A Quarterly Newsletter of Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc., Cultural Resource Consultants Old Stone Arch Bridge Gets Listed RGA Celebrates 20 Years

On June 27, 2008, the Old Stone Arch Bridge in Bound Brook In February 2008, Borough, Somerset County, and Middlesex Borough, Richard Grubb & Middlesex County, was listed on the National Register of Associates celebrated its Historic Places. Constructed circa 1730, the three-arch 20th Anniversary at the structure was built to carry the Raritan Road, an important Tropicana Casino & colonial highway, over Green Brook near the community of Resort in Atlantic City. Bound Brook. It is the earliest documented stone arch bridge Guests included Amy in Somerset County Greene of Amy S. and among the oldest Greene Environmental in the state. Consultants. See more On April 13, 1777, photos at: www.richardgrubb.com/20thAnn. Enjoy! the Old Stone Arch Bridge earned its Old Stone Arch Bridge Archaeology at Buckelew Mansion place in American RGA recently completed a Phase I archaeological survey in history when British advance of the construction of a drainage system and troops launched a rehabilitation of the National and State Register listed Ensley- surprise attack on Mount-Buckelew House in the Borough of Jamesburg, patriot forces station- Middlesex County, . The Ensley-Mount-Buckelew ed in Bound Brook. A House (also known as the Buckelew Mansion) is significant first person account both for its association with James Buckelew, for whom of the battle written Jamesburg was named, and for its architecture. Local historians by a officer believe that a portion of the Buckelew Mansion dates to circa specifically references 1685. the bridge, where his troops were “exposed to murderous fire” Archaeological testing around the perimeter of the house as they advanced on the village. The Battle of Bound Brook identified intact early to mid-nineteenth-century archaeological was a victory for the British, highlighting the difficulty of deposits, as well as three cultural features. These included a defending the area from attack. rectangular mold that once contained a footing for an earlier During the nineteenth century, the rerouting of Green Brook addition to the house; a pre-1830s wooden box drain that may and construction of railroad have either drained water from the basement or transferred embankments in the vicinity running water through the cellar of the house; and a builder’s resulted in the near trench associated with complete burial of the Old the construction of the Stone Arch Bridge. The house’s main block. A nomination of the Old cluster of mid-19th- Stone Arch Bridge to the century artifacts was New Jersey and National also observed below the Registers was prepared on floorboards of the rear behalf of Somerset County, section of the house. which plans to rehabilitate Although evidence of the structure within a new deposits related to a 17th park dedicated to the site’s century occupation was not identified, archaeological testing Revolutionary War history. recovered ceramics, glass, pipe stems, and other artifacts from A truly unique resource is the early 19th century. The artifacts and structural features getting the attention it provided information regarding construction and material deserves! culture used by occupants of the Buckelew Mansion. January 2009