The Jamesburg Historical Association will be meeting with Monroe’s Historic Preservation Commission next week to discuss a possible merger of Buckelew Day and the Dey Farm’s open house, which will be held in October.

   Buckelew Day, a celebration of local history that focuses on the borough’s namesake, James Buckelew as well as his former residence turned museum, Lakeview: Buckelew Mansion, has been a tradition in the community since 1979.

   However, since Buckelew Mansion is closed for restoration and repairs and is not expected to reopen for at least two more years, borough officials had to come up with a plan for this year’s festivities.

   ”There have been some preliminary discussions,” said Thomas Bodall, borough historian and councilman and member of the Jamesburg Historical Association, which sponsors Buckelew Day. “It would be a joint celebration. A collaboration.”

   If discussion leads to an agreement, Jamesburg and Monroe residents will meet at the Dey Farm at the intersection of Federal and Old Church roads for a fall celebration and can expect some of their usual favorites, including food, entertainment and civil war re-enactors.
    What they probably won’t see is the Buckelew Mansion’s famed Lincoln Coach, which was donated by Mr. Buckelew to transport Abraham Lincoln through Trenton in 1861.

   The coach is on loan to the New Jersey Museum of Agriculture in New Brunswick, where it has been on display since January.

   They won’t likely see many artifacts from the Buckelew Mansion either, since most have been put into storage in New York.

   What they can expect is a number of Dey Farm’s historical displays as well as the community spirit shared between two neighboring towns that once had a common thread of history, Mr. Bodall said.

   Mr. Bodall said Jamesburg did not become a separate municipality from Monroe until 1896, more than 20 years after Mr. Buckelew died.

   ”Technically, we have a shared heritage,” Mr. Bodall said. “James Buckelew lived in Monroe all his life.”

   JHA members hope to know by next week when and where Buckelew Day will be held.

   ”I don’t know what the scene will be yet,” Mr. Bodall said. “We don’t have much set in stone.”

   When Buckelew Mansion does make its grand reopening, Mr. Bodall said, local residents can expect to see Buckelew Day return to the borough.