| In 1779, as General George Washington was traversing a wintery New Jersey during the Revolutionary War, he paid a visit to the home of Derrick Van Veghten. The Dutch family had not only built an estate along the Raritan River, but also the bridges that allowed Washington and his troops to cross the waterway. “There was this bridge and the Queens Bridge in Bound Brook Brook and those were the only two places close to New Brunswick where he could cross,” said Frank McGonigle, president of the Somerset County Historical Society. The Van Veghton House’s location near the river was crucial to its existence as goods back then were transported on waterways. But it has also made the historic structure prone to flooding. The Somerville Historical Society, which is headquartered at the home, is tasked with building a floodwall that could cost more than $2 million. Dutch Colonial homes are some of the United States oldest remaining historic buildings and preserving them is key to understanding how our nation and its early infrastructure came to be. Unfortunately, we continue to lose many of these homes. In the past few years, the Van Zile House and DeBaun House were both demolished, despite battles to save them. Read Full Story |