By: Michelle McGuinness
Cranbury residents are invited to take a walk through Cranbury’s past and into its present with the Cranbury Historic and Preservation Society’s biannual house tours.
The tours are scheduled for Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include eight houses in Cranbury.
Bobby Marlow, of the society’s board of trustees, said five of the houses are historic while the other three are more modern.
"This particular time there are five of the historic houses and there are three of the newer houses, just for a little variety," she said.
She said the houses will be available to tour thanks to the willingness of the current owners, who volunteered their houses for the event.
Ms. Marlow said one of the historic houses dates all the way back to the 1700s, while the newest house has only recently been built.
The variety of houses ties in with the Historical and Preservation Society’s title for the event, "Then and Now." The tours will allow residents to get a glimpse of the architecture of some of Cranbury’s oldest houses, as well as some of its newest.
"The architecture is, in a sense, protected here," Ms. Marlow said. "Cranbury is a recognized historic village. It’s not just another old town."
Ms. Marlow said there will be volunteer hosts on hand Oct. 13 to guide residents through the walking tour of the houses.
Residents will also get to tour the grounds and gardens of the houses, which were prepared by the local Rocky Brook Garden Club.
She said there also will be other historic buildings open that day, including two historic churches and the old firehouse. In addition, Ms. Marlow said, the Gourgaud Gallery and the old school, now Town Hall, will be open for visitors.
She estimated that the tours could draw between 400 and 500 people.
Ms. Marlow said the tours give people a closer look at the history of Cranbury. They also let people see that it is possible to live a modern lifestyle inside an historic house.
"A lot of people aren’t even aware that you can live in the historic houses," she said.
She said the architecture of historic houses in Cranbury can’t be altered without approval from the Historic Preservation Commission, though the houses are modern inside.
"The village itself still has the feeling of an older village," Ms. Marlow said.
The event is held in conjunction with the Friends of the Cranbury Library, which will organize a lunch at the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury.
Ms. Marlow said the Historic and Preservation Society is looking for volunteers to be hosts for the event. Those who are interested should contact Mia Lindeburg at (609) 395-9225.
Advance tickets for the house tours are on sale at Charmed by Claire and the Cranbury Book Worm on North Main Street, as well as the Patina Home on South Main Street or at the History Center on South Main Street.
Advance tickets are $20 for house tours and $10 for lunch. Tickets will cost $25 for a tour on the day of the event.

