10 Years Ago
• Robert and Barbara Dillon of Cranbury announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Dillon, to John Colleton, the son of James and Linda Colleton of Cranbury. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Princeton High School and Rutgers University where she received a bachelor’s degree in history and master’s of early childhood/elementary education with specializations in literacy. Her fiancé is a graduate of Princeton High School and Mercer County Community College where he received an associate’s degree in communications. He is employed as a quality control manager for Belleville Scale in Belleville.
• Cub Scout Pack 52 had a mighty grand and busy day racing at the 1999 Pinewood Derby. First place winners in the various categories were: Tiger Cubs, Thomas Sorrentino; Wolf Scouts, Corey Marsh; Bear Scouts, Andrew Paterson; Webelos I, Mike Stehn; Webelos II, George Conley; and Pack champion, Mike Stehn.
25 Years Ago
• Proponents of Cranbury’s farmland preservation plan have a vision of accommodating growth without destroying what is now. By concentrating on new development close to the village instead of spreading it through the area, they hope to maintain the agricultural center that distinguishes Cranbury from other area municipalities.
Township Committeeman Thomas Weidner said “I think it’s a desirable goal…preserve the buildings and the aura of a town that goes back to the mid-19th century. “It’s good to keep Cranbury as the kind of town it is — I don’t mean that it has no growth — but that you keep that rustic charm because it is unique,” he said. “If you fill in all 8,000 acres with housing, you’re not going to have that uniqueness anymore,” he added.
• A last minute addition: a grandchild to absentees Pat and Dick Scott. Lauren Rebecca Scott was born on Jan. 15 to Linda and Rick that same day that the new grandparents went to Florida not dreaming that the grandchild would arrive before almost mid-February
50 Years Ago
• Some of the members of the Methodist Senior Youth Fellowship were visitors with the Presbyterian Senior Youth Fellowship in the Hightstown social room of the church. Members were: Misses Barbara Lanning, Janice Osborne, Helen Knamm and Judy Flammer as well as Robert Lanning, Larry Burd, Jack Teffenhart and Mr. and Mrs. William Schanck Jr.
• Members of Girl Scout Troop 157 completed a successful cookie sale by selling 816 boxes which netted the troop a profit of $32.28. Mary Earl was the highest salesgirl, having sold 100 boxes.
75 Years Ago
• For Rent — Lakeview Apartment, six rooms, all modern improvement, garage. Inquire at the Lakeview Restaurant, Main Street, Cranbury.
• Cranbury School Eighth Grade Reporter Hazel Duvall writes that the pupils have organized a Supreme Court. Our Chief Justice is Jocum Christiansen. In addition, we are getting along very nicely in our Congress.
100 Years Ago
• City water is being installed in Odd Fellows Hall.
• John S. Bergen has a fine new order wagon just put in use. The painting was done by Robert Shephard, and is very neat and tasteful.
• The board of directors for the First National Bank of Cranbury elected John S. Silvers president, George B. Mershon, cashier and Symmes H. Perrine, assistant cashier. The directors then invited township officers, business men and others to the Second Presbyterian chapel where a banquet was prepared by the ladies of the church. For several years these ladies have provided the annual banquet and each one exceeds the others in its delicacy, bountiful quantity and dainty serving.
Compiled from back issues of The Cranbury Press by Peggy S. and Frank J. Brennan Jr.
