May 22, 2017
Dr. Richard Hunter: Trenton –A Forgotten Port Community
In his lecture, Dr. Hunter discussed the history of Trenton as a port and trading hub at the head of navigation on the Del-aware River.
Trenton emerged as an important focus of the fishing industry in the mid-18th century. Beginning in the 1760s, Trenton Landing (aka Lamberton) became a satellite port of Philadelphia with transatlantic and Caribbean shipping docking on the riverbank where the Route 29 tunnel is today. Trenton Landing was a key supply station for American forces during the Revolutionary War and the port thrived into the early 19th century as sailing vessels began to be replaced by steamboats. Decline came as the Delaware and Raritan Canal and the railroads took business away from the waterfront from the 1830s onward, but Trenton maintained a portly presence well into the 20th century with its marine terminal. This presentation drew heavily on the historical and archaeological studies carried out over the past 20 years in connection with the reconstruction of Route 29.
Richard Hunter is president of Hunter Research, Inc., a Trenton-based historic preservation consulting firm founded in 1986. He holds a Ph.D. in historical geography from Rutgers University, an M.A. in archaeological science from Bradford University, U.K. and a B.A. in archaeology and geography from Birmingham University, U.K. A long-time resident of Hopewell Township, Dr. Hunter currently serves as a Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commissioner, a trustee of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and a board member of the Trenton Downtown Association. Dr. Hunter has authored numerous articles on topics of New Jersey history and archaeology and he lectures frequently throughout the region.
Richard Hunter is President of Hunter Research, Inc., a Trenton-based historic preservation consulting firm founded in 1986. The company provides historical, archaeological and historic architectural services to a wide range of public, private and non-profit clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. Dr. Hunter holds a Ph.D. in historical geography from Rutgers University, an M.A. in archaeological science from Bradford University, U.K. and a B.A. in archaeology and geography from Birmingham University, U.K. A long-time resident of Hopewell Township, he currently serves as a Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commissioner, a trustee of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and a board member of the Trenton Downtown Association. He is a past President of Preservation New Jersey and a former member of the New Jersey Historic Sites Review Board. Dr. Hunter has authored numerous articles on topics of New Jersey history and archaeology and he lectures frequently throughout the region.
