Edinburg General Store & Post Office

Edinburg General Store/Post Office, December 2018. Note the gas pumps!

Historical Overview

 Standing at 1720-22 Village Road West, at the intersection of Old Trenton and Edinburg Roads, is a large, 2.5-story building with two mid-20th century gas pumps out front. This structure, functioning in 2023 as both the "Village Pantry" deli and "Greenhouse Graphics" graphic arts company, is a member of West Windsor's "100 club." It is a key landmark of the historic settlement of Edinburg and has, for over 200 years, functioned as a store of some sort.

This building was constructed around 1816. It seems to have been smaller at first and expanded over time.[1] James Hutchinson had purchased this property - part of a 1.5-acre tract that also included the property of 1726 Old Trenton Road (the Rachel Conover house) next door - from William Tindall, Esquire, in 1814.[2] This may have been the same William Tindall who served as West Windsor's very first Tax Assessor and Justice of the Peace starting in 1797, and was also a Township Committeeman, Commissioner of (Taxation) Appeal, Overseer of the Highways, and Moderator/Judger of Elections from the 1790s-1810s.[3] 

Advertisement from the February 12, 1816 "Trenton Federalist."

Township tax records from 1819 show James operating a "merchant shop" - presumably this same building.[4] What, exactly, he sold is unclear, but dry goods and produce may be good bets. He, and his successors, very likely catered to both locals and travelers looking for provisions.

While the lineage of ownership for the next two decades is unclear, what is certain is that in 1837, John Hutchinson, Esq. and Elizabeth Hutchinson sold the 1.5-acre tract to David and Susan Silver.[5] A "David Silver" is also listed as a West Windsor Overseer of the Highways and Judge of Elections in the 1840s.[6]

Following David in ownership was James Cubberly from 1845-47[7][8], and then Richard Rogers, from 1847-53[9][10]. A post office was established in this building in 1851 with Richard Rogers as the first recorded postmaster.[11] Most storekeepers after him presumably operated as Edinburg's postmaster as well.

Edinburg in 1875. Note the store!

Following Richard Rogers in ownership were a long line of (comparatively) short-term owners. Not all were necessarily storekeepers themselves, for other names that appear in the 1883 publication History of Burlington and Mercer Counties as storekeepers (but not owners) include Marco Krakakie, Job Silvers, Lucient Britton, Richard Waddy, Israel Baldwin.[12] However, the lineage of storeowners is as follows:

• William I. Tindall (1853-18??)[13]
• Possibly another owner (18??-18??)
• Isaac Baldwin (18??-1863)[14]
• Amos Martin (1863-66)[15],[16]
• Isaac Rogers (1866-69)[17],[18]
• John Rogers (1869-71)[19],[20]
• Charles & Mary Hutchinson (1871-73)[21],[22]
• Samuel & Lydia Tindall (1873-80)[23],[24]
• Joseph & Kate Watson (1880-88)[25],[26]
• Alexis & Susan Rainear (1888-91)[27],[28]
• Rachel Conover (189?-1898)[29],[30]

Duke's General Store, probably 1940s. Courtesy of Wayne Tindall.

In 1898, the store and the adjacent property of 1726 Old Trenton Road were finally split from each other, resulting in the current (2023) property demarcations. That same year, the store was sold to Levi Updike.[31] The next year, the property again passed to Joseph Watson and his wife, Kate.[32]

The subsequent lineage of ownership is unclear until 1929, when Harry Hohenstein and his wife, Mary, purchased the store. Harry delivered groceries to customers three times a week via horse and wagon. The Hohensteins also sold penny candy, bread, cupcakes, and more treats for kids.[33]

In 1936, Viola and Douglas "Duke" Stults acquired the general store. Duke, blind from birth, nevertheless knew where everything was. He could slice luncheon meats on the machine and count coins, but relied on the honesty of customers when handling paper money.[34] Both he and Viola managed "Duke's General Store and Chair Caning Shop."[35] In the rear 1-story extension (next to parking lot) was a game room with a pool table that was a popular hangout location. In 2023, this is a kitchen.[36] During their ownership (if not previous ownership as well) the store also operated as an Esso gas station.[38]

Duke Schultz with Denny, Fred, Mary Lou, Peg Elgrim and (back to us) Eleanor Kingston Schauer and "Jimmy" (pony). Circa 1942-3. From Peggy Elgrim DeSandre.

Myron and Bernice Tantum bought the store in 1960 and replaced the older gas pumps with the current relics (which themselves stopped operating long ago).[39] After the Tantums, starting in 1972, were Ronald and Dorothy Maze, who ran "Maze's Village Pantry," and sold deli meats and groceries.[40] By this point, a lean-to addition on the east side of the building had been raised to two floors.[41]

Finally, in 1991, Larris "Lucky" Lee and his wife, Patricia, purchased the property.[42] The Village Pantry still operates out of this building, alongside a graphics arts company called Greenhouse Graphics on the east end and in a 1-story gable-roof addition. There, they continue operation in this centuries-old building that is part of the lifeblood of historic Edinburg.

Maze's Village Pantry, probably 1980s.

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Go to Edinburg

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Bibliography

1. “To Be Rented, a Handsome New Dwelling-House.” Trenton Federalist, February 12, 1816.​
2. Hutchinson, James, Tindall, Margaret, Tindall, William. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1814. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 11 Page 790.
3. ​​“West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
4. ​“West Windsor Township Tax Ratables, 1819.” West Windsor Township, 1819. Lists individuals that lived in West Windsor Township in 1819 - including their occupations. Digital copy donated to the Historical Society of West Windsor from the the New Jersey State Archives.
5. Hutchinson, Elizabeth, Hutchinson, Jonathan J., Silver, David, Silver, Susan. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1837. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 32 Page 527.
6. ​​“West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
7. Cubberly, James M., Silver, David, Silver, Susan. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1845. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book I Page 32.
8. Cubberly, James M., Rogers, Richard R. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1847. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book M Page 179.
9. Ibid.
10. Rogers, Richard R.., Tindall, William I. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1853. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book X Page 233.
11. “A New Post Office has been established at Edinburg in this county, and R. Rogers appointed Post-master.” State Gazette, January 30, 1851.
12. Woodward, Evan Morrison, and John Frelinghuysen Hageman. History of Burlington and Mercer Counties with Biographical Sketches of Many of Their Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts & Peck, 1883.
13. Rogers, Richard R.., Tindall, William I. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1853. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book X Page 233.
14. Martin, Amos, Martin, Sarah, Rogers, Isaac R. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1866. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book 81 Page 212.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid.
18. Rogers, Isaac R., Rogers, John. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1869. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book 74 Page 191.
19. Ibid.
20. Hutchinson, Charles, Hutchinson, Mary, Rogers, John. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1871. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book 81 Page 209.
21. Ibid.
22. Hutchinson, Charles, Hutchinson, Mary, Tindall, Lydia, Tindall, Samuel. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1873. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book 111 Page 485.
23. Ibid.
24. Tindall, Lydia, Tindall, Samuel, Watson, Joseph, Watson, Kate. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1880. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book 126 Page 58.
25. Ibid.
26. Watson, Joseph L., Rainear, Alexis. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1888. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book 158 Page 497.
27. Ibid.
28. Ashmore, Harry A., Updike, Levi. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1898. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book 224 Page 312.
29. Ibid.
30. Ibid.
31. Ibid.
32. Updike, Levi, Watson, Joseph L. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1899. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book 252 Page 159.​​
33. Tantum, Bernice. “Broadside,” 1993. Historical Society of West Windsor newsletter, Autumn, 1993. History of the Village of Edinburg. With contributions from Dorothy M. Tindall, Pauline Conover, Nellie & Al Carson, and Joe & Madeline Taylor.​
34. Ibid.
35. Edinburg General Store - circa 1940s. Photograph. West Windsor, NJ, probably 1940s. West Windsor History Museum. Courtesy of Wayne Tindall.
36. Ligeti, Paul T. I., and Trevor LePrevost. Phone Call with Trevor LePrevost. Personal, March 2023. Note: Trevor grew up in Edinburg in the mid-late 1900s and personally knew many of the people who lived in the village.​
37. Ligeti, Paul T. I., and Trevor LePrevost. Phone Call with Trevor LePrevost. Personal, March 2023. Note: Trevor and his family grew up in Edinburg in the mid-late 1900s and personally knew many of the people who lived in the village and witnessed how the buildings evolved over time.
38. Edinburg General Store - 1962. Photograph. West Windsor, NJ, July 2, 1962. West Windsor History Museum. Photographed by Howard E. Schrader.
39. Ligeti, Paul T. I., and Trevor LePrevost. Phone Call with Trevor LePrevost. Personal, March 2023. Note: Trevor grew up in Edinburg in the mid-late 1900s and personally knew many of the people who lived in the village.​
40. Ibid.
41. Edinburg General Store - circa 1980s. Photograph. West Windsor, NJ, probably 1980s. West Windsor History Museum.