The HEW Blog

The old post office as it looks today. This is currently Perritt Labs. Back in the Spring of 2020 I had a chance to tour Perritt Labs on South Main Street, formerly the location of the Hightstown Post Office. At the time they came across some old blueprints and photos of the building and wanted to share it with the historical Society. In case you’re not aware of what Perritt Labs does they are the

In the December 2018 issue of the newsletter, Bob Craig wrote about the Frank C. Underhill Ice Plant, which was off of the north side of Stockton Street, roughly in the rear of where CCL is now located. During Labor Day 2019, my wife and I were at our vacation “camp” in the Adirondacks. One of our neighbors there, Lee Merrill who lives in Florida, brought me a picture of an ice pick he has

The Rug Mill in the 1920s. Memories From My Youth When I was young (the 1950s and 1960s), nearly every Hightstown-East Windsor area resident had a family member who either worked at or had worked at the Hightstown Smyrna Rug Factory, aka Hightstown Rug Company more commonly known as, “The Ruggie.” My memories about it are likely clearer than most because my maternal grandfather, Clarence Puglin, was a manager there and a cousin to the

by Robert Craig with updates by Cappy Stults. While giving historical walking and bus tours around town, many questions are asked and a couple deserve some special attention. One is “what was where Perritt Labs is today before it was the post office” and another is “where did Bank Street gets its name? From the banks of the Rocky Brook?” The first question will be answered by reprinting an article written by a much younger

Many people have been past or on Bank Street. The question that has been asked many times is, “Where did the bank go?” The short answer is that the business relocated to 106 North Main Street, the present location of Allen & Stults Insurance. Anyone who has been in these current offices will see the old walk-in vault that dates from 1875 and the “Bank” sign above it which was from the original bank building