The Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum
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    Rahway at work! Here is an early 20th century phot Rahway at work! Here is an early 20th century photograph of an office within Quinn & Boden, a book printing company in Rahway, New Jersey, featuring Mr. Quinn (far left) along with four other staff members. 

Thank you to our volunteers who are sorting, scanning, and cataloging our vast photograph collection. This work is invaluable in helping to preserve Rahway's history!

#njhistory #historyisfun #Rahway
    Another from the vault! The Rahway Water Works bui Another from the vault! The Rahway Water Works building!

A two-story Second Empire-style brick building, part of the Rahway Water Works, stands at the center of the image, with an attached single-story wing and at least one additional building partially visible behind it. Architectural details include arched windows and doorways, dormers, and a mansard roof. Ivy climbs the facade and also covers a low wall extending toward a curved walkway. A tall cylindrical standpipe, likely constructed of iron plates, rises behind the buildings; a Sanborn Fire Insurance map, published a decade later in 1923, records a standpipe at this site with a 500,000-gallon capacity and an elevation of 26 feet above the business district. (Previous Sanborn maps did not include this area of the city.)
    Another treasure from the archives! Here is a copy Another treasure from the archives! Here is a copy of a handwritten 18th-century deed of sale dated March 5, 1759. David Watkins, of the Borough of Elizabeth in the County of Essex and Province of East New Jersey, executed this deed, transferring a 42-acre tract of land to John King for £46. 

The property, situated within the bounds of Elizabeth Town, is described with precise measurements using "chains" and "links," marking boundaries by trees, posts, and other landmarks. 

The document was witnessed by Samuel Frow Eles and John Smith Eles, and it bears Watkins’ signature and seal.

We would like to extend a very special thank you to our Collections Volunteers for their dedication to the cataloging, digitization, and preservation of New Jersey History! 

#njhistory #Rahway #historicpreservation #thisplacematters #historyisfun
    Here is an exterior view of Stricker Bros. grocery Here is an exterior view of Stricker Bros. grocery store at 160 Main Street, Rahway, New Jersey, between Cherry and Lewis Streets (address number at the time; the address scheme has since changed). The brick building features a storefront with large glass display windows flanking a recessed entrance, accessed by a single step rising from the sidewalk. An awning advertises “Teas & Coffees” and “Butter”, with the store name prominently displayed.

The store’s signage and the clothing styles suggest the photograph dates to circa 1910-1920. #Rahway #thisplacematters #njhistory #rahwayishappening
    Another from the newly scanned archives! Eleven Another from the newly scanned archives! 

Eleven men stand in a line in front of five automobiles parked along a paved street in Rahway, New Jersey. Four of the cars bear hand-painted signs reading “RAHWAY, N.J. TO VENICE–NOKOMIS FLORIDA,” in preparation of a real estate development sales project... The automobiles are open touring cars from the early 1920s, with rear-mounted spare tires and collapsible tops.#Rahway #njhistory #historyisfun #rahwayishappening
    A little rain won't stop us! Visit our Tag Sale fr A little rain won't stop us! Visit our Tag Sale from 9 am to 2 pm today! Jewelry! Kitchenware! Treasures! Stop by and visit us!
    The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) was The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) was the nation's first federal preservation program that began in 1933. The goal was to survey, document, and preserve the country's architectural heritage. The Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum was deemed architecturally significant and documented in 1933. Visit the Library of Congress to view the rest of the images here: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/item/nj0840.sheet.00000a/
    Museum volunteers have been tirelessly scanning, o Museum volunteers have been tirelessly scanning, organizing, and cataloging our collection of historic photographs for months! We're pleased to finally be able to share some of their findings! Many of these photographs have never been seen by the public! 

The following photograph depicts the storefront of E.M. Slater's store located at 151 Main Street, Rahway, New Jersey. The store sold paints and wall coverings. Painted signage replicated on two windows reads, "Atlantic White Lead." We believe this print dates to the late 1800s. 

#historicphotos ##rahwayishappening #Rahway #thisplacematters ##njhistory
    In preparation for our Annual Tag Sale on June 14 In preparation for our Annual Tag Sale on June 14 from 9 am to 2 pm, the museum will be closed from Sunday, June 8 to Friday, June 13. We will reopen Tuesday, June 17! We hope to see you at the Tag Sale!
    Here's one from the way back machine! This vintage Here's one from the way back machine! This vintage picture was taken in the 1970s as some volunteers helped to move the Terrill Tavern to its current location in the Tavern yard.
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    MDTMA - 1632 St. Georges Ave - Rahway, NJ 07065 - (732)381-0441 *** Mailing address: PO Box 1842 - Rahway, NJ 07065

    Funding is made possible in part by the following: New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State, through a grant administered by the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Department of Parks & Recreation; the Union County Board of County Commissioners HEART Grant Program; New Jersey Council for the Humanities; RSI Bank Foundation of the Community Foundation of New Jersey; a Rahway Chamber of Commerce Business Improvement Grant; and numerous individual donors. Restoration of the historic Merchants and Drovers Tavern structure is currently funded by capital grants from the New Jersey Historic Trust, New Jersey Cultural Trust, and Union County.
The mission of the Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum is to preserve the historic Merchants and Drovers Tavern and Terrill Tavern structures; develop the site as a museum; preserve and interpret local history in partnership with the community; and serve as an educational, cultural, and historic resource.