Woodbridge in Middlesex County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
William Cutter House
Photographed By Larry Gertner, August 3, 2018
1. William Cutter House Marker
Built at the end of the 18th century, this farm house at 115 Amboy Avenue was the home of William Cutter (1778-1838), father of successful clay magnate, Hampton Cutter (1811-82). William Cutter’s great-grandfather, Richard (1682-1756), settled in Woodbridge in 1701 and in 1709 established a mill in the area of the present Cutter’s Dock Road.
The house is the birthplace of Hampton Cutter who discovered large deposits of kaolin clay on the farm in 1845 and established Hampton Cutter & Sons, a major supplier of material used to manufacture fire-bricks. Hampton Cutter & Sons amassed a great fortune shipping clay throughout the U.S. and exhibited at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.
In 1929, four dinosaur tracks were uncovered by Cutter clay pit manager Roy E. Anderson and a crew of miners working behind the home. Rutgers University geologists revealed that the 90-million-year-old prints were the only Cretaceous Period prints ever discovered east of the Mississippi River. The Cutter clay banks encompassed the land on which Woodbridge Center stands. To this day, clay deposits can still be found there.
More information visit www.wthpc.org
Woodbridge Township Historic Preservation Commission
Mayor John E. McCormac Woodbridge Township 2013
Erected
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Paleontology. A significant historical year for this entry is 1701.
Location. 40° 33.396′ N, 74° 16.964′ W. Marker is in Woodbridge, New Jersey, in Middlesex County. The marker is along a footpath that runs through Bernie Anderson Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Woodbridge NJ 07095, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fulton Street Neighborhood (a few steps from this marker); Methodist Episcopal Church & Parsonage (within shouting distance of this marker); African-American Contributions (within shouting distance of this marker); Shinn-Woodbridge Airport (within shouting distance of this marker); Cross Keys Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); Woodbridge Township COVID-19 Victims Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Trinity Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); M.D. Valentine & Brothers (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Woodbridge.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, October 20, 2018
2. Bernie Anderson Park
The marker is one of several along the footpath that runs from left to right in the background.
3. Inset
The William Cutter house
4. Inset
Examining the dinosaur footprints.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 430 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 2, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
