Historic Community: Scudder's Mills

Scudder's Mills with historical sites (extant and disappeared) in 2024. Click to enlarge/download.

A historic Plainsboro/West Windsor community called "Scudder's Mills" once existed where the Millstone River flows between Carnegie Lake and Route 1. This 1700s-era community grew around industry powered by the flow of the Millstone. However, when Carnegie Lake in Princeton was constructed in 1905/6, the Millstone flooded, and Scudder's Mills died out as a neighborhood. Nevertheless, a number of its original historic sites remain. Explore Scudder's Mills and its historical sites below!

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Historical Overview

Scudders Mills is a mostly disappeared hamlet that historically straddled both sides of the Millstone River around its confluence with the Stony Brook. The community grew around some of the area’s first mills, powered by the Millstone River. They were probably built by Josiah Davison between 1737 and 1749.[1],[2],[3] That year, Jacob Scudder purchased the property, said to have included 100 acres of land, two gristmills, a sawmill, and a fulling mill.[4] Scudder left this estate to his son William.[5] In 1776, William’s mill and house were burnt by the British during the American Revolution. He fought back, however, as a colonel in the George Washington’s army.[6]

The chartering of the Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike (Route 1) in 1804[7] and its subsequent construction likely helped grow the community. The opening of the Delaware and Raritan Canal in 1834[8] and the laying of the Camden and Amboy Railroad line in 1839[9] were further boons. Also presumably around 1834, an aqueduct was constructed to carry the canal over the Millstone River,[10] after which the district assumed another name: “Aqueduct Mills”[11] - sometimes just “Aqueduct.”[12]

By the mid-1800s, Scudders Mills featured several residences, a blacksmith, a wheelwright, a paint shop, a distillery, a shoemaker, and, of course, several mills.[13],[14],[15] These buildings, surrounded by farmland, stood alongside Mapleton Road in Plainsboro and Lower Harrison Street in West Windsor. A long-gone dirt lane crossing equally long-gone meadowlands connected these two avenues west of Route 1.

Scudder's Mills, 1905.

The mill itself was passed down through the Scudder family until 1841.[16] It went through various owners until it was reputedly torn down by a “Dr. Hunt,” who is said to have replaced it with a new building.[17] It eventually passed to the Gray family, who owned the large three-story house still standing near the bend in Mapleton Road.[18]

In the early 1900s, other local families included the Robinsons, Cudgels, Engelkes, Patersons, and Williamsons.[19],[20] At this time, a dam was built in Kingston to flood the Stony Brook and create Carnegie Lake – named after its sponsor, the steel titan Andrew Carnegie. By the time the lake opened in 1906, the Millstone River – once a much-narrower creek - had been irreversibly flooded.[21],[22],[23]

Bridge over Millstone River, mid-late 1800s.

Scudders Mills thus died as a community. The mill itself  stopped running around this point, reputedly last being used to manufacture ice.[24] The community was now physically split by the widened river, and it is believed that at least one house was relocated as a result.[25] The last blacksmith is said to have been Frank B. Williamson, the last storekeeper Charles Williamson, and the last wheelwright Thomas Thompson.[26]

​In the many decades since, the landscape has changed dramatically. Long gone are the old mills and several houses. At the time of this writing (2024), a hotel, restaurant, and apartments occupy much of the land off Mapleton Road, west of Route 1. Directly east across Route 1 is Millstone River Park and the Princeton Medical Center. The south side of the Millstone River features a gas station, car rental shop, and power substation. And, as mentioned previously, Princeton University is now building a graduate student campus covering hundreds of acres in the land south of Lower Harrison Street.

​However, several of Scudders Mills’ old buildings still stand. This includes two Williamson family houses at 864 and 870 Mapleton Road,[27] both repurposed as offices. Facing them are the grand old Gray family house and a converted barn at 3 and 5 Mapleton Road (respectively),[28] also offices. In West Windsor, equally-old houses stand at 43, 47, 51, and 65 Lower Harrison Street.[29] 

In 1988, the "Aqueduct Mills Historic District" was evaluated for eligibility for the New Jersey State Register of Historic Places with an extension in 1998.[30]

A mill at Scudder's Mills, pre-1906. From Esther Engelke.

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Historical Scudder's Mills Sites

Click on each of the images below to explore some historic Scudder's Mills landmarks! We recommend reading them in order. More may be added as research progresses.

The Mills

The Aqueduct

The Millwright's House

The Gray House and Barn

Elbert Williamson House

George Williamson House & Store

David Schenck House

Thompson House

Jemison House

Wyndemere

Penns Neck Schoolhouse

Covenhoven-Silvers-Logan House

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Bibliography

1. “Public Road Surveys, 1720-1775 (Microfilm).” Trenton, n.d. Accessed February 28, 2022. From the New Jersey State Archive’s Microfilm room. Reel: Deeds and Land Conveyances, 1714-1722; Public Road Surveys, 1720-1775. For this specific citation: Public Road Surveys section, Page 24-25 - mentions “Josiah Davison’s Mills.”
2. “Scudders Mills.” Plainsboro, NJ, n.d. Metal plaque embedded in stone boulder near the Delaware & Raritan Canal aqueduct where the Millstone River, Delaware & Raritan Canal, and Carnegie Lake intersect. This boulder is located near the parking lot off Mapleton Road. This plaque was “erected by Plainsboro Township with the assistance and cooperation of the Plainsboro Historical Society, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, and the D&R Canal Commission,” per the plaque’s text.
3. Davison, Daniel B, and Josiah Davison. “Indenture,” April 2, 1737. Deed from Daniel B. Davison to Josiah Davison for the property that would house what was historically known as “Scudder’s Mills.” Found in the New Jersey State Archives - Early Land Records database - E-2 (EJ) : Folio 98 (SSTSE023)
4. "Aqueduct” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
5. Honeyman, A Van Doren, ed. Essay. In Documents Relating to the Colonial and Revo lutionary History of the State of New Jersey - Volume V of Calendar of Wills (1771 1780) 34, 34:449–50. 1. Trenton, New Jersey: MacCrellish & Quigley Co., 1931.
6. Scudder, William (Colonel). “Inventory of Damages to the Goods of William Scudder.” Windsor, Middlesex County: Scudder’s Mills, December 31, 1776. Found in the New Jersey State Archives - Revolutionary War Damage Claims, 1776-1783 - B : Middlesex. Pg. 235. Claim No. [1]
7. “New Jersey Historic Roadway Study,” January 2011. Produced by KSK Architects Planners Historians, Inc. with Armand Corporation, Inc. & Michael Baker, Jr. Inc. HOP Log #03-1895-6
8. "Delaware and Raritan Canal." Princeton Whig. August 29, 1834.
9. Camden and Amboy Railroad/Delaware and Raritan Canal Companies Minutes of the Joint Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, 1831 - 1872,” n.d. Located in the New Jersey State Archive’s Manuscripts Room. Accessed February 28, 2022.
10. William Gulick, John C. Schenck, and George T. McDowell. (1836, November 259) "Valuable Mill Property At Auction." Princeton Whig.
11. Woodward, Evan Morrison, and John Frelinghuysen Hageman. History of Burlington and Mercer Counties with Biographical Sketches of Many of Their Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts & Peck, 1883.
12. “Aqueduct” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press,  1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
13. Ibid.
14.  Engelke, Ida Louise Williamson. “Broadside,” 1986. One of the Historical Society of West Windsor’s “Broadside” newsletters. Published in the Fall & Winter, 1986. Part 1 of a 2-part series.
15. Engelke, Ida Louise Williamson. “Broadside,” 1987. One of the Historical Society of West Windsor’s “Broadside” newsletters. Published in the Spring & Summer, 1987. Part 2 of a 2-part series.
16.  Ibid.
17. Engelke, Ida Louise Williamson. “Broadside,” 1986. One of the Historical Society of West Windsor’s “Broadside” newsletters. Published in the Fall & Winter, 1986. Part 1 of a 2-part series.
18. Scudder, William, Rebecca Scudder, and Cornelius C Cruser. “Indenture,” April 1, 1841. Deed for the Scudders Mills property from William and Rebecca Scudder to Cornelius C. Cruser. Found in New Jersey State Archives - Middlesex County Deeds (1784-1922) Book 37, Page 10
19. “Aqueduct” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.
20. Onderdonk, Peter C., and Alexander Gray. “Indenture,” May 26, 1866. Deed for the Scudders Mills property from Peter C. Onderdonk to Alexander Gray. Found in New Jersey State Archives - Mercer County Deeds (1838-1919) Book 144 Pg. 267
21. Engelke, Ida Louise Williamson. “Broadside,” 1986. One of the Historical Society of West Windsor’s “Broadside” newsletters. Published in the Fall & Winter, 1986. Part 1 of a 2-part series.
22. Engelke, Ida Louise Williamson. “Broadside,” 1987. One of the Historical Society of West Windsor’s “Broadside” newsletters. Published in the Spring & Summer, 1987. Part 2 of a 2-part series.
23. Ibid. 271 Engelke, Ida Louise Williamson. “Broadside,” 1986. One of the Historical Society of West Windsor’s “Broadside” newsletters. Published in the Fall & Winter, 1986. Part 1 of a 2-part series.
24. Engelke, Ida Louise Williamson. “Broadside,” 1987. One of the Historical Society of West Windsor’s “Broadside” newsletters. Published in the Spring & Summer, 1987. Part 2 of a 2-part series.
25. “Mercer County Historic Sites Survey: West Windsor Township, Mercer County, NJ.” Princeton, 1988. Conducted by Kinsey & Hand Associates.
26. “Aqueduct” Essay. In Old Princeton’s Neighbors. Princeton, NJ: Graphic Arts Press , 1939. Written by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project.”
27. Engelke, Ida Louise Williamson. “Broadside,” 1986. One of the Historical Society of West Windsor’s “Broadside” newsletters. Published in the Fall & Winter, 1986. Part 1 of a 2-part series.
28. Onderdonk, Peter C., and Alexander Gray. “Indenture,” May 26, 1866. Deed for the Scudders Mills property from Peter C. Onderdonk to Alexander Gray. Found in New Jersey State Archives - Mercer County Deeds (1838-1919) Book 144 Pg. 267
29. “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.
30. “New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.” NJ/NRHP. Accessed February 12, 2024. https://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/1identify/nrsr_lists.htm.