SC History Weekend Central Tour

Northern Central Southern

Central Tour - The Old York Road

The Central Tour consists of thirteen historic sites, but only twelve stops. Two of the sites are located on the Somerset County Court House Green. All thirteen sites lie within a short distance from one of Somerset County's earliest roads - the Old York Road.

The road, which predates the Revolutionary War, was one of the main routes for transporting goods overland between New York and Philadelphia. After the war, the Swift-sure stagecoach line used the road to provide scheduled passenger service – it departed Newark at 6 AM, passing through Elizabeth, Bound Brook, Somerville, and reached Philadelphia the next evening.

While the name and alignment has changed in many areas, there are numerous segments where the original road remains intact. Even a few of the historic buildings that once dotted the route can still be identified. You can start your journey along the Old York Road from any one of the participating sites and travel in either direction. Maps and guides will be available at each of the sites. The total diving distance of the Central Tour is approximately 15 miles each way.


Start		The Abraham Staats House is located in South Bound Brook just off Main Street. From Bound Brook, cross the Queen's Bridge to South Bound Brook and bear left onto Main Street. Turn left onto Von Steuben Lane. From Interstate Route 287, take exit 10 onto Route 527 (Easton Avenue) north. Easton Avenue becomes Main Street, South Bound Brook. Turn right onto Von Steuben Lane. Follow lane to end. Google Map

	18.	Staats (Abraham) House - Guided House tours by interpreters in period clothing - Outdoor cooking display on back lawn - Military drills by 18th century militia - Special exhibitions on Staats family, Baron von Steuben, 18th century life, and archeological artifacts from site

		From the Abraham Staats House in South Bound Brook, proceed north on Main Street to the Queens Bridge crossing the Raritan River. At the traffic circle, continue straight on East Street to the stop light. Turn left on East High Street and look for parking on the street. The Old Presbyterian Graveyard is located on the corner. Google Map

	12.	Old Presbyterian Graveyard - Historical re-enactor will portray gravestone carver Henry Sillcocks of New Brunswick, whose work is represented in the graveyard talking about the folk art of gravestone carving and pointing out motifs revealing changing beliefs about death and memorialization. - Gravestone tours featuring intact gravestones of twelve Revolutionary War soldiers and gravesite of Dr. William D. McKissack, a Capt. in the Revolutionary War and founder of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons/State of NJ

		From the Old Presbyterian Graveyard, continue west two blocks to Mountain Avenue. Turn left on Mountain two blocks to East Main Street. Turn right on East Main (Old York Road) to the Van Horne House across from the Patriots Baseball Stadium (1 mile). Parking is available behind the house. Google Map

	22.	Van Horne House - Costumed interpreters relating history of the house - Colonial cooking and recipes - Colonial games for children - Exhibitions: Historic Sites in Somerset County - Artifacts from the restoration - Gift shop

		From the Van Horne House, continue driving west on Main Street to Finderne Avenue. Turn left on Finderne. Turn right on Van Veghten Drive at the first stop light. The Van Veghten House is located at the end of the road (1 mile). Google Map

	23.	Van Veghten House - Guided tours of the house, library, and artifact collections - Somerset County genealogical consulting - Hiking trails on a 90 acre restored meadow

		From the Van Veghten House, return to Main Street - Finderne Avenue intersection and turn left. Proceed to the center of Somerville. Just before the Courthouse Green, turn right on Grove Street and then left on High. Parking is available behind the Courthouse. Google Map

	15. 16.	Somerset County Historic Courthouse First Dutch Reformed Church, Somerville & Lord Memorial Fountain - Interpreted tours of the Courthouse & Church (use entrance to new Courthouse on Bridge Street - last tour 3:00 PM) - Hall-Mills Murder Trial photograph exhibition in rotunda - Interpreted tour of the Lord Memorial Fountain

		From the Historic Courthouse, drive west on South Bridge Street and look for the New Cemetery on the right. Parking is in the cemetery drive.

	10.	New Cemetery - Somerville - Civil War Reenactments by local school students - Guided Tours


		Return to Main Street and turn left. Continue west on Main Street. At the fork, bear left onto Somerset Street and turn right at the first traffic signal. The parking lot for the Somerville Borough Hall will be just to the right. Google Map

	14.	Robert Mansion-Somerville Borough Hall - Guided tours and booklets - Access to rooms/areas not normally open to the public - Videos of Somerville history will run continuously - Period music illustrating Robert Family's interest in music

		From the Somerville Borough Hall parking lot, turn left, then immediately right onto Somerset Street. Pass under the railroad underpass. The parking lot for the Wallace House and the Old Dutch Parsonage will be just to the left. Google Map

	26.	Wallace House - Original 18thCentury furnishings - Costumed Interpreters - Open-hearth period cooking - Musket demonstrations - Period Music - Note: Photography is NOT allowed inside the Old Dutch Parsonage or Wallace House

		From the Wallace House parking lot, continue west on Main Street which becomes Somerset Street in Raritan Borough (still the Old York Road). As you enter Raritan, look for the Frelinghuysen House/Raritan Public Library on the left. Parking is available behind the building. Google Map

	5.	Frelinghuysen House/Raritan Public Library - John Basilone Room - Military photos and battleship model - Local history & genealogy - Display of artifacts from a recent excavation

		From the Frelinghuysen House, continue west on Somerset Street in Raritan Borough (still the Old York Road). In the center of Raritan, turn right on Anderson Street. The Relief Hose Company Firehouse will be on the right. Yahoo Map

	13.	Relief Hose Company No. 2 Firehouse - Firefighter-guided public tours - 19th and early 20th Century fire apparatus on display


		From the Firehouse, return to Somerset Street and turn right. Continue west on Somerset Street (Old York Road) through Raritan Borough and by Duke Island Park on your left. After crossing Rt. 202, look for the Andrew Ten Eyck House on your left. Parking is available behind the house. Google Map

	19.	Andrew Ten Eyck House - Annual period antiques sale - Guided tours of house showing recent restoration work - Local and regional research library

		From the Ten Eyck House, return to the east on the Old York Road. Just after crossing Rt. 202, turn right on South Branch Road. The large farm on the right was originally owned by Andrew Hamilton, an early governor of East Jersey (1687) and the first postmaster of the American Colonies. Turn left on Studdiford Drive and cross the South Branch of the Raritan River to the old village of South Branch. The South Branch Schoolhouse is located at the intersection of Studdiford Drive and River Road. Google Map

	17.	South Branch Schoolhouse - Photographic exhibition: History of the School House

		Turn left (east) on River Road (Rt. 625) and pass by the back of Duke Gardens on your way back to Raritan. Just before your reach Raritan, you can stop to admire the recently restored Nevius Street Bridge, which is now a pedestrian walkway. Google Map