⁴ᴷ⁶⁰ Walking tour of Hightstown, New Jersey

January 21, 2024 - 1:40 PM
27°F / -3°C

Walking tour of the town of Hightstown in Mercer County, New Jersey, via the following route: Hightstown Memorial Park → southbound on North Main Street → westbound on Stockton Street → southbound on South Academy Street → northbound on Mercer Street → northbound on North Main Street. Filmed with GoPro Hero 12.

Highlights:
00:00 - Peddie Lake, Hightstown Memorial Park
03:02 - Peddie Lake Dam
03:33 - Walking southbound on North Main Street
06:22 - Walking westbound on Stockton Street
07:25 - The Smith House
09:05 - First United Methodist Church
10:47 - Walking southbound on South Academy Street
14:53 - Walking northbound on Mercer Street
15:42 - Hightstown Diner
17:38 - First Baptist Church, walking northbound on North Main Street

From Wikipedia:
"Hightstown is a borough in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Nestled within the Raritan Valley region, Hightstown is an historic, commercial, and cultural hub of Central New Jersey, along with being a diverse outer-ring commuter suburb of New York City in the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 5,900, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 406 (+7.4%) from the 5,494 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 278 (+5.3%) from the 5,216 counted in the 2000 census.

Hightstown was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1853, within portions of East Windsor Township. The borough became fully independent around 1894. Additional portions of East Windsor Township were annexed in 1913, 1915, and 1927. The traditional explanation is that the borough was named for John and Mary Hight, who established a tavern in the area in the 1750s.

The Stockton Street Historic District covers both sides of Stockton Street (County Route 571), from Railroad Avenue to Summit Street, and a portion of Rogers Avenue. It is notable for its Victorian homes, First Methodist Church, and the Hightstown Civil War monument. It is also significant for its association with the introduction of rail service to New Jersey, as the first railroad in the United States to connect two major cities, New York and Philadelphia. With the historical significance of Hightstown, in July 2015 it became a Preserve America community, aimed at enriching the community's historic preservation efforts."