The Hey-Novatkoski House
Hey-Novatkoski house, Dec. 2018. From Paul Ligeti.
Historical Overview
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Standing at 315 Clarksville Road 2-story 7-bay house with one-story rear garage. This structure - the Hey-Novatkoski house - is a member of West Windsor's "100 Club."
The age of the house is unknown. While tax records assert that the house was constructed in 1910,[1] it is very likely much older. In fact, a structure appears on this site on maps dating as far back as 1849, and the house is possibly much earlier.[2] The first known landowners here were Wiliam and Dinah Hilyer, who in 1811 sold about 55 acres to Charles and Ann Butcher for $810.[3] Five years later, it passed to Peter and Ann Bergen.[4] The couple owned the property (and presumably lived there) for the next thirty years, until was purchased by their son, John, and his wife, Gitty.[5] Following them was a large succession of owners:
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West Windsor, 1905. Notice "J. Bowers."
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Finally, the property passed to Isaac Hey, in 1908. Isaac - one of West Windsor's Justices of the Peace in the 1880s[19] - also operated the original Princeton Junction General Store/post office off of Station Drive in the late 1800s and early 1900s.[20] Eventually, the Hey-Novatkoski property passed to his son, Jacob, who, at some point, followed his father in managing the same store and post office on Station Drive.[21]
It was not until 1947 that the Hey-Novatkoski house passed to its next owner: John W. Stokes.[22] However, only four years later, it was purchased by Richard and Melba Mey, who in 1952 sold it to the next namesake owners: Agnes and Theodore Novatkoski. Theodore operated "Ted's Garage" on Clarksville Road. He passed in 1979; Agnes followed him 18 years later. The property has since changed hands a few more times but remains one of West Windsor's relics of days gone by.
It was not until 1947 that the Hey-Novatkoski house passed to its next owner: John W. Stokes.[22] However, only four years later, it was purchased by Richard and Melba Mey, who in 1952 sold it to the next namesake owners: Agnes and Theodore Novatkoski. Theodore operated "Ted's Garage" on Clarksville Road. He passed in 1979; Agnes followed him 18 years later. The property has since changed hands a few more times but remains one of West Windsor's relics of days gone by.
Bibliography
- "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.
- Otley, J W, and James Keily. “Map of Mercer County, New Jersey.” Map. Camden, New Jersey: L. Van der Veer, 1849.
- Butcher, Ann, Butcher, Charles, Hilyer, Dinah, Hilyer, William. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1811. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 8, Page 853.
- Bergen, Ann, Bergen, Peter I., Butcher, Ann, Butcher, Charles. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1816. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 12, Page 369.
- Bergen, Ann, Bergen, Gitty, Bergen, John C., Bergen, Peter I. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1846. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book K, Page 268.
- Bergen, Gitty, Bergen, John C., Thomas, Ann Elizabeth, Thomas, Elizabeth, Thomas, William H. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1850. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book T, Page 138.
- To Be Added
- Hutchinson, Richard, Thomas, Ann Elizabeth, Thomas, Elizabeth, Thomas, William H. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1869. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 82, Page 280.
- To Be Added
- Bergen, William G., Everett, James H., Everett, Rachel R., Hutchinson, Isaac P. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1876. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 111, Page 298.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Dillatash, Margaret, Dillatash, Samuel, Everett, James H., Everett, Rachel R. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1876. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 111, Page 299.
- Ibid.
- Dillatash, John W., Dillatash, Margaret, Dillatash, Samuel. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1883. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 135, Page 562.
- Ibid.
- Bowers, John, Dillatash, John W. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1891. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 176, Page 446.
- Ibid.
- “West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
- “Struck Jury Chosen.” Trenton Evening Times. September 11, 1895.
- “Broadside,” 1998. Newsletter about the history of Princeton Junction (Part 1 of a 2-part series) produced by the Historical Society of West Windsor. Spring 1998.
- Stokes, John W., Stokes, Mary Lolene. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1951. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1175, Page 509.
