Wicoff-Hooper-Grover Farm

Wicoff-Hooper-Grover farm, May 2020. From Paul Ligeti.

Historical Overview

Sprawling across about 100 acres at 348 Village Road East, across the street from Thomas R. Grover Middle School, is fertile farmland. At the center of this property are a few outbuildings, accessed by a long gravel driveway off Village Road East. This is the Wicoff-Hooper-Grover farm, often shortened to just "the Grover Farm." It has long been a local landmark, historic property, and transformative Open Space acquisition.

The property was once a farmstead on which its owners lived. It's unknown who first established this as an independent farm, but in 1763, Peter and Martha Covenhoven of Perth Amboy sold a "plantation" of 115 acres to John Wicoff of Windsor Township.​[1] Thereafter, ownership becomes unclear, until 1827, when John Fisher, executor of the estate of Williamtee Smith Wicoff, sold the property to Thomas and Abigail Hooper.[2] In her will, proved 1823, Williamtee had requested not only that the property be sold, but also that at least one year of schooling be funded for her great-grandchildren.[3]

Thomas was perhaps a descendant of another Thomas Hooper who owned a hotel in the nearby West Windsor community of Edinburg[4] and whose family was forced to flee the area in the 1780s due to their reputed British loyalties.[5]

West Windsor, 1875. Note "J. L. Hooper."

In 1836, the Wicoff-Hooper-Grover farm passed to John, presumably son of Thomas and Abigail.[6] Forty-seven years later, the property was acquired by John's son, also named Thomas.[7] Finally, after seventy-one years of Hooper ownership, George Denison purchased the farm in 1898.[8]

The 1900 census shows George farming this land alongside his wife, Annie, and their children: Ida, William and May.[9] Thirteen years later, George passed away,[10] after which Annie soon moved into the  Denison-Mackenzie-Dey House at 414 Village Road East.[11] Three years later, their farm was sold to Leroy and Lina Grover - the property's last resident family.[12]

The Grovers lived in a 5-bay, 2.5-story central hall plan I house whose original section was perhaps built by the Hoopers, with a main block reputedly built by Sam Groendyke in 1876. Nearby were adjacent barns, probably built during the early 20th century and used for hay , cows, and horses. According to one of the sons, Leroy "Pete" Grover, the family stopped raising cows around 1935 when milk prices fell to $0.03/quart and the farm switched to potatoes. Other crops later on included strawberries, peas, asparagus, sweet corn, and pumpkins.[13]

Harvesting potatoes c. 1930. L to R: Sylvanus Grover, Leroy Grover Sr, Leroy "Pete" Grover in Model A Ford. From John Grover.

Grover farm, 2002.

In 1954, the farm passed to Pete and his wife, Florence.[14] One of their children was Thomas R. Grover.[15] Born in 1946, he grew up with the trappings of farm life, until he shipped across the planet during the Vietnam War. He was killed in action in February 1969 - West Windsor's only known casualty to that conflict.[16] In 1999, the Thomas R. Grover Middle School opened across the street from his boyhood farm.[17] Click here to learn more about his life and service.

The Grovers, doubtlessly devastated by Thomas' death, nevertheless maintained their family farm for several more decades. Under their ownership, it became a popular "U-Pick" location where locals - especially kids - could pay a small fee and wander the fields, harvesting a variety of crops. This was especially popular around Halloween, when a small sea of pumpkins lined the fields.[18]

​In the late 20th century, West Windsor was rapidly growing and transforming from small farming community into bustling suburbia. In an effort to limit further development, the Municipality created its first Open Space Tax in 1993 to acquire this site.[19] The Township was formally deeded the farm - its first-ever parcel of open space - for about $3.3 million in 1995.[20] This was the catalyst for the township’s aggressive farmland preservation efforts, including the formation of the nonprofit Friends of West Windsor Open Space, which have led to the preservation of nearly 50 percent of the township’s land at the time of this writing (2024).[21] However, under the purchase's terms, Pete and Florence continued to live here. Pete died in 2008,[22] and in 2009 Florence moved out of the property.[23]

The farmhouse, 2009. From Paul Ligeti.

Afterward, although the Township used the land for farming, the house itself began to fall into disrepair. By 2012, it was in such bad condition - including boarded-up windows, water damage, and even looting of the interior - that a "Grover Farmstead Restoration Committee" was formed.[24] Despite their recommendations that the house be preserved and leased to a caretaker, the Township demolished the structure in 2013.[25]

​The following year, a stone plaque was installed at the entrance to the driveway, commemorating Thomas R. Grover.[26] It stands next to a flagpole displaying the American Flag and a Missing in Action-Prisoner of War flag. At the time of this writing (2024) the stone, flag, a few outbuildings at the end of the driveway, and the farmland itself remain remnants of the old farmstead.

Even at the time of this writing (2024), the farm is still considered a major symbol of West Windsor’s agricultural and open space heritage.

Outbuilding, March 2020. From Paul Ligeti.

Flag, boulder, and sign at entrance to Wicoff-Hooper-Grover farm, 2021. From Paul Ligeti.

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Bibliography

1. Covenhoven, Peter, Covenhoven, Martha, Wicoff, John. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1763. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 13 Page 830.
2. Fisher, John S., Hooper, Abigail, Hooper, Thomas. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1827. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 22 Page 714.
3. Smith, Williamtee Wicoff. “Will of Williamtee Wicoff Smith.” West Windsor, March 3, 1823. Proved March 11, 1826 by William Tindall. Found in the New Jersey State Archives.
4. Windsor Township, 1764. October 1764 Plea for Tavern License for Thomas Hooper to the Majesties Judges and Justices of the Peace in Perth Amboy (seat of Middlesex County). Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Tavern License collection.
5. Neal, Nancy E. A United Empire Loyalist Family: The Life and Times of Thomas Hooper of Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and His Descendants, 1734-2004. Summerside, PE: Crescent Isle Publishers, 2006. 
6. Hooper, Abigail, Hooper, John L., Hooper, Thomas. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1836. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book P Page 360.
7. Hooper, John L., Hooper, Thomas. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1883. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 135 Page 184.
8. Denison, George, Hooper, Amy, Hooper, Anna M., Hooper, Enoch W., Hooper, George E., Hooper, John W., Hooper, Sarah E., Smith, Cornelia, Smith, Elias W., Updike, Adaline, Updike, Ann B., Updike, Charles H., Updike, Levi, West, Clark H., West, Henrietta. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1898. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 221 Page 333. Everyone but George Denison was an heir to Thomas Hooper.
9. United States Census, 1900 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1900.
10. ​​​“G. W. Denison Dead.” Newark Evening Star, August 11, 1913.
11. ​​“Daughters Give Mother Surprise.” Trenton Evening Times, December 16, 1914.
12. Denison, William T, Grover, LeRoy, Grover, Lina R. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1917. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 402 Page 67.
13. “Mercer County Historic Sites Survey: West Windsor Township, Mercer County, NJ.” Princeton, 1988. Conducted by Kinsey & Hand Associates.
14. Grover, Florance E., LeRoy, Grover, Leroy C., Grover, Lina R. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1954. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1301 Page 564.
15. "Area Soldier Killed." Town Topics. February 13, 1969.
16. “The Wall of Faces.” Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, January 27, 2020. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/20245/THOMAS-R-GROVER/. 
17. "New W. Windsor Middle School Awaits Students." The Times. September 6, 1999.
18. Personal observations of Paul Ligeti, author of this article.
19. “West Windsor Township Committee Minutes.” West Windsor Township, May 24, 1993. Minutes show the Township Committee adding a .01 cent open space tax to the 1993 budget, “honoring the result of the election.”
20. Grover, Florence, Grover, Leroy C., West Windsor Township. “Deed” West Windsor, 1917. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 2901 Page 291.
21. “West Windsor Master Plan Appendix - Township Ordinance - Section 200-146 - ‘Right to Farm.’” West Windsor Township, n.d. 
22. "Pete Grover, of Landmark Farm, Dies at 88." West Windsor and Plainsboro News. January 9, 2009.
23. Church, John A, Jonathan B Word, James R Solloway, and Ted Grover. “Restoring the Grover Farmhouse: A Progress Report to the Council and  Administration of West Windsor Township .” West Windsor, NJ, March 14, 2013. 
24. Ibid.
25. "Grover Memorial: A Bittersweet Veterans Dedication." West Windsor and Plainsboro News. November 21, 2014. Accessed via the following URL: https://www.communitynews.org/news/grover-memorial-a-bittersweet-veterans-dedication/article_daacf1cf-9523-5eac-8270-e061452b6302.html
26. Ibid.