Dutch Neck Walking Tour
You are about to embark on a journey exploring hundreds of years of our town’s history and one of its oldest communities - Dutch Neck. To start this tour, stand at the intersection of South Mill Road and Village Roads East and West - i.e., the heart of Dutch Neck. Ignore the nearby wooden kiosk - that is only for our biking tour. As you scroll down this page, play each audio file in sequence, listening to (1) the history of various landmarks and (2) the directions of where to walk and look. Below each audio file is a series of supplementary images for each of the 17 chapters. There are 2 tour lengths: (A) ~2.4 miles/~1.5 hours and (B) ~3.8 miles/~2 hours. Click the "Map/Itinerary" button below to learn more.
This tour is brought to you by the Historical Society of West Windsor and Send Hunger Packing. Please consider donating to help perpetuate these causes.
When you're ready, play the Chapter 1 audio file in the green box below. Enjoy!
This tour is brought to you by the Historical Society of West Windsor and Send Hunger Packing. Please consider donating to help perpetuate these causes.
When you're ready, play the Chapter 1 audio file in the green box below. Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Introduction
Dutch Neck in the mid-1900s, as drawn by Russel B Post (1896-1971)
Chapter 2: Leni Lenape: The Original Residents
The 1643 Pavonia Massacre was a low point in Lenape-Dutch relations.
Chapter 3: William Penn & David Lyell
Chapter 4: Windsor Township
A very crude map of Windsor Township
Chapter 5: Governance
Minutes from our first township meeting - April 8, 1797
Chapter 6: Overseer of the Poor
Dutch Neck in 1875. Note the cross under "Jacob R. Wycoff." This was the Overseer's burial ground. The Dutch Neck School was built on Wyckoff's land in 1917.
Chapter 7: Education
Dutch Neck school house teachers, c. 1890s
Chapter 8: Cemetery, Church, & Chapel
Parishioners in front of the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, 1930s.
Chapter 9: Dutch Neck General Store
Delivery truck in front of the Dutch Neck General Store, c. 1910s.
Chapter 10: The Murder of Amzi Armstrong
Warning: gunshot sounds
One of hundreds of newspaper headlines covering the murder over the course of several months.
Chapter 11: West Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1
The earliest members and the first fire truck of the WW Fire Co, c. 1921.
Chapter 12: West Windsor at War
The Princeton Junction First Aid Squad's scrap metal drive during WWII.
Chapter 13: Hiram Cook's Memories
Hiram Cook's establishment behind 413 Village Road East
Chapter 14: Pompey Updike
Pompey Updike's house ("P. Updike") off of Southfield Road where the entrance to Fairway Drive now exists.
Chapter 15: Dutch Neck School
Dutch Neck School c. 1923.
Chapter 16: Grover Family & Beth Chaim (Long Route)
Thomas Roy Grover in the top right.
Chapter 17: Finale
Dutch Neck remains one of West Windsor's oldest and best-preserved communities.