Rahway Museum Lights 47 Windows With Electric Candles

Forty-seven windows on the corner of St. Georges and Westfield Avenues in Rahway are glowing again. The Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum has re-installed electric window candles throughout all forty-seven windows of its four-story Federal-style building. A grant from the Rahway Chamber of Commerce funded the restoration project, bringing back a historic tradition.

Union County Life covers Rahway cultural heritage and community landmarks across all 21 Union County municipalities.

A Historic Tradition

Candlelit windows were a familiar feature of taverns, signaling hospitality and welcome to travelers and guests. The practice has a long history at this address. The Merchants and Drovers Tavern was established around 1795 and expanded to a four-story inn with multiple bedrooms by 1820. It operated as a tavern and inn for over 100 years before closing in 1932.

Preserving a Community Landmark

After 1932, the building served as the Girl Scout House for approximately three decades. In the late 1960s, when the building came under threat of demolition, the Girl Scouts partnered with the newly formed Rahway Historical Society to preserve the structure. Since the early 2000s, the Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum Association has continued to preserve and interpret the landmark, maintaining its role in the community.

The Lighting Project

The window candle re-installation project represents more than a historical restoration. According to Lisa Michaloski, Board Secretary of the Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum Association: "This project is about more than lighting windows. It's about reconnecting our community with the atmosphere of one of Rahway's oldest surviving buildings. Seeing the museum illuminated at night reminds us that this was not only a vibrant place where people gathered in the past, but it is still a place where people gather the spirit of community today."

Educational and Community Role

The Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum welcomes visitors throughout the year with exhibitions, educational programs, living history demonstrations, lectures, and special events. The museum's mission encompasses both the Merchants and Drovers Tavern and the Terrill Tavern structures, serving as a gathering place for community learning and connection.

Funding Support

The museum receives funding from a range of sources, including the New Jersey Historical Commission, the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, the Union County Board of County Commissioners' HEART Grant Program, the New Jersey Cultural Trust, the New Jersey Historic Trust's Discover NJ Historic License Plate Fund, the RSI Bank Foundation of the Community Foundation of New Jersey, The Order of Colonial Lords of Manors in America, and individual donors.

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Photo Credit: The Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum

FAQ

Q: What is the Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum in Rahway?
A: The Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum is a historic site at the corner of St. Georges and Westfield Avenues in Rahway. The Federal-style building was established around 1795 as a tavern and expanded to a four-story inn by 1820. It operated for over 100 years before closing in 1932.

Q: When was the window candle project completed?
A: The Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum recently re-installed electric window candles in all 47 windows of the building, restoring a historic tradition of candlelit windows.

Q: Who funded the window candle restoration?
A: The Rahway Chamber of Commerce provided a grant to fund the window candle re-installation project.

Q: What is the historic significance of the candlelit windows?
A: Candlelit windows were a traditional feature of taverns, signaling hospitality and welcome to travelers and guests. This practice reflects the historic role of the Merchants and Drovers Tavern as a gathering place.

Q: What programs does the museum offer?
A: The museum welcomes visitors with exhibitions, educational programs, living history demonstrations, lectures, and special events throughout the year.

Q: When is the museum open?
A: The museum offers programs and events throughout the year. Contact information should be requested for specific hours and visit details.

Q: How was the building preserved?
A: In the late 1960s, when the building faced demolition, the Girl Scouts partnered with the Rahway Historical Society to save it. Since the early 2000s, the Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum Association has continued its preservation and interpretation.

Q: What other historic sites does the museum oversee?
A: The museum's mission includes both the Merchants and Drovers Tavern and the Terrill Tavern structures.