The Rose Conover House
Historical Overview
Situated at 134 South Mill Road in the historic West Windsor community of Dutch Neck is a member of West Windsor's "100 Club." Featuring a wrap-around porch, intricately-carved bargeboards, and a double-height bay window in the front, it is arguably the finest example of Victorian Gothic architecture in the entire township.
It is difficult to determine this building's date of construction. Various records suggests dates between the 1870s (when the land was presumably owned by Liscomb T. Robins)[1] and 1920 (when the land was owned by George D. Robins - Liscomb's son - and his wife, Gertie).[2],[3] However, Robins family descendants have said that the house was built as a wedding gift for Rose Robins - George's and Gertie's daughter - when she married her husband, Walter Conover Sr.,[4] which would put its date at 1908.[5] Regardless, the house clearly originated with the Robins family. In 1916, George and Gertie purchased the property from George's sister - Liscomb's daughter[6] - Isabela Franklin.[7] Six years later, they deeded the house to Walter.[8] He and Rose also purchased the adjacent house at 136 South Mill Road in 1963, following the death of Rose's uncle, Fred Robins.[9] |
Walter was a Treasurer of the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church and charter member and President of the Princeton Lions Club. He was also founder of the Nassau-Conover Motor Company and at one point head of the NJ Auto Motor Trade Association.[10] Moreover, Walter was a founding charter member of the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company in 1921.[11] 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).[12]
After Rose's death, their Victorian house passed to their children but soon passed out of the family.[13] Still, despite its new owners, it retains its old-style charm and remains an architecturally-distinct fixture of the historic community of Dutch Neck.
After Rose's death, their Victorian house passed to their children but soon passed out of the family.[13] Still, despite its new owners, it retains its old-style charm and remains an architecturally-distinct fixture of the historic community of Dutch Neck.
Bibliography
- "West Windsor Township.” Map. 1875 Historical Atlas of Mercer County, New Jersey - Map of West Windsor. Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Stuart, 1875. https://www.loc. gov/item/2010587333/.
- "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 134 S Mill Rd.
- United States Census, 1870 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1870.
- Ligeti, Paul T. I., and Melissa Conover. Facebook Chat with Melissa Conover. Other, January 20, 2020. Conversation with Melissa Conover about the history of 134 South Mill Road.
- “Wed on Parents' Anniversary.” × The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 22, 1908.
- Conover, Gertie, Conover, George, Franklin, G. H. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1916. Deed for 134 South Mill Road. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 393 Page 410.
- United States Census, 1880 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1880.
- Conover, Gertie, Conover, George, Conover, Walter F.. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1922. Deed for 134 South Mill Road. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 485 Page 215.
- Conover, Rose R., Conover, Walter F Sr., Heidrick, Dorothy B., Heidrick, Gardner W. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1965. Deed from Lyorah Vannest to Lydia C. Wyckoff 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.
- “Walter F. Conover.” Town Topics. March 19, 1970.
- "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. - “Rose R. Conover.” Town Topics. October 23, 1985.
- Mather, Dorothy, Conover, George W., Conover, Walter F., Leeds, Daniel H., Leeds, Sunita. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1985. Deed for 134 South Mill Road. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 2343 Page 418.