By Kaitlyn Kanzler, Special Writer
CRANBURY – The Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society was given a go ahead by the Township Committee for a sign in Memorial Park during the meeting on Sept. 10.
Resident Don Davidson is heading the project after the successful instillation of a 44 inch by 26-inch sign that was put up about a month ago.
In conjunction with the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society and the First Presbyterian Church, the sign was erected at Westminster Place to memorialize the Second Presbyterian Church that was torn down in 1935.
Mr. Davidson is on the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society board, is a trustee, and is chair of the education committee.
”(Mr. Davidson) is representing a group that has already gotten a project put together and installed where the old church used to be,” Mayor David Cook said.
According to Mr. Davidson, he visited Bowman’s Hill Tower in Bucks County Pennsylvania at the suggestion of a friend to look at the signs that are placed around the tower. A French-Canadian company constructed the signs.
According to Mr. Davidson, the signs are made with a very unique and patented process, which makes the signs durable.
A digital output of the photos and text is fused into a high pressure laminate called folia. The signs are made of material that is fire resistant, graffiti proof, weather resistant, ultraviolet resistant, and is resistant to de-lamination.
”They’re supposed to really last almost forever,” Mr. Davidson said. “They won’t fade and they’re unbelievable.”
According to Mr. Davidson, he would like to spend the winter researching and designing a sign similar to the other sign and have it done in time to be installed in the spring.
”It would give a pictorial history because we have so many incredible photographs at the historical society,” Mr. Davidson said. “I’d like to paint a picture of this history of our village.”
According to Mr. Davidson, very few people know the history of Cranbury.
”It’s our mission to educate and promote our history to our residents and visitors,” Mr. Davidson said.
In 1778, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Lafayette were at an encampment in the town.
According to Mr. Davidson, many people believe that he was there because of the Battle of Princeton or because of the Hessians and Trenton, where Washington crossed the Delaware River. Cranbury is a crossroads to Freehold.
”The history society would like to finance this sign and give it as a gift to Cranbury,” Mr. Davidson said.
The only thing that is up in the air is the placement of the sign. Mayor Cook requested that Mr. Davidson submit a map of potential placements of the sign.
One of the potential placements is by the new Civil War Memorial in Memorial Park or by the grist mill.
Committee member Susan Goetz suggested that they wait on installing the sign until the construction of the dam is complete since the area will be changing slightly.
Mayor Cook expressed concerns about construction being full blown by the time Mr. Davidson wants to install the sign, but gave him to go ahead to start researching and designing it.
Mr. Davidson also gives walking tours around Cranbury, mostly for the fourth and eighth grade classes at the Cranbury School.
”Most of the fourth and eighth graders know a lot more about this history of Cranbury than their parents do,” Mr. Davidson said.
Committee member James Taylor believes that this is a great way to connect the walking tours with the signs.
”Go get it,” Ms. Goetz told Mr. Davidson. The Cranbury Museum is located at 4 Park Place East while the History Center is located at 6 South MainStreet.

