Schafer's Service Station
Schafer's Service Station, probably 1960s. In the foreground is Princeton-Hightstown Road.
Historical Overview
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An auto repair shop once stood on the site of what is now (2023) an empty field at 39 Princeton-Hightstown Road (directly abutting Cranbury Road). This establishment - originally called "Schafer's Service Station" - was, for many decades, a familiar landmark in old Princeton Junction.
The first Schafer's Service Station was, however, opened across the railroad tracks at 29 Washington Road, reputedly in the 1920s.[1] This was operated by Conrad Schafer - a German immigrant and baggageman for the Pennsylvania Railroad.[2] After the original gas station shack (see adjacent photo) was torn down in 1934, the larger building in the background was used for the station; it still exists as a small guest cottage the the property (a private residence).[3] |
Conrad Schafer's service station at 29 Washington Road, 1930s.
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Around 1940, Conrad's son, Henry L. Schafer, relocated the station to 39 Princeton-Hightstown Road, taking advantage of the newly-constructed railroad bridge opened just the year prior.[4] Henry's service station sold much more than gas and repairs. Newspapers, magazines, greeting cards, and even jewelries and household goods could be purchased. A display case full of penny candy was a magnet for local children who loved to spend their allowance there when they went with their parents to buy the Sunday newspaper. Henry's wife, Mary, also sold lunch foods: sandwiches, cookies, snacks, and Breyer's ice cream.[5]
Henry turned the station over to his son, Henry Jr. (AKA "Larry"), who operated it with his wife Joan, until 1979. They rented the station to Dennis McClenahan for a short time. Al Swingle, who also owned the Sunoco gas station at 50 Princeton Hightstown Road, bought Schafer's station in 1987 and turned it into purely a repair shop.[6] This building was demolished between 2010 and 2011;[10],[11] in its place stands that empty field. |
Henry Schafer's service station at 39 Princeton Hightstown Road, probably 1940s.
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Bibliography
- Princeton Recollector. (1979, May). Published by the Historical Society of Princeton
- United States Census, 1930 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1930.
- Princeton Recollector. (1979, May). Published by the Historical Society of Princeton
- "New Bridge Built at Junction." Princeton Herald. October 17, 1939.
- “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.
- Ibid.
- "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 2011.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 2011.
- "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 2010.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 2010.