Penns Neck Community Club

Penns Neck Community Club from 1939 "Old Princeton's Neighbors" booklet.

Historical Overview

A two-story building once stood at 3700 Brunswick Pike. This was originally the Penns Neck Community Club and was a longtime institution in the historic West Windsor community of Penns Neck.

The Penns Neck Community Club reputedly organized in 1922 in the home of Fred Cox (historically the Kovenhoven-Jewell homestead). Its charter members are said to have all been members of the Bible class of the nearby Princeton Baptist Church and its purpose to "aid the civic, moral, intellectual and social welfare of the community."[1]

Early newspaper articles show the Club hosting "Strawberry Festivals,"[2] community fairs,[3] comedy shows,[4] card parties,[5] dances,[6] "moving pictures," and more.[7] In 1924, they erected their clubhouse at 3700 Brunswick Pike.[8] The building was largely constructed by community members and funds were raised through subscriptions. A dining hall, kitchen, and auditorium with seating capacity of 600 provided ample room for activities of all sorts.[9] In its day, it was an integral Penns Neck institution second to only the Princeton Baptist Church and the Penns Neck School.

The Penns Neck Community Club operated in the building until the early 1960s. In 1961, the club dissolved and its clubhouse was sold to Techne (Cambridge) Ltd.[10] (a scientific instrument manufacturer), which used the building as offices. It eventually passed to other individuals and fell into disuse.[11] The building was demolished in 2017, likely in anticipation of commercial development.[12],[13]

Penns Neck Community Club, 2003.

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Bibliography

“Penn's Neck.” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
"Penns Neck Festval." Trenton Evening Tims. May 30, 1923.
"Community Fair for Penns Neck." Trenton Evening Times. November 30, 1923.
"Penns Neck Community Club to Give Comedy." Princeton Herald. February 3, 1926.
"Eastern Star Will Hold Dance and Card Party." Princeton Herald. May 6, 1927.
"American Legion Prepares for Armistice Eve Dance." Princeton Herald. October 28, 1927.
“Penn's Neck.” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
"Community Centres." Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser. August 24, 1924.
“Penn's Neck.” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
West Windsor Township: People - Purpose - Progress. West Windsor, New Jersey: West Windsor Township, 1964.
“Penns Neck Area EIS - West Windsor and Princeton Townships, Mercer County and Plainsboro Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey - Historic Architectural Survey - Volume 2 of 2,” May 2003. Prepared for the New Jersey Department of Transportation by John Milner Associates (Architects/Archaeologists/Planners).
"West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, April 2017.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 2017.
"West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, October 2017.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 2017.