The Time Voyagers

Will You Continue to #SpreadTheHistory? A Review of 2014 Another year has come and gone - it seems like it was just last week when 2013 was coming to a close! Over the course of the past year, we have explored a number of sites throughout New Jersey and beyond. In July, I went to Virginia, visiting sites such as Jamestown, Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Washington's Mount Vernon. In August, a family trip took me to the Catskills of upstate New York and in October I went as far south as North Carolina, stopping at Petersburg National Battlefield and Richmond along the way. With that in mind, here is a recap of six of the most popular articles of 2013. Throughout 2014, remember that our historic sites are in need of visitors all year round. Therefore, I encourage you to go out and support your local historical society's events and open houses.  To see a listing of all the sites that have been featured since 2012, click here . To see a listing of all guest articles, c

New Jersey Civil War Flag Exhibition Unveiling December 30, 2014 Representatives of the New Jersey State Museum and the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association will participate in the unveiling of five historic New Jersey Civil War flags at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 30th, 2014. The unveiling will take place at the State Museum Flag Gallery, located on the first floor at 225 West State Street (the building housing the NJ State Archives at the corner of West State and Calhoun Streets) in Trenton.

NJ WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS Know about a historical event happening in your area?  Send me an  e-mail  to let us know! Be the first to find out about these events on  Facebook ! Every Friday - Sunday through January 4, 2015   - West Orange, Essex County Holidays at Glenmont Children Friendly

WEEKEND ESTATE SALES Click on each link for more information on the estate sale! Find something neat at an estate sale? Let us know! Hosting an estate sale? Send me an  e-mail  to be featured in our weekly post! Be the first to know about these sales on  Facebook !

The Skirmish at Petticoat Bridge: December 23, 1776 Written by  Rev. Dr. Norm Goos and Earl Cain What you are about to learn in this story, I hope, will change the way you think about that most famous battle on Christmas night, 1776, forever. The British spy, Barzella Haines reported to the Hessian commander at Bordentown, Col. Carl Von Donop, Barzella said: "They were not above 800 (at Mount Holly), near one half boys, and all of them Militia, a very few from Pennsylvania excepted…He knew many of them who came from Gloucester, Egg Harbor, Penn’s Neck and Cohansey. They were commanded by Col. Griffin."  

NJ WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS Know about a historical event happening in your area?  Send me an  e-mail  to let us know! Be the first to find out about these events on  Facebook ! Every Friday - Sunday through January 4, 2015   - West Orange, Essex County Holidays at Glenmont Children Friendly

WEEKEND ESTATE SALES Click on each link for more information on the estate sale! Find something neat at an estate sale? Let us know! Hosting an estate sale? Send me an  e-mail  to be featured in our weekly post! Be the first to know about these sales on  Facebook !

A Red Barn and Red Wine in Pittstown, New Jersey Written by NJ Historian Farming is a deep-rooted tradition in New Jersey. Known today as "The Garden State," New Jersey has over 715,000 acres of farmland. We can take pride in the fact that we rank fifth in blueberry production, third in cranberry, spinach, and bell peppers, and fourth in peach production. Farmland preservation has been a top priority for local and state officials for a number of years now. Protecting our agricultural and rural culture is not an easy task. Suburban sprawl and increased development has put many acres of farmland in jeopardy due to the monetary prospects reaped from this prime real estate. Farmland Preservation programs enacted by the State of New Jersey have helped save these farms from future development while providing farmers a chance to continue farming and allowing fresh produce to fill local farmers markets and grocery stores. But it's more than just about the land; it's abo

A Closer Look at our Community: The Fine Art of Mark Oberndorf Exhibit Opens December 17, 2014 A new exhibit entitled A Closer Look at our Community: The Fine Art of Mark Oberndorf o pens Wednesday December 17, 2014 in Lambert Castle (home of the Passaic County Historical Society) at 3 Valley Road, Paterson, NJ. The exhibit will remain open until Sunday March 29, 2015. This exhibit focuses on the sights of our local community, as shown in the paintings of Bergen County resident and artist Mark Oberndorf.

NJ WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS Know about a historical event happening in your area?  Send me an  e-mail  to let us know! Be the first to find out about these events on  Facebook ! Friday, December 12   - Plainfield, Union County Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Children Friendly The Historical Society of Plainfield invites one and all to the Eighteenth Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday at the Drake House Museum beginning at 6:30 pm. This is a festive evening of Christmas caroling, gift giving, and refreshments. This year's Gingerbread House will once again be generously awarded to one lucky winning family.  Children are encouraged to participate, as Santa will make a surprise visit, with a gift for every child. In addition to the large Christmas tree in the ballroom, there will be three decorated theme trees in the period rooms of the museum. T his program is free to the public.  Due to space limitations and safety

WEEKEND ESTATE SALES Click on each link for more information on the estate sale! Find something neat at an estate sale? Let us know! Hosting an estate sale? Send me an  e-mail  to be featured in our weekly post! Be the first to know about these sales on  Facebook !

Along the Raritan River: South Amboy to New Brunswick Written by Jason J. Slesinski In 1650, Cornelius van Tienhoven, a Hollander traveling through the American colonies, described the region inhabited by the Raritong Indians as “the pleasantest and handsomest country that man can behold… furnishing the Indians with an abundance of maize, beans, pumpkins, and other fruits.” Trade flourished here as well, as “through the valley pass large numbers of all sorts of tribes, on the way north or east.” Worn over the centuries, the “Old Indian Path” crossed the Raritan at its furthest point of sloop navigation and grew into one of the nation’s busiest arteries, connecting New York City and Philadelphia via New Brunswick, which grew around this vital river crossing. A ferry was first established here in 1681 by an Englishman named John Inian, where the Raritan’s freshwater turned tidal. Bridges followed, firmly establishing the route of the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 1, the Lincoln Highw

NJ WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS Know about a historical event happening in your area?  Send me an  e-mail  to let us know! Be the first to find out about these events on  Facebook ! Every Friday - Sunday through January 4, 2015   - West Orange, Essex County Holidays at Glenmont Children Friendly

WEEKEND ESTATE SALES Click on each link for more information on the estate sale! Find something neat at an estate sale? Let us know! Hosting an estate sale? Send me an  e-mail  to be featured in our weekly post! Be the first to know about these sales on  Facebook !

Two Chances to Watch George Washington’s Annual Delaware River Crossing December 7 and 25, 2014 Each December, thousands gather on the banks of the Delaware River to watch the reenactment of George Washington’s daring Christmas Day 1776 river crossing. During the event, several hundred reenactors in Continental military dress listen to an inspiring speech by Washington and then row across the river in replica Durham boats.

What's Old Will Be New Again: The Asbury Mill Written by NJ Historian New Jersey is home to many unique grist mills. Some are constructed of stone, some timber, and others a combination. Grist mills in New Jersey generally fall into a few categories: working, abandoned, and repurposed. The ones that are still working operate as intended in a controlled museum setting, such as at Walnford in Monmouth County or the Red Mill in Hunterdon County. Abandoned mills can be found in Bloomsbury in Warren County and Hamburg in Sussex County. The last category includes mills that have been repurposed into homes, offices, event space, and shops, such as with the Old Mill in Allentown and Prallsville Mills in Stockton. In the Village of Asbury in Warren County is the Asbury Mill, a former grist mill turned graphite mill. This unique structure, built circa 1865 and essentially abandoned in the 1970s is currently being preserved and transformed into a twenty-first century structure by the

Winter at Batsto Village December 7, 2014 The Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc’s. (BCCI) annual holiday celebration; “Winter at Batsto Village,” will take place on Sunday December 7, 2014 at the historic site. The Hammonton High School Select Choir; under the direction of Marrissa Carrafiello, will present a musical celebration of the season “Winter In The Pines” in the Wharton State Forest Visitors Center beginning at 1:00 pm. Admission is $5 per person and seating begins at 12:30 pm with the performance beginning promptly at 1:00 pm. For additional information, please call 609-561-0024 or e-mail: info@batstovillage.org .

Every Monday, I highlight a non-profit related to history or the arts, a historical society, preservation group or friends group whose main objective is to promote the historical and artistic history of New Jersey. This week, I am featuring the Musconetcong Watershed Association. The Association was founded in 1992 by local residents who were concerned about preserving the Musconectong watershed's unique natural and cultural resources, and how those resources are managed by state and local governing bodies. The region served encompasses the Musconetcong River watershed, a drainage area of 157.6 square miles in northwest New Jersey which includes portions of Morris, Hunterdon, Warren, and Sussex counties. The Musconetcong River runs 42 miles from Lake Hopatcong to the Delaware River. In 1999, the Musconetcong Watershed Association took title to the former Asbury Mill, a nineteenth century building across from the street from the mill, and a third building in the river in Asbu