NJ Weekend Historical Happenings - 10/24/15 - 10/25/15
New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings
A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com
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Friday - Saturday, October 23 - 24 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County
Haunted Hayride at Allaire Village
Children Friendly
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Historic Allaire Village, presents Halloween Hayrides on Friday, and Saturday from 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm. The Halloween Hayride starts in front of the General Store and enters the foreboding woods for a trip into Halloween horror. Hayrides are approximately twenty minutes in length and wagons leave every fifteen minutes from the General Store. If you make it through the Hayride alive, take a stroll through our Haunted Village. Scary story-telling will be held in the Carriage House and special Halloween performances will be held in the Allaire Mansion. All are welcome...if you dare! Stop by the Allaire Bakery for hot cider and spooky snacks or visit the General Store and Museum Gift Shop for limited edition Halloween souvenirs and merchandise.
The cost for the hayride is $10 for child under 12 and $15 for adults. Tickets are limited so advance purchase is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Tickets are for sale by calling 732-919-3500 - please have your credit card ready. You can also purchase tickets via PayPal at www.allairevillage.org/tickets.
The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park, 4265 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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Haunted Hayride at Allaire Village
Children Friendly
The cost for the hayride is $10 for child under 12 and $15 for adults. Tickets are limited so advance purchase is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Tickets are for sale by calling 732-919-3500 - please have your credit card ready. You can also purchase tickets via PayPal at www.allairevillage.org/tickets.
The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park, 4265 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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Friday - Saturday, October 23 - 24 - Cape May, Cape May County
Historic Cold Spring Village Ghost Walks
It's the spookiest time of the year at the village! Ghost walks take place Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 pm through October 24th. Guests will be led by lantern light through the shell-lined paths of the Village, stopping along the way at our restored historic buildings to speak of the mysterious spectral happenings reported by visitors and staff and revealed by paranormal investigation teams. The 45-minute walking tours begins at the Route 9 gatehouse. Tickets are $15. Advanced reservations recommended. Please call 609-898-2300, ext. 10 for more information or to reserve your ticket.
Historic Cold Spring Village is located on Route 9, three miles north of Victorian Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern end of the Garden State Parkway. For more information, call 609-898-2300, ext. 10 or visit the Village www.hcsv.org.
Historic Cold Spring Village Ghost Walks
Historic Cold Spring Village is located on Route 9, three miles north of Victorian Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern end of the Garden State Parkway. For more information, call 609-898-2300, ext. 10 or visit the Village www.hcsv.org.
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Saturday, October 24 - Morristown, Morris County
Potions and Elixirs: Myths Dispelled
This entertaining seasonal program at Historic Speedwell explores 19th century medical practices and the use of potions and elixirs to treat disease. Program runs from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior (65+), $3/child (ages 4 -16). FREE for children under age 4 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Historic Speedwell is located 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.
This entertaining seasonal program at Historic Speedwell explores 19th century medical practices and the use of potions and elixirs to treat disease. Program runs from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior (65+), $3/child (ages 4 -16). FREE for children under age 4 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Historic Speedwell is located 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.
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Saturday, October 24 - Bedminster, Somerset County
Ghostly Tales by Historian Gordon Thomas Ward
Children Friendly
Ever wonder if ghosts roam the historic sites and buildings of central New Jersey? Join historian and performer Gordon Thomas Ward, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Bedminster's historic Jacobus Vanderveer House & Museum. Mr. Ward will tell ghostly tales of New Jersey's Revolutionary War haunts, and accompany his spine-chilling tales with songs on the guitar.
A native of Bernardsville, Gordon Thomas Ward is an author, singer-songwriter, and presenter. He is the author of Life on the Shoulder: Rediscovery and Inspiration along the Lewis and Clark Trail, a book of original poetry entitled Windows, and a timeless meditation on the meaning of childhood's link to history entitled A Bit of Earth.
Mr. Ward's many years of experience collecting forensic-based evidence to both dismiss and support claims of hauntings, especially in historic locations, led to his book Ghosts of Central Jersey. His most recently published book, Tracing Infinity: Bridging the Gap between Earth and Heaven, focuses on sensing and experiencing the divine in the world around us.
Admission $10. Children under 12 free. Registration required. For information and reservations, visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org or call 908-396-6053. Reservations can also be made directly via: http://jvanderveerhouse.givezooks.com/events/ghostly-tales-by-gordon-thomas-ward
The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located at 3055 River Road in Bedminster, NJ. The entrance to the house is via River Road Park. For directions and more information, call 908-396-6053 or visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org.
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Saturday, October 24 - Atlantic City, Atlantic County
Haunted Lighthouse Tours
Do you want to discover if Absecon Lighthouse is home to ghostly keepers that still watch over the shore in Atlantic City? Did the Jersey Devil pay a visit in 1909? Come visit the Absecon Lighthouse to hear the true ghost stories that prompted a visit from SyFy's Ghost Hunters! The New Jersey Researchers of Paranormal Evidence (NJ ROPE) will be on property to help you hunt for ghosts. Plus, hear their eerie recordings taken during a paranormal investigation. Guided tours of our grounds and tower will let you explore our rich history and experience some spooky tales. Beer, wine, and refreshments will be provided.
Reservations are required; call 609-449-1360. Tour times are 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 pm, and include a tower climb. Tickets are $20.00, and must be reserved!
Since The Inlet Public Private Association renovated the lighthouse tower, rebuilt the Keeper's Cottage and re-opened to visitors, several staff and volunteers have shared stories of being alone on the property but hearing footsteps and voices, smelling smoke, and even seeing a few ghostly apparitions. Now is your chance to experience the Absecon Lighthouse as you've never experienced it before.
Absecon Lighthouse is located at 31 South Rhode Island Avenue in Atlantic City, NJ. It is open to visitors Thursdays through Mondays, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.
Haunted Lighthouse Tours
Reservations are required; call 609-449-1360. Tour times are 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 pm, and include a tower climb. Tickets are $20.00, and must be reserved!
Since The Inlet Public Private Association renovated the lighthouse tower, rebuilt the Keeper's Cottage and re-opened to visitors, several staff and volunteers have shared stories of being alone on the property but hearing footsteps and voices, smelling smoke, and even seeing a few ghostly apparitions. Now is your chance to experience the Absecon Lighthouse as you've never experienced it before.
Absecon Lighthouse is located at 31 South Rhode Island Avenue in Atlantic City, NJ. It is open to visitors Thursdays through Mondays, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.
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Saturday, October 24 - Cape May, Cape May County
Phantoms of the Physick Estate -What Happens After Dark
Family Friendly
Are you brave enough to tour Dr. Physick's house after dark? Strange things have been seen, heard and done here in the evening hours. Let your guide open a portal to the past and see what discoveries await. 7:00 - 9:00 pm. $15 adults, $12 for children (ages 3-12). Combine the tour with Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Ride and save $2. The Emlen Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
Saturday, October 24 - Cape May, Cape May County
Phantoms of the Physick Estate -What Happens After Dark
Family Friendly
Are you brave enough to tour Dr. Physick's house after dark? Strange things have been seen, heard and done here in the evening hours. Let your guide open a portal to the past and see what discoveries await. 7:00 - 9:00 pm. $15 adults, $12 for children (ages 3-12). Combine the tour with Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Ride and save $2. The Emlen Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
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Saturday, October 24 - Morris Township, Morris County
Meet the Irish Servant and the Cook at the Willows
Children Friendly
On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, discover the life of domestic help at the Foster home on a guided tour. Assist the maid with household chores and see what the cook has prepared using the wood-burning stove. Two tours times available: 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 2:00 - 3:00 pm.
Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (2 and 3). FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit www.morrisparks.net.
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Meet the Irish Servant and the Cook at the Willows
Children Friendly
Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (2 and 3). FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit www.morrisparks.net.
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Saturday, October 24 - Freehold, Monmouth County
Open Hearth Cooking and Open House
Children Friendly
Monmouth County Historical Association invites the public to enjoy Open Hearth Open House at the Covenhoven House on Saturday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Come and observe eighteenth-century style cooking over the blazing open hearth. Visitors will be invited to sample treats made from authentic “receipts” provided by the hearth cooks.
Guided tours of this preserved landmark house, built in 1752 for William and Elizabeth Covenhoven will be provided. The Covenhoven House later served as headquarters for British General Sir Henry Clinton before the Battle of Monmouth in June of 1778.
Admission is free - bring the family. The Covenhoven House is located at 150 West Main Street in Freehold near the Route 9 overpass. Parking is available at Grace Lutheran Church at the corner of West Main Street and Business Route 33. For more information, call 732-462-1466 or visit www.monmouthhistory.org.
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Open Hearth Cooking and Open House
Children Friendly
Monmouth County Historical Association invites the public to enjoy Open Hearth Open House at the Covenhoven House on Saturday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Come and observe eighteenth-century style cooking over the blazing open hearth. Visitors will be invited to sample treats made from authentic “receipts” provided by the hearth cooks.
Guided tours of this preserved landmark house, built in 1752 for William and Elizabeth Covenhoven will be provided. The Covenhoven House later served as headquarters for British General Sir Henry Clinton before the Battle of Monmouth in June of 1778.
Admission is free - bring the family. The Covenhoven House is located at 150 West Main Street in Freehold near the Route 9 overpass. Parking is available at Grace Lutheran Church at the corner of West Main Street and Business Route 33. For more information, call 732-462-1466 or visit www.monmouthhistory.org.
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Saturday, October 24 - Harmony Township, Warren County
Fall Open House - Historic House and Barn Tours
Children Friendly
The Harmony Township Historical Society and the Historic Preservation Commission of Harmony Township invite the public to attend their annual Fall Open House at the historic VanNest-Hoff-Vannatta Farmstead on Saturday, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Admission is free. The farmstead is located at 3026 Belvidere Road, Route 519, just north of the Municipal Building in Harmony Township.
Come see the progress being made at the farmstead, including the two recently-relocated and restored wagon houses. The event will include tours of the circa 1750s main house, the restored wagon house, and the one of a kind Dutch style barn, and war reenactors, live demonstrations, and hearth cooking in the summer kitchen.
For more information, contact Ruth at historicalcomm@aol.com or visit www.hoffvannattafarm.org.
Fall Open House - Historic House and Barn Tours
Children Friendly
The Harmony Township Historical Society and the Historic Preservation Commission of Harmony Township invite the public to attend their annual Fall Open House at the historic VanNest-Hoff-Vannatta Farmstead on Saturday, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Admission is free. The farmstead is located at 3026 Belvidere Road, Route 519, just north of the Municipal Building in Harmony Township.Come see the progress being made at the farmstead, including the two recently-relocated and restored wagon houses. The event will include tours of the circa 1750s main house, the restored wagon house, and the one of a kind Dutch style barn, and war reenactors, live demonstrations, and hearth cooking in the summer kitchen.
For more information, contact Ruth at historicalcomm@aol.com or visit www.hoffvannattafarm.org.
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Saturday, October 24 - Franklin Township, Somerset County
An 18th-Century Dancing Primer at Rockingham
Ages 12+
First in war, first in peace, first...on the dance floor?! That's right! America's first president and Rockingham's most famous resident, George Washington, was well known for his enthusiasm for dancing. To learn more about His Excellency's favorite social diversion, come to Rockingham on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. for An Agreeable and Innocent Amusement: An 18th-Century Dancing Primer at Rockingham. This program will introduce you to country dance by way of talk/presentation and then instruction in several simple period dances.
Please note this program is not a public ball, nor is it aimed at advanced country dancers. Prior experience is not required. Period dress/long skirts are encouraged, but not required; comfortable shoes suggested. This event will be held in the Rockingham barn, rain or shine, and there will be light refreshments served. Pre-registration is recommended as occupancy is limited. Individuals or couples are welcome; ages 12 years and up only, please! The event is free; however, donations are always welcome!
Rockingham is located at 84 Laurel Avenue (Rte. 603) in Franklin Township, 1 mile north of Rte. 27 in Kingston, and 1 mile south of Rte. 518 in Rocky Hill. For more information and to register, call 609-683-7132 or visit www.rockingham.net.
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Saturday, October 24 - Edison, Middlesex County
Edison Memorial Tower Relighting
Children Friendly
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Saturday, October 24 - Union Township, Union County
Caldwell Parsonage Ghost Investigation
During each session, the New Jersey Paranormal staff will:
explain how an investigation is conducted;
demonstrate equipment used during an investigation;
show video evidence from the Parsonage investigation and their other investigations; and
lead a tour through the building, during which visitors may take pictures with their own digital devices to potentially capture orbs.
To purchase tickets at $10 each, please call 908-591-4377. Leave a message, and your call will be returned promptly. Proceeds will benefit the Parsonage, which is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.
To learn more about New Jersey Paranormal, please visit www.newjerseyparanormal.com. For more information about the Parsonage, the history of Union, or the Union Township Historical Society, visit www.unionhistory.org and www.uniontwphistoricalsociety.webs.com.
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Saturday, October 24 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Basket, Broom, and Bucket Making
Children Friendly
The sights and sounds of trades that were once essential in rural communities like Pleasant Valley, New Jersey will come to life when a broom maker, cooper and basket weaver put their tools and skills to work.
The demonstrations can be seen in the farm’s wagon house and visitors are encouraged to meet and talk with the tradesmen and tradeswomen, and use their finished products to help farmers sweep the barn, carry water for horses, and gather corn in baskets.
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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The demonstrations can be seen in the farm’s wagon house and visitors are encouraged to meet and talk with the tradesmen and tradeswomen, and use their finished products to help farmers sweep the barn, carry water for horses, and gather corn in baskets.
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, October 24 - Brick Township, Ocean County
Civil War Presentation
The Brick Township Historical Society will sponsor a free Civil War presentation at its Havens Homestead Museum property, 521 Herbertsville Road in Brick, NJ on Saturday at 11:00 am featuring members Stuart and Judi Buncher of Tinton Falls portraying actual people involved in the Civil War. They will be in costume and will portray Corporal Andrew Tomlin of the US Marines and Sister Veronica, a nurse tending to soldiers on the Red Rover, a floating hospital ship.
The public is welcome to tour the museum at 10:00 am and attend the presentation at 11:00 am. It will be outside, and some benches are available, but people can bring lawn chairs, if they wish. A special sale of Christmas items from the Lizzie Herbert Gift Shop will be featured. Parking is in a lot 150 feet east of the museum, accessed by a driveway with a blue sign that says “Havens Farm.”
For more information, call 732-785-2500 or visit www.bricktwphistoricalsociety.com.
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Civil War Presentation
The public is welcome to tour the museum at 10:00 am and attend the presentation at 11:00 am. It will be outside, and some benches are available, but people can bring lawn chairs, if they wish. A special sale of Christmas items from the Lizzie Herbert Gift Shop will be featured. Parking is in a lot 150 feet east of the museum, accessed by a driveway with a blue sign that says “Havens Farm.”
For more information, call 732-785-2500 or visit www.bricktwphistoricalsociety.com.
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Saturday - Sunday, October 24 - 25 - Morristown, Morris County
Fall 18th Living History Weekend
Children Friendly
Join Morristown National Historical Park for a weekend of fall-related 18th century activities at Jockey Hollow on Saturday and Sunday!
Activities and programs include:
Camp Life
Visit the 2nd NJ regiment's camp to see demonstrations of drilling, musket cleaning, and cooking.
Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Colonial Games
Have some old-fashioned fun with 18th century games played by soldiers and civilians alike!
Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Children's Drill
An opportunity for kids to learn the importance of drilling and marching and practice what it takes to be a soldier.
Saturday at 11:00 am and Sunday at 1:00 pm
Pressing History
Learn what the Wick's did with their 1,000 apple trees during this apple cider press demonstration.
Saturday from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
As Smooth As (Apple) Butter
Fall is the season of the apple! Join us for a demonstration in the art of making apple butter.
Sunday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
History of Hops
The garden hops is ready for harvesting. Join this discussion on hops and brewing in Colonial America.
Saturday at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm and Sunday at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm
Jockey Hollow is located within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit http://www.nps.gov/morr.
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Fall 18th Living History Weekend
Children Friendly
Join Morristown National Historical Park for a weekend of fall-related 18th century activities at Jockey Hollow on Saturday and Sunday!
Activities and programs include:
Camp Life
Visit the 2nd NJ regiment's camp to see demonstrations of drilling, musket cleaning, and cooking.
Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Colonial Games
Have some old-fashioned fun with 18th century games played by soldiers and civilians alike!
Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Children's Drill
An opportunity for kids to learn the importance of drilling and marching and practice what it takes to be a soldier.
Saturday at 11:00 am and Sunday at 1:00 pm
Pressing History
Learn what the Wick's did with their 1,000 apple trees during this apple cider press demonstration.
Saturday from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
As Smooth As (Apple) Butter
Fall is the season of the apple! Join us for a demonstration in the art of making apple butter.
Sunday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
History of Hops
The garden hops is ready for harvesting. Join this discussion on hops and brewing in Colonial America.
Saturday at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm and Sunday at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm
Jockey Hollow is located within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit http://www.nps.gov/morr.
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Saturday - Sunday, October 24 - 25 - East Amwell, Hunterdon County
Clawson House Open For Tours
Children Friendly
The East Amwell Historical Society will host a free open house at the Clawson House on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm. Everyone is invited to check out the historic Federal-style home that was built around 1810, and see the house drawings, landscape plan, and old photographs of the house. Members of EAHS will offer tours of the house and discuss its past. Refreshments will be served and donations will be accepted.
The house is located at 1050 Old York Road in East Amwell, NJ and fronts Marion F. Clawson Park. Harold and Marion Clawson owned the farm and house for decades. In 1999, the township purchased the property to establish a park, but the house sat boarded up for several years.
Renovations on the home are still in progress, but the herculean efforts of volunteers have gotten the house in a condition where it can be opened to the public for this event, said East Amwell Historical Society President Jim Davidson.
Stage one, completed earlier this summer, included all new sheathing, siding, windows, trim and exterior doors to the building. Stage two, which should begin this fall, will feature a total basement renovation that includes a new floor and staircase to the first floor, pointing of the stone foundation, and a new 200-amp electric service.
The third stage is a one-story back entrance, a kitchen and bath. Plans for this stage are currently in development. The final stage is to finish renovating the home’s interior.
Once renovations are completed, the building will serve several purposes, including: the headquarters of the East Amwell Historical Society, the home of the township’s museum and a place to store and display items from the Edward Quick collection of East Amwell memorabilia and artifacts. The collection is currently packed away in the basement of the township’s Municipal Building. The East Amwell Historical Society is actively soliciting grants and donations to help with the restoration. Rutgers Landscaping recently created a landscape design for the property.
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Clawson House Open For Tours
Children Friendly
The house is located at 1050 Old York Road in East Amwell, NJ and fronts Marion F. Clawson Park. Harold and Marion Clawson owned the farm and house for decades. In 1999, the township purchased the property to establish a park, but the house sat boarded up for several years.
Renovations on the home are still in progress, but the herculean efforts of volunteers have gotten the house in a condition where it can be opened to the public for this event, said East Amwell Historical Society President Jim Davidson.
Stage one, completed earlier this summer, included all new sheathing, siding, windows, trim and exterior doors to the building. Stage two, which should begin this fall, will feature a total basement renovation that includes a new floor and staircase to the first floor, pointing of the stone foundation, and a new 200-amp electric service.
The third stage is a one-story back entrance, a kitchen and bath. Plans for this stage are currently in development. The final stage is to finish renovating the home’s interior.
Once renovations are completed, the building will serve several purposes, including: the headquarters of the East Amwell Historical Society, the home of the township’s museum and a place to store and display items from the Edward Quick collection of East Amwell memorabilia and artifacts. The collection is currently packed away in the basement of the township’s Municipal Building. The East Amwell Historical Society is actively soliciting grants and donations to help with the restoration. Rutgers Landscaping recently created a landscape design for the property.
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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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The Hoboken Historical Museum is pleased to host one of Hoboken's most-anticipated fall events, the Annual Hoboken House Tour, on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. This year's tour features 7 homes-Victorian brownstones and brand-new condos, as well as converted factories and churches - plus three special bonus historic sites, graciously opened to visitors by Museum supporters to help us raise funds. Locations are a secret until the day of the tour, but each year offers a fresh selection.
This year's tour offers an outstanding collection of homes, with features that will appeal to fans of traditional, modern and eclectic decor, including:
A stunning designer home with a built-in dollhouse in the kitchen
A recently renovated home that was once a marzipan factory on downtown Garden St.
A rare peek inside a waterfront townhome in Maxwell Place
A condo in a recently converted church building
A home filled with contemporary art, plus loads of historic details and antiques.
Tickets are $30 in advance; $40 on the day of the tour ($30 for Museum members). Purchase tickets online at http://bit.ly/HobokenHouseTour15. The self-guided tour takes about two to three hours on foot. Houses open at 10:00 am and close at 4:00 pm. Homes may be visited in any order. A map will be included in the House Tour booklet, available only on the day of the tour at one of two starting points: The Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson Street, or the Fire Department Museum, 213 Bloomfield Street. Ticket sales are limited, and tours have sold out in past years. No tickets will be sold after 2:00 pm on October 25. Proceeds from ticket sales help support the Museum's exhibitions and operations. For more information, visit https://www.hobokenmuseum.org.
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Sunday, October 25 - Byram Township, Sussex County
Waterloo Canal Heritage Day
Children Friendly
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Come visit Waterloo Village between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm for a day in this historic Morris Canal town. Enjoy boat rides on the Morris Canal, Smith's Store - a furnished canal-era store with hands-on activities, blacksmithing, see the operating gristmill, seamstress shop, carpenter's shop, take guided tours of 1859 Methodist Church, the Canal Museum - with exhibits and videos, and guided walking tours of the village. Admission is free but there is a $5 per car parking fee. Waterloo Village is located at 525 Waterloo Road, Byram, NJ. For more information, call 973-292-2755 or visit www.canalsocietynj.org.
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Sunday, October 25 - Hoboken, Hudson County
The Hoboken Museum's Annual Hoboken House Tour
This year's tour offers an outstanding collection of homes, with features that will appeal to fans of traditional, modern and eclectic decor, including:
A stunning designer home with a built-in dollhouse in the kitchen
A recently renovated home that was once a marzipan factory on downtown Garden St.
A rare peek inside a waterfront townhome in Maxwell Place
A condo in a recently converted church building
A home filled with contemporary art, plus loads of historic details and antiques.
Tickets are $30 in advance; $40 on the day of the tour ($30 for Museum members). Purchase tickets online at http://bit.ly/HobokenHouseTour15. The self-guided tour takes about two to three hours on foot. Houses open at 10:00 am and close at 4:00 pm. Homes may be visited in any order. A map will be included in the House Tour booklet, available only on the day of the tour at one of two starting points: The Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson Street, or the Fire Department Museum, 213 Bloomfield Street. Ticket sales are limited, and tours have sold out in past years. No tickets will be sold after 2:00 pm on October 25. Proceeds from ticket sales help support the Museum's exhibitions and operations. For more information, visit https://www.hobokenmuseum.org.
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Waterloo Canal Heritage Day
Children Friendly
Come visit Waterloo Village between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm for a day in this historic Morris Canal town. Enjoy boat rides on the Morris Canal, Smith's Store - a furnished canal-era store with hands-on activities, blacksmithing, see the operating gristmill, seamstress shop, carpenter's shop, take guided tours of 1859 Methodist Church, the Canal Museum - with exhibits and videos, and guided walking tours of the village. Admission is free but there is a $5 per car parking fee. Waterloo Village is located at 525 Waterloo Road, Byram, NJ. For more information, call 973-292-2755 or visit www.canalsocietynj.org.-----------------------------------
Sunday, October 25 - Maplewood, Essex County
Thunderbird American Indian Dancers
Family Friendly
Family Friendly
Join Durand-Hedden on Sunday for an afternoon of dance, history, and American Indian culture. The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers will perform traditional American Indian dance and music from tribal groups found throughout the United States including the Robin Dance, Fish Dance, and Smoke Dance of the Iroquois; the Contest Dance of the Winnebago; the Fancy Shawl Dance; the Old Style Traditional Warrior Dance of the Kiowa and the Hoop Dance.
Wonderfully presented with descriptive narration, Thunderbird Dancers’ programs are among the most compelling anywhere. There will also be time for questions and for photographs.
Doors open at 1:00 pm; performance begins at 2:00 pm. The location will be on the grounds of Grasmere Park behind the Durand-Hedden House. The event is free. Donations are welcome.
You can also stroll through the Maplewood Garden Club Herb Garden, full to the brim with fascinating, useful, and decorative herbs. And check out the Country Store’s historic-themed treasures: early American games, books, and toys; facsimile documents; quill pens and ink; historic cook books; cookie molds; tin lanterns, reproductive decorative items and ceramics; and more, such as the hard-to-find original Doors of Maplewood poster, Smile: A Pictorial History of Olympic Park, 1887-1965, and the new acid-free reproduction of the charming 1931 Map of Maplewood.
Durand-Hedden House is dedicated to telling the history of the development of Maplewood, New Jersey and the surrounding area in new and engaging ways. It is located in Grasmere Park at 523 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood, New Jersey. For more information, call 973-763-7712, visit www.durandhedden.org.
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Wonderfully presented with descriptive narration, Thunderbird Dancers’ programs are among the most compelling anywhere. There will also be time for questions and for photographs.
Doors open at 1:00 pm; performance begins at 2:00 pm. The location will be on the grounds of Grasmere Park behind the Durand-Hedden House. The event is free. Donations are welcome.
You can also stroll through the Maplewood Garden Club Herb Garden, full to the brim with fascinating, useful, and decorative herbs. And check out the Country Store’s historic-themed treasures: early American games, books, and toys; facsimile documents; quill pens and ink; historic cook books; cookie molds; tin lanterns, reproductive decorative items and ceramics; and more, such as the hard-to-find original Doors of Maplewood poster, Smile: A Pictorial History of Olympic Park, 1887-1965, and the new acid-free reproduction of the charming 1931 Map of Maplewood.
Durand-Hedden House is dedicated to telling the history of the development of Maplewood, New Jersey and the surrounding area in new and engaging ways. It is located in Grasmere Park at 523 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood, New Jersey. For more information, call 973-763-7712, visit www.durandhedden.org.
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Sunday, October 25 - Cranford, Union County
Halloween Storytime and Craft at Crane-Phillips House
Children Friendly
Visit the Crane-Phillips House Museum on Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm for a "Halloween Storytime and Craft." So stop by the museum after the township's Halloween Parade to listen to a story and make a Halloween craft.
This craft is appropriate for children 6 years of age or older. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. Space is limited so reservations are required. To reserve your seat, please call the historical society's office at 908-276-0082 or e-mail cranfordhistoricalsociety@verizon.net.
The Crane-Phillips House Museum is located at 124 North Union Avenue, Cranford, NJ. Admission is free. The Cranford Historical Society was founded in 1927 with a mission to preserve the unique history of Cranford, New Jersey. The Society maintains the Crane-Phillips House Living Museum, an important costume collection, and archives. For more information, call 908-376-0082 or visit www.cranfordhistoricalsociety.com.
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This craft is appropriate for children 6 years of age or older. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. Space is limited so reservations are required. To reserve your seat, please call the historical society's office at 908-276-0082 or e-mail cranfordhistoricalsociety@verizon.net.
The Crane-Phillips House Museum is located at 124 North Union Avenue, Cranford, NJ. Admission is free. The Cranford Historical Society was founded in 1927 with a mission to preserve the unique history of Cranford, New Jersey. The Society maintains the Crane-Phillips House Living Museum, an important costume collection, and archives. For more information, call 908-376-0082 or visit www.cranfordhistoricalsociety.com.
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Sunday, October 25 - Browns Mills, Burlington County
1920s Cranberry Harvest Living History Tours and Antiques Show
Children Friendly
The Whitesbog Preservation Trust will host its 1920s Cranberry Harvest Living History Tours and Antiques Show on Sunday. Beginning at 10:00 am, visitors will be able shop dozens of antique dealers for vintage tools, toys, postcards, bottles, and turn-of-the-century collectible treasures. Free admission and parking.
At 1:00 pm, Enjoy the reenactment of a 1920’s cranberry harvest and learn about Whitesbog’s founder and legendary cranberry grower, J.J. White, his daughter and blueberry innovator, Elizabeth C. White, and other residents of Whitesbog from scientists to berry pickers. Docents in period dress will guide you through the Village’s many museums and historic buildings.
Visit all Whitesbog Village’s interpreted museums and historic landscapes to:
* Meet Whitesbog’s founder and famed cranberry grower, J. J. White, and harvest your own cranberry’s with an authentic 1920s cranberry scoop.
* Meet Elizabeth Coleman White and tour her historic home and office at Suningive.
* Learn about a typical villager’s day in the Workers’ Cottage.
* Meet Charles Beckwith and visit the 1st Rutgers’ Experimental Research Substation (circa 1920).
* Visit the Paymaster’s Shed and trade your cranberries in for a 1920s pickers voucher - then spend it in the General Store.
* Enjoy a wagon ride out into the bogs and old time bluegrass by the Blueberry Jam Band.
Tour admission: Adults $8, Children 5 to 18 years old are $5, and children under 4 years are free. Reservations are requested to 609-893-4646
Historic Whitesbog Village is located on County Route 530 at mile marker 13, just 1.3 miles Northwest of Route 70, and a few miles southeast of Browns Mills, NJ. GPS address: 120 North Whitesbog Road, Browns Mills, NJ 08015. For more information, call 609-893-4646 or visit www.whitesbog.org.
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1920s Cranberry Harvest Living History Tours and Antiques Show
Children Friendly
The Whitesbog Preservation Trust will host its 1920s Cranberry Harvest Living History Tours and Antiques Show on Sunday. Beginning at 10:00 am, visitors will be able shop dozens of antique dealers for vintage tools, toys, postcards, bottles, and turn-of-the-century collectible treasures. Free admission and parking.
At 1:00 pm, Enjoy the reenactment of a 1920’s cranberry harvest and learn about Whitesbog’s founder and legendary cranberry grower, J.J. White, his daughter and blueberry innovator, Elizabeth C. White, and other residents of Whitesbog from scientists to berry pickers. Docents in period dress will guide you through the Village’s many museums and historic buildings.
Visit all Whitesbog Village’s interpreted museums and historic landscapes to:
* Meet Whitesbog’s founder and famed cranberry grower, J. J. White, and harvest your own cranberry’s with an authentic 1920s cranberry scoop.
* Meet Elizabeth Coleman White and tour her historic home and office at Suningive.
* Learn about a typical villager’s day in the Workers’ Cottage.
* Meet Charles Beckwith and visit the 1st Rutgers’ Experimental Research Substation (circa 1920).
* Visit the Paymaster’s Shed and trade your cranberries in for a 1920s pickers voucher - then spend it in the General Store.
* Enjoy a wagon ride out into the bogs and old time bluegrass by the Blueberry Jam Band.
Tour admission: Adults $8, Children 5 to 18 years old are $5, and children under 4 years are free. Reservations are requested to 609-893-4646
Historic Whitesbog Village is located on County Route 530 at mile marker 13, just 1.3 miles Northwest of Route 70, and a few miles southeast of Browns Mills, NJ. GPS address: 120 North Whitesbog Road, Browns Mills, NJ 08015. For more information, call 609-893-4646 or visit www.whitesbog.org.
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Sunday, October 25 - Morristown, Morris County
Please Touch Tours
Children Friendly
On Sunday from 12:30 - 5:00 pm, Explore history in a new way as you travel through the Vail House using hands-on artifacts while on a guided tour with detailed descriptions and engaging discussions. Through this tactile experience, observe and discover Historic Speedwell’s history in a unique way. Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior (65+), $3/child (ages 4 -16). FREE for children under age 4 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Historic Speedwell is located 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.
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Sunday, October 25 - 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 from 1:30 - 2:00 pm. 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, October 25 - 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.
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, October 25 - Montclair, Essex County
Nursing in the Progressive Era
The role that women played in the development of Mountainside Nursing School teaches us a great deal about the culture and community of Progressive Era Montclair. While nursing has historically been a profession dominated by women, the rise of the modern hospital in the late-nineteenth-century transformed the practice of nursing, and with it, the role that women nurses played in the care of their patients. Mountainside Nursing School offers a lens on this transformation, revealing the complex ways in which scientific medicine elevated the prestige of nursing by demanding that nurses acquire a new skill set and knowledge base, but also reinforced the professional hierarchy between nurses and doctors. At the same time, the early history of Mountainside shows how Progressive women claimed leadership roles in developing health care resources for the Montclair, Glen Ridge and Bloomfield communities. This lecture will examine how the women nurses, hospital administrators and board members who created the Mountainside Nursing School contributed to the development of the health infrastructure of the Montclair area, and how Mountainside contributed to the empowerment of local women.
Vanessa Burrows is an historian of medicine and public health whose research focuses on the political economy of health and medical research, twentieth century U.S. health policy and medical civil rights. She received her Ph.D. in History from the CUNY Graduate Center, and teaches U.S. History at Hunter College. She is currently working on a documentary film about how Medicare was used to desegregate U.S. hospitals. She lives in Montclair with her husband and two daughters.
Historian Vanessa Burrows discusses the Hackensack UMC Mountainside School of Nursing in the larger context of how the nursing profession empowered women in the Progressive Era and beyond. Vanessa Burrows holds a PhD from the Graduate Center of the City University of NY. Programs coincides with the exhibition A Retrospective of the Mountainside School of Nursing on display at the Crane House and Historic YWCA on Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Suggested donation: $5. The Crane House and Historic YWCA is located at 108 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ. For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.
Vanessa Burrows is an historian of medicine and public health whose research focuses on the political economy of health and medical research, twentieth century U.S. health policy and medical civil rights. She received her Ph.D. in History from the CUNY Graduate Center, and teaches U.S. History at Hunter College. She is currently working on a documentary film about how Medicare was used to desegregate U.S. hospitals. She lives in Montclair with her husband and two daughters.
Historian Vanessa Burrows discusses the Hackensack UMC Mountainside School of Nursing in the larger context of how the nursing profession empowered women in the Progressive Era and beyond. Vanessa Burrows holds a PhD from the Graduate Center of the City University of NY. Programs coincides with the exhibition A Retrospective of the Mountainside School of Nursing on display at the Crane House and Historic YWCA on Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Suggested donation: $5. The Crane House and Historic YWCA is located at 108 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ. For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.
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Sunday, October 25 - Bridgewater, Somerset County
Presentation by Arthur S. Lefkowitz, Author
Mr. Lefkowitz has authored many books over the years and is an engaging speaker! His latest work, Benedict Arnold in the Company of Heroes, is the story of the lives of the American patriots who served under Arnold and how he influenced them. A speaker for the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, the National Park Service, Fraunces Tavern Museum, and the annual meeting of the Arnold Expedition Historical Society, Mr. Lefkowitz has also spoken for the Washington Campground Association, appeared several times on New Jersey Public Television speaking about the Revolutionary War, and more!
Mr. Lefkowitz is a member of the Board of Governors of the American Revolution round Table. He has a BA from New York University, MBA from Long Island University. Mr. Lefkowitz is currently the owner of a sales-marketing and consulting firm specializing in architectural hardware. Admission is free and the presnetation begins at 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. It will be held at the headquarters of the Heritage Trail Association, the Van Horne House, 941 East Main Street, Bridgewater, NJ.
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Mr. Lefkowitz is a member of the Board of Governors of the American Revolution round Table. He has a BA from New York University, MBA from Long Island University. Mr. Lefkowitz is currently the owner of a sales-marketing and consulting firm specializing in architectural hardware. Admission is free and the presnetation begins at 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. It will be held at the headquarters of the Heritage Trail Association, the Van Horne House, 941 East Main Street, Bridgewater, NJ.
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Sundays through October 25, 2015 - Ringwood, Passaic County
Grounds and Garden Tour
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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 30, 2015 - Morristown, Morris County
“Canals of New Jersey” Exhibit
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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
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