Readington Village
Encyclopedia
Readington Village is an unincorporated community
in Readington
, New Jersey
, United States
that is centered around the converging of Readington Road, Hillcrest Road, Centerville Road and Brookview Road. It is located on Holland Brook
, originally named Amanmechunk, which means large creek in the Unami dialect
. The area was inhabitated by the Raritan prior to the arrival of European Settlers. The Native Americans who lived near Readington Village travelled to the coast
during the summer for fish and clams. Such a trip is mentioned in an Indian deed transferring lands around Holland Brook to English and Dutch Settlers. The deed mentions two of the natives, who lived at Readington: Metamisco and Wataminian.
Readington was first settled by Europeans in the early 18th century by Dutch and English immigrants, including Emanuel Van Etta, from Esopus, New York
and Adrian Lane, an English settler who erected a mill along Holland Brook. Nearby Van Etta Road is named for Emanuel Van Etta, whose surname means "from Etten
". In 1738, the Dutch Reformed Church of North Branch was moved west to Readington Village because of the growing population. The third building on this site, pictured left, stands there today. A parsonage was built on the north side of the brook up on the hill, still in Readington Township. The nearby Parsonage Hill Road in Branchburg is named for this site.
The church location before the parish was moved to Readington was three miles east. This structure was a log building just north and west of the convergence of the North
and South
branches of the Raritan River
formerly called Tucca-ramma-hacking by the Raritan, which meant the "flowing together of waters". The church's pastor, Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen
would later help form a seminary at the Old Dutch Parsonage
in Somerville
. This would eventually become Queen's College
, now known as Rutgers University. Rutgers during the Revolutionary War held classes at the old church at the convergence. During the 19th century Readington Village had a church, a mill, a store, a school and a tavern. One of the former school buildings is a garage between the bottom of Hillcrest and Centerville Roads along Brookview Road. A later former school building can be seen just west of there and is now being used as a barn.
The mill in Readington Village continued to run until about 1920 and was still standing until 1935. A general store in the community continued to function until the 1990s. The store was eventually sold and later became a post office.
The only non-residential buildings in Readington Village today are the small post office, a volunteer fire house (also used as a polling station and the Readington Reformed Church
. The post office is on property owned by the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians
. The community has seen extensive flooding of Holland Brook a few times in recent years (including during Hurricane Floyd
) that has closed the Hillcrest Bridge and damaged nearby houses. Just northwest of Readington is Solberg Airport, the site of the New Jersey Balloon Festival
.
The annual balloon festival began in 1983 and its hundred-plus balloons draw over a hundred thousand people. It is the largest annual event in New Jersey and the largest balloon festival in North America during the summer.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Readington
Readington Township, New Jersey
Readington Township is a Township located in the easternmost portion of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,126...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that is centered around the converging of Readington Road, Hillcrest Road, Centerville Road and Brookview Road. It is located on Holland Brook
Holland Brook
Holland Brook is a stream in central New Jersey, running through Readington and Branchburg. It is the last tributary of the South Branch Raritan River before it combines with the North Branch Raritan River...
, originally named Amanmechunk, which means large creek in the Unami dialect
Unami language
Unami is an extinct Algonquian language formerly spoken by Lenape people in what is now the lower Hudson Valley area and New York Harbor area, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, but later in Ontario and Oklahoma. It is one of the two Delaware languages, the other being Munsee...
. The area was inhabitated by the Raritan prior to the arrival of European Settlers. The Native Americans who lived near Readington Village travelled to the coast
Raritan Bayshore
The Raritan Bayshore region of New Jersey is the area around Raritan Bay from The Amboys to Sandy Hook, mostly in Monmouth County, including the towns from Keyport, New Jersey, "Pearl of the Bayshore", to Highlands, New Jersey. At Keansburg is a traditional amusement park while at Sandy Hook are...
during the summer for fish and clams. Such a trip is mentioned in an Indian deed transferring lands around Holland Brook to English and Dutch Settlers. The deed mentions two of the natives, who lived at Readington: Metamisco and Wataminian.
Readington was first settled by Europeans in the early 18th century by Dutch and English immigrants, including Emanuel Van Etta, from Esopus, New York
Esopus, New York
Esopus is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 9,331 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the local Indian tribe and means "high banks."...
and Adrian Lane, an English settler who erected a mill along Holland Brook. Nearby Van Etta Road is named for Emanuel Van Etta, whose surname means "from Etten
Etten-Leur
Etten-Leur is a municipality in the southern Netherlands. Its name is a combination of the two towns from which the municipality originally arose: Etten and Leur...
". In 1738, the Dutch Reformed Church of North Branch was moved west to Readington Village because of the growing population. The third building on this site, pictured left, stands there today. A parsonage was built on the north side of the brook up on the hill, still in Readington Township. The nearby Parsonage Hill Road in Branchburg is named for this site.
The church location before the parish was moved to Readington was three miles east. This structure was a log building just north and west of the convergence of the North
North Branch Raritan River
The North Branch Raritan River is a tributary of the Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States.The North Branch Raritan River rises in central Morris County south of Dover and flows generally southward into Somerset County, around the southern end of the Watchung Mountains...
and South
South Branch Raritan River
The South Branch Raritan River is a tributary of the Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States.The source of the South Branch is the outflow from Budd Lake, a glacial remnant located a few miles northeast of Hackettstown...
branches of the Raritan River
Raritan River
The Raritan River is a major river of central New Jersey in the United States. Its watershed drains much of the mountainous area of the central part of the state, emptying into the Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean.-Description:...
formerly called Tucca-ramma-hacking by the Raritan, which meant the "flowing together of waters". The church's pastor, Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen
Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen
Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen was a German-American Dutch-Reformed minister, theologian and the progenitor of the Frelinghuysen family in the United States of America. Frelinghuysen is most remembered for his religious contributions in the Raritan Valley during the beginnings of the First...
would later help form a seminary at the Old Dutch Parsonage
Old Dutch Parsonage
The Old Dutch Parsonage is a historical house at 38 Washington Place in Somerville, New Jersey.-History:It was the home of the first ministers of the first Dutch Reformed Church and was built with the pooled funds from the congregations in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and Raritan, New Jersey, in 1751...
in Somerville
Somerville, New Jersey
Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,098. It is the county seat of Somerset County....
. This would eventually become Queen's College
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, now known as Rutgers University. Rutgers during the Revolutionary War held classes at the old church at the convergence. During the 19th century Readington Village had a church, a mill, a store, a school and a tavern. One of the former school buildings is a garage between the bottom of Hillcrest and Centerville Roads along Brookview Road. A later former school building can be seen just west of there and is now being used as a barn.
The mill in Readington Village continued to run until about 1920 and was still standing until 1935. A general store in the community continued to function until the 1990s. The store was eventually sold and later became a post office.
The only non-residential buildings in Readington Village today are the small post office, a volunteer fire house (also used as a polling station and the Readington Reformed Church
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
. The post office is on property owned by the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians
Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians
The Little Shell Band of Chippewa Native Americans was an Anishinaabe tribe, The Little Shell Band did, in fact, once exist as a branch of the Chippewa on the northern Great Plains in the 19th century. Most were pushed westward out of Minnesota and North Dakota to Montana...
. The community has seen extensive flooding of Holland Brook a few times in recent years (including during Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Floyd triggered the third largest evacuation in US history when 2.6 million coastal residents of five states were ordered from their homes as it approached...
) that has closed the Hillcrest Bridge and damaged nearby houses. Just northwest of Readington is Solberg Airport, the site of the New Jersey Balloon Festival
Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning
The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning has been held annually at the Solberg Airport in Readington Township, New Jersey since 1983. Its lead sponsor is Quick Chek Food Stores. In 2007, the festival hosted around 125 special shape and sport hot air balloons. It also had music concerts,...
.
The annual balloon festival began in 1983 and its hundred-plus balloons draw over a hundred thousand people. It is the largest annual event in New Jersey and the largest balloon festival in North America during the summer.