Weekend Historical Happenings: 6/29/13 - 6/30/13

WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS

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Saturday, June 29 - Pemberton Township, Burlington County

Whitesbog Blueberry Festival

Celebrate all things blueberry at this old-fashioned festival on Saturday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Enjoy blueberry picking, live country music, lots of children's activities, exhibits, great food, historical presentations and tours, Pinelands artists and crafters, our famous blueberry pie eating contest and lots more. This annual celebration of all things blueberry - the official state fruit of New Jersey - is considered to be one of the finest "old-fashioned" festivals in the tri-state region. The festival features the pioneering work of Whitesbog's own Elizabeth C. White to domesticate the very first blueberry, traditional Pinelands musicians, artists and crafters, fantastic festival food, wagon and walking tours, lectures, living history actors, demonstrations and dozens of children's activities will all be featured at the day-long festival. But the real star of the show is, of course, the blueberries!

This year, they are celebrating the Whitesbog Preservation Trust's 30th Anniversary along with the Centennial of the Blueberry, with a Special Art Project that features the blueberry (New Jersey's State Fruit), the cranberry industry, Whitesbog's rich agricultural heritage and the New Jersey Pine Barrens' natural resources. This special exhibit will include Whitesbog's cranberry-label collection along with cranberry-labels banners as barn art, blueberry sculpture, Pinelands photography and a real Jersey Devil, among the various school entries.

Top attractions at the day-long festival include fifty of the Pinelands best crafters and an "artists row" featuring fine art and photography, a Model-T exhibit, Pinelands Antique Engine Association's displays, living history tours, and interactive experiences festival goers can enjoy throughout the day. For the children, activities such as the outrageously fun blueberry pie-eating contest, a hunt for the Jersey Devil, face painting, hands-on crafts, traditional games and blueberry picking, will keep the young ones entertained all day. Live bluegrass music by Home Cookin', the Basement Musicians, the Bad Dogz, Clan Suibhne, Valerie Vaughn and others will provide the perfect atmosphere for the festival, which the Burlington County Times has described as "a reminder that good old country life is alive and well" in the region.

The Pinelands, New Jersey's blueberry and cranberry industries and our region's rich history intersect in delicious ways in this corner of the state. History buffs can tour explore Whitesbog's agriculturalmuseum, visit the newly restored Cranberry Research Substation, tour a cottage that depicts what life was like for Whitesbog's workers in the 1920s, and shop in Whitesbog's authentic General Store. Fresh fruit enthusiasts will delight in picking their own blueberries at the celebration. Whitesbog is home to the world's oldest test fields for domesticated blueberries, which will be open at the Blueberry Festival to give people an opportunity to experience firsthand a bit of our State's agricultural history.

Parking is $8.00 per car and $5.00 per person arriving by foot, bike, or bus. All proceeds benefit the Whitesbog Preservation Trust in their continuing efforts to restore and interpret Historic Whitesbog Village and the surrounding Pinelands. Parking is set on the Whitesbog airstrip - a 2-minute drive from the festival grounds. Shuttle buses bring visitors from this remote parking area to the village throughout the day. 

Historic Whitesbog Village is located at 120 North Whites Bogs Road, Browns Mills, NJ. It is located at mile marker 13 on County Route 530 (Pemberton Township). For more information, call 609-893-4646, e-mail whitesbogpreservationtrust@comcast.net or visit www.whitesbog.org.

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Saturday, June 29 - Union Township, Union County
Children's Afternoon Tea

What do a great book and a cup of tea have in common? The ability to transport you to another place and time! Bring your little adventurer to Storybooks & Scones and experience an afternoon tea like the Kean children enjoyed at Liberty Hall throughout the years. Includes yummy treats served on real china, a dress-up & play tent, games and prizes! The first fifteen children to reserve receive a free VIP bag! Program Fee: $25.00 per person. Reservations required. Call 908-527-0400. Program Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Liberty Hall Museum is located at 1003 Morris Ave, Union, NJ. www.kean.edu/libertyhall

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Saturday, June 29 - Morristown, Morris County

Pensions for Revolutionary Soldiers

Not everyone agreed that the men who sacrificed so much for American independence should receive financial assistance after the war. Discover the controversy concerning veteran’s pensions and the issues that caused the delay in providing them. Program at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 pm at the Wick House at Jockey Hollow, within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. http://nps.gov/morr

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Saturday, June 29 - Tuckerton, Ocean County

Ocean County Red Wine & Blues Festival

Attend the Ocean County Red Wine & Blues Festival on Saturday from 3:00 - 9:00 pm at the Tuckerton Seaport. Uncork some fun and enjoy a perfect afternoon of wine tasting from NJ's finest wineries, including DiMatteo, Tomasello, and Valenzano, plus live blues bands such as JB's Cigar Box Stompers, Steve Guyger & the Excellos, the Billy Walton Band and James Day & the Fish Fry. Throughout the day there will be crafters, vendors, food and lots of fun. Complimentary Seaport wine glass! Members $15, non-members $20. The Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen's Museum is located at 120 West Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ. For more information, call 609-296-8868; or visit www.tuckertonseaport.org.

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Saturday June 29 - Morristown, Morris County

Kid's Costume Tea

Put on some historic clothes to travel back to another time! Kids ages 3-11 are invited to join Historic Speedwell for an afternoon of dress-up, treats, and history. Wear your own costume or try-on one of ours. Registration required. Please call 973-285-6550 to register and for admission cost. Historic Speedwell is located at 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net/speedwell

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Saturday - Sunday, June 29 - 30 - Cape May, Cape May County

Quilt & Fiber Arts Show

Historic Cold Spring Village is featuring all things fiber arts at the 28th annual Cape May Quilt and Fiber Arts Show on Saturday and Sunday. Sponsored by the Chatlos Foundation, the event will be held from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm both days and will feature demonstrations and vendors of quilting, textiles, knitting, crocheting, lace making, basket weaving, broom making and more. Visitors are invited to take part in a “yarn bombing,” the newest expression of public art, which will be held at the Village Gazebo. Guests are encouraged to knit or crochet a section.

On Saturday, visitors may vote for their favorite quilts in the Welcome Center at the Viewer’s Choice Quilt Show, and on Sunday continue to enjoy the display and see the winners. A rare wedding quilt, c. 1714, handmade by Cape May Countian Sarah Spicer, will be on display in the Welcome Center for its annual appearance. The quilt was restored in 2012 through a grant from the Cape May County Culture and Heritage Commission.

Yesteryear Quilters, in period clothing, will present a ‘hand-turning’ of 19th century quilting techniques at the Gazebo. Regional vendors are attending with quilting and sewing fabrics, yarn, baskets, supplies, and equipment to help inspire the creation of an heirloom project. If you would like to learn some new skills, Kathe Cressman will share some tips and tricks for knitters on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Seasoned knitters and newcomers to the craft will learn from these discussions. The Corson-Hand House, home to fiber arts demonstrations at the Village, will feature use of the “Great Wheel” which will be used along with wool preparation and dyeing. Bobbin lace making and tatting will also be demonstrated by a fourth generation artisan.

Opened in 2012, the Needle Arts Coop, located in the Village's Octagonal House, serves as a learning center for interactive lessons and information on handmade crafts and skills. Take-home kits and supplies will be available for purchase along with specialty items made by local and Village artisans.

Historic Cold Spring Village is a non-profit, open-air living history museum that portrays the daily life of a rural South Jersey community of the Early American period. It features 26 restored historic structures on a 30-acre site. From late June to early September, interpreters and artisans in period clothing preserve the trades, crafts and heritage of "the age of homespun." Fun and educational activities for children are featured Tuesday through Sunday, with special events every weekend through mid-September.

Historic Cold Spring Village is located at 720 Route 9, three miles north of Cape May City and four miles south of Rio Grande. Admission during the season is $10 for adults and $8 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted free. Unlimited free admission is available with Village membership. As a member of the national Blue Star Museums program, Historic Cold Spring Village is proud to offer free admission to active duty military personnel and up to 5 family members. The Village Nature Trail at Bradner's Run is open to the public for free self-guided tours. For more information, call 609-898-2300, ext. 18 or visit www.hcsv.org

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Sunday, June 30 - Ocean Township, Monmouth County
Asbury Park Exhibit Opening

A new exhibit entitled "Asbury Park: The History of a Jersey Gem," opens Sunday at the Eden Woolley House, home of the Township of Ocean Historical Museum, 703 Deal Road, Ocean Township, NJ. The opening will be held from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Artifacts and photos tell the story of the city from its beginning in 1870 as the brainchild of businessman and avid Methodist James Bradley to its current rebirth. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a full-size carousel animal - a sea dragon, hand carved by folk artist George Hoffman. The exhibit covers Asbury's distinctive history as both a legendary resort and a thriving retail center. It includes the rich cultural and musical contributions of the West Side. The Woolley House is open Tuesday through Thursday, 1:00 - 4:00 pm; Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 pm; and the first and second Sundays of the month, 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Admission is free (donations are always welcome). The Asbury exhibit remains through spring 2014. For more information, call 732-531-2136 or visit www.oceanmuseum.org

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Sunday, June 30 - Morristown, Morris County

Nature Discovery Hike

Want to explore the natural wonders of Jockey Hollow? Join a Park Ranger and hike along Primrose Brook Trail, a 1.13 miles round trip hike and discover some of the natural wonders of Jockey Hollow. Hikes at 1:30 and 3:30pm at the Trail Center Parking Lot of Jockey Hollow, within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. Call 973-543 4030 for further information. http://nps.gov/morr

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Sunday, June 30 - Park Ridge, Bergen County

Gettysburg: 150 Years Later

On Sunday at 2:00 pm, Dr. Anthony Troncone, Chair of the History Department at Dominican College, Orangeburgh, NY, and Chair of the Pascack Historical Society Historical Advisory Board will present "Gettysburg: 150 Years Later." Dr. Troncone's easy speaking style will transport you back to the Gettysburg battlefield on those three hot days of July 1, 2, and 3, 1863 where 50,000 brave men perished. Admission is free. The Pascack Historical Society is located at 19 Ridge Avenue, Park Ridge, NJ. For more information, call 201-573-0307 or visit www.pascackhistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, June 30 - Montague, Sussex County

Open House and Farm Program

M.A.R.C.H., the Montague Association for the Restoration of Community History will host its annual seasonal opening of the 1790 Foster-Armstrong House on River Road and the early 1800s Nelden-Roberts Stonehouse on Route 206. Both are situated within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Montague, NJ and were originally part of the Tocks Island Dam acquisitions. These two sites are utilized by M.A.R.C.H. and portray the area's heritage. Tours will be conducted by docents at each house every Sunday through August from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. See the new display of hunting, fishing, and food preservation, ferry and lime kilns, a tavern room, an Indian exhibit, items from the Brick House Hotel, a special display of the Rock View Resort, a quilt collection, antique christening and baby clothes, hand-made covered bridges from around the United States, a Victorian bedroom, a school-room display, a military room with artifacts from five war periods, and old school books from Montague schools. There is no charge for either museum, but donations for house maintenance are welcomed. Also on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm there will be a mini-farm presentation entitled "Mother Goose's Chickens," presented by Sharon Orce. It will include chickens and geese. Bring your children for a fun time at the Foster-Armstrong House! www.montaguehistory.org

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Sunday, June 30 - Bridgeton, Cumberland County
Cemetery Tours

The Broad Street Cemetery Association (BSCA) of Bridgeton, NJ will offer four intensive new guided tours of the cemetery this summer and fall. Each tour will feature one section and include recently uncovered cemetery history, colorful stories of the many interesting and sometimes influential people buried here, and discussions of the different styles (and eras) of monuments in each section.

The tours will all take place on Sundays: June 30th, August 25th, September 29th and October 27th, from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Rain date will be on the following Sunday in each case (July 7th, Sept. 1st, Oct. 6th and Nov. 3rd). All will start at the burial "chapel," central to the cemetery, and only yards from the Broad Street Presbyterian Church, an historic structure maintained in virtually pristine original condition since the 1790s.

Tours will be led by cemetery historian James Bergmann, whose "Broad Street Cemetery, Bridgeton, N.J. - A History (1791-2013) and Guide" will be on sale for a $20 donation to the BSCA, a volunteer organization dedicated to the care of this beautiful and historic place. The cemetery is located in Bridgeton on Route 49, between West Avenue South and South Lawrence Street. For more information, call 856-575-0582.

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Sunday, June 30 - Hardwick Township, Warren County

Old Fashioned Independence Day Celebration

Celebrate the two hundred thirty seventh anniversary of our independence at the tenth annual Independence Day Celebration at Millbrook Village on Saturday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Join the townsfolk in the parade down Main Street at 1:00 pm and gather at the green in front of the general store for a patriotic speech given by one of our local celebrities. Make a hat and a flag, bring your tin whistle or drum, wear you patriotic clothes and enjoy yourself. Got an instrument? Bring it along and help liven things up.

Enter the water melon eating contest after the parade for some refreshing fun. Everyone is invited to the frolic; kids of all ages are welcome! There will be lots of things going on throughout the village all day. Old time games for the kids and tours of the village and demonstrations all around town. You'll find it fun and interesting.

Bring a picnic lunch and relax in the shade for a spell. Meet a new friend, learn about our history and take in the experience of a quieter time. The event is presented by the Millbrook Village Society in cooperation with the National Park Service. The event will be held rain or shine. Food is not available at the site, so plan accordingly. Restroom and picnic facilities are available. Millbrook Village is located at Route 602N and Old Mine Road, Hardwick Township, NJ.

As usual, everything is free of charge and is family oriented. For more information, call 908-537-2544 or 973-875-3461 or visit www.millbrooknj.com.

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Tuesdays - Saturdays Through Sept. 15, 2013 - Cape May, Cape May County

Windsor Hotel Exhibit

The Greater Cape May Historical Society presents an exhibit on the Windsor Hotel, Tuesdays - Saturdays, 1:00 - 4:00 pm at the Colonial House Gallery in the Colonial House Museum, 653½ Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. www.capemayhistory.org

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Saturdays and Sundays Through October 27, 2013 - Ringwood, Passaic County
Grounds and Garden Tour

Did you ever wonder what all that “stuff” is placed around the grounds at Ringwood Manor? What about all those other buildings on the property? What were they used for? If you have ever been curious about the estate at Ringwood Manor, this tour is for you! The 2-1/2 hour guided walking tour will take visitors around the main property at Ringwood Manor, discussing the historic objects, the planned gardens & landscape features, the out-buildings, and the cemetery. Historic photographs of the property will also be shown. These free tours meet at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm in front of Ringwood Manor every Saturday and Sunday from May 25 - October 27, 2013. It is advised that participants wear walking or hiking shoes, dress appropriately for the weather, and bring bug spray and sun block. Steady Rain cancels. No reservations necessary. For more information and to call ahead to confirm a tour, call 973-962-2240. Ringwood Manor is located at 1304 Sloatsburg Road, Ringwood, NJ, within Ringwood State Park.

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Through June 30, 2014 - Piscataway, Middlesex County

Got Work? Exhibit

View the exhibit "Got Work? New Deal/WPA in New Jersey" at the 1741 Cornelius Low House Museum in Piscataway. The museum is open Tuesday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:00 pm and Sunday afternoons from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The exhibit will run through June 30, 2014.

The Cornelius Low House, built in 1741, was the home to its namesake and is only one of two remaining buildings from historic Raritan Landing. This high-style Georgian mansion is listed on the National Register and operated by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission. Admission to the museum is FREE. The museum is located at 1225 River Road, Piscataway, NJ . For more information, visit

http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/culturalheritage/museum1.asp

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Through October 6, 2013 - Paterson, Passaic County

Remembering the Paterson Silk Strike of 1913

Lambert Castle, the Victorian-era mansion located on the Garrett Mountain Reservation on the border between Paterson and Clifton, will be home to an exhibit highlighting the Paterson Silk Strike of 1913 now through October 6, 2013. The exhibit, entitled "We Had to be Rebels: Remembering the Paterson Silk Strike of 1913." This year marks the centennial of the landmark 1913 Paterson Silk Strike, which would forever change the face of labor relations in the Silk City. Thousands of workers walked away from their looms to be herded into court rooms and jail cells in a strike that took months to resolve. The exhibit will be open during regular museum hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Lambert Castle is located at 3 Valley Road, Paterson. For more information, call 973-247-0085 or visit www.lambertcastle.org.

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Sundays through July 28, 2013 - Cranbury, Middlesex County

Wedding Display

The Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society's temporary exhibit entitled "The Look of Love - Bridal Fashions of the Twentieth Century" features wedding gowns, dresses and accessories from 1901 though the 1990s. A large collection of photographs, cards, wedding gifts, and assorted ephemera that span the century will also be on display. The Cranbury Museum is located at 4 Park Place East, Cranbury. www.cranburyhistory.org

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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey