Bow Hill (New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bow Hill
Ukrainian American Cultural Center |
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 Location in Mercer County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 477 Jeremiah Avenue, Hamilton Township, New Jersey |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1790 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001111 |
| Added to NRHP | January 25, 1973 |
Bow Hill is a historic building found in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. It was built a long time ago, in 1790. Today, it serves as the Ukrainian American Cultural Center. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 25, 1973. This means it's recognized as a special part of American history!
Contents
The Story of Bow Hill
Early Days and the De Klyn Family
The beautiful Bow Hill mansion was built by a man named Barnt De Klyn. He was born in Boston and came from a French family called Huguenots. Barnt became very rich by selling fabrics to the American army during the American Revolution. This was a big war where America fought for its independence.
In the 1780s, Barnt bought a lot of land near Trenton, New Jersey. At that time, many people thought Trenton might become the capital city of the United States. It was located right between Philadelphia and New York City. Barnt and others hoped to make money from this idea.
However, the capital was later chosen to be built in what is now Washington, D.C.. This news was a big disappointment for Barnt and other land owners. But by the time he heard, he had already finished building this grand mansion.
A Royal Tenant: Joseph Bonaparte
Among Barnt De Klyn's friends was Joseph Bonaparte. He was the older brother of the famous French leader, Napoleon. Joseph Bonaparte lived in exile nearby at Point Breeze in Bordentown, New Jersey.
Joseph Bonaparte rented Bow Hill from De Klyn. He used it to house his American wife, Annette Savage. Annette was a Quaker from Philadelphia. She lived at Bow Hill until 1822, when she and Joseph moved to another property in New York.
Becoming a Cultural Center
The De Klyn family, and later the Lalor family, owned Bow Hill for many years, through the 20th century. In 1975, the Ukrainian-American community in Trenton bought the building. They named it the Ukrainian National Home.
Later, it was renamed the Ukrainian American Cultural Center, which it remains today. This center has been home to many Ukrainian groups. These include the scouting organization Plast, the School of Ukrainian Studies, and the Self-Reliance Federal Credit Union. It also houses the Ukrainian American Veterans and the Ukrainian National Women's League of America. A Ukrainian-American Soccer Club has also been part of this center.
See also
