Middlebrook, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Middlebrook, New Jersey
|
|
|---|---|
West Main Street and Vosseller Avenue, Middlebrook section of Bound Brook, site of the Middlebrook Hotel, in 2017
|
|
 Middlebrook, New Jersey
Location in Somerset County, New Jersey
Middlebrook, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Middlebrook, New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Somerset |
| Borough | Bound Brook |
| Named for | Middle Brook (Raritan River tributary) |
Middlebrook is a small community in Bound Brook, a town in Somerset County, New Jersey. It is named after the Middle Brook, a stream that flows into the Raritan River. In the early 1700s, an important road called the Old York Road passed through Middlebrook. This road connected the big cities of Philadelphia and New York City.
Contents
Middlebrook's Early History
In 1681, a group of people bought land in this area. They purchased it from two Raritan Native Americans. The land was bordered by the Raritan River, the Bound Brook, and the Middle Brook. They paid 100 pounds in goods for the land.
A few years later, in 1683, one of these buyers, Thomas Codrington, received 877 acres of this land. He built a house there and called it Rackawackhana. This was one of the very first houses built in Somerset County.
Middlebrook and the American Revolution
Middlebrook played an important role during the American Revolutionary War. After a battle in nearby Bound Brook in April 1777, General George Washington moved his army here. This was the Continental Army, fighting for America's independence.
Washington moved his troops from their winter camp in Morristown. They set up camp in the Middle Brook valley. This area was protected by the Watchung Mountains. The camp, known as the first Middlebrook encampment, lasted from May 28 to July 2, 1777.
Historic Buildings in Middlebrook
Middlebrook once had some very old and important buildings.
The Harris Tavern
The Harris Tavern was built around 1700. It was located where West Main Street and Vosseller Avenue meet today. This building was the first hotel in Bound Brook. During the Revolutionary War, it was called the Middlebrook Hotel. Army officers often stayed there. Later, it was known as the Fisher Hotel. Sadly, this historic building is no longer standing.
The Thomas Codrington House
The Thomas Codrington house was built in 1683. It was located at the corner of High Street and LaMonte Avenue. This house was the very first one built in Somerset County.
Famous People from Middlebrook
Some notable people have lived in or were connected to Middlebrook.
- Tunis Campbell (1812–1891) was born here. He became a successful African American politician during the Reconstruction era. This was a time after the American Civil War when the Southern states were rebuilt.
Gallery
-
The namesake Middle Brook, on the western side of Middlebrook
-
Looking north toward the Middlebrook Heights along Vosseller Avenue from West Main Street
