The long-vacant Andrew Mershon Tavern in Hopewell Twp., one of New Jersey’s oldest surviving colonial-era inns, has been named to Preservation New Jersey’s 2025 list of the state’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places.
Located along Bear Tavern Rd., the 18th-century stone structure is listed alongside other sites across the state that face serious threats from neglect, development pressures, or insufficient preservation funding. The annual list, now in its 30th year, is intended to raise awareness and encourage community-driven solutions to save historic landmarks.
Known historically as Mershon’s Tavern, the property was home to Andrew and Fransinah Mershon as early as the 1730s. Andrew Mershon operated the site as a tavern under licenses issued between 1746 and 1793, serving travelers and drovers en route to the Trenton Market. Its significance is confirmed in numerous historical records, including Revolutionary War-era maps, one of which—housed in the Library of Congress—marks the site simply as “Mershons.”
Today, the building is in a state of deterioration. Siding is missing from the west side, and the east side shows substantial wood rot due to long-term exposure and lack of maintenance. A chimney has collapsed, posing likely interior damage, and parts of the stone foundation and fireplaces are visibly deteriorating.
Real estate records show the property was sold in 2023 and is currently owned by a company. It is not inhabited.
Preservation New Jersey included Mershon’s Tavern on this year’s list alongside the following sites:
- Boylan House – Bernardsville (Somerset County)
- The Universal Building – Jersey City (Hudson County)
- Cornelius Doremus House – Montville (Morris County)
- 202 & 210 West Main Street – Moorestown (Burlington County)
- Van Houten House – City of Paterson (Passaic County)
- Perth Amboy Police Headquarters – Perth Amboy (Middlesex County)
- Abbot Manor – Plainfield (Union County)
- Monmouth Boat Club – Red Bank (Monmouth County)
- Washington Wells Farm – Skillman (Somerset County)
- Andrew Mershon Tavern – Titusville (Mercer County)
In addition, the organization called attention to broader threats caused by historic preservation funding cuts, which have impacted projects and maintenance efforts statewide.
“These places matter,” said Paul Muir, president of Preservation New Jersey, in a statement announcing the list. “They tell the stories of who we are and where we’ve been. By bringing attention to these threatened sites, we hope to inspire action, partnerships, and solutions that can save them.”
Preservation New Jersey, founded in 1978, promotes the sustainability and heritage of the state’s communities through advocacy and education. In addition to the endangered places list, the organization provides technical assistance, policy recommendations, and educational programming to support historic preservation.
For more information, visit www.preservationnj.org.
