Lawrenceville has houses, too
When asked to imagine of the village of Lawrenceville, most people would probably think of the shops and restaurants along Main Street. But the village has always been a place where people live, and over the years they have built houses, planted gardens, and established the neighborhoods where they have raised their children and lived out their lives.
One of the loveliest of the village’s neighborhoods lies along Green Avenue close to the village’s western border. Take a walk along this quiet, tree-lined street and you will find houses that date back to the early years of the republic along with buildings of a more recent vintage. The homes have been lovingly maintained — and, in some cases, restored — by their present owners.
The public will have a rare opportunity to see some of the most interesting of these properties on Saturday, May 6, when some of the owners will open their homes for the Lawrenceville House and Garden Tour. The tour, sponsored by volunteers of Lawrenceville Main Street, will take placebetween 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The tour will include the historic house pictured above. It was designed by Charles Steadman, who built many fine houses in the area, including Drumthwacket, which now serves as the official residence of New Jersey’s Governor. Also included will be the garden around the historic farmhouse built by Richard Montgomery Green, for whom Green Avenue is named. In all, eight properties will be included on the tour, and refreshments will be provided.
Parking will be available off of Route 206 (Main Street) anywhere on Green Avenue and will provide easy access to the houses on display, all of which are within a two-block radius. Public restrooms will also be available, and those wanting lunch will find that Fedora Cafe, Maidenhead Bagel Co., and TJ’s Pizza, all of which are on Main Street, serve excellent casual lunches.
Tickets for the Lawrenceville House and Garden Tour are $15 and may be purchased at Village Traditions, 2685 Main Street, Lawrenceville, or at Saums Interiors, 75 Princeton Ave., Hopewell. Tickets may also be purchased by mail by sending a $15 check made payable to Lawrenceville Main Street, 17 Phillips Ave., Lawenceville, N.J. 08648.
Proceeds from the sale of the tickets will go to projects sponsored by Lawrenceville Main Street, including the development of Weeden Park. This park, which has been named for Charles F. Weeden, who for many years was history master at The Lawrenceville School, will be a pleasant community park along Main Street in the village next to the Post Office.
For more information on Lawrenceville Main Street, call Ann Garwig, executive director, at 219-9300.