Weekend Historical Happenings: 1/17/15 - 1/18/15

NJ WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS

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Saturday, January 17 - Trenton, Mercer County

Archaeological Society of New Jersey Meeting

Join the Archaeological Society of New Jersey for a meeting at the New Jersey State Museum on Saturday from 10:00 - 3:00 pm. The meeting will be held in the second floor Natural History Gallery in the Innovation Lab Classroom.

Schedule:
10:00am – 11:00am:  Board meeting: Open to all
11:00am – 12:00:  Lunch (on your own)
12:00 – 2:00pm: First Annual Artifact “Show and Learn” Bring your Native American, prehistoric, or historic artifacts to show noted New Jersey experts and scholars for evaluation and identification. All are welcome. Time permitting, up to five artifacts will be examined. Please note: monetary appraisals of artifacts will not be made
2:00pm – 3:00pm  Presentation: The I-95 Project, by URS archaeologists

The program is free and light refreshments will be served. Donations are appreciated! The New Jersey State Museum is located at 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ. Parking is free on the weekend in the lot behind and adjacent to the Museum and Planetarium. For more information, visit http://www.asnj.org.

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Saturday, January 17 - Hammonton, Burlington County

Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Fort Fisher and its Tie to South Jersey

Union General Ulysses S. Grant called the January 15, 1865 Union defeat of Fort Fisher “. . . one of the most important successes of the war.” A month later, on February 19, 1865, the 3rd Brigade, commanded by Colonel Wright, moved up the telegraph road toward Wilmington. On the 20th these men encountered the enemy. The 5th Regiment of this Brigade was deployed as skirmishers and a sharp skirmish ensued. Colonel Wright sustained a severe wound to his right arm, a wound that plagued him throughout the rest of his life.

Discover how this distinguished officer, later Joseph Wharton’s farm manager, land agent, and surveyor extraordinaire, gained a reputation as a “military genius” whose strategic skill in maneuvering his regiment to save his men. . .” moved up through the ranks from 2nd Lieutenant of Company G, 4th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry to become a highly regarded officer leading a Brigade on Saturday at 1:00 pm at Batsto Village. Batsto Village is located at Batsto Village, 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ. For more information, call 609-561-0024 or visit www.batstovillage.org.

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Saturday, January 17 - Lambertville, Hunterdon County

Lambertville En Plein Air

While over 750 residents and visitors viewed homes on the Lambertville Historical Society's annual Autumn House Tour, 24 artists from New Jersey and  Pennsylvania painted the town en plein air during the October 2014 event. More than 30 works of art produced that day will be featured during Lambertville En Plein Air, a silent auction to benefit the Lambertville Historical Society. The event will take place on Saturday from 6:00 - 8:30 pm, at Rago Arts & Auction Center, 333 North Main Street, Lambertville, NJ.

Lambertville En Plein Air offers a rich and varied collection of oils, acrylics and watercolors capturing street scenes, vistas and architecture throughout the city. "The range and quality of the works are absolutely the best we could have wished for, as a representation of our city. From Robert Bohne's 'Quarry Silo' to Kit Dalton's 'Lambertville Canal II,' to the historic homes and churches painted, we have an incredible array of works to offer to the lucky bidders," said Suzanne Gitomer, president of the Lambertville Historical Society and chair of the Autumn House Tour.

All works will be on display and minimum bids will be set. Bidding will close at 8:00 pm sharp, with winners announced at 8:30 pm. Lambertville En Plein Air will also feature live music, hors d'oeuvres and beverages. Admission is free.

The complete list of artists includes Kenn Backhaus, Robert Bohne, Jeffrey Charlesworth, Valerie Craig, Kit Dalton, Fred Danziger, Alyce Grunt, Dorothy Hoeschen, Patricia Walach Keough, Kay King, Anne Kullaf, Christine Marx, Debbie Pisacreta, Pratima Rao, Materese Roche, J. Stacy Rogers, Gwenn Rubin, Carol Sanzalone, Colette Sexton, Joe Sweeney, Kelly Sullivan, Jas Szygiel, George Thompson, and JC Turner.

For more information about participating artists, and to preview their artwork, visit www.lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org. For more information, call 609-397-0770.

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Saturday, January 17 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County

Celebrating Benjamin Franklin
Children Friendly

Drop-in on Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm as we honor this amazing multifaceted man on his birthday. From electricity to music, we will offer some simple and fun hands-on experiences and experiments to illustrate his varied interests. Admission and parking are free.

While there, visit the large, elegant Walnford home built in 1774, the 19th century gristmill and the farm buildings set in a beautiful landscape. Walnford is located at 62 Walnford Road, Upper Freehold, NJ. For more information, call 609-259-6275 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Saturday - Sunday, January 17 - 18 - Atlantic City, Atlantic County

Absecon Lighthouse Turns 158!
Children Friendly

Absecon Lighthouse, New Jersey's tallest, will host a Birthday Celebration to honor the 158th birthday of the lighthouse on Saturday with free climbs from 11:00 am - 3:30 pm and  birthday cake from The Bake Works in Northfield at 1:00 pm. To honor "Abby's" birthday, Atlantic City students in grades 6 through 12 can submit poems, paintings, photographs, and drawings in the annual "Abby & the Arts" contest. Cash prize winners will be announced at 1:00 p.m. 

The celebration continues on Sunday with "Buy One Get One" admissions from 11:00 am - 3:30 pm.  If you truly want to "DO AC," then don't miss this opportunity to experience a 360-degree view of Atlantic City's sparkling skyline, and wish a Happy Birthday to Atlantic City's oldest historic structure, as well as the country's third tallest lighthouse.

Absecon Lighthouse is a state-owned historic property administered by the non-profit Inlet Public/Private Association. Located at 31 South Rhode Island Avenue in Atlantic City, it is open to visitors Thursdays through Mondays, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.

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Sunday, January 18 - Montclair, Essex County
House Tours - CANCELLED DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS

Family Friendly

Step back through over 200 years of American history at Montclair's historic properties at 108 Orange Road. Visit the newly reinterpreted Crane House to reflect the YWCA period from 1920 - 1965, check out the farm, and meet the chickens. The site is open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Free-will donation. Free admission for members! The Shultz House (Evergreens) will be closed for the season, reopening Spring 2015. For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.

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Sunday, January 18 - Tewksbury, Hunterdon County

Tewksbury Historical Society Annual Meeting & Program

The Tewksbury Historical Society will host a talk by Tricia Haertlein, an avid equestrian and carriage driver from Lebanon, NJ on the evolution from horses to engines on Sunday at 1:00 pm. Both the meeting and program are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

This informative talk will look at the transition from horse to mechanized power. For much of our history, horses were our partners in building our farms and cities. Tricia Haertlein asks and answers questions like: What was it like in the late 1800s and early 1900s as we switched from horsepower to horse-powered engines? What did horses do for us in the city and on the farm? Why did switching seem like a good idea? If engines were better, why were horses still delivering milk through World War II?

A resident of Hunterdon County since 1985, Tricia has worked for Janssen Pharmaceutical for over 20 years. She is a history buff and developed her talk for a local museum's transportation day and has been expanding it as her research reveals to cover more information. She is a member of local, regional, state and national horse and driving organizations and has served on the board of many of these groups. Currently, she is the president of both the Hunterdon County Horse & Pony Association and the Gladstone Equestrian Association. She also is a member of the NJ Horse Council, Carriage Association of America, and American Driving Society. For the ADS, she edited a book, Carriage Driving Games, a collection of games from around the country. 

Membership in the Tewksbury Historical Society is open to anyone interested in the history of Tewksbury Township. The cost is $15 annually for an individual membership or $25 for a family membership. Members receive via e-mail a quarterly newsletter and advance notice of all programs and events the Society holds throughout the year.  The Society holds three regular meetings per year on the 3rd Sunday in January, March, and May with a 4th program in November.

The meeting and program will be held at the Society's headquarters, 60 Water Street Lebanon (Mountainville), NJ. For more information, call 908-832-6734 and leave your name and phone number or e-mail tewksburyhistory@earthlink.net.

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Sunday, January 18 - Bridgewater, Somerset County

Colonial Architecture in New Jersey

In the most crowded and developed state in the union, a substantial number of 17th and 18th century buildings remain from our colonial past. Among the most interesting are the Royal Governor’s Mansion in Perth Amboy, the still functioning Black Horse Inn in Mendham, the meetinghouse style Fairfield Presbyterian Church in Salem County, to Nassau Hall on the grounds of Princeton University, to Washington’s Headquarters in Morristown, to the Sandy Hook, Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in the country.

This diverse architecture reflects its early settlers who were the most varied in all the colonies, except perhaps for New York City, coming from The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, France, Ireland, Scotland, and a number of English regions, with each group bringing their building traditions with them.

On Sunday from 2:00 - 3:30 pm, David Veasey, a life-long New Jersey resident, will discuss his book New Jersey's Colonial Architecture Told in 100 Buildings at the Historic Van Horse House in Bridgewater, NJ. Veasey has written other books about the state. He lives in Morris Plains, and was graduated from Drew University, Madison, and holds a Master’s Degree from New York University.

This free event will be held at historic Van Horne House, 941 East Main Street, Bridgewater, NJ, just across from the Patriots Ballpark. Free parking is available behind Target and at the ballpark. Space is limited and reservations are required. To reserve a seat, call 732-356-8856 or sign up online here. For more information, visit www.heritagetrail.org.

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Sunday, January 18 - Union Township, Union County
Open House at the Caldwell Parsonage

On Sunday from 2:00 - 5:00 pm, the Caldwell Parsonage in Union Township, NJ will be open for guided tours. The museum, once the residence of Rev. James and Mrs. Hannah Caldwell, is listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Lore Ullrich and Anita Centeno will serve as docents. Admission is free. The Caldwell Parsonage is located at 909 Caldwell Avenue, Union Township, NJ. For more information, call Barbara at 908-687-0048 or visit www.uniontwphistoricalsociety.webs.com.

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Sunday, January 18 - Westampton, Burlington County
John Woolman - Quaker Preacher, Early Abolitionist

On Sunday, Peachfield's January Showcase will highlight the life of John Woolman, who devoted his life to Quaker teachings. His journals recount his travels throughout the United States and Europe. During his visits, he attended meetings encouraging fellow Quakers to give up the practice of selling and owning slaves. A DVD presentation featuring Bob Gleason of the American Historical Theatre of Pennsylvania as John Woolman will be presented at 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm, followed by a discussion of Woolman's works. Tours of Peachfield will be available after the presentations. Peachfield is located at 180 Burrs Road Westampton, NJ.

Admission is free. A free-will donation is welcome in support of the museum. Reservations are recommended. For more information and to reserve a seat, call 609-267-6996 or e-mail colonialdamesnj@comcast.net.

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Sunday, January 18 - Princeton, Mercer County
Historic Princeton Walking Tour
Children Friendly

Enjoy a 1.9 mile, two-hour walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Bainbridge House, Nassau Hall, the University Chapel, and Palmer Square. The early history of Princeton, the founding of the University, and the American Revolution are just some of the stories from Princeton’s history that you will learn on your tour.

Admission: $7 per adult; $4 children ages 6 to 12; free for children age 5 and under. Tickets are sold at Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ justifying at 12:00 noon. Tour begins at 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. Space is limited. For more information, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Through January 19, 2015 - Asbury Park, Monmouth County

"Asbury Park's Springwood Avenue Harmony

Long before Asbury Park became known for rock music, the city's African American community rocked on Springwood Avenue. Between 1910 and 1970, the city's West Side pioneered the sounds of jazz, gospel and rhythm & blues. Opening Sunday, see "Asbury Park's Springwood Avenue Harmony: Celebrating the West Side's Unique Musical Legacy." This exhibit explores, chronicles, and highlights Asbury Park's Black music scene from Count Basie to Billy Brown, through an impressive collection of rare photos and memorabilia.

Working with the Asbury Park Historical Society, the Light of Day Foundation and Monmouth University's Center for the Arts, Classic Urban Harmony, LLC is spearheading a comprehensive museum-like exhibit that will be previewed at the Heaven Art & Antiques Gallery, 721 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ, during the Light of Day concert series, January 11 - 19, 2015 (The Gallery is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. See the web site for hours: http://heavengallery.net).

The exhibit will display scores of rare photographs plus phonograph records, posters, sheet music and other memorabilia from Asbury Park's West Side. It will contain sections on jazz, gospel, R&B, doo wop and soul music. It will also highlight black radio and record labels. One section of the exhibit will feature photos and ads for early Springwood Avenue nightclubs.

Following the exhibit's close in Asbury Park, it will be expanded even further and moved to Monmouth University's larger Pollak Gallery on the university's campus at 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ, for the month of February.

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Sundays through January 25, 2015 - Cranbury, Middlesex 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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Sundays through January 29 - Morristown, Morris County
Exhibits at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

This January, there are three interesting exhibits at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum (MHHM) to enjoy Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday afternoons beginning Sunday, January 4, 2015.

There is still time to see the 2014 Christmas season exhibit "Another Stocking to Fill: Antique Christmas Toys and Decorations" which features toys and ornaments from a century ago. This was the seventh year this special exhibit have been created through generous object loans from "Sign of the Tymes Antiques" Lafayette NJ and objects from local collector Barbara Silverstein's collection. Enjoy this second floor exhibit during touring hours through January 29th.

Visitors can also view illustrator Thomas Nast's original Santa and Christmas images throughout the museum's galleries and period rooms. The Museum has the largest collection of Nast originals in the nation. 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 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. Nast's Civil War images of battlefront and home front were powerful tools for bringing the war into people's homes.

Visitors can explore more of Thomas Nast's work in the second floor gallery exhibit "The Civil War through the Eyes of 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), "The Civil War through the Eyes of Thomas Nast" will be on exhibit through August 2015.

In the main gallery exhibition "Thomas Nast: Unknown Works and American Icons" MHHM displays an important collection of rarely exhibited, virtually unknown works. Previously unpublished oil paintings and watercolors, rarely seen pencil sketches, pen and ink drawings, and original architectural elements from the artist's home are among the objects presented in the exhibition. In addition to these and several never-before-exhibited pieces, some of Thomas Nast's best-known characters will also be on display. Pencil sketches of Nast's family from his early years as well as paintings he created toward the end of his life around 1900 will be on display.  Nast worked with a variety of mediums as well as producing images not just of political life, but social as well.  He drew images of famous people of the time as well as his own family life and enjoyed putting his own image down on paper as can be seen by the variety of self-portraits exhibited.

The museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The last tour ticket is sold at 3:00 pm. Adults $8; Seniors and Students $6; Children 6 - 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is located at 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-538-2404 ext. 15 or visit www.maccullochhall.org.

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Through February 3, 2015 - Newton, Sussex County

Picatinny Arsena's Traveling Museum Panels

Picatinny Arsenal's traveling museum panels, created by their Cultural Resources Program, will be displayed at the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council [SCAHC] through February 3, 2015. The storyboard panels portray cultural and military heritage: beginning with the area's iron forges from 1749-50, which remained active until the conclusion of the Civil War; the initial construction of powder depots, which would be the basis for the Arsenal's creation; its evolution through both World Wars and the Cold War period; to its current status. The gallery is located at 133 Spring Street, Newton, NJ. For more information, call 973-383-0027 or visit www.scahc.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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Saturdays through February 28, 2015 - Freehold, Monmouth County
Farm: Agriculture in Monmouth County 1600 - 2013 - EXTENDED

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 $5.00 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 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 - Paterson, Passaic County

A Closer Look at our Community: The Fine Art of Mark Oberndorf

A new exhibit entitled A Closer Look at our Community: The Fine Art of Mark Oberndorf is open through March 29, 2015 in Lambert Castle (home of the Passaic County Historical Society) at 3 Valley Road, Paterson, NJ. This exhibit focuses on the sights of our local community, as shown in the paintings of Bergen County resident and artist Mark Oberndorf.

Oberndorf’s work focuses on the views of local buildings and features within our neighborhoods. Many pieces included in A Closer Look at our Community feature Passaic County, while others portray subjects from a wider geographic area. Some subjects include restaurant signs, barber shops, private homes, and fire stations. Through his work, Oberndorf demonstrates what is beautiful, interesting and quirky in our communities. Through this exhibition visitors will be able to see their environment in a different perspective. Visitors can access the exhibition during regular museum hours (Wednesday - Sunday). General museum admissions apply. Meet the artist at the exhibit reception held at Lambert Castle on Wednesday January 14, 2015 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. The reception is free for members; for all others regular admission applies. For more information, call 973-247-0085 or visit www.lambertcastle.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 April 17, 2015 - Haledon, Passaic County

New Haven's Garment Workers: An Elm City Story Exhibit

Children Friendly Site

On Saturday, the American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark located in Haledon, NJ proudly opens the exhibit entitled, "New Haven's Garment Workers: An Elm City Story" on loan from the Greater New Haven Labor History Association.

Through historic photographs and artifacts, "New Haven's Garment Workers: An Elm City Story" presents a vivid portrait of the lives, victories, struggles and sacrifices of a courageous group of working people in the clothing industry in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1932 and 1933, to combat sweatshop conditions in the clothing industry, workers undertook a large-scale unionization of the industry that resulted in improvements in wages, working conditions, and hours. "Their history offers important lessons for all of us in these times," notes Joan Cavanaugh, Ph.D., the exhibit's creator. The exhibit will be on view through April 17, 2015.

The American Labor Museum is headquartered in the historic Botto House National Landmark, located at 83 Norwood Street, Haledon, NJ. It was the meeting place for over 20,000 silk mill workers during the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike. The Museum offers a free lending library, restored period rooms, changing exhibits, Museum Store, Old World Gardens, educational programs and special events. The museum's hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm or by appointment. For more information, call 973-595-7953, visit www.labormuseum.net, or e-mail labormuseum@aol.com.

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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