Meeker Road is generally straight, running from Route 202 in Bernardsville to Whitenack Road in Bernards Township, but the story of the street’s name took some twists and turns. The Simpson family lived on the road in the 1850s and at some point it was called Saunders Road, apparently after another family.
In 1872, Stephen W. T. Meeker (1816-1899), occupied a house on the south side near Pill Hill Road. During the early 20th century, the route became known as Bergen Road (see USGS map) after the family of attorney Frank Bergen (1851-1934). Bergen built a large mansion on top of the hill, which was later the home of his daughter Charlotte Bergen (1898-1982). On Oct. 21, 1952, a Bernards Township ordinance officially named the road Meeker, a name also adopted by Bernardsville.
The Bergen mansion, called Berglotte, burned in a suspicious fire in March 1984.
