Notable Black Americans in South Brunswick History

Aaron Hush
Civil War Veteran
Key Points: (Summarized from the People–Hush, Aaron file) Born in Somerville in the 1840s Married to Sarah Catherine Roberts, with whom he had 8 children…
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Theodore “Ted” Cherry
Born in Woodland, N.C. 1932 Served in the Army 1957-58 Moved to South Brunswick 1968 Taught science at Crossroads School and was chairman of the…
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Debra Johnson
Debra M.S. Johnson immigrated to the United States from Jamaica in 1970 and moved to South Brunswick in 1972 In 1994 Debra became Township Committeewoman …
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Myrna Yvonne Smith
Myrna Yvonne Smith was a backup singer for Elvis Presley and taught English at South Brunswick High School
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Vivian Stringer
Vivian Stringer lives in South Brunswick Mrs. Stringer is the Rutgers University’s head coach for the women’s basketball team She is one of the winningest…
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Macon’s Inn The first African American owned business in South Brunswick

- Macon’s Willow Inn on Route 1 and Raymond Road was credited as the first African American owned business in South Brunswick. It was owned and operated by Mr. Pleasant Macon.
- Macon’s Willow Inn was the former Longstreet Inn, built in 1809 as a roadside tavern on the Trenton-New Brunswick Straight Turnpike (Route 1) at Raymond Road.
- The Macon Inn was part of a group of restaurants popular with African Americans in Middlesex, Mercer and Hunterdon Counties. These restaurants, known as the “Big Six”, were: The Citizens Club in Trenton, The Charcoal Inn in Princeton, Kidd Eddy’s in Little Rocky Hill, The Crossing Inn in Ewing and Mason’s Tavern in Lambertville.
- Pleasant Macon also owned a grocery store in Princeton and operated a service station adjacent to the Willow Inn of Monmouth Junction.
- The Macon Inn was demolished in the 1980’s. A Valero gas station now occupies that plot of land today.
Articles about Black History in South Brunswick
Selected Books about Black Americans in New Jersey History

Afro-Americans in New Jersey History A Short History
Giles R. Wright

Black New Jersey : 1664 to the present day
Graham Russell Hodges

Root & branch : African Americans in New York and east Jersey, 1613-1863
Graham Russell Hodges