Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/13/14 - 12/14/14

NJ WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS

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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. This program is free to the public. Due to space limitations and safety concerns we are unable to provide space for baby strollers or carriages.

The Drake House Museum is located at 602 West Front Street, Plainfield, NJ.For more information, call 908-755-5831 or visit www.drakehouseplainfieldnj.org.

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Friday, December 12 - Newton, Sussex County
Sussex County Historical Society Annual Holiday Open House

On Friday evening, visit the Hill Memorial Museum and view the oldest building continuously operating as a museum in the State of New Jersey, beautifully decorated for the holidays. The Hill Memorial Building was constructed for the Sussex County Historical Society in 1916 and dedicated June 8, 1917. The open house will take place from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Hill Memorial Museum, 82 Main Street, Newton, NJ. Free admission & refreshments. For more information, call 973-383-6010 or visit www.sussexcountyhistory.org.

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Every Friday - Sunday through January 4, 2015 - West Orange, Essex County

Holidays at Glenmont
Children Friendly

The sights and sounds of the season will greet visitors when they come to Thomas Edison's home in Llewellyn Park during "Holidays at Glenmont." Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. Staircases will be ringed with boughs and red ribbon bows and wreaths will hang in every window. In the den, the majestic ten foot tree will be set and the presents underneath will be waiting as if the Edison children Madeleine, Theodore, and Charles, will soon come running down the stairs from their rooms - after they've checked their stockings in the upstairs living room! Family china will be displayed on the dining room table and the scene will be completed with holiday cards that were received by the family.

The Edison home, Glenmont, is located on a fifteen-acre estate in Llewellyn Park, the country's first private residential community. Built in 1880, the twenty-nine room mansion contains the original furnishings and family items used by the Edisons. The estate grounds include gardens, a greenhouse, barn, and the poured concrete garage containing the family's automobiles. Thomas and Mina Edison are buried on the grounds of the estate.

Car passes and tour tickets must be purchased at the Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $7.00 and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children 15 and under are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x11 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.

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Friday - Saturday, December 12 - 13 - Union Township, Union County

Deck the Halls: Fifty Years of Christmas Decorations
Children Friendly

Liberty Hall Museum will be open for tours on Friday and Saturday! Opening on Friday will be the Christmas tour "Deck the Halls: Fifty Years of Christmas Decorations," when Liberty Hall will transform the first floor of the museum into a time machine where visitors will journey through five rooms to discover the decorative styles of bygone eras, the 1910’s through the 1950’s! Tours justify at 10:00 am and leave every hour with the last tour of the day leaving at 3:00 pm. Adults: $10.00; Kean Alumni: $8.00; Seniors, College Students, Children: $6.00; Under Three: Free. Liberty Hall Museum is located at 1003 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083. For more information, call 908-527-0400 or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall.

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Saturday, December 13 - Keyport, Monmouth County

Candlelight House Tour of Keyport

The Keyport Historical Society invites you to come and enjoy a ride on an old-fashioned trolley through the historic town of Keyport at Christmas time and visit the homes of all types. The tours justify at Burlew's Seafood and Steak Restaurant (59 West Front Street, Keyport, NJ) and runs from 4:00 - 9:00 pm.

Advance tickets are $18 and available at IHOP (106 Route 36, Stop and Shop Plaza), Keyport Public Library (109 Broad Street) and Espresso Joe's (50 West Front Street). Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event for $20 justifying at 2:00 pm at 59 West Front Street, Keyport, NJ. Brochures and maps will be available before tours justify. For more information, call 732-739-6390 or visit www.keyporthistoricalsociety.com.

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Saturday, December 13 - West Orange, Essex County
Mrs. Edison’s Scrapbooks
Children Friendly

Mina Miller Edison had three children, three step children, and a very famous husband. How do we know about the family? One way is through her scrapbooks. Join a ranger for a special walk through the laboratory while learning about the family. See if you can name all six children. Have fun making a scrapbook page of your visit to the park. Reservations are required for this program. Please call 973-736-0550 extension 89.

The Thomas Edison National Historical Park Visitor Center is located at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. The Laboratory Complex is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm year-round. The Glenmont Estate is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. All special programs are included with $7.00 park entrance fee unless otherwise indicated. Children under 16 are free. Car passes and tour tickets must be obtained at the Laboratory Complex Visitor Center for all Glenmont programs. For more information, call 973-736-0550 ext.. 11 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.

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Saturday, December 13 - Jersey City, Hudson County

Christmas Tree Lighting - RESCHEDULED DATE

Children Friendly

Celebrate an Old Fashioned Christmas as The Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery kicks off the holiday spirit with their 5th annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Caroling on Friday justifying at 5:00 pm and lasting until 8:00 pm. The Yuletide Carolers of New Jersey and some special guests will be offering a wonderful performance of holiday tunes for young and old, and all are welcomed to join in the chorus. Chestnuts will be roasting on the antique fireplace, as hot cocoa and cider aromas fill the air. There will also be a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Bundle up and bring the whole family to welcome in the holiday season and enjoy this annual event in Jersey City's treasure, The Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Memorial Park, located at 435 Newark Avenue, Jersey City. Free but donations welcomed. For more information, call 201-707-0738 or 973-204-9888 or visit www.jerseycitycemetery.org.

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Saturday, December 13 - Washington Township, Burlington County

Beyond the Barrens: Paul Pedersen, Jr.
Children Friendly

Paul E. Pedersen, Jr. captivates his audience with a gallery of weird and colorful characters in tales and songs that run the gamut from offbeat explanation of natural phenomena, to unconventional takes on popular legends, to strange doings in mysterious Piney towns and taverns. Paul puts his unique spin on such legendary local subjects as the infamous Jersey Devil, dancing bandit Joe Mulliner, and the mysterious Blue Hole of Winslow. He gives a brief history of the early glass making industry, and discusses the several ways that much of the Pine Barrens region was almost lost through the ages.

Beyond the Barrens: A Pinelands Speaker Series takes place on the Second Saturday of each month and will focus on natural, cultural, and historical aspects in and around Batsto. Programming begins at 1:00 pm in the Batsto Visitor Center Auditorium. Admission is $2.00 per person.

Batsto Village is located in Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, approximately seven miles east of Hammonton on Route 542 and 15 miles west of Exit 50 of the Garden State Parkway. For more information, call 609-561-0024 or visit www.batstovillage.org.

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Saturday, December 13 and 20 - Union Township, Union County
Gingerbread House Workshop
Children Friendly

Liberty Hall is hosting a gingerbread house workshop on Saturday, December 13 and Saturday, December 20. Two sessions will be held from 10:00 - 11:30 am or 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm. Children will get into the holiday spirit when they decorate their own gingerbread house with candy canes, gumdrops, and more at this popular, annual Liberty Hall event. A tour of Liberty Hall decorated for holidays will follow the workshop. Program Fee: $20.00 for each child and adult, all additional adults $5.00. Reservations are required. Call 908-527-0400. Liberty Hall is located at 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ. For more information, call 908-27-0400 or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall.

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Saturday, December 13 - Cape May, Cape May County

Homespun Holiday Weekends
Children Friendly

Stop by Historic Cold Spring Village this holiday season for holiday merriment and shopping! The Country Store is open Saturdays from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm through December 20. Browse a unique line of heritage goods, hand-crafted artisan wares, jams and jellies, jewelry, hand-knit scarves and hats, books, and much more!

On Saturdays in December, visitors can meet Father Christmas in the Country Store from 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout the festively decorated Village grounds.

And don’t forget - the Village Welcome Center is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm with free admission. Guests can enjoy Cape May County and maritime history exhibits, as well as an interactive virtual tour of HCSV.

Historic Cold Spring Village is located on Route 9, three miles north of Victorian Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern end of the Garden State Parkway. For more information, call 609-898-2300, ext. 10 or visit the Village www.hcsv.org.

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Saturdays, December 13 and 20 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County

Christmas Lantern Tours

Children Friendly

Get in the spirit of the season with a Christmas-inspired Lantern Tour through Allaire’s Historic Village on Saturday between 5:00 and 8:00 pm. Experience traditional 19th century activities, such as baking gingerbread and musical performances. Join villagers singing Christmas carols by the fire. Each tour is 90 minutes long, leaving every 15 minutes. Admission is $12.50 per person. The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park at 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. Tickets are available at the gate or can be purchased through their web site. For more information, call 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

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Saturday, December 13 - Pennsville, Salem County
Annual Soldiers Christmas Event
Children Friendly

Stop by Fort Mott on Saturday for their Annual Soldiers Christmas from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Enjoy guided tours of the fort and visits with Santa. Come and see how soldiers celebrated Christmas and the holiday season throughout history. It will be dark, so bring a flashlight! Admission is free.

Fort Mott is located at 454 Fort Mott Road, Pennsville, NJ 08070. For more information, call 856-935-3218 or visit www.9thdivision.com.

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Saturday, December 13 - Rahway, Union County

Holiday Candlelight Evenings

The Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum Association will be hosting their annual Holiday Candlelight Evening Tours, Saturday from 6:00 - 9:00 pm in the museum building located at 1632 St. Georges Avenue, Rahway, NJ at the corner of Westfield Avenue.

This year, as always, the old tavern building, housing the museum, will be decorated for the holidays as it might have been circa 1800. All the rooms will be aglow in candlelight, and live period music will entertain the evening’s guests with Christmas carols and 19th century holiday melodies. This program is open to the public and all ages are welcome.

This year’s celebration will once again feature the holiday music of nationally renowned musician and singer, Linda Russell. She entertains audiences with ancient carols, interwoven with Yuletide poems, folklore and even recipes. 

Tickets are $12 at the door for adults, $10 for members and seniors, $5 for students, and children under 5 are free. All tickets can be purchased at the door. The price includes hearty appetizers, beer, wine, cider and soft drinks. All proceeds from both evenings will benefit the continued restoration and interpretation of this 18th century landmark. For more information, call 732-381-0441 or visit www.merchantsanddrovers.org.

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Saturday, December 13 - Maywood, Bergen County

Historic Train Station Open House

Children Friendly

The Maywood Station Museum located at 269 Maywood Avenue, Maywood, NJ will be open on Saturday from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon to celebrate the holiday season. Santa will be arriving and there will be free raffles and goodie bags for each child!

A wide variety of artifacts, photographs, and exhibits featuring railroad and local history will be on display in the museum. Admission is free but free-will donations are welcome.

The Maywood Station Historical Committee preserved the 1872 New York, Susquehanna & Western (NYS&W) railroad station in Maywood and operates it as a museum with a mission to preserve the railroad and cultural heritage of Maywood through restoration and preservation, historical awareness, archiving and interpretation, museum open houses, meetings and special events. For more information visit www.maywoodstation.com.

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Saturday, December 13 - Tuckerton, Ocean County

Tuckerton Olde Fashioned Christmas

Children Friendly

The borough’s Olde Fashioned Christmas tradition continues Saturday evening, downtown and at the Tuckerton Seaport. There will be horse and buggy rides behind the former Borough Hall, while inside the building, Santa Claus will be listening to children’s Christmas wishes.

A Gingerbread display decorated by the Tuckerton Beach Association will be inside the Main Street former Mercurio’s Restaurant, just a few doors away, and many of the shops will stay open late and feature music or refreshments.

The Tuckerton Historical Society will have the Little Borough Hall at 220 South Green Street, (not to be confused with the old Borough Hall on Route 9) decorated and open to visitors, and will be giving out samples of hot Clamtown Clam Chowder, made and donated by Parsons Seafood.

On North Green Street, the live Nativity will be set up in the parking lot of the Methodist Church, and inside the church, a bazaar will offer a variety of gifts and treats for sale.

Over at the Tuckerton Seaport, a children’s choir will perform at 6:00 pm among the Festival of Trees on the lower level of the Visitors Center and at 7:00 pm there will be a puppet show with children’s performers Yosi and Johnny. For more information, call 609-294-1547.

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Saturday, December 13 - Allentown, Monmouth County

Afternoon Christmas Concert

Charlie Zahm, renowned balladeer of Early American and Celtic Music, will perform an Afternoon Christmas Concert on Saturday from 1:30 - 3:30 pm at the First Baptist Church, 70 Route 526 in Allentown, NJ. This free concert is sponsored by Friends of Old Yellow Meeting House, First Baptist Church, Debow's United Methodist Church, and Emley's Hill United Methodist Church. For more information, call 609-259-2534.

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Saturday, December 13 - Moorestown, Burlington County

Book Signing

On Saturday afternoon from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Kimberly Bunn and Lynne Schill will be signing copies of their newly released book Images of America: Moorestown. The book is full of great photos from Moorestown’s past and would make a great gift around the holidays. The signing will take place at the Smith-Cadbury Mansion, 12 High Street, Moorestown, NJ. For more information, call 856-235-0353 or e-mail moorestownhistory@verizon.net.

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Saturday, December 13 - Roebling, Burlington County

Christmas In Roebling
Children Friendly

Santa Claus is coming to town! Roebling Museum will host FREE visits with Father Christmas himself on Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. He'll arrive in style on an antique fire truck, then spend time sharing that special Santa magic that makes the holidays so exciting. Share the joy of the season at Christmas In Roebling! The Roebling Museum is located at 100 2nd Avenue, Roebling, NJ. For more information, call 609- 499-7200 or visit www.roeblingmuseum.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 13 - 14 - Walpack, Sussex County
Walpack Christmas
Children Friendly

Join the Walpack Historical Society for a "Walpack Christmas" at the Rosenkrans Museum, Main Street, Walpack Center, NJ within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The celebration and open house will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.

The museum, a circa 1850 one and a half story frame building with eyebrow windows, was once the typical style of  home in the Delaware River Valley. It will be decorated for the holidays in the old-fashioned way. The event is free and the public is invited. All ages are welcome. For more information, call 973-948-4903 or visit www.walpackhistory.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 13 - 14 - South Bound Brook, Somerset County
Home for the Holidays at the Abraham Staats House
Children Friendly

The Abraham Staats House will be decked out in festive finery and hosting a number of musical programs for the two weekends of Holiday at the Abraham Staats House! Built circa 1740, the house was home to the Staats family for nearly two centuries and is now under the care of the Borough of South Bound Brook.

On December 13 - 14, from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm, the public is invited for a holiday visit of this special historic home, festively and individually decorated by South Bound Brook community organizations in celebration of the holiday season.

Stroll through the many rooms, learn about the history of the home, and get in the holiday spirit as you enjoy the seasonal displays and exhibits, and music of the 18th century on the dulcimer, guitar, and fiddle and offered throughout the house by Tom Harabin, president of the Friends of Abraham Staats House organization, which is hosting the event.

Enjoy music of the season as well during the Holiday at the Abraham Staats House weekends. On Saturday, December 6, the Franklin Township High School Madrigal Singers, directed by Tim Walton, will perform at 2:30 pm. On Sunday, December 7 at 1:00 pm, Joseph Markey will perform "Notes From the Past".On Saturday, December 13, members of the South Bound Brook Robert Morris School Gold Band, directed by Mr. Frank Parente, will perform at 1:30 pm. The following day, on Sunday, December 14, enjoy the sounds of the Somerville High School Jazz ensemble under the direction of Mr. Matt Krempasky. The group will perform at 2:00 pm. (Please note: the sound of these musical programs will carry throughout the house; however, those who desire seating should come prior to performance justify time: seating is limited and on a first-come, first-serve  basis.)

Admission and parking is free and donations are accepted. The Abraham Staats House is located at 17 Von Steuben Lane, South Bound Brook. For more information, call 732-560-0645 or visit www.staatshouse.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 13 - 14 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Sounds of the Season and Blacksmith Demonstration

Children Friendly

Enjoy the sounds of the season at historic Longstreet Farm on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 - 3:00 pm each day. On Saturday, visit with Rick Garland as he plays the piano for an old-fashioned sing-a-long appropriate for the holiday season! On the grounds, take a step back in time to watch the blacksmith perform his craft. He will be shaping iron into everyday products. Blacksmiths were as common as an auto mechanic in towns and on farms of the 1890s.

On Sunday from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, enjoy tranquil Christmas carols as Larry Moser and Mary Nagen play them on the hammered dulcimer and fiddle. Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 13 - 14 - Flemington, Hunterdon County
Holiday Open House

Holiday greenery, ribbons, hydrangeas, magnolia leaves and lots of clever decorating ideas will greet visitors at the 1845 Doric House at 114 Main Street in Flemington, NJ justifying Saturday, December 6, the day of borough's holiday parade (which justifys at 5:00 pm). The museum, open at no charge by the Hunterdon County Historical Society, also will welcome guests for tours on Sunday, December 7 and the weekend of December 13-14. Hours each day are 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Admission is free.

The imaginative holiday décor created by the Community Garden Club of Hunterdon based in Whitehouse and the Hunterdon Hills Garden Club of High Bridge adds much to the tour both inside and outside the house. Evergreens, gold bows, white paper angels, three-dimensional gold paper stars, hydrangeas, amaryllis and apple roses will wreath the elliptical staircase, adorn the tree and beautifully decorate the formal parlor and dining room. The table will be set for Christmas dinner. Visitors will find many clever ideas to copy for their homes. Docents in every room will tell the stories of the antique furnishings and what mid-1800s life in Flemington was like.

As an added treat, the high-style Greek Revival house is aglow with new interior paint. There is also a new exhibition space opened on the second floor with an exciting display of special-occasion clothing and textiles from the Society’s collection, selected by Textile Curators Judy Grow and Lynn Burtis.

The Doric House was built by Mahlon Fisher, a country carpenter of ability and taste, for his private residence. He also erected several other Flemington residences in the same style that are considered some of the best of their type in the U.S. but the Doric House is the only one remaining in non-commercial use. For more information, call 908-782-1091 or visit www.hunterdonhistory.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 13 - 14 - Montague, Sussex County
Old Fashioned Holiday Tours
Children Friendly

Are you ready to see the toy you always wished for when you were a child and also a holiday-decorated historic house? This is the year for you to visit the Foster-Armstrong House, maintained by Montague's historical society, M.A.R.C.H. Five beautifully decorated rooms await you on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

"Children's Toys" is the theme for the 2014 Old Fashion Holiday Weekends. Marbles, marble games, and dolls from the 19th century will be on display. A running model train layout with antique model trains to look at will be an added special treat for everyone. Other dolls and toys from the 1950s - the present will also be on exhibit. Antique Christmas tree ornaments, handmade ornaments, and toy ornaments will decorate the six holiday trees. If you look closely, you will probably find the toy you always wished for as a child!

Scattered throughout the rooms will also be a bell scavenger hunt. Some of the bells you can search for will include a train bell, school bells, crystal bells, a hotel bell, cow bells, and horse sleigh bells. Singers from "Harmony in Motion" will be caroling on Sunday, December 14th for 2 hours as an extra holiday addition this season. Our gift store with handmade items and books on local history will also be open for your shopping pleasure. The Foster-Armstrong House is located at 320 River Road / C.R. 521 in Montague, NJ, about 1 mile north of the Milford-Montague Bridge. For more information, visit www.montaguehistory.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 13 - 14 - Hampton, Hunterdon County
Holiday Open House

Please join the Union Forge Heritage Association in celebrating the Holiday Season at the 1760 Historic Joseph Turner House and history museum. Enjoy holiday cheer and the company of family and neighbors. Hours on Saturday are 4:00 - 8:00 pm and Sunday from 2:00 - 5:00 pm. Suggested Donation $10. The 1760 Joseph Turner House is located at 117 Van Syckles Road,  Hampton NJ. For more information and to RSVP, e-mail ufhanj@hotmail.com.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 13 - 14 - Whippany, Morris County

23rd Annual Santa Claus Special - SOLD OUT
Children Friendly

New Jersey's Original Santa Claus Special celebrates its 23rd continuous year of operation in 2014. Celebrate the wonderful Christmastime spirit and joy with a ride on the Whippany Railway Museum's Santa Claus Special! Tickets for this annual Christmas tradition make great gifts for the kids and the entire family. The 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland and return allows passengers time to enjoy the festivities of the season and the merriment on the train. All of our past trips over the last 22 years have been complete sell-outs, and seeing the excited faces of the children as they climb aboard the Christmas holiday-decorated trains, ensures an afternoon for family fun. During each excursion, Santa makes his way through the train and visits with the children on-board. Santa's helpers follow along, giving the kids a special gift from Santa. Be sure to bring your camera and take pictures of the kids with Santa, so they can always remember their day on-board the train!

In addition to the regular coaches that make up the train, make your day extra special by purchasing limited tickets for a nostalgic Christmas ride aboard the museum's elegant 1927-era Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) Club Car, Jersey Coast. Specially decorated for the Christmas holidays in a pre-World War II style, the car has the warm look and feel of a private club with individual leather chairs, mahogany interior accented with stained glass, built-in tables and period ceiling fans. The Jersey Coast, recalls the 1930s when the CNJ operated its deluxe coach train, The Blue Comet, between Jersey City and Atlantic City, NJ. The striking, authentic exterior paint scheme of cream and blue reminds one of a comet streaking through space. It is the only car of its type operating in New Jersey.

So round up your family and friends and climb aboard for some great Christmastime fun and laughter! Ordering tickets is fast and easy! Trains depart at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 pm each day, rain, sleet, or shine. The Whippany Railroad is located at 1 Railroad Plaza, at the Intersection of Route 10 West & Whippany Road in Whippany, NJ. Train fare: Adults: $14.00, Children (under 12): $9.00, Infants (1 year and under): Free.

To order tickets and for more information, visit www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net or call 973-887-8177. The Whippany Railway Museum, a 501(c)3 non-profit Operating Heritage Railroad that is staffed by volunteers. Donations from the public help to keep the museum operational, but funds are still required to support this unique New Jersey treasure. Proceeds from the train rides further enhance the Museum's mission and its historic preservation efforts.

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Sunday, December 14 - Union Township, Union County

How the Grinch Stole Lunch Feast

Children Friendly

"Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos far and near." Roastbeast on a Bun, Seuss Spuds, and Cindy Lou Who Cider are just some of the Grinchy grub being served at Liberty Hall's How the Grince Stole Lunch Feast on Sunday from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm.

A tour of Liberty Hall decorated for holidays will follow the feast. Program Fee: $23.00 per child, $28.00 per adult. Reservations Required. Call 908-527-0400. Liberty Hall is located at 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ. For more information, call 908-27-0400 or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall.

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Sunday, December 14 - Franklin Township, Somerset County

Candlelight Christmas Tours

It is time again to set out and light the candles for Rockingham Historic Site's Annual Candlelight Christmas Tours. The program is being offered on Sunday from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. The tours, for which advanced reservations are required, include information on 18th-century Christmas traditions and revolve around a special theme rather than the regular house tour - this year the theme is New Jersey's 350-year history as an English colony and U.S. state. As visitors pass from room to room with tidbits of 18th-century holiday practices dancing in their heads, they will also hear pieces of our state's story, half-century by half-century along with Rockingham's story during the same period. What was the first permanent town established in the state? What year did the first casino open outside Las Vegas (in Atlantic City)? Visitors might want to study up as there also will be some testing of their knowledge.

Come, enjoy, laugh and learn as you wend your way through Rockingham with the lilt of an English flute following you, courtesy of John Burkhalter of Practitioners of Musick, and docents of the Montgomery High School Live Historians Club leading and enlightening you. Then, partake of holiday goodies and warm drink in the Children's Museum and visit our Museum Store to shop for items such as period toys, our own Rockingham honey, books, quills and tricorn hats.

Advance tour reservations are REQUIRED for admission with a suggested donation of $8 per person and must be made by calling 609-683-7136. Tours will be offered at least every half-hour with the last tour beginning at 3:30 pm.

Rockingham is located at 84 Laurel Avenue, Franklin Township, NJ between Route 518 in Rocky Hill and Route 27 in Kingston. For more information, call 609-683-7132 or visit www.rockingham.net.

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Sunday, December 14 - Burlington County

Three House Tour

On Sunday, tour three historic houses in Burlington County from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Sites include:

*Colonial Revival Peachfield, 180 Burs Road, Westampton, NJ 08060
*Federalist West Hill Manor, 1114 Oxmead Road, Burlington, NJ 08016
*Italianate Green Hill Farm, 1605 Oxmead Road, Burlington, NJ 08016

These lovely homes, each of a distinctive architectural style, will be decorated for the Holiday Season. Learn about each house’s amazing history, while enjoying cookies and hot beverages. Begin at any house and tour all three houses for $10.00. Cash only, no photographs please. For more information, call 609-267-6996.

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Sunday, December 14 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County

Christmas at Allaire

Children Friendly

This re-created 19th century village comes to life during the holidays. "Christmas at Allaire," depicts old-world holiday traditions and customs in the historic buildings. Carolers will wander the streets, period vocal and instrumental music will be performed at historic Allaire Chapel, and there will be mummer plays, hearth cooking, and apple drying and stringing. The event runs from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Admission: $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for children. The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park at 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. Tickets are available at the gate or can be purchased through their web site. For more information, call 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

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Sunday, December 14 - Paterson, Passaic County
Christmas Storytelling and Sing-A-Long
Children Friendly

On Sunday from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at Lambert Castle, the Passaic County Historical Society will welcome children and their families to the Castle for storytelling and sing-a-long with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Join Santa and Mrs. Claus as they read holiday stories and sing holiday songs. Refreshments will also be served.

Admission is $15 for one child and one adult. Additional children and adults are $5 each. This program is recommended for children under 10 years of age. Reservations are required in advance. There is a limit of 45 children for this program, so please book early. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

PLUS: The Passaic County Historical Society is asking children between the ages of six and sixteen to  enter its first annual Gingerbread House Competition. There is no fee to enter! Just deliver your homemade gingerbread house to Lambert Castle between Wednesday, December 10 - Friday, December 12 or Monday, December 15 - Tuesday, December 16 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Please call ahead to arrange a delivery time - 973-247-0085 ext 207. The houses will be on display in Lambert Castle as a part of the museum's holiday tours, from December 17 - January 4. Winners will receive a free family membership to the Passaic County Historical Society for 2015.

Lambert Castle is located at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ. For more information, call 973-247-0085 or visit www.lambertcastle.org.

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Sunday, December  14 - Montclair, Essex County

Holiday House Tours

Tours at the Montclair Historical Society, 108 Orange Road and the Charles Shultz House-Evergreens, 30 North Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Sunday. See the houses bedecked in their holiday finery. These special tours incorporate the holiday traditions as well as the stories of the houses and the people who lived there. Begin at the Nathaniel Crane house where the less "foppery" reigned; then see the Crane House and Historic YWCA decorated by the Garden Club of Montclair spanning decorations from 1796 to 1965; stop in the exterior kitchen where food historian Carolina Capehart demonstrates 1800s hearth cooking on a real fire. Then move forward in history to the Charles Shultz House, featuring Molly Shultz's own collection of Christmas decorations and antique toys. Free-will donation. Admission is free for Montclair Historical Society members. For more information, call 973-744-1796 or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.

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Sunday, December 14 - Park Ridge, Bergen County

Toys are Terrific

Children Friendly

Here is a chance to put away the cell phones and iPads and communicate  as a family the old -fashioned way at "TOYS ARE TERRIFIC," an afternoon for children of any age to create, learn and play with their parents (grandparents, etc.) and families. The event will take place on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at the Pascack Historical Society's barrier- free museum, 19 Ridge Avenue, Park Ridge, NJ. No Registration or fee is required. All materials will be provided.

Participants will get a hands-on experience when they see and touch some of society's oldest and most interesting toys. Children made their toys in olden times and attendees will be able to create a "toy theater" similar to those of the Victorian era. Participants can sit in a real size 1880s sled pulled by a full size mahogany house (great for holiday photos), type on an old fashioned typewriter, hear a player piano, use a stereoscope and hear a 1913 record player made by Thomas Edison.

Complimentary homemade sugar cookies and juice will be served. For more information call 201-573-0307 or visit www.pascackhistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, December 14 - Ledgewood, Morris County

Museums at Drakesville Open House

On Sunday between 1:00 and 4:00 pm, the Roxbury Historical Trust will host an open house at the eighteenth century Silas Riggs Saltbox House, the historic King House and the King Store Museums. The sites are located at 213 Main Street in the Ledgewood Village section of Roxbury Township. Tours are free and historic interpreters will be on hand. For more information, call 973-927-7603 or visit www.roxburynewjersey.com.

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Sunday, December 14 - Franklin Township, Somerset County

Holiday Open House
Children Friendly

On Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, the fully restored Wyckoff-Garretson House, located at 215 South Middlebush Road, will be hosting a Holiday Open House. There will be demonstrations of hearthside cooking, as well as performances by harpist Richard Spendio throughout the afternoon. The Franklin High School Madrigal Singers will perform as well. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 732-748-7657.

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Sunday, December 14 - West Orange, Essex County

Harry's Magical Invention Bag
Children Friendly

Learn about invention and the important role Edison played in taking invention from a cottage/hobby activity to a full commercial activity - practiced by all major corporations. Hear Harry Roman, a Thomas Edison National Historical Park volunteer, retired engineer, as well as inventor and patent holder, as he discusses the major role NJ plays in the national invention scene-and all the great inventions NJ inventors have brought into our world.

The program runs from 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 3:00 - 4:00 pm and is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $7.00, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x11 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.

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Sundays, December 14 and 21 - Pennsville, Salem County

Annual Christmas Open House

Children Friendly

The Pennsville Township Historical Society will hold its Annual Christmas Open House on Sundays, December 14, and 21 from 1:00 - 5:00 pm, at the Church Landing Farm House Museum in Pennsville. The 1850 Farm House, the outbuildings , and property have been decorated for Christmas and there will be special displays and entertainment.

A Victorian Christmas tree, a tree adorned with 1940s era decorations, and a tree bedecked with traditional Swedish Christmas ornaments will be on display in the Farm House. Don't miss the exquisitely painted and decorated ostrich, goose, and quail eggs that have been handcrafted by Pauline Gant Webb. Stop by the parlor to hear Nancy Brubek play Christmas Carols on our recently restored antique organ and interact with our junior historians as they perform vignettes from Louisa May Alcott's novel, Little Women.

Visit the Townsend Annex to see a display of “Christy" Dickens Carolers, a 1920 Lionel train set, Victorian Christmas postcards, and our collection of handcrafted miniature carriages. While there, talk with Annette Devitt and Marcia Walton who will be demonstrating loom weaving on an authentic, handmade 1910 Finnish loom. Docents will be on hand to answer questions.

Visitors are welcome to linger in the relaxing atmosphere of a Victorian era Christmas and enjoy refreshments which include traditional Swedish Christmas Glogg (Wassail) and Swedish Pepparkakor (spice cookies). The Church Landing Farm Museum is located at 86 Church Landing Road, Pennsville, NJ. Admission is Free. Donations are always welcome and gratefully accepted. For more information call Don at 856-381-2510 or Donna at 856-678-6435.

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Saturdays and Sundays through January 4, 2015 - Princeton, Mercer County

Festival of Trees

Morven Museum and Garden's annual Festival of Trees has become a must-see Princeton holiday tradition. Enjoy the museum’s elegant galleries decorated for the holidays and adorned with trees artfully decorated by local businesses, garden clubs, and non-profit organizations.

This year’s Festival of Trees exhibitors include: Arts Council of Princeton, Barbara L. Mulea, Contemporary Garden Club, D & R Greenway Land Trust, Dogwood Garden Club of Princeton, Farmhouse Store, Garden Club of Princeton, Keris Tree Farm & Christmas Shop, LMG Design, McCarter Theatre Center, Stony Brook Garden Club, and Vicki Trainer.

No reservations necessary. Morven is open to the public on Wednesdays through Fridays from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm and Saturdays through Sundays from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm.

Admission $6, $5 for Seniors, and special pricing for families during Festival of Trees, $15 per group. Friends of Morven, free. Please note that during the Festival of Trees in December and early January, no formal tours are given, but docents are available to answer any questions. Morven Museum and Garden is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ. For more information, call 609-924-8144 or visit www.morven.org.

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Through Wednesday, January 7, 2014 - Tuckerton, Ocean County

Festival of Trees
Children Friendly Site

Roll out the holly and sharing in some holiday cheer at Tuckerton Seaport's Festival of Trees. The Festival of Trees will feature dozens of trees, each one decorated for a local nonprofit organization with a unique theme. Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. General admission: adults $8, seniors $6, ages 5-12 $5, under five free and Seaport members free. The Tuckerton Seaport and 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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Through December 29, 2014 - Woodbury, Gloucester County

Be Prepared:  Scouts of Yesteryear

Children Friendly

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have been a tradition in America for over a century. The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum is presenting a remarkable exhibit with scouting artifacts from over the decades. Numerous uniforms, merit badges, equipment, manuals, and accessories from the 1930s on are on display.

The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm and the last Sunday of the month from 2:00 - 5:00 pm. Adult admission $5; children 6-18 years $1; children under 6 free. The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum is located at 58 North Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ. For more information, call 856-848-8531 or visit www.rootsweb.com/~njgchs.

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Sundays through January 25, 2015 - Trenton, Mercer County

Form, Function and Fine: Two Hundred Years of American Ceramics

From teacups to chamber sets, New Jersey to California, the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society presents a new exhibit, providing a sample of American ceramics from the 19th and 20th century. Redware, yellowware, spongeware, and salt glazed crocks will be displayed along with early Lenox and Trenton pottery. Roseville, Stangl, Pfaltzgraff and Homer Laughlin pieces are some of the other American ceramics featured. The exhibit will continue through January 25, 2015. Come to the table and join us on a Sunday afternoon from 1:00 - 4:00 pm to view this exhibit! The Cranbury Museum is located at 4 Park Place East, Cranbury, NJ. For more information, call 609-409-1289 or visit www.cranburyhistory.org.

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Saturdays through December 31, 2014 - Freehold, Monmouth County
Farm: Agriculture in Monmouth County 1600 - 2013

Monmouth County Historical Association's newest exhibition, "Farm: Agriculture in Monmouth County 1600-2013," is open to the public at the museum in Freehold and will be on display through December 31, 2014. The history of agriculture and farming in Monmouth County has long roots deep in the past, as does New Jersey itself, from earliest days of pre-European settlement, when Lenape Indians harvested corn, squash, and beans to the modern reintroduction  of organic agricultural practices.

Monmouth County Historical Association's exhibition, "Farm: Agriculture in Monmouth County 1660 - 2013," explores and celebrates Monmouth County's vibrant agricultural past, present, and future. The exhibit examines the means by which Monmouth men and women worked with their surroundings to feed themselves, their families, the community, and the rest of America as well. Through artifacts, diaries, letters, maps, paintings, prints, and photographs, Farm will bring Monmouth's rich agricultural history alive. Visitors will appreciate the innovation and diversity of Monmouth farmers, horticulturalists, gardeners, and livestock breeders who overcame challenges and secured the county's reputation as a source of high-quality produce and livestock for more than two hundred years.

The Monmouth County Historical Association's museum is located at 70 Court Street, Freehold NJ. Regular admission to the museum is $5 and $2.50 for students and seniors. Admission is free for members. Museum hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 732-462-1466 or visit www.monmouthhistory.org.

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Through February 13, 2015 - Madison, Morris County

The American Revolution in New Jersey

Children Friendly

New Jersey spent much of the American Revolution as a theater of war. A new exhibit at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, "The American Revolution in New Jersey: Where the Battlefront Meets the Homefront," explores the rarely told story of New Jersey's farmers, women, and tradesmen and their actions during the war. Topics discussed include the local civil wars that erupted between revolutionaries and loyalists, the multiple roles that women took on as their men went off to war, and how civilian life was affected by the regular presence of troops. The exhibit will be open until February 13, 2015.

Regular Museum admission is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors, students & children (ages 6 and older), and free for members and children under 6. Family maximum admission $13.00. The Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm. The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is located at 9 Main Street in Madison, NJ just two blocks from the Madison train station. For more information, please call 973-377-2982 x10 or visit www.metc.org.

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Through March 1, 2015 - Trenton, Mercer County

Ties That Bind: The Aprons of Trenton

The Trenton City Museum transports you to a time when apron strings tied the lives of the people of Trenton. "Ties that Bind: The Aprons of Trenton" runs from November 1, 2014 through March 1, 2014. The exhibit features aprons associated with church picnics, classroom art projects, the industrial workers who kept the city in business, and the homemakers who made holiday meals and memories for generations. The Trenton City Museum, Ellarslie, is located in Cadwalader Park, Trenton, NJ. For more information, call 609-989-3632 or visit www.ellarslie.org.

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Through March 1, 2015 - Trenton, Mercer County

Trenton Central High School: A Remembrance

On October 14, 2014, the Trenton Public Schools Board of Education voted to demolish Trenton Central High School. The New Jersey Schools Development Authority will fund the construction of a new $130 million high school for Trenton.

The Trenton Museum Society celebrates the soon-to-be-demolished building in an exhibit at the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie through Sunday, March 1, 2015. The former high school building, opened in 1932, was an iconic structure that inspired and nurtured thousands of Trenton students over the past 82 years.

Designed by architect Ernest K. Sibley, construction of the school began in 1929 with the first classes occupying the building in January 1932.  It was built as a larger version of Trenton High School West, formerly Junior No. 3, out of red brick and composition stone trim in the colonial revival style, inspired by the historic background of the city. 

Many of the features that contributed to the unique beauty of the school were made in Trenton. The porcelain shades in the light fixtures in the auditorium were made by Lenox in Trenton. The brown faience tile lining the hallways was made by the Mueller Mosaic Tile Company of Trenton. Even the sanitary ware, such as sinks and toilets, were made by the Trenton-based Maddock pottery company.

The exhibit shows iconic artifacts from the school - a Maddock toilet, pedestal sink and water fountain, an original student desk that seats two students, one of the caged clocks from the gymnasium, wooden chairs used by students and teachers, and hallway light fixtures. The school board is loaning two large portraits of the first two principals of the school - William A. Wetzel and Paul R. Spencer, and a large aerial picture of the school.

Early yearbooks from the 1930s and 1940s show the school façade and interior. Artifacts used in the school are on display, such as scientific instruments, silverware, china, kitchen utensils, and a display cabinet with partial skeleton used in science classes.

The two cornerstones of the building from 1929 and 1956 were opened at Trenton High School's Homecoming football game on October 25. No one knew what was inside. The contents of the cornerstones will be lent to the museum and displayed in the exhibit.

In the lobby were four spectacular murals created and installed in the high school in 1941 by an artist who worked for the WPA Federal Arts Project, Monty Lewis, entitled Youth Carrying the Heritage of Arts from the Past into the Future. The Trenton School Board has pledged to save these priceless pieces of art. Photographs of them are included in the exhibit.

The Trenton Museum Society invites graduates, teachers and administrators from the school, historic preservationists, and those interested in Trenton's history to attend the exhibit. The Trenton City Museum, Ellarslie, is located in Cadwalader Park, Trenton, NJ. For more information, call 609-989-3632 or visit www.ellarslie.org.

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Through March 29, 2015 - Princeton, Mercer County

Hail Specimen of Female Art! New Jersey Schoolgirl Needlework, 1726-1860

This landmark exhibition will be the first to focus on the important contribution of New Jersey in the creation of schoolgirl needlework in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. With over 150 works on view, this exhibition will undertake the first survey of schoolgirl needlework completed in the state or by New Jersey girls prior to 1860. This exhibition and accompanying catalogue will create a lasting record of the best known examples. As part of the museum’s mission to showcase the cultural heritage of the Garden State, the curators will bring new light to the needlework done in New Jersey during this important period of American history.

Organized geographically, the exhibition will feature works from every region of the state. Although many elaborate and important examples of New Jersey needlework will be featured in the exhibition, the curators have also included more modest examples that highlight other aspects of the educational environment, social class and familial situation experienced by young girls in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In some cases, the exhibit will reunite, for the first time, needlework created by the same girl; sisters; cousins; schoolmates and other close relations.

The exhibition will feature loans from across the country including needlework completed in every New Jersey County (accounting for the numerous re-organizations of New Jersey counties in the nineteenth century). In presenting examples from every part of the state, the exhibition will distill the educational environment that existed in New Jersey from Cape May to Sussex. The exhibition will also compile an accurate picture of girls academies and the instructresses who taught at them.

The exhibition will occupy 1,709 square feet in five galleries within the second floor of the Morven mansion. This exhibition also coincides with the 350th anniversary of New Jersey and extensive state-wide celebration and programming.

The title of the exhibition is borrowed from a needlework stitched by Trenton-born Anne Rickey (1783-1846) “Hail Specimen of Female Art” was stitched onto her sampler in 1798. Anne Rickey was the daughter of Quaker merchant, John Rickey (1751-1829) and his wife Amey Olden (1757-1849).

Morven Museum and Garden is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ. For more information, call 609-924-8144 or visit www.morven.org.

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Through May 1, 2015 - Toms River, Ocean County

Fishing in the Good Old Days

The Ocean County Historical Society, invites you to view their new exhibit entitled, "Hook, Line and Sinker: History of Fishing in Ocean County up to 1950", which features the collections of members Richard Updike and Ferd Klebold. The exhibit takes visitors back to the days of pound fishing, frost fishing, clamming, eeling, and whaling with photos and artifacts used in the fishing industry along the Jersey Coast. A hand-forged clam rake, the white oak eel pot that used horseshoe crabs for bait, a whale vertebra found in the surf in Ocean County, early reels, and photos galore of fishermen and their catches are just some of the treasures you will find in this exhibit. Winter or summer, Ocean County fishermen braved the elements to harvest nature's bounty from the Atlantic Ocean, Barnegat Bay, and numerous rivers. Visit OCHS Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm and the first Saturday of each month from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The Ocean County Historical Society is located at 26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River, NJ. For more information, visit www.oceancountyhistory.org or call 732-341-1880.

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1st and 2nd Sundays through June 2015 - Ocean Township, Monmouth County

The History of Houses and the Things That Make Them Home

Since prehistoric times, where we live has been about much more than shelter (think of those cave paintings). A new exhibit explores just how our human instinct to nest has played out in the structures we inhabit and the stuff we put in them. "The History of Houses and the Things that Make Them Home" is on display in the Richmond Gallery of the Eden Woolley House / Township of Ocean Historical Museum.

The exhibit examines the influences on the design and content of the American home - from the traditions early settlers brought with them, to the availability of materials, to the transforming power of technology. It takes guests on a virtual house tour, revealing room by room how things have changed and how those changes have shaped our lives.

What is home? It's where the heart is and there's no place like it. Beyond shelter, our homes express our tastes, values, and social status. Our neighborhoods abound with homes that illustrate the point, and the new exhibit asks us to see our familiar surroundings in a new light. It reveals the lineage of familiar house styles--colonial, neoclassical, Victorian, and modern, for example. It explains that the colonists of the new world built houses in the style of the old. That the founding fathers, all men of the Enlightenment, adapted the designs of Greeks and Romans whose rationality they admired. That the clutter and ornamentation of the Victorians expressed their fascination with goods made possible by the Industrial Revolution and made available by the railroads. And that twentieth century architects rejected Victorian fussiness in favor of designs that challenged old assumptions and took advantage of new technologies and building techniques.

House design is just the beginning. The exhibit takes us inside, room by room. For all but the rich, our earliest homes were one-room dwellings. The very concept of a single-purpose room (living, dining, bathing, etc.) is relatively new. And even in early multiple-room houses, people moved from room to room more in pursuit of sunlight and warmth than specific activity. In effect, all rooms were "living rooms."

Revolutionary new technologies - indoor plumbing, central heating, and electric light, in particular - made room specialization practical. The bathroom, bedchamber, dining room, library, and parlor emerged as distinct spaces in ways that both reflect and influence life style.

Take the living room (aka parlor, drawing room, sitting room, and salon). It has come full circle. As parlor, it was a room often reserved to receive visitors. In time, it became the place where the family "withdrew" to gather around the piano - later the radio and then television. Today, the "great room" has assumed that role and in many homes, the living room is again a more formal space reserved for entertaining guests.

The exhibit makes that case that every house has a story, every room has a history. "The History of Houses and the Things that Make Them Home" will be up through June 2015. The Township of Ocean Historical Museum is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (1:00 - 4:00 pm), Thursday evenings (7:00 - 9:00 pm) and the first and second Sundays of each month (1:00 - 4:00 pm). The Township of Ocean Historical Museum is located at 703 Deal Road, Ocean, NJ. For more information, please call 732-531-2136 or visit www.oceanmuseum.org.

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Through July 2015 - Morristown, Morris County
The Civil War through the Eyes of Thomas Nast

Before radio, TV, or the Internet, there was political cartoonist Thomas Nast. Nast illustrated battles, Union and Confederate troop movements, and their activities throughout the Civil War. He also captured the poignancy of those back home, who worried about their family members in combat. Nast covered both the home and battle fronts; his work was the main source of information about the war for many people. His illustrations in publications like "Harper's Weekly" brought the information about what was happening into the homes of the American public, the way mass media does today. Like all media agents, he not only depicted what was happening by reporting on the events taking place, but also created propaganda by trying to stir emotions and support for the Union side. Mounted to commemorate the final year of the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011-2015), this second floor exhibit will include a number of these stirring images. "The Civil War through the Eyes of Thomas Nast" opens September 7, 2014­ and will be on exhibit through 2015.

Thomas Nast (1840-1902) is one of the most recognized names in the world of political cartoons.  Often called the father of American political cartooning, Nast's images remain popular today.  His well-known depictions of the Democratic donkey and Republican elephant, conceived more than 100 years ago, continue to represent both parties.  Uncle Sam and Columbia, two of his favorite figures to draw, are still recognized as symbols for the United States of America.  His spirit lives on through his iconic representations of Santa Claus. The classic images which Nast popularized of the jolly old elf still appear on a variety of surfaces each year during the holiday season, and Nast's Civil War images of battlefront and home front were powerful tools for bringing the war into people's homes.

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. The Museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The last tour leaves at 3:00 pm. Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 - 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-538-2404 ext. 10 or visit www.maccullochhall.org.

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Through August 2015 - Lyndhurst, Bergen County
Lyndhurst Business: Building a Community

From a ship's horn manufactured by Leslie Company to photos of steel and heat-treating plant Benedict-Miller, Inc., the Lyndhurst Historical Society is showcasing just a sampling of the many businesses that contributed to the community and beyond in its latest exhibit, "Lyndhurst Business: Building a Community," which runs from now until August 2015.

"It's New Jersey's 350th birthday and, in addition to celebrating the state as a whole, we wanted to give a nod to our local community," said Doris Bergquist, who, along with members Dale Jankowski and Doris Ludwig, curated the exhibit. "There have been and continue to be many highly regarded businesses in Lyndhurst. The Leslie Company, for example, was once in Lyndhurst and built one of the horns used on the Queen Mary."

The exhibit is free and open to the public, though a small donation to the society would be appreciated. The Little Red Schoolhouse Museum, located at 400 RIverside Avenue, Lyndhurst, NJ is open on the second and fourth Sundays of every month from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 201-804-2513 or visit www.lyndhursthistoricalsociety.org.

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