JAMESBURG Continuing to protect the history of the borough, the Jamesburg Historical Association is seeking county funding for its historic mansion.
“Our mission is to preserve and promote the historic history in Jamesburg. The borough has a rich history with the original part of the Buckelew mansion being one of the oldest structures in Middlesex County, having been built in 1685,” association Vice President Elliott Stroul said.
The Jamesburg Historical Association is the caretaker of Lakeview Mansion, which is the museum of Jamesburg and was the home of James and Margaret Buckelew from 1830 to 1901, according to information provided by the association.
Having been the association’s vice president for seven years, Stroul said, “Since 2009, we have been trying to get the Buckelew mansion renovated. We have had two phases completed and now we are trying to get phase three funded.”
Robert Mendoker and his wife owned a family-originated business, Mendokers Quality Bakery, and founded the Jamesburg Historical Association. The Mendokers always supported the association’s endeavors personally and through their business, according to association Secretary Linda Linke.
“Meetings were held at the Jamesburg Public Library at first and then eventually moved to [the Mendokers’] house. Our first Buckelew Day was held at the Jamesburg Firehouse,” Linke said. “Everything changed when certain members were able to front money as a loan towards acquiring Lakeview, the Buckelew mansion across from Manalapan Lake, until the Green Acres designation came through.”
Once the Buckelew mansion was opened, the borough’s Buckelew Day was hosted at the mansion where encampments, blacksmithing, food, games, tours of the house, music and colonial crafts were presented inside the house as well as outside, according to Linke.
Annual Christmas programs were enjoyed at the mansion with a variety of church choirs. Lakeview was the location of multi-family spring and fall town-wide yard sales for people who chose not to set up on their own front lawns, according to Linke.
During the 4th of July fireworks, residents could park their vehicles on the grounds of the mansion to either sit and watch the fireworks from the porch/grounds or meander through Thompson Park, according to Linke.
“The community was so proud of the house,” Linke said.
The Buckelew mansion is currently closed due to ongoing renovations. According to Linke, many community members have pitched in on the restoration thus far.
“The painters union painted the house, IBM helped with some furnishings, as well as local families who owned antiques,” Linke said. “Monroe Township High School students duplicated the perimeter fence as seen in an early photograph. … The county did wonderful work on the foundation of Lakeview without which the house would have been washed away.”
Residents can support the association by joining the association and by contacting their freeholders in Middlesex County, according to Stroul.
“We are trying to obtain funding from the county, which they have given to us prior. We are trying to get more funding to complete the project. We are also working with Senator Linda Greenstein on the state level,” Stroul said.
Currently, the association holds its monthly meetings at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Presbyterian Church of Jamesburg, Room 106, located at 175 Gatzmer Ave.
For more information about the association, visit www.jamesburg.net/jha/.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].