Dutch Neck School

Original portion of the Dutch Neck School in December 2018. From Paul Ligeti.

Historical Overview

Standing at 392 Village Road West is the Dutch Neck School - West Windsor's oldest operating educational institution. It is a contributing structure to the historic community of Dutch Neck and a member of West Windsor's "100 Club."

Prior to the school's construction, students learned in small wooden school houses. One was in Dutch Neck, and still exists - albeit now as a private residence at 516 Village Road West. 

The late-1800s/early-1900s Progressive Movement saw an explosion in the number of schools nationwide, increased attendance, and standardization.[1] In this era, West Windsor's old schoolhouses seemed increasingly obsolete. Thus in April of 1916, township voters approved a referendum to appropriate $35,000 for the construction of two 4-room buildings: the Dutch Neck School and a long-gone identical twin, the Penns Neck School (the latter in the village of Penns Neck).[2] That August, West Windsor's Board of Education purchased a 2-acre plot of land from Jacob and Nannie Wyckoff for $1,500.[3] 

Dutch Neck School within a few years after its 1917 opening.

However, construction was not without its drama. During excavation, human remains were discovered.[4] Indeed, the front portion of what is now the school's eastern parking lot was once a Township-owned cemetery, established circa 1834 by its "Overseer of the Poor" as a burial ground for the destitute who could not afford a church graveyard plot.[5] It later became a dedicated burial ground for Black residents as well.[6] Three of those identified were from the family of Pompey Updike - one of West Windsor's best-documented early free Black residents - and relocated to Hightstown's Cedar Hill cemetery.[7],[8]

Finally, in the fall of 1917, classes began at the Dutch Neck School.[9] Stella Kostenbader - who had previously taught at the Edinburg schoolhouse[10] - was likely the first principal in 1917.[11] Other teachers recorded that year were Stella Norris - previously an instructor at the Dutch Neck schoolhouse - and Helen Huffman.[12],[13] Also in 1917, Albert D. Tindall and Benjamin Emmons were contracted to transport children to school.[13] Although buses were increasingly popular (previously, students walked or rode horses to school), travel could still be harrowing when storms struck and bridges were submerged in floodwater![14] 

Gordon "Pop" Tindall, bus driver in 1927. He transported students from 1918-1965. His farm was directly east of the school property.

In 1927, two rooms were added to the rear of the building.[15],[16]  There was a playground by 1929, but boys and girls played on separate sides.[17] For much of the twentieth century there was also a baseball field where a community garden exists at the time of this writing (2023).[18],[19]

In 1939, a publication called Old Princeton's Neighbors reported that the six-room building was "filled to capacity with over 200 pupils."[20] By this year, several principals had run the school:

• Stella Kostenbader (Until 1920/1).[20]
• Mr. Appelget (starting in 1920/1).[21]
• Bessie Melick (starting in 1921).[22]
• Sarah Bergen (starting by 1926, maybe earlier).[23]
• Ida W. Engelke (starting in 1927).[24],[25]
• George C. Malone (starting in 1937).[26] George was likely the school's youngest principal when assumed leadership at only 26 years old. 

Class photo, 1949. Contact us if you can help identify anyone!

Principals are also said to have had their office in the basement of the school, with huge uncovered steampipes running through it. They were also often called "head teachers," for they frequently taught classes. Early principals were also responsible for ordering supplies and planning bus routes.[27]

​Until the mid-1900s, migrant labor would come to town during the growing/harvest seasons. Their children attended school during the summer and fall, temporarily swelling classroom size.[28]

In 1951, construction began to add six classrooms, two offices, two bathrooms, and an auditorium/gymnasium  the building,[29],[30] replacing an older auditorium/cafeteria presumed to be in the basement of the original section.[31],[32] Three years later, as class sizes grew, the library (then in the basement) was converted into a sixth grade classroom.[33] Finally, in 1955, another addition, laid out by Micklewright and Mountford - also architects of Maurice Hawk school several years later[34] - was approved.[35] This portion of the school - containing ten classrooms (including one for special education), a library, and a teacher's room - was dedicated the following year.[36],[37]

Students eating on front lawn, 1957.

Principals by this point included: Margaret Bennison (starting in 1943),[38],[39] Carolyn Updike (starting in 1945),[40],[41] Daniel J. Daly (starting in 1952),[42] and Frank Walton (Starting in 1953).[43]

​In 1968, the school - which had until that point served grades K-8[44] - transitioned to serving only grades 5-8, with lower grades attending Maurice Hawk School.[45] Principals until this point were:

• Sheldon Moore (starting in 1959).[46]
• Frank Bradshaw (starting in 1966).[47]
• Patrick Wilder (starting in 1971).[48]

​In 1969, the old West Windsor School District dissolved when West Windsor and Plainsboro combined their school districts.[49] Five years later, a woman named Almedia Pace was appointed the school's - and the township's - first African American principal. Many alumni recalled a warm-hearted educator who cared deeply for her students.[50]

Over the next few decades, the school expanded further, with notable additions taking place in the following years:

• 1975: ten new classrooms, a new cafeteria, and a media center in the former courtyard. .[51],[52],[53]
• 1986: four new classrooms.[54],[55]
• 2007: six new classrooms.[56]

Around 1990, the school - which had alternated the grades it served several times over the decades in response to the construction of other educational institutions - finally turned into a K-3 school. This coincided with the construction of the "Upper Elementary School" in Plainsboro (called "Millstone River" in 2023).[58]

Almedia Pace

Since the 1970s, a several more principals have led the school:

• Arthur C. Downs (Starting in 1978).[59]
• Katherine Gross (Starting in 1986).[60]
• Helen Martinson (Starting in 1988/9).[61],[62]
• Scott Feder (Starting in 2000/1).[63],[64]
• Jeanine Heil (Starting in 2007).[65]
• David Argese (starting in 2010).[66]

At well over a century old, the Dutch Neck School remains West Windsor's oldest operating education institution and a landmark to generations of of local history in the community of Dutch Neck.

Dutch Neck School in 2009.

Go to Dutch Neck

---

Bibliography

1. Herbst, Jurgen. The Once and Future School: Three Hundred and Fifty Years of American Secondary Education. London u.a: Routledge, 1996.
2. ​“Vote: New Schools for West Windsor.” Trenton Evening Times, April 19, 1916. 
3. Board of Education of the Township of West Windsor, Wyckoff, Jacob R., Wyckoff, Nannie. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1916. Located in the Historical Society of West Windsor's archives at the West Windsor History Museum.
4. ​"Dutch Neck.” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
5. Perrine, Vincent, and Henry Dye. “Indenture." Middlesex County Deed Book 27 Page 184, May 13, 1834. Purchase of one half of an acre from Vincent Perrine along Village Road East in the village of Dutch Neck, West Windsor, NJ, for the purpose of establishing a township cemetery. Located where the Dutch Neck School’s east parking lot exists in 2023.
6. ​​“West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.​
7. Cedar Hill Cemetery Association. (n.d.). Hightstown Cedar Hill Cemetery. Cedar Hill Cemetery gravestones, which often list birth dates, death dates, and ages of those buried there - including those of Pompey Updike, his wife Henrietta, and his son Jonathan. Documented in 2020.
8. ​"Dutch Neck.” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
9. ​“To Vote on Sale of Four Schools.” Trenton Evening Times, October 29, 1917. Mentions that "...the children of the township (are) now being taught in the fine new graded schools at Dutch Neck and Penn's Grove."​
10. “Dutch Neck School Register - 1910-1911 - Stella Kostenbader.” Trenton, NJ, 1910. Located in the Historical Society of West Windsor's archives at the West Windsor History Museum.
11. ​“Edinburg.” Trenton Evening Times, June 28, 1918. Mentions that "Miss Stella Kostenbader, principal of Dutch Neck school, has returned to her home..." 
12. ​“Windsor Teachers Named.” Trenton Evening Times, May 11, 1917. 
13. ​“Edinburg.” Allentown Messenger-Press, September 13, 1917. 
14. Smith, Arthur. “3 Generations Behind Wheel: He Drove Many on the Road to Education.” Trenton Times, 1965. 
15. ​“Notice to Contractors.” Trenton Evening Times, April 22, 1917.
16. White, Carey C. “Broadside,” 1987. Historical Society of West Windsor newsletter, Fall & Winter, 1987. History of the Dutch Neck School.
17. Ibid.
18. "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 1959.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 1959.
19. "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 1990” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 1990.
20. “Dutch Neck.” Allentown Messenger, July 1, 1920. 
21. ​“Penns Neck Pupils Give May Day Fete” Trenton Evening Times, May 21, 1921. Mentions "Mr. Appelget" as principal.
22. ​“Dutch Neck" Allentown Messenger-Press, September 8, 1921. Mentions that "Miss Bessie Melick, of Annadale, N.J., is now assuming her duties as principal of the public school. here."
23. "Dutch Neck.” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
24. ​“Dutch Neck" Allentown Messenger-Press, June 28, 1929. Mentions that "the following teachers were elected for the ensuing year: Dutch Neck school - Mrs. Ida W. Engelke, principal..."
25. “Obituaries - Mrs. Ida W. Engelke." Town Topics. June 8, 1977. 
26. “Malone Becomes School Principal.” Local Express. June 17, 1937. 
27. White, Carey C. “Broadside,” 1987. Historical Society of West Windsor newsletter, Fall & Winter, 1987. History of the Dutch Neck School.
28. Ibid.
29. ​“West 'Windsor Plans Addition to School.” Princeton Herald, January 10, 1951. 
30. “Have YOU Got the School Picture Straight?,” June 1955. Produced by the West Windsor Lions Club. Letter sent to West Windsor Township residents describing the additions to be added in 1955/6. Shows a rendering of the current school with the proposed addition. Also shows a plan of the current school with the proposed addition.
31. ​“Set Cafeteria Opening.” Trenton Evening Times, September 7, 1948. 
32. ​“Dutch Neck Minstrel is Thursday, Friday.” Trenton Evening Times, December 2, 1946. 
33. ​“West Windsor School to Split Sixth Grade.” Princeton Herald, October 27, 1954. 
34. “Maurice Hawk School.” Hand-drawn conceptual rendering of Maurice Hawk School, 1962. Minklewright and Mountford, n.d. 50 Southfield Road, West Windsor NJ. 1962. Located (in 2023) in the West Windsor History Museum.
35. ​“West Windsor Appoints Architects for School School.” Princeton Herald, March 26, 1955. 
36. “Have YOU Got the School Picture Straight?,” June 1955. Produced by the West Windsor Lions Club. Letter sent to West Windsor Township residents describing the additions to be added in 1955/6. Shows a rendering of the current school with the proposed addition. Also shows a plan of the current school with the proposed addition.
37. “Addition to Be Dedicated.” Town Topics. November 11, 1956. 
38. “Dutch Neck Y.M.C.A. To Raise Youth Fund." Trenton Evening Times. February 1, 1943.
39. “Students Resume Studies." Hightstown Gazette. September 16, 1943.
40. “Dutch Neck Plans Term." Trenton Evening Times. August 23, 1945.
41. “PTA Installes New Officers, Honors Dutch Neck Faculty.” Trenton Evening Times. October 16, 1945.
42. “Daly Named Head Teacher for West Windsor School.” Princeton Herald. January 16, 1952.
43. “Schools Schedule at West Windsor." Trenton Evening Times, August 27, 1953. 
44. “Mrs. .Rudnick President of Penns Neck P.T.A.” Princeton Herald. June 7, 1946. 
45. “School Budget Adopted." Town Topics. April 25, 1968. 
46. “Sheldon Moore Named." Town Topics. July 5, 1959. 
47. “Bradshaw Named Head of Dutch Neck School” Town Topics. April 7, 1966.
48. “Principal Named.” Town Topics. February 18, 1971.
49. “School Merger Backed.” Town Topics. April 24, 1969.
50. “Services Thursday for Almedia Pace, Retired Educator.” Indianapolis Star, December 17, 1986.
51. “Proposed Renovation." Town Topics. January 3, 1974. 
52. “Plans Approved." Town Topics. June 6, 1974. 
53. “School Bond Approved for Dutch Neck." Town Topics. January 17, 1974. 
54. “Growing West Windsor School District Awaits Opening of New Middle School." Town Topics. March 25, 1987. 
55. Feldstein, Judith. “WWP Officials: Growth to Pay for New Classrooms, Teachers.” The Times. January 8, 1986. 
56. Community News. “Construction News: Most Will Be Done.” West Windsor and Plainsboro News. Community News Service, January 11, 2022. https://www.communitynews.org/news/construction-news-most-will-be-done/article_b0543187-16de-5dcb-b873-fff7c3a9bfcb.html. 
57. “WW-P elementary shuffle gets seal of approval." The Times. November 29, 1989. 
58. “Principals Switched." Town Topics. May 31, 1978. 
59. “New principal named at Dutch Neck School." The Times. August 20, 1986. 
60. West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. “Secretary.” The Times, September 25, 1988. 
61. West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. “Secretary - Needed for W. Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District.” South Brunswick Central Post, July 6, 1989. 
62. Jersey, Central. “At This Event, They're of Principal Importance.” Central Jersey Archives. Newspaper Media Group – Manalapan office, July 5, 2000. https://archive.centraljersey.com/2000/07/05/at-this-event-theyre-of-principal-importance/. 
63. Jodie Morse, Richard Corliss. “Tending the Wounds.” Time. Time Inc., October 1, 2001. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1000911,00.html. 
64. “Jeanine M. H. - Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States - Linkedin.” Linkedin. Linkedin. Accessed January 24, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanine-m-heil. Jeanine M. Heil's own resume.
65. ​Ibid.
    
66. ​Latham, Cara. “New Administrators Take Helm in WW-P District.” West Windsor and Plainsboro News. Community News Service, January 11, 2022. https://www.communitynews.org/news/new-administrators-take-helm-in-ww-p-district/article_4a67ae71-5a45-54e4-a33c-0ba1f8e4a89e.html.