NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 3/28/15 - 3/29/15

NJ WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS

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Friday, March 27 - April 25, 2015 - Pennington, Mercer County

Pennington Comes of Age: Photographs by George H. Frisbie

As part of the 125th anniversary of the incorporation of Pennington Borough, an exhibition of historic photographs, "Pennington Comes of Age," will be unveiled by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society at The Pennington School’s Silva Gallery of Art.

"Pennington Comes of Age" tells the story of the first 25 years of Pennington Borough’s incorporation, 1890–1915. During these years George Frisbie, who had grown up in a family-run business on South Main Street, captured the world around him through the viewfinder of his big wooden camera. His images not only document people and places, but recorded many of the changes that took place over that span of time.

Descendants of Mr. Frisbie still reside in Pennington Borough, and in 1986 Alice Frisbie and her daughter, Mary Thornton, donated 800 negatives to the Historical Society.

The exhibition opens Friday, March 27 and continue through Saturday, April 25. A special reception will be held on Wednesday, April 1, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. Gallery hours are Monday - Thursday, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm; Friday, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm; or by appointment. For more information, call Gallery Director Dolores Eaton at 609-737-4133.

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Saturday, March 28 - Maywood, Bergen County

Visit with the Easter Bunny

Children Friendly

The Easter Bunny will make a visit to the Maywood Station Museum, 269 Maywood Avenue, Maywood, NJ on Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon during a special Museum Open House. Parents are invited to bring their cameras for a unique opportunity to photograph their children with the Easter Bunny at the historic station museum. The museum features a wide assortment of displays, artifacts and photographs on exhibit and visitors are invited to climb aboard restored Caboose 24542 and view its operating model train layout and additional photographs and displays. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.maywoodstation.com.

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Saturday, March 28 - Cape May, Cape May County

Questing for Patterns in 18th-century Brick Homes

On Saturday, join the Friends of the Physick Estate for this educational program by Jeanne Alper of the New Jersey Questers on beautiful brick-patterned New Jersey homes that date back to the Colonial era. Admission is $5 for Friends members; $10 for non-members. The program will be held at the Cape May Lutheran Church, 509 Pittsburgh Avenue, Cape May, NJ and begin at 1:00 pm. Sponsored by the Friends of the Physick Estate, an affinity group of the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday, March 28 - Haledon, Passaic County

Prospect Park

On Saturday at 2:00 pm, meet the authors of Prospect Park (Arcadia Publishing, 2014) at the American Labor Museum/Botto House in Haledon. Authors Professor Ronald Verdicchio of William Paterson University and co-authors Eman al-Jayeh, Bria Barnes, Kelly Ginart, Amani Kattaya, Megan Perry, and Paige Rainville will discuss this first published account of the borough's history. Copies of Prospect Park will be available for purchase. Light refreshments will be served.

In Prospect Park, the authors present the first written account of the borough's history. Dominated by Dutch culture in the twentieth century, Prospect Park has seen a large influx of Arabic/Middle Eastern, Hispanic, and African-American populations. The American Labor Museum/Botto House is located at 83 Norwood St., Haledon, NJ. For more information, call 973-595-7953 or visit www.labormuseum.net.

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Saturday, March 28 - Landing, Morris County

Digital Day at The Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum

The Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum is planning its first ever Digital Day at the museum on Saturday. Innovative Document Imaging, who have performed work for the museum for years, will be at the museum from 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm. You can bring in your VHS  tapes, 8mm and 16mm films, slides, photographs, and pretty much any form of media and they will convert them to DVDs at a very reasonable cost. All work will be returned to the museum for you to pick-up a few weeks later. The Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum is located in the locktender's home in Hopatcong State Park, Lakeside Boulevard, Landing, NJ. For more information, call 973-398-2616 or visit www.lakehopatconghistory.com.

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Saturday, March 28 - Princeton, Mercer County

Battlefield Clean-Up
Children Friendly

On Saturday, join members of the Princeton Battlefield Society at Princeton Battlefield from 1:00 - 4:00 pm to cut down invasive bamboo, continue work on the ruins of an old barn, or pick up twigs that have fallen over the winter! Do something for the park while learning more about history surrounding the Battle of Princeton. They will have gloves, saws, clippers, and pruning shears to put at your disposal - but also please bring your own so they are sure to have enough. Enjoy the sun (hopefully!) and put a "spring" in your step and join them at the Clarke House in the park! Sponsored by the Princeton Battlefield Society and co-sponsored by the Sierra Club-NJ Chapter/Central Group. Princeton Battlefield is located at 500 Mercer Road, Princeton, NJ. To RSVP and for more information and questions, e-mail Kip at princetonbattlefieldsocinfo@gmail.com and visit www.theprincetonbattlefieldsociety.com.

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Saturday, March 28 - Ho-Ho-Kus, Bergen County

Blues Night at The Hermitage!

The Hermitage Museum is pleased to present "Black Lace Blues," a five-piece band from Montclair/Bloomfield, NJ. Join us for an evening of blues music and great food! This event will be held at Jaqua Hall, 335 North Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus. Limited seating but plenty of free parking! Proceeds benefit the 1888 Hermitage Summer Kitchen restoration. Admission: $50 per person (FOH Members: $45) Includes beer, wine, and light fare. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the museum office at 201-445-8311 x 101 or visit www.thehermitage.org.

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Saturday, March 28 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County

Lambing

Children Friendly

Twin lambs, newly hatched chicks, and baby pigs are among the dozens of new faces you will find at Howell Living History Farm these days, as well as a few colonies of bees.

Visitors to the 130-acre working farm will be able to meet these animals up close during the farm’s annual New Faces Day from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Throughout the day, farmers will be present to introduce visitors to babies born this spring, as well as to other animals.  Walk-in visits to the henhouse, sheep barn, and pig pen will be permitted.  Visitors to the main barn will be able to meet the farm’s workhorses and oxen.

Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.com.

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Saturday - Sunday, March 28 - 29 and Saturday, April 4 - Whippany, Morris County

Easter Bunny Express

Children Friendly

New Jersey's Original Easter Bunny Express celebrates its 23rd continuous year of operation in 2015. Celebrate the return of spring and the Easter holidays with a ride on the Whippany Railway Museum's Easter Bunny Express. Our Special Easter Train Ride ensures a fun outing for the kids...and the entire family.

During each excursion, the Easter Bunny makes his way through the train and visits with the children onboard. The Bunny's helpers follow along, giving the kids a special Easter gift. Be sure to bring your camera and take pictures of the kids with the Easter Bunny, so they can always remember their day onboard the train! Our kid-friendly hobos and clowns will also be on each train to entertain the children with tricks and jokes.

The 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland and return is a thrill for the children as they enjoy what for many will be their very first train ride...and they can also learn about and experience the history of New Jersey's rich railroad and transportation heritage. Riders will have time onboard the train to enjoy the spring weather and the excitement during the ride.

The Whippany Railway Museum's Easter train is the original excursion of its type in the North Jersey area - since 1992 our Easter Trains have been complete sell-outs, and seeing the excited faces of the children as they climb aboard the train ensures an afternoon of family fun. Passengers can combine the thrill of riding our Springtime Streamliner along with touring the museum site, with its outstanding collection of historic railroad locomotives, rolling stock, operating model train layouts and vintage farm tractors.

In addition to the regular coaches that make up the train, make your day Extra Special by purchasing limited tickets for a nostalgic Easter ride aboard the museum's elegant 1927-era Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) 'Club Car' Jersey Coast. The car has the 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 Easter 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, snow, 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. Train fare includes admission to museum building and grounds.

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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Saturday - Sunday, March 28 - 29 - Trenton, Mercer County
"Marching Out" French and Indian War Event
Children Friendly

Join the Old Barracks Museums as they journey back to the 1760s, a time just before the American  Revolution, when New Jersey was embroiled in an earlier conflict known as the French and Indian War. Come see first-hand what military life was like in the colonies before we fought to become an independent nation.

Visitors are invited to experience a typical day in the life of a soldier stationed at the barracks and to interact with the people who cooked, slept, drilled, and lived within these walls. Take a tour of the barracks itself, which was built in 1758 for the purpose of housing these British forces.

Activities throughout the day include morning roll call, drill and firelock demonstrations, ration distribution, and cooking. There will also be a sutler station at which the soldiers can purchase drink and other sundry items not provided by the crown. This promises to be a fun and educational weekend for the entire family!

Time: Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Admission: $8-adults, $6-seniors/students, free for children 5 and under, active military and Old Barracks members. Parking is free and conveniently located in the small lot directly next to the museum. The Old Barracks are located at 101 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ. For more information, call 609-777-3599 or visit www.barracks.org.

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Sunday, March 29 - Plainfield, Union County

Madame CJ Walker: A Self-Made Woman

The Historical Society of Plainfield will host a special presentation, "Madame CJ Walker: A Self-Made Woman," by interpreter Dr. Daisy Century on Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00  pm, in the second floor ballroom of the Drake House Museum.

Madame CJ Walker was an entrepreneur, a civil rights advocate, and America's first female self-made millionaire. She was a philanthropist and a financial supporter of black colleges and universities. Walker amassed her fortune through dedication, hard work, and innovation. She began with a small "Special Correspondence Course" business that was founded on her System of Beauty Culture. She focused on her "hair-growing" business, and in 1911 the Madame CJ Walker Manufacturing Company of Indiana was incorporated, and her business grew rapidly.

Dr. Daisy Century brings Madam CJ Walker to life through a thoroughly researched, dramatically intense portrayal. Dr. Century trained as a teacher, and earned a PHD in Science Education from Temple University.

This program is free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come first-served basis. The Historical Society of Plainfield is located in the Drake House Museum, 602 West Front Street, Plainfield, NJ. For more information, call 908-755-5831; or visit www.drakehouseplainfieldnj.org.

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Sunday, March 29 - Trenton, Mercer County

Women Who Made a Difference

Celebrate Women in History Month with your friends at the Ocean County Historical Society, 26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River, NJ on Sunday at 2:00 pm. Join OCHS member Doris Villa as she presents "Women Who Made A Difference." Learn about famous and infamous women throughout the world, with special emphasis on Alice Paul, Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, Bella Abzug and Bessie Coleman. Admission free and refreshments will be served. Call 732-341-1880 to reserve your seat. For more information, visit www.oceancountyhistory.org.

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Sunday, March 29 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County

1830s Temperance Rally and School Days

Children Friendly

Allaire Village, Inc. presents an 1830s Temperance Rally at The Historic Allaire Village located in Allaire State Park on Sunday at 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm. This special event focuses on the villagers of the Howell Iron Works Company of the 1830's and their crusade against the evils of "Demon Rum" and immoderation. It also features a Ladies' Temperance Social to celebrate the advantages of sobriety. There will be a $5/car parking fee to the State Park; admission to the event is free and there is a charge to enter the historic buildings. The Historic Village opens at 12:00 noon and closes at 4:00 pm.

The Temperance movement grew up with the Industrial Revolution. Increasing use of machines for manufacturing led to a greater concern for competent and sober workers in America's factories. But the movement, whose original purpose as to shape and more responsible society through moderation of life's pleasures, soon grew many branches and encompassed many other social causes. The fight to rid the land of the dangers of alcohol was becoming more prominent and women began to play a greater role in the crusade by the 1830s.

The event begins with a meeting and rally of the Howell Work's Temperance Society in the Historic Village and will feature inspiring speeches rallying against the horrors of "Demon Rum." Villagers will encourage visitors in the taking of the Temperance oath. Visitors are also welcome to participate in 19th century games and amusements with the villagers. It's a great day of history and family fun. The Bakery and General Store will be open for shopping and refreshments.

Allaire Village, Incorporated is licensed by the State of New Jersey to operate the 40-acre, Historic Village at Allaire, the site of James P. Allaire's Howell Iron Works Company in the 1830s. Allaire Village, Inc. receives no state funding towards the educational programming presented throughout the year, but is strongly supported through private donations, membership fees, fund-raising events, and patronage of their retail stores. 

The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park, 4265 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. For more information, contact the Allaire Village office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, at 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

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Sunday, March 29 - 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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Sunday, March 29 - Montclair, Essex County
House Tours

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, March 29 - Morristown, Morris County

Writing & Fighting the Civil War

On Sunday, historian and author Bill Styple will present “Writing & Fighting the Civil War - Soldier Letters to the New York Sunday Mercury 1861-1865”. Eager for the first-hand news from the battlefront, the editors of the Mercury asked the departing volunteers to write and "inform us of any events of interest." This simple request for news generated the largest and most impressively detailed collection of journalistic correspondence ever written during the Civil War. Bill edited a book about these 3,000 letters after discovering and researching the extensive collection and will discuss this first-hand account of the war and unique collection of Civil War journalism. Visitors can also view the exhibit “The Civil War Through the Eyes of Thomas Nast”, prior to the program. On display are a selection of images by Nast of battles, Union and Confederate troop movements, and their activities throughout the Civil War. Like the newspaper letters Bill will discuss, Nast’s illustrations in publications like “Harper’s Weekly” brought the information about what was happening into the homes of the American public. Bill Styple is an author of several books about the American Civil War and was the co-curator the 2012 - 2013 MHHM “American Heroes in Bronze” exhibit and presented three popular and engaging Civil War presentations.

Tickets go on sale beginning at 1:00 pm on the day of the program and remain on sale until the presentation begins at 4:30 pm. No advance sales. Speaker tickets include admission to the museum exhibits during the afternoon and a guided tour of period rooms, the last tour ticket is sold at 3:00 pm. Speaker tickets will remain on sale until 4:30 pm. The Museum’s collection of “Currier & Ives” prints on display throughout the second floor of the museum and the second floor “The Civil War Through the Eyes of Thomas Nast” and “Canals of New Jersey” exhibits will remain on view until 4:30 pm. The first floor “Thomas Nast: Unknown Works and American Icons” exhibit will close 3:30 - 4:00pm in preparation for the program. Tickets to hear speakers are adults $8; seniors and students $6; children 6 - 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are admitted free.

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. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is located at 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-538-2404 ext. 10 or visit www.maccullochhall.org.

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Sunday, March 29 - River Edge, Bergen County

Under the Shad Moon - Lenape New Year
Children Friendly

The Bergen County Historical Society celebrates the Lenape New Year, Chwame Gischuch (Shad Moon), at Historic New Bridge Landing on Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00 pm. The first Dark Moon after the Long Moon marks the arrival of Chwame gischuch, the Shad Moon, and the New Year of the ancient Sanhicans and Minisinks, locally known as the Hackensacks and Tappans. Native peoples returned from their winter villages, gathering at the narrows of the great streams, in places such as Acquackanonck (Garfield) and Aschatking (New Bridge), to set their fykes and weirs and catch smelt and later shad as these fish ran up the rivers in great numbers.

Archaeologist and author Dr. Meta Janowitz will give an illustrated talk at 1:30 pm on Sara Roelofse, a remarkable woman who lived in remarkable times. Born in Amsterdam, she came as a young child to New Netherland (1630) where she came into contact with settlers from many European countries and members of both the Lenape and Iroquois peoples, as well as enslaved Africans. She married at a young age and raised nine children while acting, when the occasion required it, as a translator and cultural mediator between Europeans and Americans. During her lifetime New Amsterdam and New Netherland experienced wars and two changes in government but her family remained intact. We know about her official activities from brief entries in government documents and her domestic life from even briefer accounts in other sources, but we can piece together a picture of her life and influence from these and from artifacts excavated at the site where she and her first husband, Hans Kierstede, and later her daughter Blandina Bayard lived.

At 3:00 pm, Chief Dwaine Perry of the Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation will make remarks and Floyd Little Sun Hicks will give a welcoming song and a thank you (blessing) song.

The 3:00 program will be followed by historian Kevin Wright, author of 1609: A Country That Was Never Lost, who will present an illustrated talk in the Steuben House, entitled "The Peach War of 1655." In keeping with the Lenape New Year, his talk explores a little known chapter in Bergen County history, illuminating the relationship between its Native American inhabitants and Dutch settlers. The talk reviews the events of September 15, 1655, when 64 canoes, carrying 500 warriors from ten Indian tribes, landed on the western shore of Manhattan island, instigating a destructive conflict misnamed the Peach War, which resulted in the death of 50 colonists; the capture of another hundred, mostly women and children; the burning of 28 farms, together with 12,000 schepels of grain, and the loss of nearly 600 cattle. It is the seldom told story of how rivalries among native societies and the competition to supply firearms among European colonial powers, expressed through diplomacy and warfare, turned eastern North America into an arena of international conflict in 1655. It is also a story of early attempts to regulate firearms and liquor and of the exchange of arms for hostages. Selections from the Bergen County Historical Society's collection of local Native American artifacts will also be displayed.

Historic New Bridge Landing is located at 1201-1209 Main Street, River Edge, NJ. Suggested donation: $7 adult, $5 children, BCHS members free. For more information, call 201-343-9492 or visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.

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Through March 29, 2015 - Paterson, Passaic County

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

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 Friday, 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 April 18, 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 Saturday, April 18, 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 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 - Ridgewood, Bergen County

"Hemlines" Exhibit

The Ridgewood Historical Society and the Schoolhouse Museum are pleased to announce their new exhibit, Hemlines, open through July 2015. This exhibit features women's hats, shoes, handbags, jewelry, furs, wedding attire, and fabulous dresses from 1900 to 1969. Hemlines will run through the end of July. The Schoolhouse Museum is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 1:00 - 3:00 pm and Sundays from 2:00 - 4:0 pm. Hemlines is a "must see" exhibit for anyone interested in fashion! The Schoolhouse Museum is located at 650 East Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. For more information, call 201-447-3242 or visit www.ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.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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Through September 1, 2015 - Morristown, Morris County
Treasures from the Collection

There's something for everyone to enjoy in the Morris County Historical Society's new exhibit, "Treasures from the Collection," now featured at Acorn Hall through September 1, 2015. See everything from clothing to documents, militaria to fine arts, and furniture to photography, and more in this treasure trove display from Morris County, and beyond. Highlights include heirlooms from notable local families such as the McEwans, the Condits, the Lindsleys, and the Bonsalls, and spectacular stickpins from the remarkable collection of MCHS Board Member Emeritus Learned T. Bulman.

Pieces from across the country include an 1876 ball gown worn to the Centennial Celebration in Washington, D.C., an assortment of 19th-century U.S. flags, a scarab stick pin from the reign of Ramesses II, and various 19th-century weaponry and artifacts related to the Civil War. Compare earlier fashion trends to the haute couture Pucci-inspired mini-dress, circa 1960s. For the furniture aficionados, marvel at a Victorian-era papier-mâché chair, a mahogany Chippendale chair, and a Hitchcock-style chair from Morristown furniture maker, H. Frazee. Travel with ease to faraway Japan, and experience Asian art in the form of wood block prints and porcelain vases.

Admission to tour Acorn Hall and to see the exhibit is $6 for adults; $5 for seniors; $3 for students, and free for children age 12 and under and MCHS members. To view the exhibit, only, is one half of the admission. Acorn Hall is open for tours on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, and on Sundays from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. For more information, call the Morris County Historical Society at 973-267-3465 or visit www.acornhall.org.

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Through October 30, 2015 - Morristown, Morris County

“Canals of New Jersey” Exhibit

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum (MHHM) has partnered with the Canal Society of New Jersey (CSNJ) to present their traveling exhibit “Canals of New Jersey”. The exhibit was created in 1985 in part to commemorate the Society’s 25th anniversary. The display consists of panels that tell the story of New Jersey’s two towpath canals, the Morris and the Delaware and Raritan. In 1824, the Morris Canal & Banking Company was chartered to build a canal that would carry coal to developing markets along the eastern seaboard. The Morris Canal would pass through the heart of New Jersey’s iron district and provide the long-needed transportation system that would promote commercial activity and enable rustic settlements to grow into thriving industrial towns. The canal extended 102 miles from Pennsylvania, across varied terrain through New Jersey, ending at Newark. By the early 1900s the canal had become obsolete. Today, the Morris Canal Greenway, a partnership between local communities and the Canal Society of New Jersey, seeks to preserve the surviving historic remains of the canal, interpret canal sites, and offer recreational opportunities to the public. 

For the installation at MHHM the exhibit has gotten a facelift, with new titles and new art work. The CSNJ’s display is supplemented by objects including some from MHHM’s collection and information about Macculloch Hall founder George Macculloch who had the idea for the Morris Canal. In the early 1820s, George Macculloch had a vision of a waterway to connect the Delaware River to the Hudson River in Northern New Jersey. This exhibit in part celebrates Macculloch’s part in the vision, promotion, and impact that the Morris Canal had on New Jersey. The canal would become an engineering feat of its day, using locks and inclined planes to climb the elevation differences in the land. The canal was a technical marvel of its time and helped to spur the economy in New Jersey by allowing goods to reach further afield than ever before. The exhibit shares some of the stories of the workers and families who lived and worked on the canal, as well as other details about its construction using photographs and drawings, as well objects including model canal boats and images. The “Canals of New Jersey” exhibit will be on display in the second floor gallery during touring hours from March 15th through October 30, 2015.

MHHM 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. MHHM 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 is located at 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-538-2404 ext. 10 or visit www.maccullochhall.org.

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