Mount-Reynolds House
Historical Overview
Standing at 411 Village Road East is a 3-bay, 2.5-story T-shaped house with full-length front porch and single-story year extension. This building - hereafter called the "Mount-Reynolds" house - is a contributing element of the historic Dutch Neck community and a member of West Windsor's "100 Club."
The date of construction is unknown but the house is perhaps from the mid-1800s.[1],[2] In 1843, part of a 120-acre farm owned by Henry and Rebecca Applegate was split off and sold to William and Susan Bergen. This much-smaller joint tract (1.74 acres) encompassed the properties of 415, 413, and 411 Village Road East. This same deed refers to a "premises," suggesting that at least one house existed on the small tract in 1843, although it's unknown if this referred to either of the houses at 415 or 411 Village Road East (413 Village Road East was built in 1907).[3],[4] Read our analysis of the home at 415 Village Road East to explore the general history of the joint tract prior to 1907. |
In 1907, the Cook family sold a portion of their joint tract - containing the house at 411 Village Road East - to a carpenter named Jonathan Mount.[5],[6] Jonathan served in a variety of West Windsor municipal roles for many decades: as Poundkeeper (animal control) in the 1890s, as constable from the 1890s-1910s, as Justice of the Peace from the 1910s-20s, and as Overseer of the Poor and Director of Relief (welfare) in the 1940s.[7]
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In 1954, the house passed to a member of the Whitcomb family (in-laws of the Mounts via marriage to Jonathan's daughter, Luella).[8] Five years later, the property was purchased by Wesley and Shirley Holman. Wesley was a local Constable for ten years before the West Windsor Police Department formed in 1968.[9] Meanwhile, Shirley - daughter of Charles and Doris Holman of the nearby Perrine-Wyckoff-Holman farm at 131 South Mill Road - was a registered nurse, working in Princeton Hospital and High School South.[10]
Martin and Betty Lou Reynolds purchased the Mount-Reynolds house in 1967. The couple owned this home for the next thirty-three years, selling the property in the year 2000. Since then, more owners have maintained the house, which still stands as an 1800s-era relic of the historic Dutch Neck community.
Martin and Betty Lou Reynolds purchased the Mount-Reynolds house in 1967. The couple owned this home for the next thirty-three years, selling the property in the year 2000. Since then, more owners have maintained the house, which still stands as an 1800s-era relic of the historic Dutch Neck community.
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.
- “Section IX – Conservation Plan Element – West Windsor Master Plan.” West Windsor Township, 2002.
- Applegate, Henry, Applegate, Rebecca, Bergen, Susan, Bergen, Willliam G. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1843. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book F Page 7.
- Cook, Hiram Augustus. “Hiram A. Cook - Signature.” West Windsor, NJ: 413 Village Road East, 1907. Carving in basement walls of 413 Village Road East, saying "Hiram A. Cook 1907."x
- Cook, Carrie S., Cook, Hiram A., Mount, Jonathan S. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1907. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 294 Page 539.
- "Obituaries: John S. Mount” Trenton Evening Times, November 9, 1958.
- "West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
- "Obituaries: John S. Mount” Trenton Evening Times, November 9, 1958.
- "West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
- “Shirley Holman Obituary (2010) - Trenton, NJ - ‘the Times, Trenton,".” Legacy.com. The Times, Trenton, January 16, 2010. https://obits.nj.com/us/obituaries/trenton/name/shirley-holman-obituary?id=25242692.