Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands Annual Meeting

Wednesday, June 11, 7:30 PM

The Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site is being nominated to the NJ State and National Registers of Historic Places. At the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands (FPNL) Annual Meeting, trustees Karen Linder and Robert von Zumbusch will present a slide talk on the Site, its history, and its future. The talk will describe the boundaries and location of the proposed Historic Register District, explain the nomination process, show pictures of key houses, buildings and landscape elements, and relate some of Princeton Nurseries’ unique history.

The presentation will be held in the Education Building (formerly the Nurseries’ blacksmith shop) at the D&R Canal State Park, 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston. The event is free and open to all. For more information, contact Karen Linder at 609-514-2416. Directions at end.

BACKGROUND: State and National Register Nomination: In 2006, South Brunswick Township Historic Preservation Commission (SBTHPC) received a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission and funding from South Brunswick Township to nominate the Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site to the NJ State and National Registers of Historic Places.

The nomination, prepared by Hunter Research, was reviewed this February by the NJ State Review Board for Historic Sites. By unanimous decision, NJ State Review Board determined that the Princeton Nurseries Kingston Site is of both local and national significance, approving the nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Formal signing of the nomination by NJDEP is imminent. After approval at the State level, the nomination will be forwarded to the Federal Government for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. National Register status, when attained, will allow application for State and federal grants for historic preservation, which is particularly critical in the case of on-site Nursery buildings.

Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands (FPNL) has worked with SBTHPC to prepare an interpretive brochure and a PowerPoint presentation describing the proposed Princeton Nurseries Historic District and the benefits of National Register status. The début of the slide show will be at FPNL’s annual meeting on June 11th.

DIRECTIONS: Mapleton Preserve/D & R Canal State Park Headquarters, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston (on Mapquest or Google Maps, use mailing address of 145 Mapleton Rd. Princeton, NJ 08540)

From Route 1: Exit at Ridge Road heading towards the village of Kingston for approximately 1 mile. Take second left, following Ridge Road (Division St). At the stop sign at the end of Ridge Road, turn left. The D & R Canal State Park Headquarters and Mapleton Preserve are located 0.2 miles on the left side of Mapleton Road. Alternatively, take the Mapleton Road Exit, heading towards the village of Kingston for 1.7 miles. At the stoplight, turn left on Mapleton Rd.. The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located approximately 0.6 miles on the right side of the road.

From Route 27: Turn onto Academy Street at the traffic light in Kingston (across from the Kingston Cemetery). Academy Street becomes Mapleton Road as it heads towards Route 1. The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located 0.3 miles on the left side of the road.