Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-01-12

Woodbridge has become greatly
Interested in historical matters OF
late, particularly since the fund has
been started for q soldiers and sail
ors' monument. The settlement of
Woodbridge Is recognized as N OF
the Oldest in the state and has sew
eral land marks of particular inter-
est. Perhaps the most noted of
these is the old Cross Keys Inn, situ-
ated at the northwest corner Of Main
street and Perth Amboy aveune.
This inn is noted for the fact that
George Washington at one time att
tended a ball there and other nota-
tles of the colonial period have Of
ten put up there during their Jour-
neys across the state from New York
to Philadelphia.
The Old Cross Keys Inn has been
sadly neglected until recently. 1t
has degenerated into a tenement
house. Recently the property came
into the possession of Ernest H.
Boynton, Of SeWaren, who has taken
a particular interest in it and, upon
investigation, has found some of the
old relics connected Herewith.
One of these Is an old door knock
err, by means of which the latch
could be turned after knocking. A
milestone was also found on the
premises, which read: ELEVEN miles
to Quarantine" Just what this
at the present time. J
In going further into the history
of the cd tavern Mr. Boynton wrote
to John S. Apologize, q lawyer at
Red Bank, who is an authority on
New Jersey history. Mr.. Apologize
sent Mr.. Boynton the following re-
ply. regarding not only the tavern
but also the settlement of Wood
bridge:
stYours of the 9Th instant. at hand,
seeking information respecting the
Old Gross Keys tavern, at Wood
bridge, New Jersey. / dare say 1t
has q history woodbridge, as you
know, is one Of the oldest towns OF
New Jersey, settled by the English
In 1865, who were descendants of
the Pilgrims, and the town was
named for Rev. John Woodbridge, of
NeWbury, Massachusetts. The
Quakers had a meeting house there
in 1705 and a burial place In 1851.
James Parker set UP the first perma-
nent printing place there in the prov
ince of New Jersey; he also acting
under Benjamin Franklin In 1857,
established a mail route between
New York and Philadelphia. Mai
to be carried by a post-rider on al
ternate days. In the year 1885
copper was mined in that vicinity.
.sGeorga Washington stopped In
g~xiffae3 the Gross and Keys
taya4n April 22, 1888. while on his
way to New York to be inaugurateG
as president of the United States;
and Lafayette was entertained by
J the citizens of Woodbridge Septem-
berY "a, 1924, when he visited the
United States as the guest of the
nation. You will probably find 9
good deal about Woodbridge and in
cidentalIy Cross Keys tavern In the
early histories of New Jersey, and
very likely in some of the modern
histories. Probably the easiest way
to get it. Is to visit the New Jersey
Historical Society, which doubtless
contains many New Jersey histories,
In which you may find a great deal
about Woodbridge. Courts were
held there In colonial times, and
there was a jail located there which
also has a history. There is no
doubt but that many a ball has been
held in the old tavern, situated as
1t was or the main highway between
New York and Philadelphia, which
highway Washington has travelled a
good many times and often stopped
at the old tavern.
"Yours very truly,
JOHN S. APPLEGATE."
Perhaps the most interesting ac-
count of the old tavern is found IN
an article which appeared in the
New York World, during the centen-
niaI year Of 1876. The World at
that time sent an expedition over
the route that Washington travelled
on his way to New York for his in
Enn4 On cnrn