The historic village went back in time and hosted more than 100 people and 40 cars taking part in the Lincoln Highway Tour Saturday afternoon.
By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
KINGSTON — The historic village went back in time and hosted more than 100 people and 40 cars taking part in the Lincoln Highway Tour June 22.
The travelers in the caravan, which started in Times Square, New York City, that morning, are part of a 3,400-mile trek to San Francisco along the first transcontinental road known as the Lincoln Highway.
Carl Fisher, who founded the Indianapolis speedway, initially built the road, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, between 1913 and 1925, according to the Lincoln Highway Association.
Other partners in the project included industrialists Frank Seiberling of Goodyear and Henry Joy of Packard.
The road runs through New Jersey, including a stretch from New Brunswick to Princeton on what is now Route 27, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California, ending in Lincoln Park in San Francisco, according to the association.
To celebrate the anniversary, the association developed two trips with one starting in New York in the East and San Francisco in the West.
Both groups are scheduled to meet in Kearney, Neb., on June 30 for a two-day conference.
Some of the travelers are to continue west and east after the conference, crossing the nation.
As the journey began Saturday, the caravan made its way from the city to Menlo Park for a stop and then onto Route 27 in Kingston in the afternoon for lunch at the Eno Terra Restaurant before continuing to Pennsylvania.
Several participants drove vintage cars along the original route, using GPS navigation to stay true to the highway’s first alignment, according to the organization.
Drivers from around the nation took part in the celebration.
One couple from Joliet, Ill., said they were enjoying the “road rally.”
Barb Lieber and Barry McClue decided to use the trip while traveling to see their son.
”We researched (the route) and it sounded like a lot of fun,” said Mr. McClue, a 61-year-old engineer, during his stop by the historic Locktender’s House near the D&R Canal.
Mr. McClue, who was handling the navigation duties while Ms. Lieber drove, said there was a list of where to turn to stay on the original route.
”We’re just having fun following the classic route,” Mr. McClue said.
Ms. Lieber said the people along the route were very friendly and helpful making it a good experience.
Mr. McClue said he had not done something like this before, and it is his way of preparing to retire from his job in the near future.
”I’m learning how to do it (retire),” he said. “Man, its hard to let go of it (the rat race).”
As the couple rested after lunch, they had a chance to look over some vintage cars on display courtesy of Kingston resident George Travena, 80.
”It is just a labor of love for me (to restore the cars),” Mr. Travena said.
Among those on display included two Chevrolet trucks from the 1930s.
One, like a pickup truck hauling a load of coal, and the other, a similar period tow truck.
He also brought a 1930s era Buick that “was one step below a limousine.”
He said the pickup truck was his favorite and that he worked on it for some 40 years to restore it.
Greeting the travelers locally, Kingston Historical Society President Robert von Zumbusch, said the village has always been a transportation hub with the first bridges over the Millstone River, including one destroyed by Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War to block British forces from following the Colonial Army after the Battle of Princeton.
”Transportation has always been important to Kingston,” he said.
The society placed a display in the Locktender’s House along the canal to show the different phases of the Lincoln Highway, now Route 27, through the years.
Due to its location, the village has also been a sort of gathering place.
It is situated in the three counties of Middlesex, Mercer and Somerset as well as being carved up between the municipalities of Plainsboro, Franklin, Princeton and South Brunswick.
The uniqueness of the village moved residents to lobby for a voice in each town and county involved in the geography of the community.
Currently, a body known as the Kingston Advisory Committee sends members to each town and county meetings to make sure decisions involving the village are made while taking into account each part of the whole community.
In addition to this celebration, Mr. Von Zumbusch said the Princeton Nurseries property will also celebrate its centennial this year.
”It is a busy time for the village,” he said.