Favorite Places & Spaces: Princeton

To some people, Princeton, New Jersey is the home to the venerable university. To others, it is the site of the pivotal battle during the Revolutionary War that turned the tides for George Washington and his men. And to a more geeky crew, Princeton may be best remembered as the longtime and final home to Albert Einstein. But to me, Princeton is simply my home. Though I have lived in other places before and since, it was there where I passed my formative years. And so it has a special spot in my heart as one of my favorite places.

 

Princeton Battlefield State Park

This beautiful expanse of land is just past the middle of town and has been preserved as the site of the Battle of Princeton. The ionic Colonnade was designed by the architect of the US Capitol building and is one of several tributes around town to that fateful day:

On January 3, 1777, the peaceful winter fields and woods of Princeton Battlefield were transformed into the site of what is considered to be the fiercest fight of its size during the American Revolution. During this desperate battle, American troops under General George Washington surprised and defeated a force of British Regulars. Coming at the end of "The Ten Crucial Days" which saw the well-known night crossing of the Delaware River and two battles in Trenton, the Battle of Princeton gave Washington his first victory against the British Regulars on the field.

A pair of iconic locations at Princeton University. Nassau Hall (left) was designed by architect Robert Smith and completed in 1756. Serving as the home for the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War was just one of the many reasons that this building was given national historic landmark status in 1960. Maclean House (right) was also designed by Robert Smith and originally served as the residence for the college president. In 1968, it became the home of the university's Alumni Council and was renamed in honor of John Maclean, Jr., the founder of the council and the last president to reside in the house for the duration of his administration. Maclean House was designated a national historic landmark in 1971.

The traditional ivy-covered walls of the university (top) as befits a member of the Ivy League. A storefront in historic Palmer Square which was developed in the 1930s by Edgar Palmer to create a new municipal center in the heart of Princeton. (As a side note, the storefront on the left, Bucks County Dry Goods, has a terrific edited selection of home goods, women's apparel and vintage finds. You can visit this location in Princeton or one of their other stores in Lambertville or Doylestown.)

The Princeton train station which ferries students and commuters to the nearby transit line to New York is known locally as The Dinky. This payphone at the station house (left) was the site of many a phone call to my parents, summoning them for a pick up. Beautiful stonework and carvings abound in Princeton such as this work (right) in the covered walkway of Blair Hall.

Just a few of different styles of the beautiful local homes.

Thanks for taking a this little virtual tour of my hometown with me. Now I'm off to Hoagie Haven for a number 17 with extra jalepeños. Who's with me?