(The following history of 137 South Main Street is a collaborative effort by Ann Beard (nee: Ehrlich), her daughter and the family of her granddaughter. If you would like to contact any of these people, you may send an email to this website, which I will attempt to forward to them. I think there is some confusion with street numbers.)

The Steffens family lived at 133 South Main Street. Mr. Steffens first name was Adolph. He was born in New Jersey, and his parents were born in Germany. His wife Lilian was born in England. The 1930 census shows 7 children plus a boarder living in the house.

The Huffs lived at 137 South Main Street. If their small house is no longer there, that is a recent development (over the past three years). I saw it in 2001, when we came to New Jersey the week before the World Trade Towers tragedy for my great-aunt's funeral. The house is (was?) a small one, with the narrow side facing the street.

The house next door, the blacksmith shop, is listed as 141 South Main. Pennington Profiles may be correct in saying it was first a parsonage and later the wheelright shop (although I'd never heard that). I see that the book addresses the spelling of Lanning with one N or two -- I'm glad I'm not the only one who was confused! (p.288)

The Laning house, at 143 -- later 145 -- South Main did indeed have a side entrance when it was a duplex. Later that entrance was used as the door to the dental office of my father, Stanley Ehrlich. I suppose the front and side entrances may have had separate addresses when first created, but we always used 145 South Main for both.

I believe the Steffens family spelled their name Stephen. [Note: it is in the 1930 census as Steffen] Richard Stephen, one of the younger children (possibly the youngest) was in my class at school (b.abt.1931). He was one of the first Americans to die in Vietnam and is listed on the memorial in DC. One of the older sons, known as Junnie (not sure of the spelling) was either a mail carrier or postmaster (possibly both) in Pennington for many years.

The Huff's moved into 137 South Main in 1921. I believe both daughters were married "from home." Bertha married Wolcott Beard in 1928 . Marjorie was married in 1941 to William Roland Tantum, who died in World War II. In about 1954 she was married in the Pennington Presbyterian Church to his brother, L. Edmund Tantum, and the reception was held "at home."

The Thompsons, were George and Evelyn. George was a paperhanger by trade. Evelyn was their only daughter.

The Eshelman's lived in the former blacksmith shop. He was the Pennington chief of police, and entire force, for many years. They had three daughters. Two older ones and June, the younger child was close to my age (born around 1930).

Let's see if I can set a few things right: the 1930 census shows Marian and her family living at 143 South Main Street (the old Methodist Church). The street number was later changed when it was divided into a duplex, hence my use of #145. If either of you has an image of this house, I'd really appreciate receiving a copy. By the way, I am confused myself about whether Laning has one "n" or two. There is only one on the photo, but two in the listing of the family in the 1930 census. Next to that house, moving towards downtown Pennington, were the two small houses. I believe the first one was the blacksmith shop. The next one, 137 South Main, was the wheelright shop. In the 1930 census, and indeed up to the mid-1970s, it was occupied by my great-grandparents, George and Laura Huff (George actually died in 1962, but Laura lived on until 1975). The house next door to the Huffs was occupied in the 1930s -- and during my childhood in the 50s and 60s -- by the large Steffens family. I believe that is the house in the picture, as it was (is?) a long, horizontal house built close to the street. On the far side of 143/145 Soutn Main Street, at 147 South Main St. was the old Methodist parsonage. The same family was there in 1930 and into the 1950s...a kindly couple named Thompson.

We have two photographs of a house at 143 South Main Street that was once a Methodist meeting place. This address was purchased by Aaron S. Laning, descendent of George Laning, the one who built the house in the picture you have, which you've indicated was at 145.

return to137 South Main Street
Rev:Sep 13, 2005