Dutch Neck Walking Tour
Explore hundreds of years of West Windsor history and one of its oldest communities with this free, permanent, self-guided tour! There are two lengths: "Short" (1.5 hours/2.5 miles) and "Long" (2 hours/4 miles). Start at the World War II memorial at 501 Village Road West. Ignore the wooden kiosk - that's for our Historic Bike Tour. LOOK AT THE MAP/ITINERARY BELOW TO KNOW WHERE & HOW FAR TO WALK DURING EACH CHAPTER! There are two ways to enjoy the Dutch Neck tour:
- Stream - With data on, scroll down this page and play each audio chapter in sequence - which explain where to walk, where to look, and the history of local historic sites.
- Download - Click HERE to download the full short tour or click HERE for the long tour. Or, download individual chapters within each chapter section below. Enjoy the downloaded .mp3 file(s) using your phone's audio player.
Chapter 1: Introduction
(While listening, stay at World War II memorial)
Below: Dutch Neck in the mid-1900s, drawn by Dutch Neck local Russel B. Post
Chapter 2: Leni Lenape: The Original Residents
(While listening, walk west until you reach Penn-Lyle Road)
Click images below to enlarge & view captions!
Chapter 3: William Penn & David Lyell
(While listening, stay at Penn-Lyle Road)
Below: William Penn (left) & David Lyell (right)
Chapter 4: Windsor Township
(While listening, return to the World War II memorial)
Below: A crude map of Windsor Township
Chapter 5: Governance
(While listening, per instructions, walk to 212-214 South Mill Road, then return to World War II memorial)
Click images below to enlarge & view captions!
Chapter 6: Overseer of the Poor
(While listening, stay at World War II memorial)
Below: Dutch Neck in 1875. The cross under "Jacob R. Wycoff" marks the Overseer's burial ground, now Dutch Neck School's eastern parking lot.
Chapter 7: Education
(While listening, walk to 516 Village Road West)
Click images below to enlarge & view captions!
Chapter 8: Cemetery, Church, & Chapel
(While listening, stay at cemetery off Village Road West)
Click images below to enlarge & view captions!
Chapter 9: Dutch Neck General Store
(While listening, stay at entrance to Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church)
Click images below to enlarge & view captions!
Chapter 10: The Armstrong-Sears Murders
(While listening, stay at entrance to Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church)
Below: one of over a hundred newspaper headlines covering the murder over the course of several months.
Chapter 11: West Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1
(While listening, stand in front of West Windsor Fire Company firehouse)
Below: The earliest members of the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company and the first truck, c. 1921.
Chapter 12: West Windsor at War
(While listening, stand in front of World War II memorial)
Below: The Princeton Junction First Aid Squad's scrap metal drive during World War II.
Chapter 13: Hiram Cook's Memories
(While listening, walk southeast down Village Road East until you reach Windsor Chapel)
Below: Hiram Cook and his establishment at 413 Village Road East.
Chapter 14: Pompey Updike
(While listening, stand in front of Dutch Neck School)
Below: Pompey Updike's house ("P. Updike") off Southfield Road near to where it crosses the Bear Brook. Now the entrance to Fairway Drive.
Chapter 15: Dutch Neck School
(While listening, stand in front of Dutch Neck School)
Below: Dutch Neck School c. 1923.
Chapter 16: A walk to Beth Chaim & Grover Farm
(While listening, walk to Grover Farm at 348 Village Road East, and then to Beth Chaim - per audible instructions)
Click here to listen to Cantor Stuart Binder's entire Shehecheyanu (Jewish blessing for special & joyous occasions)!
Click images below to enlarge & view captions!
Chapter 17: Finale
(While listening, return to World War II memorial)
Below: Centuries after it was first settled, Dutch Neck remains one of West Windsor's best-preserved historic communities.
We hope you enjoyed the tour! Make sure to contact the Historical Society of West Windsor if you have any questions/comments by clicking the button below! Also, once again, consider donating to Send Hunger Packing WWP to help fight local food insecurity if you have not already done so!