January 7, 1850--Deans Lane Dedicated

Today in South Brunswick History...
January 7, 1850--Deans Lane Dedicated
by Ed Belding South Brunswick Historical Society

The straight road running northwest to southwest, connecting what is now Route 1 and old Georges Road, might have been called Martinsville Road or McDowell's Road when it was dedicated on January 7, 1850. The area which the new road ran through was called Martinsville up into the 1860's. It was named after John Martin, a prominent resident in the area. This name appeared on several maps in the early 1800's. However, the two earliest families to settle in the area were the Deans and the McDowells. The Dean family arrived in the late l8th century. The McDowells came shortly thereafter. Local sentiment favored the Deans name for the road, as well as changing the name of the area from Martinsville to Deans. The Camden&Amboy Railroad line, which crossed the road, built a depot on the north side. It was decided to go with the shorter name for the station there. Deans Lane served as an accommodating road for to-and-from traffic for those using the railroad line as well as for residents clustered at the southern end of the road, and businesses such as H. G. Werner & Sons, as well as the Deans Post Office at the corner of Deans Lane and Georges Road.