The Fred Robins House

The Fred A. Robins house in August 2021.

Historical Overview

Situated at 136 South Mill Road is a house - and member of West Windsor's "100 Club" - contributing to the historic character of the community of Dutch Neck. Various sources record that this 3-bay colonial revival house was constructed in 1922, after Frederick A. Robins purchased a tract - formerly the gardens of the adjacent "Manse" - from the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church.[1],[2] 

Fred was recorded as a West Windsor Township Clerk from 1906-1907.[3] He was also a farmer and a miller and served as a superintendent of the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church's Sunday School for 33 years.[4] His wife was Vinnie Leonora Dodge, a native of Illinois.[5]

Presenting honors to Fred Robins for 33 years of service to the Dutch Neck Sunday School, 1950s or 1960s. Left to right: Rev. Van Dyke Wright, Lewis Chamberlin, Fred Robins, Rev. Charles Erdman, ????, Rev. Guy Bensinger.

The home was sold in 1963 to Fred's neice, Rose Robins, and her husband, Walter Fred Conover. The two had also long owned the house next door at 138 South Mill Road. Rose Amanda Robins.[6] Walter was a Treasurer of the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church and charter member and President of the Princeton Lions Club. He was also an automotive dealer and at one point head of the NJ Auto Motor Trade Association.[7] Moreover, Walter was a founding charter member of the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company in 1921.[8] At the time of Rose's death in 1985, she was 97 years old and had the longest history of membership of the adjacent church. She was also a charter member of the Hightstown Order of Eastern Star (a Masonic fraternal order).[9]

​In 1965, Walter and Rose sold their home to Gardner Heidrick and his wife, Dorothy.[10] Four years later, the property was bought by the Lanahans, who lived in it until 1997. The property has since passed to other owners and in the 2010s its rear addition was significantly enlarged.[11] Like many nearby residences, the Fred Robins house still adds to the character of the historic Dutch Neck community.

Fred Robins house in December 2018.

Go to Dutch Neck

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Bibliography

1. Sesquicentennial History: 1816-1966. West Windsor, New Jersey: First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck, 1966.
2. ​​"West Windsor Tax Assessor Address List, 2019.” West Windsor, 2019. List of all residences in West Windsor with dates of construction, according to tax assessor. Sent to the Historical Society by Lorraine Jones and Dawn Moretti. For this specific citation, look at 136 South Mill Road.
3. ​​“West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
4. Honors Presentation to Fred Robins. Photograph. West Windsor, NJ, n.d. West Windsor History Museum. ​
5. “Mrs. Vinnie D. Robins.” Town Topics. March 1, 1959. 
6. Conover, Rose R., Conover, Walter F Sr., Heidrick, Dorothy B., Heidrick, Gardner W. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1965. Deed for 136 South Mill Road. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1732 Page 854. Mentions the 1963 Robins-Conover transfer.
7. “Walter F. Conover.” Town Topics. March 19, 1970. 
8. "Minutes and Records of the West Windsor Township Volunteer Fire Company, Organized March 21, 1921.” West Windsor: West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 firehouse, n.d. Minutes detailing the first 11 years (1921-1932) of the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1’s development.
9. “Rose R. Conover.” Town Topics. October 23, 1985. 
10. Conover, Rose R., Conover, Walter F Sr., Heidrick, Dorothy B., Heidrick, Gardner W. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1965. Deed for 136 South Mill Road. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1732 Page 854. Mentions the 1963 Robins-Conover transfer.
11. Personal observations of this article's author - Paul Ligeti