Princeton, NJ Trip: Part 3: Hoagie Heaven/Clarke House/Who is Gen. Mercer?

Tom, Emery and Theresa

This is part 3 of our blogs about our visit to our friend Emery's house in Princeton, New Jersey.In this blog you'll learn about the Hoagie House, the Clarke House and the famous General Mercer.

HOAGIE HEAVEN - This is THE local place to go to get the best sandwiches in Princeton, and Emery and Theresa made sure we stopped there. Hoagie Haven was the first to serve up large hoagies in the Princeton area. With help from Italian People's Bakery, Uncle Haven demanded a larger and larger roll to fill with delicious foods. Finally, when the roll couldn't fit on the counter, they knew it was big enough.

WHERE IS IT? 244 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Tel. 609-921-7723
Website: http://www.hoagiehaven.com/


ANOTHER LANDMARK!
WHAT IS THE CLARKE HOUSE? Built circa 1772 this 2 story half Georgian house was part of a 200 acre farm of mostly cleared fields. Thomas Clarke, who lived there with his sisters Hannah and Sarah during the American Revolution, were members of the nearby Stony Brook Friends Meeting. 

WHO WAS HUGH MERCER?   Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, was a physician. He was appointed a Captain in 1756, commanding a company in the colony’s provincial armed forces. He was appointed to command the Flying Camp, a highly mobile reserve of militia, stationed on the central New Jersey shore to screen against the enemy on Staten Island.  Once the British Army began their march across New Jersey, a brigade was cobbled together for Mercer to lead at the Battles of Trenton, on December 26, 1776 and Princeton, on January 3, 1777.  In the latter action, General Mercer would be mortally wounded after a larger force overwhelmed him.  Lingering for several days, Hugh Mercer died on January 12, 1777.

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WHAT IS THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE?  Damaged by musket fire during the American Revolution's Battle of Princeton, the house was a refuge for wounded from both sides, including Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, who died here nine days later.

(Photo - Left: The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777 by John Trumbull. George Washington is the figure on the horse.) 

INFO ON HOW TO VISIT: http://www.visitprincetonbattlefield.org/visit-princeton-battlefield/clarke-house-history/

NEXT: GHOST ON THE PRINCETON CAMPUS

VIDEO TOUR OF THE PROPERTY: https://vimeo.com/202788452

Clarke House at Princeton Battlefield NJ State Park from PrincetonAerial on Vimeo.