By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The owners of the historic John Van Doren House in Millstone Borough can truthfully say that Gen. George Washington slept there – the night after the Battle of Princeton on Jan. 3, 1777., The house, which was built in 1755, served as Gen. Washington’s headquarters on the way to establishing winter quarters at Jockey Hollow in Morristown, following the Battle of Princeton., This house is one of the stops on the annual “May in Montgomery” bus tour, set for May 21. The bus tour, sponsored by the Van Harlingen Historical Society, is the group’s signature fundraiser. It is being offered in cooperation with the Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition., The tour, which costs $25 per person, starts at the 1860 House at 124 Montgomery Road in Montgomery Township. There is parking behind the house and at the Farm Barn Museum, which will be open for visitors., There are three opportunities to take the guided bus tour. The first tour starts at 11 a.m., followed by another at noon and the final tour at 1:30 p.m. Each tour takes two hours, and follows the Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway., The Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway passes through Montgomery, Hillsborough and Franklin townships, as well as the historic villages of Rocky Hill, Griggstown, East Millstone and Kingston., Small amounts of walking will be involved when the bus stops at several houses along the way which represent the Dutch Colonial, Federal and Victorian architectural styles – including the John Van Doren House., While staying at the John Van Doren House, Gen. Washington learned that his friend, Gen. Hugh Mercer – for whom Mercer County is named – had been stabbed by bayonets wielded by British soldiers at the Battle of Princeton., Gen. Washington sent his nephew, Major George Lewis, to Lord Cornwallis requesting that attention be paid to Gen. Mercer. But Gen. Mercer died of his wounds several days later., To sign up for the bus tour, visit the Van Harlingen Historical Society at www.vanharlingen.org.
