By Dan D’Arcy

I’m sitting at my desk trying to make decision on what to write about this month. I am in the process of reorganizing all my files and memorabilia for the past twenty-one years. Probably the most precious of these are the letters written to me by the readers of the Corner, “Colonia Corner”, either by email or hand- written and delivered by the USPS. Since 1998 these letters from the readers have contributed to the success of this article and has greatly inspired me. I love reading them, sharing and knowing that others share my passion for our past, present and future of our part of the Township.

Picture.
I have been asked many times, where was the train station in Colonia. Yes, there was a small stop at the Haughtonville farm on what is now Rt. 27 and New Dover Rd. The farmer, Mr. Haughton would let animals from the train graze on his pasture before being sent back on their journey. Once Elizabeth Savage Cone convinced the Pennsylvania Railroad to change the name to Colonia, for the benefit of making the “Colonia Colony” more sellable, (since the whole premises of the Colony was to the sell the lots that the Cones had purchased. Yes, they also wanted to create a little utopia a short train ride away from New York City, which in some ways still exists today.) the station became a magnet to future Colonia residents. Don’t forget that the conversation by Mr.’s Freeman and Albee aboard a train from that station lead to the construction of the World War one Army Hospital. With platforms on both sides of the tracts the station served for many years until the Super Station Metro Park in Iselin was constructed. Deemed redundant, the stop was discontinued, and the station demolished for new construction. So, where exactly was the station Dan? When you drive over the New Dover bridge, and it wasn’t always there, you make the right hand turn on Fairview and an immediate right hand turn on Morton, which I think should be named after the first Colonia Postmaster Thompson, and the station lay straight ahead. I have been on the tracks looking (which you should never do) and have found many bricks that are obviously not associated with anything other than a building. I can’t say whether they are related to the Station building but I’ll just say maybe. The concrete platform on the southbound side was still there the last time I looked but there has been a lot of work on the sides of the tracts recently, so I’ll have to look again. The “candy store and post office, that so many people remember on Morton was recently remodeled back to a single-family home. The picture that you see above was sent to me by Fred Kirste in 2010, an original member of the Colonia History Club, who has since passed.

Letter
Coincidently, I received this letter from Fred Kirste in 2008.
The Colonia Post office was established as an independent office in 1894 and operated as such through 1955. At the time,1955/56 it became a branch of the Rahway Post Office. In 1955 the Colonia Post Office was in a store front in the building that which still stands today but has been converted into an office or apartment on the corner of Middlesex Ave and Morton Place. In 1955 this location was across South Middlesex Ave. from the Colonia Railroad Station, both buildings located on the south western side of New Dover Rd. Bridge. I am told that until 1955 customers picked up their mail from the PO boxes in the Office. In 1956 I am told there was one home delivery route established which centered on the homes along New Dover Rd. Prior to 1955 mail for homes along Lake Ave. in Colonia where delivered to roadside mailboxes by a Rural Free Delivery Route. In 1955 the Dukes Estates homes were provided house to house delivery, but for many years used Rahway, NJ 07065 designation. Always enjoy reading your articles Dan. After reading the front page of the Colonia Corner, I go next to Colonia Then & Now. Best Regards Fred. (Fred was a real nice guy and a pleasure to be around.)
Always looking for new information on anything we talk about.
Thanks for reading,

Daniel D’Arcy 908-599-3958 dandrc@aol.com