Buckelew home offers
glimpse of local history
Jamesburg once was
the center of activity

FARRAH MAFFAI Abraham Lincoln, aka Bob Costello of the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Co. D, and William Steel, playing a brigadier general from the 7th Texas Cavalry, chat outside the Lakeview Mansion during Buckelew Day in Jamesburg Saturday.

in central N.J.

Once a year, the old Buckelew home in Jamesburg is transformed into a time machine.

Last Saturday, volunteers in period costume gave tours of the centuries-old home, demonstrated trades of the time, and answered the many questions visitors posed on Buckelew Day.

The Jamesburg Historical Society has been hosting the event for about 25 years, ever since the organization was established, according to Mavis Baker, the society’s second vice president.

This year, visitors were treated to a newly refurbished conservatory, front and back parlors, a hallway and kitchen, she said.

"The kitchen should have burned down by now," she said. "We are lucky to [still] have it ."

The work involved mostly minor cosmetics, Baker said, including new paint, wallpaper, repaired plaster walls and ceilings.

Upon entering the home, called Lakeview because of its view of Manalapan Lake, visitors are greeted by volunteer Lynn Lakner, who tells a brief history of the structure.

The home, purchased by James Buckelew in 1832, was believed to have been a one-room settler’s cabin built around 1685 that had a loft for sleeping above the room, Lakner said. The home underwent many alterations, she said, including a large two-story front addition in the 1830s, and a third floor that was added much later.

"The conservatory for growing plants off the east side of the home now stores the Lincoln coach," she said. "When (Abraham) Lincoln went from the train depot in Trenton to the State House, Buckelew provided the coach."

According to Baker, Buckelew was a prominent figure in the 1800s and was well-known by politicians. He was involved in a variety of industries and trades, and was known for his generosity and fine possessions, such as his beautiful stagecoach and imported horses, she said.

"He was a tremendous entrepreneur," she said.

Baker said Buckelew had a role in building an extension to the Trenton Amboy Railroad, the first railroad in the country.

He also hosted an annual agricultural fair, where he "promoted his wonderful fruits and vegetables" that he produced on his 4,000 acres of farmland.

Also, according to literature, Buckelew built a school "for all children" when he heard that the area school would not admit a black child. The school became known as "James B" or "Jamesburg," and the stop on the railroad took on the same name.

It is believed that Buckelew’s influence with the railroad, his various mills and his agricultural production attracted many settlers, and were therefore key components in the successful establishment of Jamesburg.

Inside the home, a model of the former town sits complete with a working train.

"The entire display is built to scale," Baker said. "All of the houses are duplicates of ones that are in town or were in town."

The model, she said, was built by a separate organization that receives no money from tours or functions.

Other volunteers roamed the area outside of the home.

"Oh yeah, you’re not supposed to smile when someone takes your picture," Don Benhardt Jr. said as he coached fellow civil war re-enactor Shannon Knopf.

Knopf said it was her first time participating in any form of re-enactment.

"It’s tough because I don’t know anything about staying in character," she said.

Benhardt played Gen. Robert Rodes, and Knopf portrayed his wife, Virginia.

Benhardt said his father, who portrayed Gen. Jubal Early, got him interested in re-enactment.

"I am now a history major," he said.

One Jamesburg resident, John Devecchio, was in charge of firing an 1844 bronze cannon he said the borough owned. He is a member of the First New Jersey Light Artillery Battery A and a volunteer firefighter in the borough.

"There were seven crew members in all [that would operate the cannons]," he said, assuring passers-by that real cannonballs would not be fired.

A large "boom" caught the attention of anyone within earshot of the property, and caused several visitors to quickly cover their ears.

Other volunteers showed visitors how cloth was spun, and also demonstrated blacksmithing.

Baker said she was pleased with the event, and is excited when residents take an interest in the history of their town.

"Jamesburg was a center of production in this area of the state. It was also the social center," she said. "A lot of people don’t realize that."