South Brunswick's Agricultural Past

“For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people's love and concern for each other." --Millard Fuller

The eastern corner of South Brunswick was born into a farming community. The rich soil this area is known for was abundant throughout the land masses of the community.

Farms still dot the area, complimented by the beautiful Pigeon Swamp Park and several horse farms. The Van Dyke farm is a prime example of what this area looked like in the eighteenth century, with large plantation sized farms growing various vegetation, fruits and soy.

Dutch and English style homes lined these farms with traditional farming techniques. The waterfall still flows on the site of Davidson’s Mill, located on the Lawrence Brook, originally built by William Cox in 1733.

The last mill built in this area burned to the ground in the 1950’s. Today you can still travel down Cottageville-Fresh Ponds Road and follow the Lawrence Brook, which still has the characteristic look it had when the road opened in 1768.

The hamlet of Fresh Ponds, Woodsville, Woodside and Pigeon Swamp was described as having 12 houses, a church and schoolhouse in an 1882 article in the History of Union and Middlesex Counties.