Further tragedy struck in 1919, when 21-year-old Carrie Cook Jr. - daughter of Carrie and Hiram - was riding in her father's automobile. A short circuit caused smoke to rise from the battery box, and Carrie, believing the car to be on fire, leapt out - sadly, sustaining fractures to her skull. Carrie Jr., a Red Cross worker during World War I, passed away shortly afterward.[30]

​Hiram A. Cook was a "Surveyor of the Highways" for the town, and was likely involved in the earliest efforts to pave West Windsor's then-dirt roads (late 1800s/early 1900s). He  served as the West Windsor Township Clerk, from the 1890s-1930s.[31] In 1921, he was founding President of the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company - a title he held for at least the next decade.[32]

Village Road East, 1890, facing northwest. Note "H. A. Cook"'s house (415 Village Road East) and his "Machine Shop." The long-gone "Conover & Bros" wheelwright shop on the left is where Hiram Cook's house (413 Village Road East) stands today.

For decades, Hiram also ran a heating, plumbing, and farm machinery business - "Hiram A. Cook & Son" out of the joint tract. A machine shop, located in the backyard of 415 Village Road East, was part of this establishment.[33]

Hiram died in 1933,[34] and Carrie in 1944.[35] Thereafter, 413 and 415 Village Road East were split from one another, resulting in the current (2023) property demarcations. At some point after Carrie's death, her daughter, Alice Cook Tindall, inherited 415 Village road West.[36] Alice was, in her younger years, office manager for Hiram A. Cook & Son.[37] She is presumed to have lived in this house until her death, in 1968.[38] Thereafter the property at some point passed to her daughter-in-law, Margaret M. Tindall.

In 1997, the property further passed to new owners. The old house still stands near the heart of Dutch Neck.

Snowfall along Village Road East, 1910s or 1920s. The closest house on the right is the Cook-Tindall house.

Go to Dutch Neck

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Bibliography

1. “West Windsor Tax Assessor Address List, 2019.” West Windsor, 2019. List of all residences in West Windsor with dates of construction, according to tax assessor. Sent to the Historical Society by Lorraine Jones and Dawn Moretti.
2. “Section IX – Conservation Plan Element – West Windsor Master Plan.” West Windsor Township, 2002.
3. Applegate, Henry, Applegate, Rebecca, Bergen, Susan, Bergen, Willliam G. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1843. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book F Page 7.
4. ​Cook, Hiram Augustus. “Hiram A. Cook - Signature.” West Windsor, NJ: 413 Village Road East, 1907. Carving in basement walls of 413 Village Road East, saying "Hiram A. Cook 1907."
5. "West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
6. ​Henry, Mary Ann, Henry, Robert, Bergen, Susan, Bergen, Willliam G. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1855. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 31 Page 499.
7. ​Davis, William S., Henry, Mary Ann, Henry, Robert. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1865. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 79 Page 229.
8. Ibid.
9. ​Davis, William S., Howell, Arthur A. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1870. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 79 Page 230.
10. Ibid.
11. ​Davis, Euphema, Howell, Arthur A. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1870. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 79 Page 232.
12. Ibid.
13. ​Davis, Euphema, Van Pelt, Jonathan K., Van Pelt, Mary. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1871. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 82 Page 181.
14. Ibid.
15. Grover, Sylvanus, Mount, Jonathan S. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1879. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 122 Page 98.
16. Ibid.​
17. Ibid.
18. Cox, Sarah A., Grover, Jonathan G., Grover, Joseph H., Grover, Julia A., Grover, Kate, Grover, Margaret, Grover, Sarah A., Grover, Sylvanus, Grover, William, Hutchinson, Eleanor K. Mershon, Emeline, Mershon, Thomas S., Stonaker, Elizabeth. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1883. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 136 Page 151.
19. Ibid.
20. Bayler, Henry B., Hutchinson, Eleanor K. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1888. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Special Deed Book F Page 522.
21. Ibid.
22. Bayler, Henry B., Cook, Carrie S. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1889. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 164 Page 133.
23. ​"Cook, Dutch Neck Resident. Is Dead.” Trenton Evening Times, June 17, 1933.
24. Cook, Hiram Augustus. “Hiram A. Cook - Signature.” West Windsor, NJ: 413 Village Road East, 1907. Carving in basement walls of 413 Village Road East, saying "Hiram A. Cook 1907."
25. Cook, Carrie S., Cook, Hiram A., Mount, Jonathan S. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1907. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 294 Page 539.
26. ​​Britton, Mary Alice. “Cook Family History.” West Windsor, NJ, April 2008. Writeup on the history of the Cook family, by one of its family members - including a mention of Fred Cook's house being built in 1914. Stored at the Historical Society of West Windsor's Archives at the West Windsor History Museum.
27. “West Windsor Tax Assessor Address List, 2019.” West Windsor, 2019. List of all residences in West Windsor with dates of construction, according to tax assessor. Sent to the Historical Society by Lorraine Jones and Dawn Moretti.
28. ​​Britton, Mary Alice. “Cook Family History.” West Windsor, NJ, April 2008. Writeup on the history of the Cook family, by one of its family members - including a mention of Fred Cook's house being built in 1914. Stored at the Historical Society of West Windsor's Archives at the West Windsor History Museum.
29. Ibid.
30. ​"Thinks Car Afire, Girl's Leap Kills.” Trenton Evening Times, March 20, 1919.
31. "West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
32. "Minutes and Records of the West Windsor Township Volunteer Fire Company, Organized March 21, 1921.” West Windsor: West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 firehouse, n.d. Minutes detailing the first 11 years (1921-1932) of the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1’s development.
33. Reed, Marvin R. West Windsor Township People -- Purpose -- Progress New Jersey Tercentenary, 1664-1964: West Windsor : Tercentenary Committee, 1964.
34. ​"Cook, Dutch Neck Resident. Is Dead.” Trenton Evening Times, June 17, 1933.
35. ​"Mrs. Carrie Cook.” Trenton Evening Times, October 5, 1944.
36. Fryer, H L. “Tax Maps of West Windsor Township.” Map. Trenton, New Jersey: H. L. Fryer, C.S., 1964. Revised by C. Robert Jones, 1964.
37. ​"Mrs. Tindall, 79." Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser, December 8, 1968.
38. Ibid.​