Robert Fisher House

Robert Fisher house, ca. 2020.

Historical Overview

A 2.5-story, 5-bay Italianate/Greek Revival hip-roofed house with 1-story rear extension stands at 1953 Old Trenton Road. Featuring a bracketed porch and similarly-bracketed eaves, this structure is a good example of a traditional Greek Revival/Italianate house and reflects a level of wealth around the time of its construction. It is also a member of West Windsor's "100 Club."

Historical maps suggest the home was built between 1849 and 1860.[1],[2] In 1850, Robert L. Fisher purchased 200 acres here, including at least one other house (long-gone) across the road, from his father and mother (John and Susan) for $6,000.[3] That same year, John also deeded the Schenck Farmstead next door to another son, Samuel,[4] and the year prior had also purchased the nearby farm that is now the Cranbury Golf Course.[5] These three farms collectively formed a massive Fisher family estate, stretching across hundreds of acres on either side of Southfield and Old Trenton Roads.

Robert served as a West Windsor Township Committeeman and Overseer of the Highways in the 1850s.[6] The 1870 census shows him owning $22,000 worth of real estate and living here with his wife (Jane), children (James and Jane), servant (Aaron McDonnell), and farmhand (Edward Williams).[7]

Closeup of 1860 Mercer County map. Note R. L. Fisher.

​Robert died in 1878 and was buried in Cranbury's Brainerd Cemetery.[8] So, too, was his wife, in 1894.[9] In 1878, the house passed to his son, James, and James' wife, Ella.[10] The 1880 census shows the couple living here with their son, Henry.[11] And it was indeed Harry who was deeded the property in 1901.[12]

In 1930, the house finally passed out of Fisher hands when 125 acres was sold to Joseph and Theresa Krug for $13,500.[13] Thereafter the property passed through the following owners:

• ​Russell and Emily Probasco: 1947-63[14],[15]
• Russell Probasco Jr. & Lillian Probasco: 1963-66[16],[17]
• Max Zaitz: 1966-70[18],[19]
• Betty Zaitz and Kenneth Stults: 1970-79[20],[21]
• James and Mairead Erb: 1979-91[22],[23]
• Steven and Marina Vrahnos: Starting 1991.[24]

The property has since passed through other owners, and also around the early 2000s, the land around was sold off and turned into part of the "Village Grande" suburban adult community.[25],[26] Nevertheless, the house remains as a contributing element of West Windsor's 1800s-era history.

Extent of 1850 deed.

Robert Fisher house, 1995

Robert Fisher house, 2002

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Bibliography

1. Otley, J W, and James Keily. “Map of Mercer County, New Jersey.” Map. Camden, New Jersey: L. Van der Veer, 1849.
2. Lake, D J, and S N Beers. Map of the Vicinity of Philadelphia and Trenton from Actual Surveys By D.J. Lake and S. N. Beers. Assisted by F. Beers, L. B. Lake and D. G. Beers. Philadelphia, PA: C.K. Stone and A. Pomeroy, 1860. https://dspace.njstatelib.org/xmlui/handle/10929/34112?show=full
3. Fisher, John S, Fisher, Robert L., Fisher, Susan. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1850. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book W Page 39.
4. Fisher, Catherine, Fisher, Jonathan S., Fisher, Catherine. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1850. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book V Page 570.
5. Fisher, John S., Updike, Rachel, Updike, William Clement. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1850. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book P Page 563.
6. “West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
7. ​United States Census, 1870 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1870.
8. First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury. (n.d.). First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury graveyard. Cranbury. First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury graveyard gravestones, which often list birth dates, death dates, and ages of those buried there.
9. Ibid.
10. Fisher, Ella, Fisher, Fisher, Harry C., James S., Fisher, Laura H. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1901. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 244 Page 400.
11. ​United States Census, 1880 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1880.
12. Fisher, Ella, Fisher, Fisher, Harry C., James S., Fisher, Laura H. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1901. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 244 Page 400.
13. Fisher, Harry C., Fisher, Laura H., Krug, Joseph, Krug, Theresa C. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1930. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 660 Page 350.
14. Krug, Theresa C., Probasco, Emily M., Probasco, Russell B. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1947. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 968 Page 486.
15. Probasco, Emily M., Probasco, Lillian Elizabeth O., Probasco, Russell B., Probasco, Russell Merton. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1963. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1674 Page 99.
16. Ibid.
17. Probasco, Lillian Elizabeth O., Probasco, Russell B., Zaitz, Max. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1966. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1754 Page 956.
18. Ibid.
19. Stults, Kenneth G., Zaitz, Betty, Zaitz, Max. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1970. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1870 Page 598.
20. Ibid.
21. Erb, James R., Erb, Mairead, Stults, Kenneth G., Zaitz, Betty. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1979. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 2116 Page 491.
22. Ibid.
23. Erb, James R., Vrahnos, Marina, Vrahnos, Steven. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1991. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 2584 Page 782.
24. Ibid.
25. “West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 1997.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 1997.
26. “West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 2002.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 2002.