Author: Charles Dieterich

The October 19,2024 walk along the D&R Canal was a big success!

The weather was perfect for walking, and we had a good crowd gathered. They heard about the event in US1, Princeton Online, South Brunswick Patch and by word of mouth. Fall foliage was neary at its peak.

The “Walk the Lock” event began in the Locktender’s house with Robert von Zumbusch and George Luck demonstrating our models of the Lock and the A-frame bridge.

Then Charlie Dieterich described the A-frame bridge, which carried the Lincoln Highway through Kingston. He took the group across the “new” bridge that replaced the Swing bridge over the canal and upstream to the canal’s turning basin and the Carnegie Lake dam.

Doug made a short video of some still images and George reading from a 1918 newspaper article concerning the bridge at Kingston. During the First World War the canal was guarded by New Jersey national guardsmen, as it was a military asset.

The story of the suspected spy was discovered by Markus McParland while researching his BOOK.

It all seems unreal (like the music)!

Thanks to Sharon Hansen, there were refreshments too!

The Kingston Historical Society will host an easy stroll focusing on historic structures of the Delaware and Raritan Canal in the Kingston area.
Come see the history and learn how the canal worked. Led by Robert von Zumbusch, president of the Kingston Historical Society and Charlie Dieterich, Society secretary and archivist, the mile-long journey will begin and end at the Kingston Locktender’s House, just off Route 27 at the foot of the Kingston hill, near 4492 Route 27, Princeton.
Participants will walk on the D & R Canal towpath and other paths that may be muddy, so appropriate footwear is advised. There will also be an opportunity to see the canal exhibits and a demonstration of models of the lock and original A-Frame bridge in the Locktender’s House.
The event is free and open to all. Children should be carefully supervised near the canal and its structures. Parking is available in the State Park lots, along the road, and also across Route 27 in the Flemer Preserve. Light refreshments will be served.

South Brunswick Patch

On Sunday, September 15th, the Delaware and Raritan canal was bustling with activity as canal-related groups created a “Canal House Challenge” This was part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the D&R Canal State Park and D&R Canal Commission.

D & R Canal Watch was the organizing group, while The friends groups opened five bridgetender and locktender homes: East Millstone, Blackwells Mills, Griggstown, Kingston, and Port Mercer were opened for tours.

Visitors wishing to participate in the challenge received a “Passport” to be stamped at each house. Those who visited all five received a small prize.

Five members of the Kingston Historical Society greeted visitors (with and without Passports) and explained the displays and our canal study models. Shown below are Robert von Zumbusch and Charlie Dieterich demonstrating the Kingston Lock and Swing Bridge models.

Some visitors were heading north (downstream) from Port Mercer in Lawrence Township (opened by the Lawrence Historical Society) going to East Millstone. Others started in Kingston or traveled upstream from East Millstone to Port Mercer.

Over forty groups came through to see the displays. Thanks to all who prepared the Locktender’s House for the open house and those who made cookies (not shown)!

A new display celebrating the Canal Commission and the State Park has been added to our center room. Come by on Saturday or Sunday to see it and all the displays at the Kingston Locktender’s House.

April 6 and 7, 2024 was opening weekend for displays at the Kingston Lock-Tender’s House. Several dozen folks came through our expanded display space — from local historians to joggers taking a break from their canal run.

Society president, Robert von Zumbusch demonstrated how the Kingston canal lock worked and how the swing bridge, just downstream of the lock, could be swung away from the canal to allow boats to travel through. Both the lock and swing bridge have been removed from the D&R canal.

Charlie Dieterich and Peter Shell, who assembled the new display “Kingston’s Lock: History Preserved” stand in front of the large panel.

In addition to the new display, two continuing displays drew attention. One concentrated on Inns and Taverns of Kingston and the other on Main Street Kingston.

This weekend was also the first chance for visitors to see the North Room, the Lock-Tender’s living room. Recently renovated, it includes a few items including a large desk built in Kingston by Mr. Moor, who later became the Lock-Tender.

The Lock-Tender’s House will be open weekends from 10-5 until the end of October, and 10-4 in November, 2024.