Residents will have a chance to experience history in Cranbury when the historic house tour, “Memories on Main Street,” returns to town on Sept. 28.
Since the early 1970s, historic house tours have taken place in Cranbury. This month, five homes on Main Street will be available for viewing on the tour.
“This is something we enjoy doing. We like be able to show our beautiful historic homes that we have in our town in our historic district,” said Audrey Smith, co-chair of the Historic House Tour. “Also, in addition to the houses, the tour will include the Firehouse Museum, Cranbury Museum, two historic churches, a restored barn and the gift shop at Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center.”
Proceeds from each tour will go to Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society preservation projects.
“We hope to raise as much funds as we can. Basically, the money is to maintain places that include the Cranbury Museum and the History Center,” she explained. “This tour is one of the events we have to help us in that effort.”
Smith said individuals who take part in the tour will be able to learn historic information that will be specific to each home, and it is not surprising to see visitors from out of state who join in on the tours.
Officials also explained that each of the houses on the tour have a story to tell.
From the house on 14 N. Main St., which housed a livery stable, to the home of the original owner of J.S. Silvers Bros. & Co. Spice Mill, the tour does not miss a beat when bringing tourists back on a trip through history.
The tour will be from 10 a.m. and run until 4 p.m. The tour is about a mile in length from the first house until the last, and all are on the same side of the street.
“Whether people have been to Cranbury or not we hope they enjoy walking around in our historic district in town. We have a collection basically of some 1700s and mostly 1800s buildings,” Smith said. “We like to show what we have. To see people happy and enjoying themselves is the best part.”
For tickets online and more information about the Historic Cranbury House Tour, visit www.cranburyhistory.org.
Tickets can be purchased prior to the event at the Highbar Boutique 33 N. Main St. in Cranbury; 7 Palmer Square in Princeton; Studio 43 hair salon, 43 N. Main St. in Cranbury; and at Perennial Home, 119 W. Ward St. in Hightstown. On the day of the tour, tickets will be sold at the Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center at 6 S Main St. and the Cranbury Museum at 4 Park Place E. Prior to the tour, tickets are $20 and $25 on the day of the tour.