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MORE TO OFFER: Thanks to a recent upgrade of its museum, the Thomas Clarke House, central to the Battle of Princeton, covers more information about the pivotal victory that set the American Revolution on the road to success.
By Anne Levin
The 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is more than two years away, but the Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) is well into preparation mode. A major focus has been the upgrading of the museum inside the historic Thomas Clarke House.
While an invitation-only grand opening is scheduled for Friday, September 8, the Clarke House is currently open to the public and the exhibit is on view.
“The Thomas Clarke House is the only surviving structure from the era of the Battle of Princeton,” said Todd Quackenbush, a board member of PBS. “It is historically important not only because it was a field hospital, and the place where General Hugh Mercer passed away. Over the years, it has been a place where we’ve displayed things to inform people about the battle. It has been many, many years since we’ve had a major upgrade to the displays and materials.”
The improvement project was started in 2018, but was derailed by the pandemic. Finally completed, it includes a new display, “a much more panoramic illustrated view of the battle and the campaign leading up to it,” said Quackenbush. “Additionally, there is period and military hardware from that era.”
Built in 1772, in the middle of what was then a 200-acre farm, the Clarke House appears to be a simple, white clapboard farmhouse. But the modest building was central to the Battle of Princeton, which was fought on January 3, 1777 between the Continental Army under General George Washington, and British Crown forces.
The Clarkes were a third-generation Quaker family of the Stony Brook Quaker Settlement. They transformed the house into a field hospital after the battle, taking in both British and American wounded.
“Despite being cared for by Dr. Benjamin Rush (signer of the Declaration of Independence), American General Hugh Mercer died here nine days after the battle from being shot and bayoneted,” reads the PBS website. “Mercer County in New Jersey, site of the battle, is named in his honor.”
Preserving the house is a high priority for Quackenbush and other members of the PBS. “This is one of many things we’re trying to do in the overall theme of presenting the history of the battle, leading up to the 250th anniversary,” he said. “The excitement is clearly building. We had a much bigger turnout at the reenactment last year, and much more participation.”
With help from the American Battlefield Trust, the park will have new signage, a map, and re-landscaping in parts of the park to make it look as it was at the time of the battle.
“The Clarke House is part of the overall process,” said Quackenbush. “We expect to have a lot more visitors, and this will enrich what they take away from their visit. It all ties in with the fact that the State of New Jersey is putting more funding and attention toward commemorations statewide. This is part of elevating the whole effort of the region.”
The Thomas Clarke House, in Princeton Battlefield State Park at 500 Mercer Road, is currently open to the public Wednesday through Friday for tours by appointment (609) 921-0074; Saturday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m.; and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
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