NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 9/19/15 - 9/20/15

NJ WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS

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Saturday, September 19 - Newton, Sussex County

Sussex County History Day

Children Friendly

The Sussex County Historical Society is pleased to announce that the Sussex County History Day program will be held on Saturday. The program will take place in the gymnasium of the Sussex County Community College and it will be open to the public from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.

The theme of the program this year will be: THEN AND NOW. This will be a great chance to meet local municipal historical societies and see what your communities looked like years ago as compared to how they appear today. Sussex County Community College is located at 1 College Hill Rd, Newton, NJ. Parking will be available in the upper lot. For more information, call 973-578-2525.

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Saturday, September 19 - Maywood, Bergen County

Open House

Children Friendly

The Maywood Station Museum, located at 269 Maywood Avenue, Maywood, NJ will be open Sunday from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm. The museum features a wide assortment of displays, artifacts, and photographs on exhibit and visitors are invited to climb aboard restored Caboose 24542 and view its operating model train layout and additional photographs and displays. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.maywoodstation.com.

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Saturday, September 19 - Princeton, Mercer County

Princeton University Architecture Tour

The Historical Society's newest walking tour explores the phenomenal architecture on the Princeton University campus, dating from 1756 to the present. Buildings on this two mile walk include the Georgian style of Nassau Hall, collegiate gothic marvels, and extraordinary contemporary designs, including the Frank Gehry-designed Lewis Library, the Stadium, the Icahn Laboratory, and the brand-new Princeton Neuroscience Institute/Psychology facility.

Admission: $10 per person and can be reserved online. Tour begins at 10:00 am at the Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ and ends at 12:30 pm. Space is limited. For more information, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Saturday, September 19 - Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County

Atlantic Highlands Historical Society Outdoor Flea Market

The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society will hold its 36th annual Outdoor Flea Market at the Atlantic Highlands Marina (off First Avenue) on Saturday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The rain date is Saturday, September 26, 2015.

Over 100 vendors will offer a variety of antiques and collectibles, crafts, second time around, and some new items. Among the merchandise to be found is furniture, tools, fishing equipment, jewelry, books, postcards, tee shirts, handbags, clothing, toys, art, glassware, etc. Also an eclectic array of bargains can always be found at the society's Treasures Table as well as a variety of food, refreshments, and baked goods. Members will also be on hand to answer questions about the society, its mansion, and our other ongoing programs and events.

All proceeds from this event will be used towards the restoration of the AHHS Museum, the Strauss Mansion, at 27 Prospect Circle, as well as educational programs throughout the year. For more information, call 732-291-4313 or 732-291-9337 or visit www.ahhistory.org.

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Saturday, September 19 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County

Canning and Corn Shocking

Children Friendly

It’s the end of summer and the crops are bountiful. It’s time to “put up” some food. At Howell Living History Farm, you can help. The farm will be the site of a canning and cooking program. Not only can you learn how to can and pickle your garden favorites...but you can sample some of the treats.

Throughout the day, farmers will be canning and pickling surplus garden crops like cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes and more.  You can sample the results and take home recipes and other secrets that made canning a mainstay of the 1900 farm.

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, September 19 - Morristown, Morris County
Flint and Steel Demo

Children Friendly

Flint and steel were necessities to keep a home warm and to fight a war. Learn where the Continental Army acquired flint for the muskets, while watching a demonstration of using flint and steel to light a candle. Program at 10:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm at the Wick House at Jockey Hollow, within Morristown National Historical Park, 580 Jockey Hollow Road (approximate), Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Saturday, September 19 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County

Fall Crafter's Market

The Historic Village at Allaire is hosting a Fall Crafter's Market as a fundraiser on Saturday, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Looking for something unique and handcrafted item for someone special as a holiday present? (Or yourself?) Then come out to the Fall Craft Market and Art in the Park. Browse through handmade items and see what strikes your fancy! Admission is $2 for adults and children over 12.

The General Store and Bakery will also be open. 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, September 19 - Manalapan, Monmouth County

The 14th New Jersey Volunteers at the Battle of Opequon

On Sunday, come out and hear the story of the Camp Vredenburg trained 14th New Jersey Volunteers at the Battle of Opequon which was fought on September 19th, 1864. Living historians will be in uniform to portray the soldiers of the 14th and musket demonstrations will be held throughout the day (weather dependent).

Dr. David Martin will give a FREE program on the battle of Opequon and the 14th's role in it at 1:30 in the Monmouth Battlefield State Park Visitor Center Auditorium. There will also be a temporary display on the battle in the Visitor Center. Monmouth Battlefield State Park is located at 16 New Jersey Business 33, Manalapan, NJ. For more information, visit www.friendsofmonmouth.org.

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Saturday, September 19 - Tuckerton, Ocean County
Classic and Antique Car & Truck Show
Children Friendly

Drive on down to Tuckerton Seaport on Saturday for the Annual Classic and Antique Car & Truck Show, hosted in conjunction with the Vintage Auto Museum of New Jersey. Over 100 antique and classic cars and trucks will be on display, with judging and an awards ceremony rounding out the afternoon. Prizes will include door prizes, special awards, and club participation award. View cars premiering for the first time. The Mercer Car Model is the featured car as it is the only car designed and built in New Jersey. Don’t worry, there is still time to enter your vehicle. Contact Dave at ddieugnio@comcast.net to enter the show. You can also register the day of the show from 8:00 - 11:00 am. The registration fee is $15 in advance, $20 day of show. Awards will be presented at 2:00 pm.

General Admission: Adults: $5; Children 5 to 12: $3; Children 4 and under: Free. Members Free. Event admission includes access to the Seaport’s 40 acres of family fun, featuring maritime activities, historic and recreated buildings, live animals, a boardwalk, miniature golf course, and exhibits. Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen's Museum, 120 West Main Street, Tuckerton. For more information call 609-296-8868 or visit www.tuckertonseaport.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, September 19 - 20 - Hardwick, Warren County
Millbrook Days at Millbrook Village
Children Friendly

Are you tired of the fast pace of the 21st century? Step back to a quieter time where the high price of gas, credit cards, cell phones, and computers are not found. Experience Millbrook Days where Millbrook Village comes alive as it was over a century ago on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Volunteers in period clothing will demonstrate 19th century crafts and trades recreating the atmosphere of a late 19th century rural farming community. Try the stilts, jump rope or roll the hoop. There will be kid’s games throughout the village. Marbles, checkers, ring toss, tug of war, sack race and corn husk doll making to name a few. Kids of all ages can join the fun. No batteries needed!

Millbrook’s “residents” will be busy plying their trades and doing everyday chores and activities. Woodstove cooking, butter churning, spinning yarn, weaving, natural dyes, gardening, lace making, sewing, quilting, food drying and preserving, gourd decorating, open hearth cooking and other things will be demonstrated.

The blacksmith, wood workers, wheelwright, carvers, slate splitter, tinsmith, miller, rope maker, chair caner, shaker box maker, chair maker, wooden pitch fork maker, wet plate photographer and other craftsmen will be demonstrating their skills. Step in and ask if you can help; there are lots of hands-on things to try.

An assortment of hit and miss engines will be setting the tempo for the corn Sheller, grinder and other vintage machinery. To some the sound of the old engines is music too. I hear they‘ll be making some ice cream with an engine driven ice cream churn, too. What flavor might that be?

Apples are in season. The grinder and press will be turning out some fresh cider and the kettle will be cooking down some apples for delicious apple butter. Lend a hand, it’s fun.

There’s something for everyone to see and enjoy. A friendly atmosphere abounds and new friends are sure to be found at Millbrook Village. Everything is free of charge and family oriented. Donations are accepted.

Picnic and restroom facilities are available. A food concession is available on both days provided by the Harmony Hill Presbyterian Church. Parking and admission is free. This event will be held rain or shine.

Millbrook Days is presented by the Millbrook Village Society in cooperation with the National Park Service. Millbrook Village is part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Millbrook Village is located in Hardwick Township, NJ at the intersection of Old Mine Road and Millbrook Road, County Route 602N.  For more information and directions, call 908-841-9531, 908-537-2544, or 973-875-3461 or visit their Facebook page.

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Saturday - Sunday, September 19 - 20 - Byram Township, Sussex County

Highlands Festival at Waterloo

Children Friendly

The Highlands Festival at Waterloo is a two day long celebration of New Jersey's home-grown music, food, art, crafts, history and entertainment! Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, the Highlands Festival at Waterloo promises to be a weekend of fun for all ages. This zero waste event will feature two stages to showcase New Jersey Performers. It is produced by the New Jersey Highlands Coalition. The hours on Saturday are 11:00 am - 9:00 pm and 11:00 am - 6:00 pm on Sunday.

The main stage will feature non-stop performances from the best of New Jersey’s homegrown bands. At the gazebo stage there will be solo, acoustic, and children’s performers. There will be a local food court  with vendors utilizing local, naturally grown food and a chefs’ showcase with cooking demonstrations and tastings by New Jersey chefs, featuring local food.

Enjoy guided tours of Waterloo Village and the rides on the canal. The New Jersey Canal Museum will be open, in addition to Smith’s Store, Rutan Cabin, the Blacksmith Shop and the Gristmill. Interpretive tours of Waterloo’s recreated Lenape Village will be available. A juried art show featuring spectacular two-dimensional visions of Highlands natural resources by New Jersey artists. A photography workshop where you can learn how to photograph the natural world with renowned nature photographer Dwight Hiscano.

Experts on local, environmental and sustainable issues will hold workshops throughout the weekend in addition to local vendors who offer services, products and solutions for living sustainably. Through interactive displays and demonstrations, non-profit groups will showcase their work and explain how their efforts help to heal and transform the world into a better place.

Tickets pricing: Advance single day pass $15, 2-day passes $25. At the gate, $25 for a single day and $40 for 2-days. Children ages 12 and under are free. Parking is FREE. To purchase advance tickets, click here. Waterloo Village is located at 525 Waterloo Road, Byram, NJ. For more information, visit www.highlandsfestivalatwaterloo.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, September 19 - 20 - Fishkill, New York

6th Annual Fishkill Revolutionary War Weekend

Children Friendly

For the sixth year running, the Fishkill History Society and the Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot will offer a weekend full of programs commemorating Dutchess County’s many contributions to the American Revolution. While the entirety of the county contributed to the American war effort, Fishkill played a special role in our founding conflict. Host to the 4th New York Provincial Congress in 1776 and home of the primary depot supplying the Continental Army’s entire Northern Department, Fishkill was a pivotal post for American patriots. Fishkill’s oldest churches were also dragooned into the war effort: the First Reformed Church served as a prison for Loyalists while the Trinity Episcopal Church housed a military hospital.

The Van Wyck Homestead, located at 504 Route 9 in Fishkill, just south of the I-84 intersection, will host the major programs for this event. Reenactors portraying soldiers of New York regiments will offer demonstrations of camp life, military drill, and musket and cannon firing throughout the day. Tours of the Van Wyck House and the Continental Army Cemetery will be offered several times throughout each day. Period trade demonstrations including blacksmithing and bread baking in the reconstructed bread oven (only one of its kind in southern New York) will be ongoing. This event is free and open to the public, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm each day. For more information, visit www.fishkillsupplydepot.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, September 19 - 20 - Cape May, Cape May County

Guilded Festival

Children Friendly

Travel across time and culture at The Gilded Festival, a family-friendly Steampunk adventure. Presented by Storykeeper Events, the makers of Philadelphia’s feted Dorian’s Parlor, The Gilded Festival will transform Historic Cold Spring Village into a world of fantasy and science fiction on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 7:00 pm. Join anachronauts in celebrating a past, present, and future that never were as they entertain you with music and mysteries.

Performers include Eli August, a Dark Americana musician, and his collective, the Abandoned Buildings; Wandering Cellist Luna Skye; Captain Zorikh, the Time Travelling Bard; multiple performance troupes from multimedia production corporation Steamfunk Studios; Cosplay Court Case and their organized chaos; sideshow performers Middle to Nowhere; The Positronic Cats, a folk duo singing about love, revenge, and the future; tabletop and LARP game publishers Damocles Thread Development; and Kafe Merhaba, a Near-Eastern themed café offering dance performances and tasty morsels.

Come as you are or as you want to be. The Gilded Festival extends a friendly welcome to a wide range of attendees, from patrons who prefer to wear street clothes, to those who prefer traditional Victorian dress, Steampunk finery, cosplay, and other fantastic wear. Storykeeper events are accepting and friendly, embracing all facets of creative imagination. For information about tickets, performers, directions, and more, visit www.gildedfestival.com.

Historic Cold Spring Village is located at 720 Route 9, three miles north of Cape May City and four miles south of Rio Grande. 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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Sunday, September 20 - River Edge, Bergen County

Baronfest at Historic New Bridge Landing

Come and enjoy a picket fence beer garden, delicious food from a variety of vendors including food trucks, relax to music by the Teutonic Knights, pony rides in the meadow for children, tour three 18th century sandstone houses, and stroll the grounds of Historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge, Washington's headquarters in 1780, later home of Major General Baron von Steuben.

Come have your photo taken with Steuben. Bob Gleason of the American Historical Theatre will be interpreting Baron von Steuben. Illustrated talk on Steuben at 2:30 pm by historian Kevin Wright. Reenactors from the 3rd NJ will be at New Bridge to answer questions about military life in the 18th century.

Help raise funds for a Hall of History Museum celebrating Bergen County's storied past. Baronfest will be held from 1:00 - 5:00 pm at Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main Street, River Edge, NJ. Admission: $10 per adult and $7 for students (6 - 22 years old). BCHS members free. Credit cards accepted and exact cash line will move faster. Have photo ID out for review. Beer, food, and pony rides are an additional cost.

NJ Transit is making additional free parking available at the train stop parking lot. Train service is available on the Pascack Valley Line to the "New Bridge Landing" stop. Historic New Bridge Landing is only one block north-east of the train stop. For more information, call 201-343-9492 or visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.

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Sunday, September 20 -  Morris Township, Morris County

Historic Fashion Show, Inspired by Godey's

Children Friendly

On Sunday, journey through the decades of the 1830s to the 1860s to discover the various fashions of past American women, all thanks to the fashion plates in Godey's Lady's Book at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Tours begin at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 pm.

Admission: $7 for adults; $6 for seniors (65+); and $5 for children ages 4 – 16. FREE for children under age 4. Frelinghuysen Arboretum is located at 353 East Hanover Road, Morris Township, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Sunday, September 20 - Raritan, Somerset County

John Basilone Parade
Children Friendly

Join the residents of Raritan Township on Sunday for the annual parade in honor of former resident John Basilone. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Gunnery Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Guadalcanal, where he and two other men held off 3,000 enemy troops after the rest of their unit was killed or wounded. Although he could have lived on his laurels on war bond tours, he chose to go back to the Pacific, and was killed on the first day of fighting on Iwo Jima. He would have received a second medal of honor for his actions there, destroying a Japanese blockhouse while his unit was pinned down. However, there was no precedent for a double Medal of Honor recipient, so he posthumously received a Navy Cross.

The John Basilone Museum in the Raritan Library will be open on Sunday from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. The parade will begin at 1:00 pm on Somerset Street in Raritan, NJ. Immediately after the parade there will be a ceremony at the Basilone statue on Somerset Street. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.basiloneparade.com or http://www.basiloneparade.com/schedule-2015.htm.

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Sunday, September 20 - Morristown, Morris County

What Did You Say?

In this century, selfie and hashtag are common terms. Did you know that most 18th Century ships had a caboose and at least one murderer on-board? Come to the museum auditorium on Sunday to learn about that century's unique lingo. Programs at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 3:30 pm. Cost: Free. This program will take place at the Washington's Headquarters Museum Auditorium, located within Morristown National Historical Park, 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-539-2016 ext. 210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Sunday, September 20 - 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.

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Sunday, September 20 - 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.

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Sunday, September 20 -  Clinton, Hunterdon County

Blacksmiths' Hammer-In

Children Friendly

The Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton will host the New Jersey Blacksmith Association's (NJBA) annual Hammer-In on Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The day’s activities will center at the museum’s blacksmith forge  where members of NJBA, some who are local blacksmiths, will be forging in the Red Mill  shop. Smiths will also be working and demonstrating on portable forges set up along the riverbank. Blacksmiths' work will be available for purchase and creating an individual's specific project can be explored as well.

The New Jersey Blacksmith Association is a group dedicated to the promotion of the art and craft of blacksmithing, Members are active throughout the state teaching, demonstrating at events and fairs as well as being resident smiths at a variety of historic sites in NJ, DE, NY, and PA. This is a good chance to ask one for more information- smiths always enjoy talking about blacksmithing.

Tool dealers and collectors are invited to tailgate along the riverside to sell and swap their blacksmithing tools and accessories. Among the items to be found will be anvils, blowers, forges, vises, hammers, and tongs, some quite old.

Visitors who have “what is it?” objects cluttering up the garage can bring them along and members of NJBA will be glad to identify them.

The Red Mill's admission for the day’s activities is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, active military and veterans, and $6 for children (6-12). Free for NJBA members, children under 6, museum members. Included in the price is admission to the museum’s historic buildings, grounds, and exhibits, with a guided tour included with admission offered at 2:00 pm. The Red Mill is located at 56 Main Street, Clinton NJ. For more information, call 908-735-4101, ext. 102 or visit www.theredmill.org.

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Sunday, September 20 - Somers Point, Atlantic County

Richard Somers Day

The Somers Point Historical Society is sponsoring the Annual Richard Somers Day on Sunday at 2:00 pm. at 801 Shore Road, Somers Point, NJ. The ceremony is also the dedication of the mural showing the life story of Richard Somers painted on three sides of the Somers Point Library/Atlantic County Library system. Guest speakers will interpret the art work and the artist, Maryann Cannon, will be present and share her vision for this project. For more information, call 609-927-8002.

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Sunday, September 20 - Montague, Sussex County

Open House & Tours

The Montague Association for the Restoration of Community History (MARCH) will open the circa 1790 Foster-Armstrong House on River Road and the Nelden-Roberts Stonehouse, at 501 Route 206 for Sunday afternoon tours between 1:00 and 4:00 pm. Both are situated within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Montague, NJ and were originally part of the Tocks Island Dam acquisitions. These two sites are utilized by MARCH and portray the area's heritage.

Gourds were grown in colonial gardens and had many uses for early settlers. On Sunday, Sharon Kelly will be at the Foster Armstrong House to explain how gourds were cured and used on the homestead and how they can still be used today. For more information, call 973-293-3106 or visit www.facebook.com/MontagueNJHistory.

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Sunday, September 20 - Madison, Morris County

Walking Tour of Hillside (Bottle Hill) Cemetery

Established circa 1749 by the original Presbyterian Meeting House, many of the area's earliest residents lie in this cemetery including nine Revolutionary War veterans and various Noe family members are buried in Hillside (Bottle Hill) Cemetery. On Sunday at 2:00 pm, tour the cemetery with Robert Garman. Garman is an Elder and Trustee of the Madison Presbyterian Church and administers the Hillside Cemetery. At the time the cemetery was begun, the town was known as Bottle Hill becoming Madison about 100 years later. Rain date is Sunday, October 4, 2015 at 2:00 pm. Hillside Cemetery is located on Main Street in Madison, NJ (next to Stop & Shop). Parking is available in the Stop & Shop parking lot and limited parking is available on Main Street. The cemetery is accessed via Main Street. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

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Sunday, September 20 - Boonton, Morris County

Transportation Heritage Festival

Children Friendly

The United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey will host its Fourth Annual Transportation Heritage Festival at the Boonton Yard, west of the New Jersey Transit station at 100 Morris Avenue, Boonton, NJ on Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Guests will be welcome to enjoy presentations in the Lackawanna freight house outside the yard, and see informational booths and souvenir tables outside. Inside the yard, the URHS will be selling lunch including hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, and many other snacks and treats for you to enjoy while you spend a few hours enjoying their collection of trains and railroad equipment.

In addition to dozens of classic vehicles that will be on display, much of the railroad equipment will be open to go inside. This includes coach, baggage, and executive private train cars. Kids and adults will love the opportunity to walk through the inside of and sit at the controls of a real diesel locomotive. Purchase lunch at the event, enjoy the live music, and make a family afternoon out of your visit to the yard!

The West Boonton Yard is located at 104 Morris Ave, Boonton, NJ, which is easily accessible from Routes 46, 80, and 287. Visitors can have the option of taking the 0.3 mile walk from the NJ Transit station at 100 Frontage Road, or riding the shuttle bus from the Boonton public parking lot at 1 Plane Street, just off Main Street. Admission to the event is a donation of $5 per person or $10 per family. For more information, visit www.urhs.org.

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Sunday, September 20 - Walpack, Sussex County
Walpack Historical Society's Meeting

On Sunday at 1:00 pm, attend the Walpack Historical Society will present a program on Delabar Farm. Delabar Farm was located on the Van Campen Inn property from 1951 to 1961. Modeled after the Malabar Farm in Ohio. Come see many never before seen pictures of the area and learn about the Delabar Farm and the Beisler Family. The meeting will take place at the Walpack M.E. Church, Walpack Center, Sussex County, NJ within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This event is free and the public is welcome. For more information call 973-948-4903 or visit www.walpackhistory.org.

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Sunday, September 20 - Montclair, Essex County

Historic House Tours: Crane/YWCA & Shultz Open
Family Friendly

On Sunday you can visit ALL of the Montclair Historical Society’s properties, including the Shultz House at 30 North Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ. This amazing gem of a house is an intact time capsule of life in the early 20th century. Wait until you see the woodwork, the Delft fireplace surround, the science equipment in the library!

You can also discover history through the “many voices” who made our community what it is today at the Crane House and Historic YWCA at 108 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ. The people who lived, worked, and relaxed in this building tell the story of not only Montclair, but also New Jersey and nation from its early years of a fledgling country to a country embroiled in Civil Rights. While you’re here, make sure you see what’s growing at the farm, meet the chickens, and visit the Museum Shop for unique, one-of-a-kind treats.

Both houses are open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Admission is free, but donations are always welcome. For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.

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Sunday, September 20 - Caldwell, Essex County

Grover Cleveland Birthplace Visitor Center Cornerstone Laying Ceremony

Children Friendly

On Sunday, join the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association for the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Carriage House Visitor Center Cornerstone Laying Ceremony.

Program of the Day

3:00 - 3:30 pm: Tours of the birthplace

3:30 pm: Light refreshments served on the grounds of the birthplace; donated by Dunkin Donuts of  Caldwell

4:00 pm: Procession from the First Presbyterian Church down Bloomfield Avenue to the Grover Cleveland Birthplace. Included in the procession: Caldwell Fire Department, six vintage cars carrying dignitaries and members of GCBMA, Masonic Military Honor Guard, Grand Master of the New Jersey Masons and his staff, Essex Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons Fife and Drum Band with Bagpipes, and members of the American Legion of Caldwell

4:30 pm: Honor Guard will hoist the flags and Civil War reenactors will fire the cannon and the guns in respect for the flags

4:45 pm: All guests seated. The members of Masonic Lodges will be separate.

5:00 pm: Welcome from Mark Texel, Director of New Jersey Park Services, Dr. David Cowell, President Board of Trustees of GCBMA, and Mayor Ann Dassing of Caldwell, New Jersey

5:15 pm: Corner Stone Laying by Grand Master and his staff

5:35 pm: Remarks by RW Moises Gomez - Grand Historian, WM Benjamin Campos - Master, Essex Lodge No. 7, RW Jose Villalta - District Deputy Grand Master of the 8th Masonic District, MW Anthony W. Montuori - Grand Master of Masons of the State of New Jersey

5:50 pm: Congratulatory statement by Assemblyman Thomas Giblin, Proclamation Letter sent by Governor Chris Christie, and Groundbreaking ceremony

6:00 pm: Except from play: "The Life of Grover Cleveland," written by Lawrence E. McCollough, directed by Jason Eberhardt

6:30 pm: Benediction - Dr. Richard Sommer - First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell and Monsignor Michael Desmond - St Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, Caldwell.

The Grover Cleveland Birthplace is located at 207 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell, NJ. For more information, call 973-226-0001 or visit www.presidentcleveland.org.

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Sunday, September 20 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County

Cornbread Contest & Corny Jokes

Children Friendly

Do you make the best cornbread? Bake a 9" x 13" pan and bring it to Walnford between 12:30 and 1:00 pm along with a printed copy of your recipe. Judging will be done by your peers and our experts. Visitors may sample and judge the entries from 2:00 - 3:00 pm and copies of the newest edition of the Walnford Cornbread Cookbook will be given to each baker. Ribbons will be awarded at 3:00 pm.

From 2:00 - 3:00 pm, the staff at Walnford will be all ears for your favorite corny joke! They will read the family friendly entries and judge the winner by laughter. You must be present to participate. The “corn”ier the better!

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, call 609-259-6275 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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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.

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Through October 4, 2015 - Paterson, Passaic County
Patriotism and Propaganda in American Posters From the Great War 1917-1918

The Passaic County Historical Society would like to announce the opening of its newest exhibit, “Can the Kaiser”: Patriotism and Propaganda in American Posters From the Great War 1917-1918. When one thinks about America’s great promotional posters of the First World War, Uncle Sam’s “I Want You” springs to mind. Posters were used to incite patriotism and aid the war effort, promoting everything from the purchase of liberty bonds and Red Cross sponsorship to enlistment, hard work, and frugal lifestyles.

This exhibit of original World War I posters from the Society’s collection will be on display until October 4 in the third floor gallery at Lambert Castle (home of the Passaic County Historical Society) at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ. Visitors can access the exhibition during regular museum hours (Wednesday - Sunday). General museum admissions apply.

The Passaic County Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was founded to cultivate interest among individuals and the community-at-large in the rich history of Passaic County. To this end our museum in Lambert Castle showcases examples of the County’s cultural and artistic diversity, as well as examples of the County’s natural, civil, military, and ecclesiastical history. The Society also maintains a library and archive, which houses manuscripts, books and photographs of historical and genealogical interest.

For more information, call 973-247-0085 or visit www.lambertcastle.org.

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Through October 30, 2015 - Morristown, Morris County

“Canals of New Jersey” Exhibit

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

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

MHHM preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. MHHM is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The last tour ticket is sold at 3:00 pm. Adults $8; Seniors and Students $6; Children 6 – 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. Macculloch Hall is located at 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-538-2404 ext. 10 or visit www.maccullochhall.org.

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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.

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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.

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Through December 31, 2015 - Morristown, Morris County

Morristown: 1865-2015: Identity, Tradition and Enterprise

Morristown once comprised territory stretching from Mendham to Chatham until 1865 when, amidst the chaos of the Civil War, mysterious forces acted to separate it from Morris Township.

The Morristown & Morris Township Library invites you to explore an exhibit that details the lives of those who came to Morristown seeking wealth, redemption, conflict, or a new beginning. Utilizing rare and previously unseen archival materials, visitors will witness the development of the Green as the center of commerce, public affairs, and leisure, and how nearby houses of worship focused residents' spiritual and social lives.

Long a center of commerce and trade, early settlers struggled with the limitations of dirt roads until residents developed interstate canals, rail and trolley lines, and sophisticated highway systems. Changes in criminal behavior and law enforcement will be explored, as well as efforts to educate productive upstanding citizens through forward-thinking private and public schools.

In addition to the generations of innovators and immigrants who built Morristown's many businesses and infrastructure, we will take a look at those who celebrated cultural and religious events, grieved over shared disaster and commemorated war dead, and fought to make Morristown a place where everyone could gather in peace.

The exhibit will be on display through December 31 and is sponsored by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission and by funding from the Friends of the Library. The Morristown and Morris Township Library is located at 1 Miller Road, 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 December 31, 2015 - Ocean Township, Monmouth County

Ocean Township High School at 50

Early in September 1965, the doors of Ocean Township High School (OTHS) opened for the first time. It was a momentous day - the culmination of an impassioned campaign and a turning point for both Ocean Township and Asbury Park, the district that up to then had educated most of the township's teens.

Fifty years later, almost to the day, a mini-exhibit opened at the Eden Woolley House commemorating the milestone. "OTHS at 50," uses photographs, press clippings, and artifacts to demonstrate how the school's history mirrors five decades of social and political change.

The campaign for a high school:

Ocean Township's commitment to education is long standing. Between 1784 and 1960, it built at least nine schools. None was a high school.

Graduating eighth graders had a choice:

Asbury Park or Long Branch. Most chose Asbury. By 1962 Ocean students at Asbury High outnumbered city students 713 to 558. Ocean was booming and more than 1,000 high school-age students were projected by 1966. Asbury High, on split session since 1959, was already overcrowded. Something had to be done.

Asbury asked Ocean to sign a 20-year contract with the city as a condition for its undertaking a building expansion. Ocean refused. There was talk of regionalization, at first rejected and later revisited by the city. But it was too late. A full-blown campaign for an Ocean Township high school, spearheaded by the PTAs, was underway. On June 12, 1962, by a nearly 3-to-1 margin, the voters of Ocean approved a $2,969,000 bond to built their own school.

OTHS changes with the times:

Ocean High opened in 1965 without a senior class. Ocean seniors had returned to Asbury to graduate with their class. The next year, OTHS held its first graduation and published its first yearbook, The Sandpiper.

A look through almost a half century of yearbooks reveals more than changing hair styles and hemlines. Here's a sample:

* In the 1960s, Industrial Arts were just for boys, Home Economics, just for girls (who also have a "Homemaking Club").

* Title IX (prohibiting discrimination in federally funded programs) shaped the 1970s: for the first time girls had golf, tennis, and soccer teams; girls fixed cars, boys baked cakes.

* The technology revolution is evident. Keypunch machines of the 1970s give way to desktops in the late 1980s and electronics redefine the classroom in the new millennium.

Proof of the pudding:

In recent years, OTHS has made its share of "best high school" lists. Its own list of notable alums is impressive: Academy Award, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize winners; distinguished educators, journalists, authors, and scientists; a fashion designer, a network news anchor, innovative entrepreneurs, and more.

The Township of Ocean Historical Museum is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (1:00 - 4:00 pm), Thursday evenings (7:00 - 9:00 pm) and the first and second Sundays of each month (1:00 - 4:00 pm). The Township of Ocean Historical Museum is located at 703 Deal Road, Ocean, NJ. For more information, please call 732-531-2136 or visit www.oceanmuseum.org.

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Through 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