Kingston Princeton Day 2

Lower right panel of the painting - the Lincoln Highway crossed a bridge at the Deleware and Raritan canal while it was still in operation. Shown here is the lock/bridge tenders house.

Groundbreaking for the Delaware and Raritan Canal began at Kingston in November of 1830. The canal was opened for business in 1834. Kingston thrived as a canal town and experienced an economic boom in the 19th century. Its location between two major market centers - New York and Philadelphia - and connection to a network of roads, waterways and railways contributed to its growth. Along with the lock/bridge tender's house (shown here), toll station,a mule barn and turning basin it also had a railroad depot, several inns, a grain mill, several warehouses, a rubber factory, a sash and blind factory as well as a post office and general store. The canal remained in operation through the fall of 1932. With the closing of the D&R Canal in 1933 and the continuing depression, commercial development in the town declined. Today its a sleepy town with a small main street of homes and business crowding close to the roadway.