Published in The Bridge (newsletter for Delaware Twp.) in August 2001<\/em><\/p>\n

Some time ago, I gave a talk about how Delaware Township\u201a\u00c4\u00f4s villages came into existence. It seems appropriate to adapt that talk to the newsletter, in several installments, since villages are still, despite our 21st century way of life, important to our township.<\/p>\n

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Villages don\u201a\u00c4\u00f4t just happen. There\u201a\u00c4\u00f4s a reason why each one comes into existence, although sometimes not much of a reason. Villages might start with a location where two trails intersected, or at a good fishing spot. A ferry attracted a tavern, a mill attracted a store, and soon there would be a village. The first villages were created by the Lenape and the more ancient native peoples who preceded them. Lenape villages were of two types, the permanent and the seasonal. The only permanent village in this area was located at northern Lambertville, at the mouth of the Alexauken Creek. Evidence of the Lenape in other areas in Delaware Township (and there is lots of evidence) indicate seasonal fishing and hunting locations, temporary villages, especially at the mouths of the Wickecheoke and the Lockatong Creeks, but also inland at good deer hunting locations.<\/p>\n

Some of these Lenape villages were adopted by the later European settlers. There was often a cleared area where the Lenape gardened, and cleared areas were always attractive to Europeans. 18th century villages were modest. But following the Revolution, village life became very active. Stores and shops of all kinds increased significantly and post offices were opened. In 1834, Thomas Gordon identified only Prallsville as a village, with one store, one tavern, some 6 or 8 dwellings, a grist mill, and \u201a\u00c4\u00faa fine bridge erected over the Delaware.\u201a\u00c4\u00f9 Obviously he had combined Prallsville and Stockton, but at that time Stockton didn\u201a\u00c4\u00f4t exist. Gordon did make note of a post office at Sergeantsville.^{1<\/a><\/sup> By 1844, Barber and Howe identified Sergeantsville, Headquarters and Raven Rock, in addition to Prallsville, as recognizable villages.<\/p>\n}