Mercer Street Friends Center facts for kids
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Mercer Street Friends Center
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Mercer County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 151 Mercer Street Trenton, New Jersey |
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| Built | 1858 |
| Part of | Mill Hill Historic District (ID77000880) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000505 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 12, 1971 |
| Designated CP | December 12, 1977 |
The Mercer Street Friends Center is a special building located at 151 Mercer Street in the Mill Hill area of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. It was built a long time ago, in 1858. This building is important because of its unique design, its connection to a religious group called the Quakers, and its role in helping people in the community.
It was added to a list of important historical places, the National Register of Historic Places, on August 12, 1971. Later, in 1977, it became part of the Mill Hill Historic District. Today, the building is home to the main offices of Mercer Street Friends. This is a social service group connected to the Quakers that started in 1958. They help people in Trenton.
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History of the Mercer Street Friends Center
Early Quaker Settlers in Trenton
When a group of Quakers led by Mahlon Stacy arrived in this area in 1679, the place was known as "The Falls." Stacy was very important in setting up the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting in 1684. This meeting included Quakers from nearby Crosswicks and Trenton.
In 1686, the Quakers in what would become Trenton started the first local charity. They helped their friends who were having a hard time. Mahlon Stacy gave corn from his mill to help. This mill is why the Mill Hill area got its name. Later, in 1714, William Trent bought land from the Stacy family. The town was then called Trent's-town, which eventually became Trenton.
Building the Meeting House
In 1827, the Society of Friends (another name for Quakers) in the United States split into two main groups. One group was called Orthodox, and the other was called Liberal or Hicksite. The Quakers in Trenton had a meeting house built in 1739 at Hanover and Montgomery Streets. This building was kept by the Hicksite group.
The Orthodox Friends, who had been meeting in people's homes, decided to build their own meeting house. They started building the brick meeting house at 151 Mercer Street in 1857. It was finished in 1858.
Life Around the Meeting House
The graveyard next to the meeting house was a popular spot for energetic young people. In 1917, a newspaper called The Sunday Times Advertiser shared memories from Howell Quigley. He remembered being part of a group of boys who would run through the neighborhood. They would climb fences and yards, sometimes even disturbing the quiet Quaker church lot. They would climb onto the roof, go into barns, over sheds, and into cellars. It was a big dare for the leaders of the group.
Another person in 1917 complained about the boys, but Mr. Quigley disagreed. He grew up to be a successful businessman and continued to live in the Mill Hill area.
Reunion and New Purpose
In 1955, the Orthodox and Hicksite Friends in Philadelphia reunited. Then, in 1957, the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting decided to fix up the meeting house on Mercer Street. They wanted to use it for activities that would show "Friends social concerns." This meant using the building to help the community, which is what Mercer Street Friends does today.
See also
