NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 8/1/15 - 8/2/15

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!

Fridays, July 31 and August 7 - Trenton, Mercer County

Summer Taptoe Concerts Return to Trenton's Old Barracks Museum

Family Friendly

The Old Barracks Museum invites you to enjoy an evening of music and history with its fourth annual Taptoe Concert Series. On the evenings of July 31 and August 7, The Fifes and Drums of the Old Barracks will perform a selection of military tunes, followed by Scottish tunes and dancing as performed by Shot of Scotch Scottish Highland Dancers. The museum will be dramatically illuminated by torches and candles, providing the perfect back drop for the evening. "Taptoe" is the 18th-century term for the time when the musick and guard would march about a garrison town, signaling the taverns to close their taps and for the soldiers to return to their barracks.

The gates open at 7:00 pm. Advanced tickets are available for purchase by calling 609-396-1776 or visiting the Old Barracks Museum Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Ticket prices are as follows: $25 reserved balcony seating with included refreshments ($20 for Old Barracks Museum members); $10 lawn seating. Proceeds from the event benefit the Old Barracks Museum and the Fifes & Drums of the Old Barracks, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The Old Barracks Museum is located at 101 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ. Ample free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the museum. For more information, call 609- 396-1776 or visit www.barracks.org.

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

Saturday, August 1 - Morristown, Morris County

Mrs. Hamilton Returns!

Children Friendly

Join Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, wife of Alexander Hamilton, on a tour of the Ford Mansion! Find out who concocted a plan to bring them together in Morristown and how they conducted their courtship. Explore Hamilton's incredible and lasting contributions to the American Revolution and to the fledgling republic! Programs at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 pm at the Ford Mansion, within Morristown National Historical Park. Cost: $7 per adult. For more information, call 973-539-2016 ext. 210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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

Saturday, August 1 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Penny Rug Demonstration
Children Friendly Site

On Sunday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to watch and learn about making penny rugs at a demonstration. 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.

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

Saturday, August 1 - Princeton, Mercer County

ArtSpace at Updike Farmstead

Children Friendly

On Saturday from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm, spark your creative energy with a visit to Updike Farmstead in Princeton! Be inspired by artists from HomeFront's ArtSpace program as they paint "en plein air." Visitors can learn more about ArtSpace, as well as view and purchase completed work.

Pack a picnic lunch and join in the fun with painting, games and a scavenger hunt around the six-acre property, then venture inside the farmhouse to see vintage photographs of farm life. Explore the Unity Garden and pick some veggies and herbs to take home and enjoy. All activities are included with $4 museum admission.

The Historical Society is pleased to be a collection site for Homefront, which works to break the cycle of poverty and end homelessness in Central New Jersey. Donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries, linens and household items are accepted at Updike Farmstead at every First Saturday Community Day.

Updike Farmstead is located at 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ. For more information, contact Eve Mandel, Director of Programs and Visitor Services, at 609-921-6748 x102 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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

Saturday, August 1 - Cape May Court House, Cape May County

Greasy Luck: Stories of a New England Whalerman

Greasy luck to you! All hands on deck for an entertaining evening of spell-binding stories when living historian David Emerson brings his tales, "Greasy Luck: Stories of a New England Whalerman" to the Museum of Cape May County on Saturday at 7:00 pm.

Sit inside a room filled with historic whaling tools as we learn about the life of Capt. Leland Emerson, master of the brigantine Sarah Ann as he recalls the trials and tribulations of living aboard a whaling ship and his adventures at sea while searching for a great white whale.

David Emerson has appeared in Colonial Williamsburg, Plimoth Plantation, Morristown National Historical Park and The Old Barracks Museum in Trenton. He has performed for hundreds of museums, libraries, historical societies, festivals, schools and community organizations throughout the Northeast.

This exciting, high-seas adventure is free and open to the public. Appropriate for adult and adolescent audiences. The event will take place in whaling room of the historic barn of the Museum of Cape May County, 504 Route 9 North, Cape May Court House, NJ. For more information, call 609-465-3535 or visit www.cmcmuseum.org.

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

Saturday, August 1 - Morris Township, Morris County

Horse-Drawn Wagon Ride

Children Friendly

Enjoy an interpretive horse-drawn wagon ride at Fosterfields Living History Farm on Saturday while discovering the importance of sustainable farming. Learn about the methods, equipment, crops, and enterprises of Charles Foster’s farm in the early 1900s. Wagon ride from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon and included in regular admission.

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, August 1 - Cape May, Cape May County

Ghost One Investigation

Ghost-One, a paranormal research team based in Pennsylvania, has done extensive investigations at the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate in Cape May, NJ. Experience one of their ghost hunts up close. Try your hand using some of their investigating tools as you attempt to capture EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) in different rooms inside the Physick Estate. Afterwards, join your fellow ghost hunters at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom on the grounds of the Physick Estate over dessert to discuss your findings. Tickets are $30 and each tour is limited to 50 people. Program begins at 7:45 pm. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information or to make reservations, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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

Saturday, August 1 - Chester, Morris County

Sail, Sail Your Boat

Children Friendly

Decorate boats and sail them in the tail-race at the Cooper Gristmill in Morris County. Please wear closed-toe shoes or boots. Cost: FREE. Boats can be purchased for $10 (Friends members $5), or borrowed for FREE. The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit www.morrisparks.net.



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

Saturday, August 1 - Mount Holly, Burlington County

Early American Schoolhouse

On Saturday at 11:00 am, participants discover what it was like to be a student attending a one-room schoolhouse in Colonial times. The school supplies then included not only items such as slates and books, but also buckets and logs. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their memories of early school experiences. For senior citizens. Presented by the staff of the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts. Maximum 25 attendees. 

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 - Sunday, August 1 - 2 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County

Mercer County 4H Fair/Wheat Threshing

Children Friendly

In the 1920s and early 1930s, the local Pleasant Valley Calf Club held an annual fair at the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse and grounds adjacent to Howell Farm. These fairs, organized by the school children and their parents, drew visitors from many parts of Mercer and Hunterdon Counties. "With this historical basis in mind, we thought the 4-H Fair was a great match for us," said Pete Watson, Howell Farm director. "With our visitor center barn, we're now well equipped to handle a fair like this."

Highlights of the 96th Annual Fair will include cow milking, a sheep show, a goat show, a poultry show, and a small animal show. Tents for the animals and exhibits will be located near the farm's visitor center.

Howell Farm's farmers will contribute by running hayrides, giving tours, and conducting historical farming demonstrations out in the fields. Free admission and free parking. The fair will run Saturday from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Wheat Threshing
The first threshing methods involved beating grain by hand with a flail, or trampling it by animal hooves. An early threshing machine, patented in 1837 by Hiram A. and John A. Pitts, Winthrop, Maine, was powered by horses walking on a treadmill. Improvements were made to the original machine until late in the 1800s. The threshing machines used early in the 20th century were basically the same, except for the power source. About 1890, steam engines replaced horses and mules.

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 - Sunday, August 1 - 2 - Clinton, Hunterdon County

Revolutionary War Days

Children Friendly

On Saturday and Sunday, don't miss out on a chance to walk into the past! The Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton, NJ will host the annual Revolutionary War Days. The event will feature Patriot and Loyalist encampments. Infantry, militia, artillery, and cavalry units from the Continental Army and British Brigade will face each other in daring skirmishes. Demonstrations including mounted horsemen practicing cavalry tactics and so much more, will wow spectators each day from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Watch war-time drills, weapons firing, period demonstrations, first person portrayals of influential Revolutionary War figures, open fire cooking, a blacksmith and even a replica Revolutionary War boat. Come learn about how families in the town of Clinton and surrounding area felt about the war, while listening to the hammer dulcimer and fiddle carry the tunes of the 18th century. The event will be held rain or shine at the Red Mill Museum Village, located at 56 Main Street in Clinton, NJ. Admission is $10 adults, $8 seniors, active military and veterans, $6 children 6-12, free for members and children under 6. Municipal parking is available near by. For more information, call 908-735-4101 or visit www.redmill.org.

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

Saturday - Sunday, August 1 - 2 - Cape May, Cape May County

Down on the Farm Weekend

Children Friendly

Experience life on an Early American farm through hands-on activities and exhibits at Historic Cold Spring Village’s ‘Down on the Farm’ Weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. Historic Cold Spring Village, an open-air living history museum, presents the trades, crafts, architecture and lifestyles of an Early American, rural South Jersey farming community. The Village is also home to a working 8-acre organic heritage farm complex. ‘Down on the Farm’ is generously sponsored by Smeltzer & Sons Feed & Pet Supplies.

Special exhibits throughout the Village will include collections of antique and modern farming equipment and hand tools, as well as demonstrations of natural wool dyeing methods. Visitors can tour the historic Gandy Barn, c. 1880, which is now home to Levi the horse and Nugget the calf. In the morning, Levi and the Village farmers will demonstrate horse-driven farming techniques. During the afternoon, visitors can take horse and carriage rides around the Village - free with admission! Guests can also visit the Village sheep, pigs, chickens and calf. The Jersey Cape Beekeepers Association will have an observation hive with live bees at the event.

The Family Activity Area will feature children’s dress-up clothes, games, and corn husk doll-making. The Village will also host the 5th Annual Dog Show on Saturday from 10:00 am - 12 noon.

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, August 2 - Morristown, Morris County
Colonial Games

Children Friendly

Have some old-fashioned fun as you take on the same games that the soldiers and the Wick family played. Try your hand at nine-pins, quoits, trap-ball, nine-man morris, fox and geese, and other eighteenth century games. Program runs continuously from 1:30 - 4:00 pm at the Wick House in Jockey Hollow, within Morristown National Historical Park at 580 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown, NJ (approximate). Cost: Free. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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

Sunday, August 2 - South River, Middlesex County

Open House

Stop by the South River Historical & Preservation Society on Sunday from 1:30 - 3:30 pm and view exhibits on all aspects of Borough history including: schools; churches and houses of worship; local businesses and organizations; daily life; events and celebrations; and more. While you are there, see the cemetery located behind the building, ask questions, drop off donations, or exchange hometown stories with the docents. The museum is located at 64-66 Main Street, South River. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njsrhps/museum.html

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

Sunday, August 2 - 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, August 2 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County

"You Scream, I Scream for Ice Cream"

Children Friendly

Family fun and food history intertwine at Historic Walnford as we crank and then sample batches of cold sweet ice cream made using historic recipes and techniques. Develop a new appreciation for a treat we may take for granted today. This program will be held from 3:00 - 4:00 pm and is FREE!

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

-----------------------------------
Sunday, August 2 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Smocking Demonstration

Children Friendly

On Sunday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to take a step back in time to watch a smocking demonstration. Smocking is an embroidery technique used to gather fabric so that it can stretch. Before elastic, smocking was commonly used in cuffs, bodices, and necklines in garments where buttons were undesirable. See this delicate craft in action. The 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, August 2 - Morristown, Morris County

Morris County’s Acorn Hall: An Author Talk

Join Morristown National Historical Park's Chief of Cultural Resources, Dr. Jude Pfister, as he gives a talk about his new book, Morris County's Acorn Hall. Dr. Pfister will provide some vital insight into this local treasure and give an overview of the involvement of park staff in the founding of Acorn Hall and the Morris County Historical Society from its earliest days. Program begins at 1:30 pm in the Washington's Headquarters Museum Auditorium, 30 Washington Place, Morristown NJ. Admission: Free. For more information, call 973-539-2016 ext. 210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

-----------------------------------
Sunday, August 2 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Turn of the Nineteenth Century Music
Children Friendly

On Sunday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to take a step back in time to join music man Rich Marzec as he performs songs on the piano from the turn of the century. 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.

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

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 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 17, 2015 - Trenton, Mercer County

John A. Roebling's Sons Company

At Ellarslie, the City Museum of Trenton, the second floor exhibit features art, artifacts and memorabilia from the world-renowned John A. Roebling's Sons Company, makers of steel and wire rope, most famous for the wire cable used in the suspension bridge over the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn - the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.

The John A. Roebling's Sons Company, the largest employer in Trenton and a world leader in the construction of suspension bridges had its beginnings when John Roebling started making wire rope in 1841 in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, and moved his factory to Trenton in 1848. His sons built the steel and wire mill and town of Roebling, NJ, in 1905. In 1953, the family sold the Trenton and Roebling plants to the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I). CF&I closed the Trenton plants in 1973 and the Roebling, NJ, plant in 1974.

As the largest employer in Trenton for many decades, John A. Roebling's Sons Company had a major impact on the city and its workers and citizens. It had an international reputation for wire and wire rope making and bridge building, and its wire was used in hundreds if not thousands of industrial, commercial and consumer products.

The business was owned by four generations of the Roebling family over 112 years, a remarkable and rare achievement. John A. Roebling was the world's foremost builder of suspension bridges in the 19th century and his bridges spanned major rivers when people said it couldn't be done. His son Washington A. Roebling completed the most famous Roebling bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, in 1883, and today it is an iconic national landmark.

The Roebling Company built suspension bridge cables for many bridges over the next 80+ years, from Canada to South America, including the George Washington Bridge connecting New York and New Jersey and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

The Roebling Company manufactured wire rope for many other uses - elevators, cable cars, tramways, airplanes, shipping, mining, construction and ski lifts - and it made wire for  electrical lines, telegraphs and telephones, wire cloth and screens, and pre-stressed concrete.

The exhibit includes five large paintings from the Roebling Company's exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair depicting the Brooklyn and George Washington Bridges and interior factory scenes. These paintings are part of the museum's collection but are rarely exhibited.

The exhibit includes a bronze plaque from the 1933 Chicago World's Fair that commemorates the Skyride, an innovative and popular ride at the fair that the Roebling Company helped engineer and for which it supplied the wire ropes. Also on display from the museum's collection but rarely seen are three boards showing dozens of types of electrical wire made by the Roebling Company. Artifacts in the display will include sections of wire rope, tools, artwork depicting Roebling bridges, and wooden forms used to make parts for the company's machinery, as well as advertisements, photos, books and company catalogs

The exhibit was curated by Richard Willinger, Chair of the Museum Society's Collections Management Committee. Items are being loaned to the exhibit by the Roebling Museum in Roebling, NJ, and several individuals.

Talks and a tour of remaining buildings of the Roebling complex in Trenton will be conducted by Clifford W. Zink, the foremost expert on the Roebling family and company who authored the book The Roebling Legacy. Ellarslie is located in Cadwalader Park in Trenton, NJ. Visit www.ellarslie.org for dates and times.

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

Through December 31, 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