South Bound Brook

South Bound Brook tells its story through distinctive buildings and vibrant Ukrainian traditions. The town also has memorial sites from the American Revolution and a range of activities in Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. This gives you different ways to plan your trip: you can focus on church architecture and remembrance, explore historic bridges, or take in the natural surroundings and recreational opportunities.

Ukrainian Traditions and Church Architecture

St. Andrew Memorial Church is a monument to Ukrainian Cossack Baroque architecture. On the grounds of the Metropolia, the Apostolic Prayer Trail runs between the church and the cemetery. Fifteen icons are displayed along the trail on wooden crosses. Their number and arrangement make the trail a cultural point of interest in its own right, alongside the church’s architecture: here, the focus is on religious images and the path along which they are displayed.

St. Andrew Cemetery is also the setting for an annual tradition. On the first Sunday after Easter, known as St. Thomas Sunday, a pilgrimage in remembrance of the deceased called Provodu takes place there. Thousands of Ukrainians attend. If you want to plan your trip around this tradition, note that it falls on the first Sunday after Easter, rather than on a fixed calendar date.

Bridges by the Canal and Historic Remains

Main Street crosses the Delaware & Raritan Canal in South Bound Brook. Its bridge was built in 1920 and is a center-bearing swing bridge of bobtail deck-truss construction. It is also a contributing element of the Delaware & Raritan Canal corridor, which is listed on the National Register. The bridge’s construction date, design and place in the listed corridor offer different ways to appreciate it: in addition to crossing the canal, visitors can take in its engineering and its role within the historic canal corridor.

Another bridge connects local history with the 1777 Battle of Bound Brook: Queens Bridge over the Raritan River, between South Bound Brook and Bound Brook, was part of the Hessian attack. It should not be confused with the railroad spur bridge in the Borough of South Bound Brook, which is now a pedestrian bridge. The two structures represent different aspects of local history: Queens Bridge is associated with the attack during a particular battle, while the railroad spur bridge is notable for its current use as a pedestrian bridge.

Reformed Church of Bound Brook is another local cultural attraction. It is located in South Bound Brook, designed in the Greek Revival style, and designated a historic site. Tours of the church are available by appointment. If you are interested in historic architecture, this building offers a different style from St. Andrew Memorial Church. Tours require an advance appointment.

Activities in Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park

The 70-mile-long Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park borders South Bound Brook to the north and east. Activities offered there include canoeing, jogging, hiking, cycling, fishing and horseback riding. The options range from activities on the water to outdoor pursuits on land. Which ones suit your trip depends on whether you are planning to spend time walking or cycling, fishing, horseback riding or canoeing. The cultural sites and park activities each offer a different focus for a stay in South Bound Brook.

More local pages: Green Brook Township, Manville, Branchburg Township, Liberty Corner, Somerville, Montgomery Township, Bridgewater, Hillsborough.

For the broader travel overview: Somerset.