NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 7/25/15 - 7/26/15

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!

Friday - Sunday, July 24 - 26 - Wantage, Sussex County

Christmas in July

Children Friendly

The Chinkchewunska Chapter of the DAR is a nonprofit historical group that has presented an Annual Christmas in July event for more than seventeen years - education and fun for the whole family! 

Christmas in July is an annual event to make history come alive in Sussex County at the Elias Van Bunschooten Museum, a little-known treasure in Sussex County! This event is an annual "open house" and also the Chinkchewunska Chapter of the DAR's main fundraiser to help maintain the museum. This historic house, listed on both the State and National Registers, will be decorated for Christmas by the Chapter's members and open for complimentary tours by period-costumed docents. The house is a wonderful example of a Dutch Colonial style home circa 1787, filled with original pieces from the Van Bunschooten and Cooper families, as well as many items of local historical interest. This is the Chinkchewunska Chapter's 44th year of owning the Elias Van Bunschooten Museum! The event will run from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm all three days.

The weekend features:
* A complimentary tour
* Period costumes and uniforms
* Attic treasures for sale
* Demonstrations
* Reenactors
* Various Vendors
* Crafters
* Food ...and MORE!

EVERYDAY EVENTS! Complimentary tours of the Elias Van Bunschooten Museum. CAR (Children of the American Revolution) will be present to give tours of the historic Ice House/Milk Room and Privy! Lunch will be available for purchase from the Chapter's "Café Elias"; hot dogs, hamburgers/cheeseburgers, various side salads, chips, drinks, etc. Attic treasures sale will offer bargains galore! Silent auction with many great items to bid on every day! The Museum Gift shop will be open each day to purchase memorabilia, books, and crafts. 

The Lost Art Lacers of North Jersey will be making beautiful, intricate designs of bobbin lacing, tatting and more! Woodcarvers will be on hand all weekend carving and selling. Portrait Artist Laurie Harden will be doing a demonstration and selling "10 minute portraits." The Elias Van Bunschooten Museum is located at 1097 Route 23, Wantage, NJ. For more information, visit the Elias Van Bunschooten Museum Web Site.

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

Friday - Saturday, July 24 - 25 - Paterson, Passaic County

Shakespeare at Lambert Castle

Visitors to Lambert Castle on Friday and Saturday may find themselves transported to Elizabethan times. The Passaic County Historical Society will host ATC Studios’ Summer Shakespeare Conservatory for two performances at Lambert Castle on Friday at 7:00 pm in the Gallery and Saturday at 5:00 pm on the Castle lawn.

The production is the culmination of a 4 week program at Clifton’s ATC, and features “Selections, Scenes, Music & Mayhem” from a vast assortment of Shakespeare’s plays. The performance, which will last less than an hour and a half, is definitely user-friendly: a great way to introduce someone to the Bard, and a wonderful treat for those who know the works well.  

For the Gallery performance on Friday, tickets are $10, general admission. There is limited seating. Call 862-243-ATCS (2827) for reservations. Lawn Performance on Saturday is FREE and donations are gratefully accepted. Royalty Seating for Saturday's performance (reserved prime lawn space): $10. If you are attending the lawn performance, please bring beach chairs, lawn chairs, or a blanket.

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

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

Saturday, July 25 - Roebling, Burlington County

6th Annual Car Show
Children Friendly

In keeping with the tradition of the Roebling Company and fine automobile manufacturing, the Roebling Museum will host its 6th Annual Car Show on Saturday, from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. It is open to all cars and trucks. It will be a day full of food and fun for the whole family! Rain date is Sunday, July 26. Spectator admission: $5.00; Children Under 12 Free. Vehicle Registration: $15.00 on day of show only. No Pre-registration required. For more information, call 609-499-7200 or visit www.roeblingmuseum.org.

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

Saturday, July 25 - Mount Holly, Burlington County

Creating Colonial Toys

Children Friendly

Come play the Game of Graces, hoop rolling, and try the cup and ball game that colonial children loved. Make a set of the Game of Graces to take home. This program is for ages 5 and up. Presented by Barb Johns and sponsored by the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New Jersey.

Program is free and open to the public. It will take place at the Burlington County Lyceum, 307 High Street, Mount Holly, NJ. Pre-registration is requested. For more information and to register, call 609-267-7111, or e-mail bclhns@bcls.lib.nj.us.

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

Saturday, July 25 - Byram Township, Sussex County

Waterloo Canal Heritage Day

Children Friendly

Come visit Waterloo Village between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm for a day in this historic Morris Canal town. Enjoy boat rides on the Morris Canal, Smith's Store - a furnished canal-era store with hands-on activities, blacksmithing, see the operating gristmill, seamstress shop, carpenter's shop, take guided tours of 1859 Methodist Church, the Canal Museum - with exhibits and videos, and guided walking tours of the village. Admission is free but there is a $5 per car parking fee. Waterloo Village is located at 525 Waterloo Road, Byram, NJ. For more information, call 973-292-2755 or visit www.canalsocietynj.org.

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

Saturday, July 25 - Cape May, Cape May County

Christmas in July at the Cape May Lighthouse

Children Friendly

Celebrate Christmas in July at the Cape May Lighthouse! There will be games, crafts, gifts, and children can visit with Santa. Forget the snow, forget the cold weather, bask in the sun and celebrate Christmas this summer. Event runs from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Admission to the grounds is free. Admission to climb the lighthouse is $8 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Friends of the Cape May Lighthouse, an affinity group of the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities. For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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

Saturday, July 25 - Ho-Ho-Kus, Bergen County

Play Day at the Hermitage
Children Friendly

On Sunday, the Hermitage National Historic Landmark will be hosting "Play Day at the Hermitage" from 1:00 - 5:00 pm. The event will allow children of all ages to play some games that are not necessarily played by children today. There will be live Blue Grass music from 2:00 - 4:00 pm by "Mountain Laurel"! 

A sampling of scheduled activities include badminton, volleyball, miniature golf, croquet, sack and spoon races, and a scavenger hunt. There will also be a variety of crafts that children can make, sing-alongs, checkers and chess. Children and family members can all participate!

Master Gardeners will also be on hand to show kids how to make red ladybugs from rocks. They will be able to take home their creations. 

Rachel Vazquez, the Girl Scout Gold Award recipient from New Milford will conduct a scavenger hunt in the children's sensory herb garden.

Hot dogs and refreshments will be available. The Hermitage Museum will also be open for tours. This event will be held rain or shine. Admission is $3 for children twelve and under and $7 for adults 13 and up. The Hermitage is located at 335 North Franklin Turnpike in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ. For more information, call 201-445-8311 ext. 103 or visit www.thehermitage.org.

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

Saturday, July 25 - Bedminster, Somerset County

General Henry Knox Birthday Celebration and Open House

Children Friendly

On Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House will host an open house and a birthday celebration in honor of General Henry Knox, the artillery commander who lived at the Jacobus Vanderveer House while establishing a military training academy in nearby Pluckemin during the American Revolution. 

At 2:00 pm, General Henry Knox (portrayed by Bob Heffner of the American Historical Theatre) along with his wife, Lucy (portrayed by Virginia Loomis of the American Historical Theatre), will greet visitors and speak about their shared and separate experiences of life in Pluckemin during the winter of 1778-79.

General Henry Knox (July 25, 1750 – October 25, 1806) was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, and also served as the first United States Secretary of War. Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, he owned and operated a bookstore there, cultivating an interest in military history and joining a local artillery company. When the American Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, he befriended General George Washington and received acclaim for bringing captured British artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston in 1776. He quickly rose to become the chief artillery officer of the Continental Army and accompanied Washington on most of his campaigns. The military training academy and manufacturing facilities for weaponry he established were valuable assets to the fledgling nation.

Following the adoption of the United States Constitution, President Washington appointed him the nation's first Secretary of War. He retired to what is now Thomaston, Maine in 1795 and died in 1806. The General Henry Knox Museum, founded in 1985 by citizens of Thomaston, Maine, pays tribute to his life and times.

Learn more about General Knox and the Pluckemin Artillery Park by viewing In Quarters Comfortable and Clever: The Continental Army at Pluckemin New Jersey, 1778-1779, an award-winning video created by the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House, on YouTube: http://youtu.be/EDinpcpS52w

The open house tour of the Jacobus Vanderveer House is free, but admission to the General Knox birthday celebration and presentation is $10 per person (members of The Jacobus Vanderveer House are admitted free and given priority seating) and registration is suggested. Children 12 and under are free. To reserve a seat online, visit http://bit.ly/1SRasV9.

For reservations and more information, call 908-396-6053 or visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org. The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located at 3055 River Road East (in Bedminster’s River Road Park), Bedminster, NJ.

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

Saturday, July 25 - Morris Township, Morris County

Meet the Irish Servant and the Cook at the Willows
Children Friendly

On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, discover the life of domestic help at the Foster home on a guided tour. Assist the maid with household chores and see what the cook has prepared using the wood-burning stove. Two tours times available: 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 2:00 - 3:00 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.

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

Saturday, July 25 - Chester, Morris County

19th Century Music

Children Friendly

This weekend, enjoy an interactive program at the Cooper Grist Mill in Chester, reminiscent of musical events performed in Milltown over a century ago. Children can play fiddlesticks and animate dancing puppets called limber jacks. Admission is free but donations are gladly accepted. The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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

Saturday, July 25 - 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.

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

Saturday, July 25 - Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County

Call of Duty: Honoring the U.S. Soldier Throughout Time

Children Friendly

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

Saturday - Sunday, July 25 - 26 - Teterboro, Bergen County

Open Cockpit Weekend

Children Friendly

The Aviation Hall of Fame announces an “Open Cockpit Weekend” on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm each day. Visitors sit in the cockpits of a TWA Convair 880 jetliner, a one-of-a-kind 1950 Martin 202 airliner, a rare Lockheed-designed Bush Plane, a Cobra gunship helicopter, a HH-52A Coast Guard helicopter, an OV-1A Mohawk close support aircraft, our “Little-Cut-Up” aircraft control demonstrator, and the control cab of an Airport Rescue and Fire-Fighting truck.

People, young and old can learn how the flight systems work. Qualified pilots will help guests understand the instruments and controls of these special aircraft.

Regular admission as always: $8.00 adults, $6.00 seniors and children under 12, 2 and under are free. Other Open Cockpit weekend dates in 2015 are September 26 - 27 and November 14 - 15.

Founded in 1972, the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey is dedicated to the preservation of the Garden State's distinguished, two-century aviation and space heritage. The men and women, whose outstanding aeronautical achievements have brought worldwide recognition to the state, are enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

The Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey is located at 400 Fred Wehran Drive, Teterboro, NJ. For more information, call 201-288-6344 or visit www.njahof.org.

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

Saturday - Sunday, July 25 - 26 - Cape May, Cape May County

Railroad Days

Children Friendly

All aboard! Historic Cold Spring Village’s Annual Railroad Days will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. Railroad Days is the perfect outing for folks interested in railroad history, model and toy trains, or just enjoying a unique collection in a unique historical setting.

In the Village Welcome Center, under the Friends’ Pavilion and along the Village’s shady lanes, visitors will find presentations and displays from a variety of groups. On display in the Welcome Center will be the Strasburg Model Railroad Club’s display of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines HO scale layout. Near the Ice Cream Parlor, guests can see the South Jersey Garden Railroad Society’s G-scale railroad, as well as special displays just for kids. Additional groups, including the Atlantic County 4-H Club and Just for Fun, will exhibit a variety of models and landscapes. 

At 2:00 pm in the Welcome Center on both Saturday and Sunday, Jim Stephens, HCSV Deputy Director of Education and Interpretation, will present a talk on Richard Trevithick, the little known inventor of the modern steam locomotive. Children can enjoy free toy train rides around the Village on Saturday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm, departing behind the Welcome Center. The Family Activity Area will feature special event-themed children’s take-home crafts.

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.

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

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.

-----------------------------------
Sunday, July 26 - Morristown, Morris County
Early American Money

Learn about the history of finance during the colonial period, and the troubles that Washington and the army faced during the American Revolution. View some of the park's collection of coins and currency from the 18th and 19th century. Programs at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 pm at Washington's Headquarters Museum, located within Morristown National Historical Park at 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. For more information, call 973-539-2016 ext. 210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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

Sunday, July 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, Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton, Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton, Doric House in Flemington, Choir School in Flemington, Township of Lebanon Museum, Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead in Lambertville, Case-Dvoor Farm in Raritan, Readington Township Museums, Black River & Western Railroad in Ringoes, Tewksbury Historical Society, Prallsville Mills in Stockton, and the 1760 Joseph Turner/Solitude Heritage Museum in Union Township.

Most museums will be open from 1:00 - 5:00 pm. Some select sites may open earlier or be open after 5:00 p.m. For more information, site addresses, and times, visit www.hunterdon300th.org.

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

Sunday, July 26 - Montague, Sussex County

Model Trains and Bridges

Children Friendly

The Montague Association for the Restoration of Community History (M.A.R.C.H.) will host an event at the Foster-Armstrong House, 320 River Road in Montague, NJ on Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Ed Ibold, Ed Bush, and Rich Jones will be discuss and display model trains. Bill Coughlin will be on hand to discuss his covered bridge display on the second floor and on the porch at the Foster-Armstrong House.

The Foster-Armstrong House, circa 1790, is located on CR521/320 River Rd in Montague, about 1 mile north of the Milford/Montague Bridge. For more information, call 973-293-3106 or visit www.facebook.com/MontagueNJHistory.

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

Sunday, July 26 - 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, the month-long program climaxes with a multimedia celebration of the church itself, thought to have potential as a National Landmark. An array of original eye-opening art, craft, and photography inspired by the picturesque church and its setting includes a remarkable quilt by Debbie Olivero, whose exquisitely-crafted work uses fabric of the era and incorporates names, images, and other identifying information about the lives of Civil War soldiers buried in the Broad Street cemetery.

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.

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

Sunday, July 26 - 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.

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

Sunday, July 26 - West Orange, Essex County

Geothermal Tour at the Glenmont Estate

Go "behind the scenes" at the Edison home. Join a guide for a walk through the basement of the famous house and learn about its new geothermal heating and cooling system. This program will last about 30 minutes at take place at 1:30 and again at 2:30 pm. It focuses on the technical aspects of the environmentally friendly geothermal system. The basement is not wheelchair accessible.

The tour is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $10.00 for adults, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x33 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.

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

Sunday, July 26 - Morristown, Morris County

Concert: Folk and Americana

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. 

On Sunday, Josh Oliver travels to perform in Morristown for the first time to close out the 2015 series. Josh has spent most of the last decade as both a sideman and solo artist, playing guitar and singing along with various bands and songwriters all over the United States.  He has either toured with or recorded with acts such as the everybodyfields, Mandolin Orange, The Black Lillies, The Deep Dark Woods, Martha Scanlan, Amy Speace, Jill Andrews, and Sam Quinn.  In 2011 Oliver released his self-produced, instrumentally sparse album "Troubles" which included both original and traditional material, then followed up with a 2014 release, "Part Of Life", which was produced by Andrew Marlin from the North Carolina duo Mandolin Orange.

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.

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

Sunday, July 26 - Fair Lawn, Bergen County

Garretson Forge and Farm Open House

Garretson Forge and Farm will hold an open house on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The Gerretson, one of the oldest historic sites in Bergen County, was home to six generations of the Garretson family and remains a rare surviving example of simple farming life that was prevalent in the 1700s and 1800s. Admission is free but donations are welcome. The Forge and Farm are located at 4-02 River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ. For more information, call 551-206-4380 or 201-797-7545 or visit www.garretsonfarm.org.

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

Sunday, July 26 - 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.

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

Sundays through October 25, 2015 - Ringwood, Passaic County

Grounds and Garden Tour

Did you ever wonder what all that “stuff” is placed around the grounds at Ringwood Manor? What about all those other buildings on the property? What were they used for? If you have ever been curious about the estate at Ringwood Manor, this tour is for you! The 2 hour guided walking tour will take visitors around the main property at Ringwood Manor, discussing the historic objects, the planned gardens, and landscape features, the out-buildings, and the cemetery. Historic photographs of the property will also be shown. These free tours meet at 2:00 pm in front of Ringwood Manor every Sunday from June 7 - October 25. It is advised that participants wear walking or hiking shoes, dress appropriately for the weather, and bring bug spray and sunblock. Steady rain cancels. No reservations necessary. For more information and to call ahead to confirm a tour, call 973-962-2240. 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.

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

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.

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

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 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.

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

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

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