Princeton Junction in West Windsor Township in Mercer County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Schenck Farmstead Historic Site
Photographed by Richard Peterson, March 28, 2026
1. Schenck Farmstead Historic Site Marker
This is one of West Windsors oldest farmsteads. Absentee landowner Fenwick Lyell sold hundreds of acres to Cornelius Voorhies in 1741. Following his family were the Fishers (circa late 1700s-1863), Youngs (1863-65), Everetts (1865-99), and Schencks in 1899, after renting it since 1888. These families tended to livestock, fields of crops, and orchards, enlarged the main house and the unique Dutch-English barn, and built a wagon house, smokehouse, silo, chicken coop, windmill, stable, tenant house, corn crib, and more structures.
Generations of Schencks lived here before selling it to Max and Betty Zaitz in 1970, who rented it out and in the early 1990s deeded it to the Township. The town and the nonprofit Historical Society of West Windsor restored the property, opened it to the the public in 2002, added a school house, and dedicated the West Windsor History Museum in 2013.
Erected 2024 by The Historical Society of West Windsor.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1741.
Location. 40° 16.611′ N, 74° 35.474′ W. Marker is in West Windsor Township, New Jersey, in Mercer County. It is in Princeton Junction.
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Regionally, this marker is in Central Jersey and in Greater Princeton. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Slavery at the Farmstead (a few steps from this marker); Dutch Neck Historic Community (approx. 1.3 miles away); Edinburg Historic Community (approx. 1.8 miles away); Trolley Line Trail Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon (approx. 2.3 miles away); Washington Township Korea & Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 2½ miles away); Tales of the Rails (approx. 2½ miles away); a different marker also named Tales of the Rails (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Windsor Township.
Also see . . . West Windsor History Museum. Link to the West Windsor History Museum at the Schenck Farmstead.
"The Historical Society of West Windsor runs the West Windsor History Museum at the Township-owned 1750s-era Schenck Farmstead, one of central NJ's oldest farmed properties. The Museum periodically opens to the public."(Submitted on April 22, 2026, by Historical Society of West Windsor of West Widsor, New Jersey.)
Photographed by Richard Peterson, March 28, 2026
2. Marker with relocated schoolhouse, farm equipment
Photographed by Richard Peterson
3. Dutch-English Barn
Photographed by Richard Peterson, March 28, 2026
4. Schenck Farmhouse
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2026, by Richard Peterson of East Windsor, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 8, 2026, by Richard Peterson of East Windsor, New Jersey. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
