NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 7/18/15

NJ WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS

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Saturday, July 18 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County

Summer Flea Market

The Historic Village at Allaire is hosting a Summer Flea Market as a fundraiser on Saturday, from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm. The event is held in the Show Field of Allaire State Park. There is a $5 parking fee for this event. With more than 100 vendors displaying new, used, and collectible treasures of all types, there will be something for everyone.

Shop all day, visit the on-site food vendor, or spend some time in the Historic Village. The General Store and Bakery will also be open beginning at 10:00 am. This event is a fundraiser, benefiting the historic and educational programs presented at the Historic Village at Allaire by the non-profit organization, Allaire Village, Incorporated.

The Historic Village at Allaire is located at 4263 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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Saturday, July 18 - Morristown, Morris County

A House's Tale

Children Friendly

The "Cape Cod" style farmhouse built by Henry Wick has endured, despite over 260 years of active use. Travel through time with a ranger and explore the multifaceted story of this historic building from the Wick House Yard within Jockey Hollow from 1:00 - 3:30 pm. In the event of rain, the program will be moved to the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center. Cost: Free. Jockey Hollow is located within Morristown National Historical Park, 580 Jockey Hollow Road (approximate), Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Saturday, July 18 - Margate, Atlantic County

Lucy's 134th Birthday!

Children Friendly

Lucy the Elephant in Margate, NJ turns 134 this weekend! Join in the celebration on Saturday from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm. There will be a rock climbing wall, moon bounce, giant water slide, mechanical elephant ride, carnival games, tarot card reader, stilt walker, and food including roasted corn on the cob, hot dogs, popcorn, Philly pretzels, cotton candy, snow cones, and of course birthday cake!

Lucy the Elephant is located at 9200 Atlantic Avenue, Margate, NJ. Free parking will be available at the Union Avenue School Playground. Shuttles to Lucy will leave every fifteen minutes. For more information, call 609-823-6473 or visit www.lucytheelephant.org.

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Saturday, July 18 - Jersey City, Hudson County

Shakespeare's "The Murder of Thomas Arden of Faversham" Live Performance

On Saturday, stop by the Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery for a live Hudson Shakespeare theatrical performance of "The Murder of Thomas Arden of Favershame" at 7:00 pm. Folding chair seating available, but feel free to bring your own blanket or comfy lawn chair. Refreshments and snacks available.

This benefit performance will help the cemetery raise funds needed for their important preservation work. A $10.00 donation is suggested. The Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery, is located at 435 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ. For more information, call 201-707-0738 or 973-204-9888, or visit www.jerseycitycemetery.org.

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Saturday, July 18 - Morris Township, Morris County

Caroline's Special Place: Cottage Garden Craft
Children Friendly

On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, take a walk through Caroline Foster’s cottage garden. Design a felt board garden, and pot seeds to take home. Program runs from 1:30 - 2:30 pm.

Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (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.

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Saturday, July 18 - Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County

Atlantic Highlands Arts & Crafts Fair, Street Fair, and Film One Fest
Family Friendly

The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society presents its annual Arts and Crafts Fair at Veterans Park, First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands, NJ from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Art, gifts, jewelry, toys, wood crafts, and much more! Free admission. In conjunction with the town street fair, there will be music, entertainers, games and activities for the children, and a variety of food and refreshments. The Society will hold a chance auction to benefit the Society's restoration and maintenance of the Strauss Mansion Museum. In the evening after the fair, walk to the Gazebo at the Marina for Film One Fest to enjoy a series of one minute films. The films begin at dark. Rain date is Sunday, July 19, 2014. For more information, call 732-291-4313 or visit www.ahhistory.com.

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Saturday, July 18 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County

Evening Hayrides

Children Friendly

The evening hayride lasts 20 minutes, carrying visitors over the lanes of the 130 acre working farm. During the program, visitors can also take self-guided tours, picnic in the picnic area, and join a marshmallow roast.

Rides will leave the barnyard area every 25 minutes beginning at 5:10 pm, with the last ride departing at 8:00 pm. Rides will be given on a first come, first serve basis to the first 200 visitors. Rides are intended for individual and family participation; groups cannot be accommodated.

A wheelchair accessible wagon is also available. Individuals who would like to ride on this wagon should call 609-737-3299 in advance, and ask for Kathy. On the dates when evening hayrides are offered, the Farm will be closed during the day.

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, July 18 - River Edge, Bergen County

St. Swithin's Day Calico Frolic

The Bergen County Historical Society hosts a Calico Frolic for St. Swithin’s Day at 6:30 pm on Saturday in the Steuben House at Historic New Bridge Landing. Watch or join in old-fashioned country dancing to the musical accompaniment of Ridley and Ann Enslow on fiddle and hammered dulcimer. Dance Mistress Denise Piccino will instruct eager beginners in basic steps and movements at the start of the evening.

Dancing continues until 9:30 pm, when guests may partake of lemonade and light refreshments. Period dress (late 18th or early 19th century) is welcome, but not required. $15 per person and $12 for BCHS members. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Historic New Bridge Landing is located at 1201-1209 Main Street, River Edge, NJ. Free parking available or take a train on the Pascack Valley Line from Secaucus via NJ Transit to the New Bridge Landing Train stop. For more information, call 201-343-9492 or visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.

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Saturday, July 18 - Trenton, Mercer County

Pig Roast at William Trent House Museum

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Saturday - Sunday, July 18 - 19 - Ringwood, Passaic County

Grand Victorian Tactical Field Days

Children Friendly

On Saturday, July 18th, and Sunday, July 19th, Ringwood State Park will be transformed into South Africa at the turn of the 20th Century! The park is pleased to again be hosting an encampment and skirmishes that reenact the fighting which took place between the British Empire and the Boer settlers during the three-year struggle for control over South Africa.

Members of the Royal Sussex Regimental Society, Royal Irish Fusiliers, the Middlesex Regiment, the Royal Highland Regiment, the West Yorkshire Regiment, and the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders will represent the forces of the British Empire. Reenactors from the Pretoria Commando, the Bloemfontein Command, and the Irish Tansvaal Brigade, will portray the opposing Boer settlers, also known as Afrikaaners, of the Transvaal and Orange Free State.

The simulated skirmishes taking place between the Boers and British provide the public with a unique opportunity to see the beginning of modern technological warfare. It was the period when weapons changed from single-shot to rapid-fire and the splendid uniforms which had previously built powerful global empires were retired for more sensible, utilitarian attire. The Boer War was, in a sense, a grim preview of things to come as the 20th century dawned.

Visitors are encouraged to visit each camp, talk with the reenactors, and ask questions in between the skirmishes, which are scheduled to take place at 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm on Saturday. Visitors will be able to visit the camps on Sunday, July 20th until 3:00 pm where activities, games, and demonstrations will take place throughout the day on the front lawn of Ringwood Manor. There will also be a war game scheduled for Sunday at 1pm, which will allow visitors to see the era’s weaponry in action once again. Civilian reenactors presenting aspects of daily Victorian life will be present both on Saturday and Sunday.

This living history event is free of charge. There is, however, a parking fee to enter Ringwood State Park of $5 per car for in-state residents, $7 per car for out-of-state residents. The event is open to all ages, but parents should be aware that young children may be scared by loud firing noises from the reenactors’ weapons. The event will take place rain or shine.

Ringwood Manor will be open to the public for guided tours from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm both days. Tickets to enter Ringwood Manor are $3 for adults, $1 for children ages 6-12, and children 5 and under are free. Ringwood Manor is located at 1304 Sloatsburg Road, Ringwood, NJ, within Ringwood State Park. For more information, call 973-962-2240 or visit www.ringwoodmanor.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 18 - 19 - Cape May, Cape May County

Annual Celtic Festival

Children Friendly

Celebrate all things Irish and Scottish at Historic Cold Spring Village’s 11th Annual Celtic Festival on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. The festival features musical entertainment throughout the grounds, interactive demonstrations, and a pub area with all-day live music. The Village’s restored, historic buildings will also be open, with historical interpreters demonstrating the trades and crafts of the 1800s.

Main stage performances will include sets by Nae Breeks Pipes & Drums Band, which is comprised of members of the famed Atlantic City Sandpipers, at 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm both Saturday and Sunday. South Jersey favorite Smitty’s Kitchen will also play at the Village Gazebo at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm both days. Dancers from the Emerald Isle Academy take the stage at 1:30 pm both days. Joe McGonigle will entertain all weekend long at the pub tent, with world-renowned musician Tom Brett performing a set at 1:00 pm. The New Jersey Irish Setter Rescue will join the event, accompanied by the loveable breed to meet with visitors. Back by popular demand, the Village will host the Kiddie Highland Games with child-sized versions of the infamous tests of strength including the caber toss, shot put, and hammer throw.

Historic Cold Spring Village is located at 720 Route 9, three miles north of Cape May City and four miles south of Rio Grande. Admission during the season is $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted free. Unlimited free admission is available with Village membership. The Village Nature Trail at Bradner's Run is open to the public for free self-guided tours. For more information, call 609-898-2300, ext. 10 or visit www.hcsv.org.

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Saturdays and Sundays through October 25, 2015 - Ringwood, Passaic County

Child’s Life Tour at Ringwood

Children Friendly

The “A Child’s Life” tour was developed for children and is all about the Hewitt children. The program uses first-hand accounts to help younger visitors understand what it was like to spend summers at the Ringwood estate 150 years ago. If you thought living without modern entertainment like television, DVDs, and computers was boring, think again! Designed to be fun and amusing, these tours are great for families and visitors of all ages!

Like any family, the Hewitt children were full of energy. With 22,000 acres of property, they could often be found fishing, hunting, swimming, and horseback riding. The large, rambling mansion provided plenty of indoor fun with activities like hide-and-go-seek and sliding down the staircase banisters. In addition, Eddie and his brother Cooper were getting into all sorts of trouble at their summer home, going on adventures and playing many practical jokes on their guests. So, if you’d like to hear about the family’s pet bear, or how the Hewitt boys played a prank using a raccoon and a suitcase, this tour is for you!

“A Child’s Life” tour is approximately 45 minutes long and takes visitors through the historic house while these amusing stories are being told. All thirty of the rooms open to the public are shown, but the tour proceeds at a faster, more energetic pace. Scavenger hunts are provided to encourage visitors to look for some of the unusual features in the manor. At the end of the tour, children and adults are invited to play with reproduction 18th and 19th century toys on the front lawn of Ringwood Manor.

“A Child’s Life” tours will be offered to the public at 1:00 pm every Saturday and Sunday through October 25th. Tours are $3 for adults, $1 for children ages 6-12, and children 5 and under are free. Ringwood Manor is located at 1304 Sloatsburg Road, Ringwood, NJ, within Ringwood State Park. For more information, call 973-962-2240 or visit www.ringwoodmanor.org.

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Sundays, July 19 and 26 - Hunterdon County

Hunterdon County Museums Open

Family Friendly

Hunterdon County will once again hold a tour of the county's local museums on two consecutive Sundays in July. This is a rare opportunity as there is normally varied hours and days that the museums are open and a chance to tour the hidden gems of Hunterdon County. Most have no admission fees, have waived them, or reduced them for this special event.

In addition to the more established museums, new ones have joined the list: the 1760 Joseph Turner House/Solitude Heritage Museum in Union Township and the 1759 Vought House in Annandale, where an archeological dig will be taking place. The Prevost House in Alexandria will feature displays from Alexandria, Milford, Frenchtown and Holland, reuniting the original Alexandria Township.

Museums participating include: The Prevost House in Alexandria, 1759 Vought House in Annandale, The Station at Califon, Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton, Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton, Doric House in Flemington, Samuel Fleming House in Flemington, Choir School in Flemington, Historic Courthouse in Flemington, Solitude House in High Bridge, Township of Lebanon Museum, Oak Summit School in Kingwood, James Wilson Marshall House in Lambertville, Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead in Lambertville, Case-Dvoor Farm in Raritan, Readington Township Museums, Black River & Western Railroad in Ringoes, Prallsville Mills in Stockton, Tewksbury Historical Society, 1760 Joseph Turner/Solitude Heritage Museum in Union Township.

Most museums will be open from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm on July 19 and 26. Some select sites will open earlier or be open until 5:00 p.m. For more information, site addresses, and times, visit www.hunterdon300th.org.

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Sunday, July 19 - Bridgeton, Cumberland County

Program at Bridgeton's Old Broad Street Church

Visitors to Bridgeton’s Old Broad Street Church and Cemetery this summer will enjoy a host of free tours, lectures, and exhibits, as the Friends of Old Broad Street Church and the Broad Street Cemetery Association partner for a unique program that opens the church every Sunday in July to some of the less-told early history of “Bridgetown” between the Revolution and the Civil War.

On Sunday at 1:00 pm, noted African American historian James Johnson unpacks some of the relentless work of South Jersey African Americans for full citizenship in the period before and just after the Civil War, when antislavery activities and service for the Union helped gain voting rights for black men in 1870.

Historic tavern lovers should note that Cumberland County Historical Society volunteers in period costume will be staffing the iconic salt-box-style pub known as Potter’s Tavern these same four Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Just a few blocks east of the church and cemetery, this West Broad Street tavern is famous for its association with New Jersey’s first newspaper—the Revolutionary broadside known as the “Plain Dealer.” The tavern is located at 51 West Broad Street in Bridgeton, NJ (opposite the Cumberland County Court House).

All lectures and tour activities are free of charge. Entrances to the Church and Cemetery grounds are located at Broad and Lawrence Streets in Bridgeton, NJ. Ample street parking is available. For more information, visit www.fpcbridgeton.org/programs.html or www.historicbuildingarts.org.

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Sunday, July 19 - Jersey City, Hudson County

2nd Annual Plays in the Parks

Children Friendly

On Sunday, stop by the Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery for 'World Play" by the Jersey City Children's Theater Center as part of the 2nd Annual Plays in the Parks. Program begins at 1:00 pm. Folding chair seating available, but feel free to bring your own blanket or comfy lawn chair. Refreshments and snacks available.

Free admission but donations are welcome to support the cemetery raise funds needed for their important preservation work. The Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery, is located at 435 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ. For more information, call 201-707-0738 or 973-204-9888, or visit www.jerseycitycemetery.org.

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Sunday, July 19 - Morristown, Morris County

Soldier at the Huts

Children Friendly

Learn about the life of a common soldier during the winter encampment at Jockey Hollow and see the clothing, equipment, and weapons that a soldier used as you visit the replica soldier huts of the Pennsylvania Line. Stop by the Soldier Huts from 1:30 - 4:00 pm within Morristown National Historical Park. Cost: Free. For more information, call 973-539-2016 ext. 210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Sunday, July 19 - Princeton, Mercer County

Sunday, July 19 - Whippany, Morris County

Excursion Train Rides

Children Friendly

Spend Sunday at the Whippany Railway Museum on a 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland on a mid-1900s Excursion Train. The combined age of the equipment used on the vintage train is an astounding 635 years! Be on the lookout for deer, turtles, wild turkeys, hawks, and rabbits, as the route takes you past a natural swamp with abundant wildlife. Trains depart at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 pm from 1 Railroad Plaza at the Intersection of Route 10 West & Whippany Road in Whippany, NJ. Train fare is: Adult: $14; child (under 12): $9; infants (1 year and under): Free. Train Fare includes admission to Whippany Railway Museum Building. The "Excursion Train Ride" is a fundraising effort to benefit 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 will further enhance the Museum's mission and its Historic Preservation efforts. For more information, call 973-887-8177 or visit www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net.

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Sunday, July 19 - Morristown, Morris County

Go With The Flow!

Children Friendly

Streams provided an important water supply to farms. On Sunday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, follow a stream to see where it goes and what life it sustains with a guide. Program at 1:30 and 2:30 pm.

Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (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.

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Sunday, July 19 - Morristown, Morris County

21st-Century Songs with Roots in the 1960s & '70s

Family Friendly

This July, Macculloch Hall Historical Museum (MHHM) presents the popular "Summer Concerts in the Garden Series" on Sundays at 4:00 pm. The beautiful historic gardens will be the backdrop for a superb line-up of musicians and a great setting for visitors to settle on the lawn for a relaxing afternoon of music. Bring a picnic, some chairs or a blanket and enjoy the spectacular gardens and tranquil setting.

A great show will be in store on Sunday when Gary Reed, a crowd favorite for the last three years, takes the stage. Singer-songwriter & guitarist Gary will perform "21st-Century Songs with Roots in the 1960s & '70s." Gary has reemerged as an accomplished and contemporary voice - with lyrics that resonate from that earlier time. An outstanding guitar player and performer, he is a premier fingerstyle guitar player and guitar champion who writes and plays unique solo guitar arrangements ranging from Joplin to the Beatles, New Age to Yazoo and "Finger Popping" original tunes.

Tickets for the concert will go on sale beginning at 1:00 pm on the day of the performance - no advance sales. Concert tickets are $15; $10 for members, seniors, students. Free for children under 12. On concert days the Museum building is open 1:00 - 4:00 pm with concert tickets still available after 4:00 pm. A special $5 Museum admission ticket can be purchased during the afternoon by concert ticket purchasers. The last guided tour is at 3:00 pm and the galleries remain open until 4:00 pm. Concertgoers should please bring blankets or chairs as there is no seating available. Only service animals permitted - no pets please. In the case of inclement weather the performance will be moved indoors (limited seating). The announcement will be made on the Museum’s voicemail and Facebook page the afternoon of the program.

The museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 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. 10 or visit www.maccullochhall.org.

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Sunday, July 19 - Walpack, Sussex County

Walpack Historical Society's Meeting

On Sunday at 1:00 pm, attend the Walpack Historical Society's Meeting which will include a presentation on the Lazy K Bar Dude Ranch on the Old Mine Road. Pictures from mid-1930s give a glimpse into life at the ranch. They will also tell the story about how the Walpack High School became involved. The meeting takes place at the Walpack M.E. Church, Walpack Center, Sussex County, NJ within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The meeting will be followed by a tour of the Walpack One-Room Schoolhouse, built circa 1893. The meeting and tour are free and the public is welcome. For more information call 973-948-4903 or visit www.walpackhistory.org.

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Sunday, July 19 - 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! For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.

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Through July 2015 - Plainfield, Union County

Plainfield's Local Clubs & Organizations Collection, 1884 to 2015

The Plainfield Public Library announces their new spring-summer exhibition. The library is displaying a variety of materials from our collection of records of significance from local clubs and organizations that date back to 1884. The 120-piece exhibit consists of wall exhibits and display cases on both levels of the library. The oldest items on exhibit are the 1884 board meeting minutes from the Plainfield Reform Club, a temperance organization, and an 1884 letter from Craig Marsh announcing the first meeting of the Union Club, a conservative men's social club.

The entire Local Clubs & Organizations Collection contains records from over 100 clubs and documents over a century of community activities in the City of Plainfield. Twenty-two clubs are represented in the displays, which feature the Monday Afternoon Club, Plainfield Garden Club, and Freemasons - including a rare panoramic photograph of African-American Masonic Lodge members from New Jersey attending the 1937 annual convention held in Plainfield. Other organizations in the exhibit are the Plainfield B.P.O. Elks, Boy & Girl Scouts, Camera Club, Laurel League, Ric-Charles Choral Ensemble, Shakespeare Club, and twelve others. The exhibit presents thirty-nine photographs and postcards, forty-five pieces of paper ephemera and documents, fifteen newspaper articles, twelve artifacts, five examples of ledgers and manuscripts, as well as several loaned items.

The exhibition will run through July. It is free to the public. The Plainfield Public Library is located at 800 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ. For hours of operation and more information, call 908-757-1111 or visit www.plainfieldlibrary.info.

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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 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.

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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 August 29, 2015 - Haledon, Passaic County
Got Work? The New Deal/WPA in New Jersey Exhibit

The American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark located in Haledon, New Jersey is hosting the exhibit "Got Work? The New Deal/WPA in New Jersey," on loan from the Middlesex County Museum.

Got Work? The New Deal/WPA in New Jersey presents a portrait of the experience of New Jersey's families and the Works Progress Administration programs during The Great Depression. The exhibit will be on display through August 29, 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. For more information, call 973-595-7953, e-mail labormuseum@aol.com, or visit www.labormuseum.net.

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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 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.

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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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Through December 2015 - Ridgewood, Bergen County

"Hemlines" Exhibit

The Ridgewood Historical Society and the Schoolhouse Museum are pleased to announce their new exhibit, Hemlines, open through December 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 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.

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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.

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

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