124 West Delaware Avenue

Former Headmaster's House for the Pennington School. Built circa 1850 as the Van Dyke family farmhouse and subsequently acquired by the School. The best example of the Gothic Revival style in Pennington. Note clapboard siding and vertical board and batten on 3rd floor, narrow windows, decorative finials, highly decorative brackets, the kingpost truss at the pitch of the roof and the wraparound gallery porch.

Also, on the campus note The Lodge, a large, white clapboard Greek Revival building; the main brick classroom structure dating to 1838 with significant additions and changes in 1852, 1867, 1879 and 1885; and the heating plant of brick on Burd St., a good example of 1920's industrial design.

Side Trip Across Route 31
An interesting side trip is to continue West on Delaware Avenue, crossing Route 31. On the south side of West Delaware Avenue west of Route 31 is a group of four houses and a commercial structure Dating from the advent (circa 1875) of the first railroad in Pennington, the short-lived Mercer and Somerset Railroad. Note the former depot building (now Suburban Wrench) with its Gothic Revival details and vertical board and batten siding and much of the original interior detailing. Also, 234 West Delaware Avenue, (Wenzel and Company, Advertising) the first home of Daniel Clarkson, the first mayor of Pennington, a fine example of the Homestead style, well restored with a recent addition, to the rear, in keeping with the original architecture. This building was a recipient of a 1989 Historic Preservation Award in the category of "New Addition Complementing Architecture of Original Building".

Note: the above paragraph is taken from the Hopewell Historical Society Walking Tour Guide. All other material on this side trip, text and photographs, were added in year 2007. While it is possible to walk to this area, and I have walked this many times, t is a fairly long walk and you have to cross Route 31. You may prefer to drive and meet us there.

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poster April 2005