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The stretch of West Main Street bounded on the east and west by the
railroad, contains the oldest standing structures in Bound Brook and is
its oldest intact neighborhood. Originally settled in the early 1700s,
the hamlet of Middlebrook grew contemporaneous with but separate to Bound
Brook until the early 1800s. Consisting of between 6-8 structures by the
time of the American Revolution, the village was situated along the Old
York Road on the first ridge of high ground north of the Raritan River.
It was known as Middlebrook or as the "upper part of Bound Brook". Prior
to settlement by Europeans, the area was the location of a pre-historic
Indian village and trail complex.
The most notable structure in the village was Vossellor's Tavern later
known as Fisher's Hotel. Located on the northwest corner of Vossellor
and West Main Street, this building stood until early in this century.
During the mid 1700s, the tavern was a popular stop for travelers going
between New York and Philadelphia. There is a strong likelihood that George
Washington stayed at this tavern during his first visit to Bound Brook
in 1773.
In the time of the American Revolution, there seem to have been 7 houses
located at Middlebrook. Vossellor's Tavern (already mentioned), another
structure opposite on the northeast corner of the Vossellor Avenue - West
Main Street intersection, a grouping of 4 houses on the south side of
West Main Street and another house on the north side of Talmage Avenue
at the crossing of the Middle brook.
It is believed that remains of at least two 18th century houses
remain incorporated in existing structures on the south side of West Main
Street. These houses may have served as quarters for Continental Army
officers and soldiers during the spring of 1777 and during the winter
of 1778-79 when the main portion of Washington's Army was encamped north
and west of Bound Brook. It is known that at least one of these houses
was used by an officer of the Continental Engineers during 1779 and other
houses may have been used by high ranking officers in the Maryland Line,
who were encamped one mile north. In the 19th century, Middlebrook gradually
lost its identity becoming an extension of Bound Brook itself. By 1860,
21 buildings were located along this stretch of road, some of which still
remain standing. In the 1870s, the construction of the Bound Brook Woolen
Mills brought a large industry to this section of the borough. Many residents
of the West Main Street area were employed at the mills. Throughout the
20th century, this area has retained its residential and agricultural
character. On the extreme west end of the street was located the "Middlebrook
Stock farm" which was one of Somerset Counties most successful dairies.
While new building construction has changed and intruded upon the historic
landscape, this street still retains a fine selection of 19th
century architecture including the oldest standing buildings in the borough.
Used with Permission
By Ernest Bower
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