Dutch Neck General Store & Post Office

Former Dutch Neck General Store & Post Office in December 2018.

Historical Overview

Situated at 420 Village Road East, directly across from the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, is a long, 2-story house. This building - a member of West Windsor's "100 Club" and a contributing element of the historic Dutch Neck community - was once that community's post office and general store.

This building probably dates to at least the first half of the 1800s, if not earlier.[1] Its length and unusual historical window placement suggest that it may have been smaller at first and expanded over time. It has two large display windows on either side of its concrete porch, where one of its two front doors used to be. A few second-story windows have also been removed.[2] 

In the 1700s, the property (on which the building was at some point built) was part of a much-larger homestead owned by the Voorhees family. However, in 1819, they sold a 2-acre lot to Joseph and Mary Mount that encompassed this property as well as those now defined as 418, 416, 414, 412A, 412, 410, and 408 Village Road East.[3],[4]

Dutch Neck in 1849. Note "J. D. Robbins' Store."

 Thereafter, the 2-acre property changed ownership several times:

• Joseph and Garret Story (1819-1821).[5],[6]
• Abraham VanAndalew (1821-1822).[7]
• Elijah and Mary Davis (1822-25).[8],[9]
• Jacob P. and Mary Stryker (1825-33).[10][11]
• Jonathan D. and Angeline Robbins, starting in 1833.[12]

​Jonathan D. Robbins was the store's first known merchant, at least as far back as 1849.[13] He may have managed the store even earlier, for Thomas F. Gordon's 1834 publication, Gazetteer of the State of New Jersey​, mentions Dutch Neck as boasting "a tavern and 3 or 4 stores."[14] However, it is unclear if this included our building in question. However, more certain is the fact that a post office was set up in this store by 1851.[15]

The store/post office in the late 1800s/early 1900s.

Jonathan was also West Windsor's Clerk and a Township Committeeman for much of the 1850s-70s.[16] In 1854 he sold the general store/post office and adjacent house (418 Village Road East) to Enoch Forman as an independent parcel.[17] 

After Enoch sold the property in 1868 (by which point the general store and house next door were split into their respective lots),[18] the store switched hands several times:

• Jonathan W. Hooper (1868-69) - he also owned in the house.[19],[20]
• John and Adaline Savidge (1869-72) - whom the 1870 census lists as a "dry goods merchant."[21],[22],[23]
• Chester and Sarah Pullen (1872-74)[24],[25]
• William Allen in (1874-1890) - Whom the 1880 census lists as a "produce dealer."[26],[27]​

Locals sitting in front of the store, date unknown. From the Danser family.

​William died in 1890,[28] and a two years later the property passed to  Isaac V. Hey.[29] However, Isaac probably did not operate the Dutch Neck store/post office. Rather, Frank Adams was the merchant and postmaster.[30],[31],[32],[33] He is said to have served in this role for over four decades and if true, then he ran the establishment until the year he died - 1933.[34],[35]

Abe and Esther Shtier were the store's next owners and are said to have operated it for about fifteen years.[36] During this time, the post office moved across the street to the home of Alice Smallbone,[37] who ran it from there, reputedly until around 1949.[38] It's said to have moved back to the general store from 1949-52, then to Hannah Tindall's house at 408 Village Road East, then back to the general store[39] - probably around 1957, when the Rifkin family began running the store.[40] By this time they also sold groceries, jewelry, clothing, hardware, cosmetics, and medicine.[41] The establishment was also popular for children looking to pick up snacks, candy, and soda.[42] The post office finally closed in September of 1966 after at least a century of operation. Thereafter all postal deliveries were sent to the Princeton Junction office.[43]

Delivery truck in front of the store, 1910s/20s.

In the late 1960s or early 1970s - at which point the building passed out of Shteir hands - the general store shut down as well. Thereafter the building took on a variety of identities, the most prominent of which were:

• "Village Hobby" - Hobby shop run by Bill Miller. Young and old alike could buy models, toys, and more. Operated until the mid-1970s.[44]
• "Pizza Pan" - Pizza parlor. Mid-late 1970s.[45]
• Deli - run by Wesley Holman. Dates unknown.[46]
• "Dance Spectrum" - dance parlor/instructional studio, starting by the late 1970s.[47]

The building has long been converted into a private residence. Several of its windows have been removed, as well as its front door. Its ornate porch has been lost to the ages. The one-story extension in the back, too, has been demolished. But the main block of the old general store/post office remains in the heart of Dutch Neck, telling the story of the generations that came before.

The store in the 1980s/90s. Note the long-gone rear extension.

Go to Dutch Neck

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Bibliography

1. Otley, J W, and James Keily. “Map of Mercer County, New Jersey.” Map. Camden, New Jersey: L. Van der Veer, 1849.
2. Dutch Neck General Store/Post Office at 420 Village Road West - Likely Late 1800s/Early 1900s. Photograph. West Windsor, n.d. West Windsor History Museum. 
3. Voorhies, Coert, Voorhies, Elijah, Voorhies, Lenah. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1806. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 6 Page 441.
4. Mount, Joseph, Voorhies, Elijah, Voorhies, Sarah. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1819. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 13 Page 610.
5. Mount, Joseph, Mount, Mary, Story, Garret, Story, Joseph. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1821. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 14 Page 108.
6. Davis, Elijah, Davis, Mary, VanAndalew, Abraham. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1822. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 15 Page 799.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Davis, Elijah, Davis, Mary, Stryker, Jacob P., Stryker, Mary . “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1825. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 17 Page 462.
10. Ibid.
11. Robbins, Angeline, Robbins, Jonathan D., Stryker, Jacob P., Stryker, Mary . “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1833. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 26 Page 38.
12. Ibid.
13. Otley, J W, and James Keily. “Map of Mercer County, New Jersey.” Map. Camden, New Jersey: L. Van der Veer, 1849.
14. Gordon, Thomas Fitzhugh. A Gazetteer of the State of New Jersey ...: And the History of New Jersey. Trenton, New Jersey: Daniel Fenton, 1834. 
15. “New Post Offices.” State Gazette. January 31, 1851. Page 3 of this Trenton-based newspaper. Full text: "New Post Offices have been established at Van Hiseville and Dutch Neck - both in this County. Abraham Van Hise and John S. Robbins are the Postmasters." 
16. ​​“West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
17. Forman, Enoch, Robbins, Angeline, Robbins, Jonathan D. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1854. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 39 Page 585.
18. Forman, Enoch, Hooper, Jonathan W. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1868. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 74 Page 247.
19. Ibid.
20. Forman, Enoch, Hooper, Jonathan W. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1861. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 49 Page 75.
21. Hooper, Jonathan W., Savidge, Adeline, Savidge, Jonathan D. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1869. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 75 Page 134.
22. Pullen, Chester E., Pullen, Sarah W., Savidge, Adeline, Savidge, Jonathan D. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1872. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 88 Page 306.
23. United States Census, 1850 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1850.
24. Pullen, Chester E., Pullen, Sarah W., Savidge, Adeline, Savidge, Jonathan D. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1872. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 88 Page 306.
25. Allen, William G., Pullen, Chester E., Pullen, Sarah W. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1874. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 103 Page 223.
26. Ibid.
27. “New Jersey, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1739-1991.” Cape May, New Jersey: Cape May County, n.d. Wills, Vol C-D, 1881-1896
28. Ibid.
29. Bergen, William G., Hey, Isaac, Hey, Robbins, Liscomb T., Watson, Joseph L. "Indenture." West Windsor, 1892. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 183 Page 63.
30. ​United States Census, 1850 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1900.
31. ​United States Census, 1850 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1910.
32. ​United States Census, 1850 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1920.
33. ​United States Census, 1850 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1930.
34. “Dutch Neck.” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
35. Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church. (n.d.). Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church graveyard. West Windsor. Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church graveyard gravestones, which often list birth dates, death dates, and ages of those buried there - including those of many of West Windsor's oldest families.
36. Bertothy, Betty. “Canceled: One Post Office ... Dutch Neck.” The Evening Times. September 22, 1966.
37. “Dutch Neck.” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
38. White, Carey C. “Broadside,” 1987. Historical Society of West Windsor newsletter, Fall & Winter 1987.
39. Ibid.
40. “Confirm Rifkin for Postmaster.” Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser, September 24, 1961. 
41. O'Donnell, William J. “Dutch Neck: No Tensions ... No Problems.” Trenton Evening Times, November 23, 1964. 
42. Coleman, Gary. “Comment/recollection by Gary Coleman on Historical Society of West Windsor's Facebook Post about the Dutch Neck General Store/Post Office,” January 5, 2020. URL: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=108644970473717&set=a.161240628547484
43. Bertothy, Betty. “Canceled: One Post Office ... Dutch Neck.” The Evening Times. September 22, 1966. 
44. Ligeti, Paul T. I., and Patty Miller Kidd. Conversation with Patty Kidd Miller via Facebook comments chat where she talked about her father's (Bill Miller's) hobby shop at 420 Village Road East. Personal, February 27, 2020. 
45. WHWH 1350 (radio station). “Enter the Whwh 1350 Secret Destination Contest.” The Evening Times. Trenton, NJ, October 17, 1975. Mentions Pizza Pan as sponsor and lists address as "Cor. S Mill & Village Roads Dutch Neck, N.J."
46. Holman, Joy. “Comment/recollection by Joy Holman on Historical Society of West Windsor's Facebook Post about the Dutch Neck General Store/Post Office,” January 5, 2020. URL: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=108644970473717&set=a.161240628547484
47. Dance Spectrum. “Dance Spectrum.” Windsor-Hights Herald. Hightstown, NJ, August 9, 1979.