Old Bridge, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
 Victorian house on Main Street | |
  Old Bridge  Old Bridge  Old Bridge | |
| Coordinates:40°24′53″N74°21′56″W / 40.41472°N 74.36556°W /40.41472; -74.36556[1] | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Middlesex |
| Township | East Brunswick |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 878951[1] |
Old Bridge, also known as theHistoric Village of Old Bridge, is anunincorporated community located withinEast Brunswick inMiddlesex County, in theU.S. state ofNew Jersey.[1][2] It is on theSouth River, a tributary of theRaritan River.[3] The community is named after the first bridge built here to cross the river, the South River Bridge. After other bridges were built crossing the river, it became known as the Old Bridge.[4] TheOld Bridge Historic District, encompassing much of the village, is listed on the state and national registers of historic places.
Located at the head of navigation of the South River, Old Bridge was at the junction of several trade routes. Settlers came to area as early as 1634. TheBordentown and South Amboy Turnpike, a stagecoach route, went through here in 1740. A freight station was built in 1832 on theCamden and Amboy Railroad, which ran through the community.[5] It had a tavern and several houses.[6] On August 9, 1853, there was a majorhead-on collision between two trains near the station, resulting in several deaths.[7] Fromc. 1906 to 1921, theBrookfield Glass Company operated a plant here producing bottles and jars.[8]
Old Bridge Historic District | |
 James Crawford Thom House on Kossman Street | |
| Location | River Road; Kossman, Pine, Chestnut, Main, Everson, Squire, Maple, and Oak streets; Rutgers Place |
|---|---|
| Area | 108 acres (44 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival,Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000882[9] |
| NJRHP No. | 1835[10] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 29, 1977 |
| Designated NJRHP | September 26, 1975 |
The Old Bridge Historic District is a 108-acre (44 ha)historic district located along several streets in the community. It was added to theNational Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1977, for its significance in art, education, and industry. The district includes 78contributing buildings.[5]
The artistJames Crawford Thom lived at anItalianate style house at 10 Kossman Street fromc. 1870 to his death in 1898. The Old Bridge Baptist Church at 21 Kossman Street was built in 1844 and features a gothic arched double door entrance.[5] It was originally known as the Independent Bethel Baptist Church of Washington and Herbertsville.[11] The Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church at 16 Maple Street was built in 1860 and named after BishopMatthew Simpson.[5] It was purchased in 1977 by the township to be used as the East Brunswick Museum.[12] General Obadiah Herbert (1775–1856), businessman and entrepreneur, lived at 146 Main Street, starting in 1810. For a while, the village was known asHerbertsville in his honor.[5] His son,Jacob V. W. Herbert (1812–1899), was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly representingMonmouth County in 1855. The Alice Appleby Devoe Memorial Library is located at 166 Main Street.[5]
There are several main roads in the community.CR 527 (Old Bridge Turnpike, Old Bridge–Matawan Road) runs north–south[13] and intersects withCR 615 (Main Street), which also runs north–south.[14]CR 677 (River Road) runs north from CR 615 near the South River.[15]Route 18 can be accessed from CR 615.[16]
Located to the north on Old Bridge Turnpike, the nearbyChestnut Hill Cemetery, also known as the Old Bridge Cemetery, has the remains of many of the families from the community. Including unmarked enslaved peoples graves.[4][17] Tours of the cemetery formerly were organized by the New Jersey Cultural Alliance.[18] Tours of the Cemetery are now conducted twice annually in Mid October, weather permitting by the East Brunswick Museum Corporation.
South of Main Street and along the South River,Keystone Park offers hiking and natural areas.[19]
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Old Bridge include:
Old Bridge; village in East Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, on South River, and on Camden and Amboy Branch Pennsylvania R. R.
on the turnpike-road, from Bordentown to South Amboy; contains a tavern, and some half dozen dwelling houses; surrounded by a sandy and light soil.
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Media related toOld Bridge (unincorporated community), New Jersey at Wikimedia Commons
