Thompson House

Thompson house, November 2018. From Paul Ligeti.

Historical Overview

A 2-story colonial revival house with 1.5-story wing, 1-story breezeway, and 2-car garage stands at 47 Lower Harrison Street in West Windsor. It has long been a contributing element of the historic West Windsor/Plainsboro community of Scudder's Mills and ​is also a member of West Windsor's 100 Club.

The home's date of construction is unknown. In a deed from 1827, David Schenck sold this property, and the property of 43 Lower Harrison Street, as one joint tract, to Jonathan Applegate.[1] Although the deed mentions a house, stylistic considerations suggest (but don't prove) this was more likely the David Schenck house at 43 Lower Harrison Street rather than the Thompson house.[2] However, two separate structures do seem to appear within the joint tract in a map from 1840.[3]

The 2-story portion is said to be a Colonial Revival wing built around 1930. Meanwhile, the 1.5-story wing appears much older and perhaps dates to the time of ownership by John Applegate or Robert Thompson[4] (who purchased the joint tract from Applegate's heirs in 1846[5]). Thompson himself operated a shoe shop out of this larger property.[6]

Scudder's Mills, 1875. Note "R. E. Thompson Shoemaker."

Sixteen years later, Thompson' son sold the property to Scott Berrien[7] - creator of the historic West Windsor community of Berrien City.[8] In 1895, Berrien sold the parcel to Charles Williamson.[9] The 1900 census lists Charles as a wheelwright, living with his wife, Emma, and his daughters, Helen and Mary.[10]

In 1929, Ralph and Catherine Little purchased the property.[11] Ralph was a founding member of the West Windsor Zoning Board in 1944 and its Planning Board in 1952.[12] A renowned veterinarian, he was a pioneer in the use of antibiotics in treatment of animal diseases (especially in cattle).[13] He and Catherine ultimately split the joint property into its constituent addresses (43 and 47 Lower Harrison Streets) in 1960.[14],[15] Catharine died in 1934,[16] and Ralph remarried a woman named Ethel.[17] He passed in 1965,[18] after which Ethel retained the property for the next two years.[19]

In 1967, Donald and Anna Barrows purchased 47 Lower Harrison Street as a separate lot.[20] After them were Vagn and Sarah Worm starting in 1982,[21] John and Melissa Jacobson in 1994,[22] and other owners since then.

Scudder's Mills, 1905. Note "D. Williamson."

Go to Scudder's Mills

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Bibliography

1. Applegate, Jonathan, Schenck, Garret. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1827. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 19 Page 720.
2. “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).​
3. Hassler, F. R., & Gerdes, F. H. (1840). US Coast Survey - Princeton and Vicinity. map, Princeton and Vicinity, New Jersey. Scale 1:20,000
4. “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).
5. Applegate, Esther, Applegate, Sarah Ann, Robinson, Catharine, Robinson, John T., Thompson, Robert. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1846. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book L Page 242.
6. ​“West Windsor Township.” Map. 1875 Historical Atlas of Mercer County, New Jersey - Map of West Windsor. Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Stuart, 1875.
7. Berrien, Scott, Thompson, Thomas S. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1884. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 125 Page 75.
8. ​Sincerbeaux, C. S. “Map Showing Plan of Lots for Scott Berrien Esq.” Map. West Windsor, New Jersey, 1916.
9. Berrien, Scott, Williamson, Charles. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1895. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 205 Page 55.
10. United States Census, 1900 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1900.
11. Little, Catherine, Little, Ralph B., Princeton Bank & Trust Company. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1929. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 658 Page 197.
12. “West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
13. "Ralph B. Little Dies; Animal Disease Expert." Princeton Herald. July 30, 1965.
14. Little, Ethel, Little, Ralph B. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1960. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1541 Page 576.
15. Little, Ethel, Little, Ralph B. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1960. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1541 Page 580.
16. "Illness Fatal to Wife of Princeton Physician." Trenton Evening Times. March 26, 1934.
17. "Ralph B. Little Dies; Animal Disease Expert." Princeton Herald. July 30, 1965.
18. Ibid.
19. Barrows, Anna N., Barrows, Donald B., Little, Ethel B. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1967. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1784 Page 708.
20. Ibid.
21. Barrows, Anna N., Barrows, Donald B., Worm, Sarah B., Worm, Vagn. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1982. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 2204 Page 139.
22. Jacobson, Jonathan W., Jacobson, Melissa J. P., Worm, Sarah B., Worm, Vagn. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1994. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 2805 Page 234.