An important part of the history of Watchung is The Legend of Watchung which was re-enacted for many years by the residents and pictures and artifacts from the re-enactment are displayed. 

THE INDIAN PAGEANT

The Lenni Lenapi Native Americans were the original people in this area.  

Wach unks -  high hills
We toomp – friend
We toompka – water source

We toompka – friendly sounding water

There were two main camps – one near Brookdale where the ball field is and the other by Tuttle Lane, near the Indian Trail. 

The Minisink Trail starts at the north western NJ Delaware River eventually runs to Sandy Hook.  It runs along what now is Somerset Street. 

The Indian Pageant was acted out for many years based on the legend of the Princess Wetumpka saving a Dutch settler.  There is really no proof that this actually happened, but it is a great story. 

The Dutch Settlers were looking for a place to settle in this area and were traveling the Indian Trail along Somerset Street.  They were coming from the Perth Amboy area and were traveling with an Indian girl, Princess Wetumpka who was from another Lenni Lenapi Tribe.  Captain Michaelson was the leader of the settlers.  An Indian Scout named Deer Prong saw the settlers, alerted the rest of the tribe and the tribe came, attacked the settlers and tied Captain Michaelson to a stake to torture and burn.  Princess Wetumpka threw herself in front of the stake and pleaded with Chief One Feather to release him and become friends with the settles.  The Indians freed Captain Michaelson, Chief One Feather fell in love with the beautiful Princess Wetumpka, married her and the settlers and tribe lived peacefully together.  

This story was acted out for many years and the pictures on the wall in the Elsinore Room and in the cabinet of the Eaton Room hold artifacts and stories about the pageant. There is original sheet music from the production and there are many other pictures and artifacts to be restored and preserved and put on display later

Around 1670, a group of Dutch settlers was traveling from the Amboys up an old Indian trail which is now Somerset Street. They were under the leadership of Captain Michaelson. The Watchung tribe of the Lenni-Lenape Indians was traveling the same trail for their summer trip to the ocean to fish and collect shells for wampum. During the night the settlers were camped near what is now the center of the Borough. Deer Prong, an advance scout for Chief One Feather's tribe, was shot when he surprised a sentry. During the skirmish, Captain Michaelson was captured and was to be burned at the stake. Princess Wetumpka, who was traveling with the Dutch, and had some years ago saved the life of Chief One Feather, intervened and saved the life of Captain Michaelson. The Indians befriended the Dutch and allowed them to settle in the valley. The legend ends with the full tribal ceremony marriage of the Princess and Chief.