Built in the early nineteenth century, this was the home of the Barron Family for many years. The Barron name was an important one in town, as the family was one of the first to settle in Woodbridge in the late seventeenth century. Well known for their patriotism and philanthropy, the Barrons made many contributions to their country and native town. This was the home of Joseph Barron, a Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge. Joseph Barron’s sons, Thomas and John, were successful business men who contributed to Woodbridge’s commercial and educational enterprises. Thomas C. Barron was a wealthy merchant and philanthropist, who held a partnership in a major house engaged in the West India trade. Upon his death, he bequeathed $50,000 for the establishment of the neighboring Barron Library. His brother John, who became skilled in cabinet-making, established a manufactory in Woodbridge. Later in life, he tended a farm just beyond the heart of Woodbridge, which stood upon the land through which Barron Avenue runs. His son, Dr. John C. Barron, served as a surgeon in the United States Volunteer Army with the Sixty-ninth New York Regiment. Upon the death of his uncle, Thomas C. Barron, he donated land from the Barron Estate, on which the library still stands. In the late nineteenth century, the Barron House was purchased by the Boynton Family, known for their luxurious summer resort on Boynton Beach in Sewaren. The Colonial home, which stands along Rahway Avenue, is today an apartment house.
Additional references:
The First Walking Tour of Woodbridge. A walking tour of historic sites in Woodbridge
Map of Historic Area #1
