Flemington, New Jersey
My last article studying the history of the Union Hotel began with the beginning of the Village of Flemington in the 18th century and left off in 1809 with Neal Hart as owner of what was then known as “the House of Neal Hart in Flemington.”
A sketch of the hotel in its later years.
While researching the history of the Union Hotel in Flemington, I came across an advertisement in the November 5, 1845 edition of a newspaper called Public Ledger, located in Philadelphia. It caught my attention for a couple reasons. First, because of its claim to be the only known cure for consumption.
(1) Alexander Rea (1710 – 1771) & Sarah
Alexander Rea and his second wife Sarah were Irish immigrants who first appeared in Sussex County, New Jersey about 1752. They eventually settled in Kingwood Township, where Alexander died leaving property to his sons and money to his daughters.
My last article concerned an old restaurant on Main Street (today’s Higgins News Agency) that long ago sported a lovely arch along its front roofline. Previous to that, was the George Rea building, that had a similar arch on all four sides. Looking for the next building on Flemington’s Main Street with that unusual feature, we come to none other than the Union Hotel.
My last article was the first of the series I hope to write about Flemington’s 19th century buildings with arches on their rooflines. That last article featured the Clock Tower building at the corner of Main Street and Bloomfield Avenue, built in 1874 by George A. Rea. Now let’s stroll south along Main Street to visit the next building in this series.
My previous article served as an introduction to the subject of the interesting buildings on Flemington’s Main Street that all feature an arch in the middle of their front roofline. Now let’s focus on each of them individually, starting with:
A Distinctive Feature of Downtown Flemington
While studying some properties on Main Street Flemington, it dawned on me that many of them have an arch in the middle of their front rooflines. This seemed like such a distinctive feature in town that it merited a closer look.
otherwise known as Kendall School, District No. 109
Not too long ago, I received an email from one of my readers whose parents had lived in the old schoolhouse in Sergeantsville after it had been retrofitted as a residence. She sent me a charming photograph of the school building with her parents’ Volkswagon in front.
