Weekend Historical Happenings: 5/9/15 - 5/10/15

NJ WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS

Know about a historical event happening in your area? 

Send me an e-mail to let us know!

Be the first to find out about these events on Facebook!

Saturday, May 9 - Manalapan, Monmouth County

11th Annual Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair

Children Friendly

Experience five centuries of New Jersey’s history all in one place at the annual Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair - a historical festival for all ages on Saturday at its new location at Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan, NJ.

This free, award-winning event, which runs from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, rain or shine, annually draws more than 5,000 visitors. The Fair is a fun-filled adventure into New Jersey’s past with living history demonstrations, military re-enactors, tours, exhibits, period music and dance, and historical organizations and museums from around the state.

There are plenty of hands-on activities for kids and adults, from participating in historical games to plowing a furrow or participating in a military drill. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet such historical figures as British General Sir Henry Clinton, Clara Barton, Walt Whitman, Molly Pitcher, and American General George Washington. Admission to the fair is free. Parking is $10 per vehicle.

One of the largest battles of the American Revolution took place in the fields and forests that now make up Monmouth Battlefield State Park. The park preserves a splendid rural 18th-century landscape of hilly farmland and hedgerows that encompasses miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, picnic areas, a restored Revolutionary War farmhouse and a new Visitor Center that opened to the public on Flag Day 2013. The park is easily accessible from Routes 9 and 33.

The Fair is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Historic Sites, Division of Parks and Forestry, and its partners. For more information and a complete list of activities about the Fair, call 732-462-9616 or visit www.njhistoryfair.org.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, May 9 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Embroidery Demonstration

Children Friendly

On Saturday, step back in time to see the delicate craft of embroidery in action. This free event runs from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm. Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, May 9 - Edison, Middlesex County

Slavery and Freedom in Middlesex County

The Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission invites you to learn about the history of slavery in Middlesex County. This free program is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Saturday in Crabiel Hall at Middlesex County College located at 2600 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ.

This lecture will be presented by Graham Russell Hodges, the George Dorland Langdon, Jr., Professor of History and Africana & Latin American Studies at Colgate University. He is also the author of two published works on slavery in central New Jersey: Slavery and Freedom in the Rural North: African Americans in Monmouth County 1665-1865 and Root and Branch: African Americans in New York and East Jersey, 1613-1863. 

The program is free to attend, but registration is required. For more information and to register, call 732-745-4489.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, May 9 - Lake Hopatcong, Morris County

Lake Hopatcong Block Party
Children Friendly

On Saturday, the Lake Hopatcong Foundation hosts the second annual Lake Hopatcong Block Party at Hopatcong State Park from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. There will be some 100 antique and craft vendors as well as a multitude of local non-profit groups to tell you a bit more about themselves. Also on hand will be an interesting mix of local food vendors and food trucks. There will be sailing, fishing, boating, and other demonstrations along the lakefront all day. A stage will be set up and there will also be entertainment throughout the day. Admission is free with just the request of a $6.00 per car donation for parking. And yes, the Lake Hopatcong Museum will be open too - stop in and say hi! For more information, visit www.lakehopatcongfoundation.org.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, May 9 -  Morris Township, Morris County

Caroline's Special Place: Cottage Craft
Children Friendly

May is National Preservation Month. Discover how Caroline Foster built ‘The Temple of Abiding Peace’ at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm and the importance of saving historic structures. Families can make a simple paper replica of the cottage to take home.

Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit www.morrisparks.net.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, May 9 - Morristown, Morris County

Council of War and the French Alliance
Children Friendly

Our French allies are sending soldiers and ships! How should we use them? Become a general in the Continental Army and assist in the planning of the campaign for the summer of 1780. Learn about the status of the war and how the French assisted the American cause. This program will be part of the hourly guided tours of the Ford Mansion at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00pm. The Ford Mansion is located within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: $4 per adult. For more information, call 973-539-2016 ext. 210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, May 9 - Mount Laurel, Burlington County

Tour Paulsdale

Paulsdale is open to the public for Second Saturday Tours at 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm. Paulsdale is the birthplace of Quaker suffragist Alice Paul. Tours include a 15-minute presentation about Alice Paul's life and work and a guided tour of the first floor of the property where visitors learn about the Paul family's daily life in the house and its present day use as a girl's leadership center. Tours are $5.00 per person.

Paulsdale is located at 128 Hooton Road, Mount Laurel, NJ. For information about group tours or future tour dates, contact the Alice Paul Institute at 856-231-1885, e-mail info@alicepaul.org, or visit www.alicepaul.org.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, May 9 - Little Egg Harbor, Ocean County

Eyewitness Images From the American Revolution

On Saturday, the Tuckerton Historical Society presents "Eyewitness Images From the American Revolution." Arthur S. Lefkowitz will present a color slide lecture of 18th-century artistry in the form of studio-executed history paintings, portraits, illustrations, and rapidly-executed drawings done in the field. While some of the artwork presented may look familiar, Mr. Lefkowitz gives detailed information about each image and well as insights concerning the artists who created them. The pictures in the presentation have been gathered from a variety of museum collections and, by using high quality reproductions, interesting historical details come to life that are frequently lost when the pictures are shown in books. Included in the presentation are portraits of George Washington, painted from life, illustrating the minor changes in the uniforms he wore as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. Understanding these uniform alterations makes it possible to date when a Washington portrait was painted. This presentation will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the Giffordtown Schoolhouse Museum, 35 Leitz Blvd., Little Egg Harbor, NJ. For more information, call 609-294-1547 or visit www.tuckertonhistoricalsociety.org

-----------------------------------

Saturday, May 9 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County

Spring Cleaning

Children Friendly

Throw open the windows and doors! Old-fashioned spring-cleaning is on the 'to do' list at Howell Living Farm on Saturday! Tours of the recently restored farmhouse - and the cleaning operations going on inside - will be offered throughout the day. In the farm's Visitor Center, a display of aprons, cleaning devices and cleaning supplies typical of the farm's circa 1900 era will be on display. Visitors are invited to bring their own aprons, and cleaning recipes and secrets, for sharing during an "Apron Fashion Show" held in the Visitor Center at 2:00 pm.

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.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, May 9 - Edgewater Park, Burlington County

Open House

Open House on Saturday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm at the 1806 Coopertown Meeting House on Cooper Street in Edgewater Park, NJ. The Riverfront Historical Society will also be holding a perennial plant sale during the open house. This event is hosted by Riverfront Historical Society, preserving the proud histories of Beverly, Delanco, Edgewater Park. For more information, visit www.orgsites.com/nj/riverfronthistoricalsociety.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, May 9 - Ridgewood, Bergen County

Organizing Genealogical Information

There are as many ways to organize genealogical information as ancestors in our family tree — and most find they can improve their methods as records grow. Michelle D. Novak will explore some organizational methods for digitizing, naming, and organizing your files, discuss common pitfalls to avoid, and present some ideas for helping your research live beyond technology. Bring your questions, your ideas, and your own favored methods to share. Information on best practices handout provided. Presented by Michelle D. Novak.

The class will run from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. To register, visit the Reference Desk at the Ridgewood Public Library or call 201-670-5600. Genealogical Society of Bergen County Members and Ridgewood Residents, $5. All other attendees, $10. This class will be held at the Ridgewood Public Library 125 North Maple Avenue Ridgewood, NJ. Please note that advanced registration is required and classes fill up quickly. For more information, call 01-670-5600 or visit www.njgsbc.org.

-----------------------------------

Saturday - Sunday, May 9 - 10 - Atlantic City, Atlantic County

Mother's Climb Absecon Free All Weekend!

Children Friendly

Looking for a memorable way to tell Mom she's the light of your life? Then bring her to Absecon Lighthouse on Saturday or Sunday, because dear old Abby is treating Mothers to a free climb. Moms who show their "I Climbed" card at nearby Tony Boloney's Pizza afterward will receive a free slice of pizza as a reward. Hours of operation both days are 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, with the last climb at 3:30 pm. Parking on-site is free and dogs are welcome on leashes. First lit in 1857, Absecon Lighthouse is New Jersey's tallest lighthouse and 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, NJ it is open to visitors Thursdays through Mondays, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-449-1360 or visitwww.abseconlighthouse.org.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, May 10 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County

Quilt Block Display
Children Friendly

The results of Walnford's Quilt Block Challenge will be revealed on Sunday afternoon when they unveil what promises to be an amazing display of creative design and needlework. Entries will be displayed at Historic Walnford from May 10 through 31. Stop in from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

While there, tour 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, 08501. For more information, visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, May 10 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Blacksmith Demonstration
Children Friendly

On Sunday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to take a step back in time to watch blacksmiths perform their craft. They will be shaping iron into everyday products. Blacksmiths were as common as an auto mechanic in towns and on farms of the 1890s. This free event runs from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, May 10 - Montclair, Essex County

House Tours and 2nd Sunday Family Funday: A Mother’s Day Treat

Family Friendly

Spend Mother’s Day doing something a little different. 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.

Bring your kids and grandkids for tours and activities designed for the family, including making a tussie-mussie to give to Mom as a memento of the day. Special Mother’s Day family tour is designed around the women and children who were part of the house’s 200 year history.

Tussie-mussies are small bouquets of flowers, wrapped in doilies, that traditionally given as gifts since the Middle Ages. Queen Victoria made them especially popular in the Victorian period (19th century), when they often used as accessories. The choice of the flower often sent a message from the giver to the receiver.

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.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, May 10 - 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 starting 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.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, May 10 - 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.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, May 10 - Morristown, Morris County

Women of the Ford Mansion

Children Friendly

In honor of Mother's Day, join a ranger for a special Ford Mansion tour, where you'll learn how among so many men at the Ford Mansion, a handful of women changed the military headquarters into a home. Space is limited to 20 people (first-come, first served) and reservations are not accepted. Tours at 10:00, 11:00, and 1:00pm at the Ford Mansion. The Ford Mansion is located within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: $4 per adult. For more information, call 973-539-2016 ext. 210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

-----------------------------------

Through June 28, 2015 - Paterson, Passaic County

Highlights of the Paterson Evening News Collection Exhibit and Reception

The Passaic County Historical Society announces its newest exhibit, Highlights of the Paterson Evening News Collection. On exhibit until Sunday June 28, 2015, the display will showcase this newly digitized photograph collection. The Paterson Evening News Collection consists of over 16,000 images, dating from 1946 through 1972. Together these photographs offer an invaluable look at the history of Passaic County and the State of New Jersey. Over seventy photographs have been selected for this exhibit to highlight the variety of subjects incorporated within the collection. Visitors can access the exhibition during regular museum hours (Wednesday - Sunday). General museum admissions apply.

Hear more about the collection at the exhibit reception held at Lambert Castle on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 2:00 pm. Co-curator and digitization specialist Boris Von Faust will discuss his digitizing process and share more of his favorite images from the collection. The reception is free for members; otherwise regular museum admission applies.

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

-----------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------
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.

-----------------------------------
Through August 16, 2015 - Morristown, Morris County
275th Anniversary of the Founding of the Township of Morris, 1740-2015

In conjunction with the Mayor and Township Committee of Morris Township and The Historic Preservation Commission of Morris Township, The Morristown and Morris Township Library is hosting an exhibit celebrating the 275th anniversary of the founding of Morris Township. The exhibit will be on display in the second floor, F.M. Kirby Gallery from through August 16, 2015. The exhibit is also supported by the Friends of the Morristown & Morris Township Library.

The colonial legislature of New Jersey created Morris County on March 15, 1739 naming the county, for the Governor of New Jersey, Colonel Lewis Morris (for which the Township and Morristown would later also be named). The county was initially divided into three townships in 1740: Pequannock, Hanover, and Morris. Morris Township originally took up half of the county but has been subdivided many times since and now encompasses 15.45 square miles. In its first two hundred years, the Township was primarily farmland but this changed drastically over time as much of New Jersey morphed into the “urban” designation tagged currently with the U.S. Census Bureau. The anniversary exhibit will focus not only on Morris Township’s agricultural past, but also its part in the American Revolution and its fame as home to Gilded Age, New York City millionaire mansions. The exhibition will also examine the history of the Township’s fire and police departments, The Seeing Eye, the College of Saint Elizabeth and other institutions as well as famous Township residents.

The Morristown and Morris Township Library is located at 1 Miller Rd, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call the Library’s North Jersey History & Genealogy Center at 973-538-3473 or visit www.jfpl.org/NJHistoryHome.cfm.

-----------------------------------
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.

-----------------------------------
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.

-----------------------------------
Through September 13, 2015 - Oceanville, Atlantic County
Pine Barrens: Life and Legends

This historic exhibition at The Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University revisits the work and play of life in the Pine Barrens. Industries of charcoal, glass, paper and iron once thrived in the Pines, while music and merrymaking filled the dance halls and stories of witches and the Jersey Devil abounded. The exhibition is a collaboration between the South Jersey Culture & History Center (SJCHC) and the Noyes Museum of Art. Admission to the museum is: Adults $5; Seniors (60 and older) $4; Students with ID $4; Stockton Students, Faculty, and Staff with ID Free; Members Free; and Children (6 and under) Free. The Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University is located at 733 Lily Lake Road, Oceanville (Galloway Township), NJ. For more information, call 609-652-8848 or visit www.noyesmuseum.org/exhibitions.html.

-----------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------

Through January 6, 2016 - Woodbury, Gloucester County

Gloucester Abbey: Downton Style Fashions Exhibit

Gloucester Abbey: Downton Style Fashions is currently on display at the exhibit at the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum in Woodbury, New Jersey. The exhibit will conclude on January 6, 2016. This remarkable exhibit features ladies’ fashions from the society's collection from the time period covered by the popular PBS Masterpiece Theater series Downton Abbey. Over 100 vintage dresses/ensembles from the museum’s collection dating from 1910 through the 1930s are showcased, including period wedding gowns. Also on display are ladies accessories, including hats, shoes, purses, jewelry, and lingerie. Don’t miss this fantastic exhibit!

The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, and the last Sunday of the month from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Private tours may be booked for days/times other than our regular public hours. Adult admission $5; children 6-18 years $1; children under 6 free. The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum is located at 58 N. Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096. For more information, call 856-848-8531 or visit www.rootsweb.com/~njgchs.

-----------------------------------

Through June 26, 2016 - Piscataway, Middlesex County

The Icons of American Culture: History of New Jersey Diners Exhibit

Children Friendly

When was the last time you ate at a diner? If you are like millions of New Jerseyans, the answer is not too long ago. Dubbed “the land of diners,” New Jersey has forged a unique relationship with these casual eateries. Stainless steel, neon, and menus that go on for days are part of the Garden State landscape. Come explore their rich history with us! This seven-room exhibit tells the story of some of the of the Garden State’s most iconic eateries. This exhibit runs from April 12, 2015 - June 26, 2016 and is free of charge.

The exhibit is open Tuesday – Friday from 1:00 – 4:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Closed Mondays, Saturdays, and Holidays. The Cornelius Low House Museum is located at 1225 River Road, Piscataway, NJ. For more information, call 732-745-4177 or visit www.co.middlesex.nj.us.

-----------------------------------

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