NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 5/14/16 - 5/15/16
New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings
A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com
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Saturday, May 14 - Manalapan, Monmouth County
Spirits of the Jerseys State History Fair
Children Friendly Event and Site
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Saturday, May 14 - Bergen County
Northwest Bergen History Coalition's 6th Annual History Day
Children Friendly Sites
Tour 10 NW Bergen History Museums with one ticket! Come and discover how we communicated when letters were left at the local inn, when postcards were our "twitter feed", and the operator listened to all our calls on the party line. See how mail was delivered by train and buggy and what our local newspapers were like in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Admission to all sites: $15 adults; children 12 and under are free and will receive a Special Fun Ticket! All proceeds will be equally divided among the Coalition's historical societies.
There will be special exhibits at each of these museums:
* The John Fell House, 475 North Franklin Turnpike, Allendale
* The Museum at the Station, 17 Rock Road, Glen Rock
* The Hermitage National Historic Landmark, 335 North Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus
* The Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike & Old Station Museum, 171 Old Station Lane, Mahwah
* Van Allen House, 3 Franklin Avenue, Oakland
* Old Stone House, 538 Island Road, Ramsey
* The Schoolhouse Museum, 650 E. Glen Avenue, Ridgewood
* Waldwick Signal Tower, 1 Bohnert Place, Waldwick
* The Zabriskie House, 421 Franklin Avenue, Wyckoff
* Hopper-Goetschius House Museum, 245 Lake Street, Upper Saddle River
For more information, call 201-327-2236 or visit www.nwbergenhistory.org or www.usrhistoricalsociety.org.
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Pleasant Valley House Tours
Children Friendly Site
On Saturday at Howell Living Farm, the houses of grist miller John Phillips, his farmer-son Henry and Henry’s blacksmith-son Lewis will be featured during a 90 minute walking tour, hosted by Howell Farm historian Larry Kidder. A tour of the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse is included. Transportation to the historic houses is available for those needing assistance. Call the site for tour specifics, starting point, and time.
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.org.
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Late Spring Flea Market
Hunt for hidden treasures amid furniture, books, art work, bottles, knick knacks, and so much more! The late spring flea market at Allaire runs from 8:00 - 3:00 pm. $1 admission for adults, children under 12 and members get in free. The village, General Store, and Bakery are open as well. The rain date is Sunday, May 15.
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, May 14 - Trenton, Mercer County
Annual Meeting and Program of the Trent House Association
Please join us for this public lecture at 1:00 pm which will be hosted in conjunction with our Annual Members' Meeting. Lecture presented by David Hart: Historian, Author and Filmmaker. This illustrated lecture will examine the life of John Hart and his role as a leader in the American Revolution. David Hart will also discuss an upcoming film about John Hart’s life, in which the Trent House will be used as one of the filming locations.
As New Jersey’s first Assembly Speaker, John Hart was among the early New Jersey leaders to play an integral role in the American Revolution. During the summer of 1776, Hart attended the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia as a delegate from New Jersey and signed the Declaration of Independence. In December of that year, during the Hessian occupation of Trenton and the surrounding area, Hart escaped and hid for a short time in a cave in the Sourland Mountains of present-day East Amwell Township. The Continentals’ capture of Trenton on December 26, 1776 allowed Hart to return home. In June 1778, on the eve of the Battle of Monmouth, General Washington’s troops encamped themselves on Hart’s Hopewell farm. Less than a year later while the war raged on, John Hart’s story came to an unfortunate end, dooming this quiet Patriot’s deeds to historical obscurity.
Admission: $10.00 for non-members and free for members. Complimentary light refreshments and tours of the Trent House. The William Trent House is located at 15 Market Street in Trenton, adjacent to the Hughes Justice Complex. Ample free parking. For more information, call 609-989-3027 or visit www.williamtrenthouse.org.
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Saturday - Sunday, May 14 - 15 - Bedminster, Somerset County
John Phillip Osborne: An American Master Exhibition and Sale
The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House will host a special exhibition and sale of works by American master painter John Phillip Osborne with the J. M. Stringer Gallery of Fine Art (formerly of Bernardsville and now based in Vero Beach, FL).
The exhibition – John Phillip Osborne: An American Master – will run May 7-8 and May 14-15 with a special Mothers & Mimosas Tour, Sunday, May 8 in honor of Mother’s Day. The collection includes approximately 30 oil paintings and pen and ink drawings depicting a range of subjects.
The exhibition will be open Saturdays 12:00 - 5:00 pm and Sundays 1:00 - 5:00 pm during both weekends. Docents will be available for guided tours of the Vanderveer House and informational material about the 1772 Dutch-Colonial home, period rooms and furnishings are available throughout the house.
Admission $10 (Free to members of the Jacobus Vanderveer House and children 12 and under). The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located at 3055 River Road East (in Bedminster's River Road Park), Bedminster, NJ 07921. For more information, call 908-396-6053 or visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org.
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Spirits of the Jerseys State History Fair
Children Friendly Event and Site
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Saturday, May 14 - Bergen County
Northwest Bergen History Coalition's 6th Annual History Day
Children Friendly Sites
Tour 10 NW Bergen History Museums with one ticket! Come and discover how we communicated when letters were left at the local inn, when postcards were our "twitter feed", and the operator listened to all our calls on the party line. See how mail was delivered by train and buggy and what our local newspapers were like in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Admission to all sites: $15 adults; children 12 and under are free and will receive a Special Fun Ticket! All proceeds will be equally divided among the Coalition's historical societies.
There will be special exhibits at each of these museums:
* The John Fell House, 475 North Franklin Turnpike, Allendale
* The Museum at the Station, 17 Rock Road, Glen Rock
* The Hermitage National Historic Landmark, 335 North Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus
* The Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike & Old Station Museum, 171 Old Station Lane, Mahwah
* Van Allen House, 3 Franklin Avenue, Oakland
* Old Stone House, 538 Island Road, Ramsey
* The Schoolhouse Museum, 650 E. Glen Avenue, Ridgewood
* Waldwick Signal Tower, 1 Bohnert Place, Waldwick
* The Zabriskie House, 421 Franklin Avenue, Wyckoff
* Hopper-Goetschius House Museum, 245 Lake Street, Upper Saddle River
For more information, call 201-327-2236 or visit www.nwbergenhistory.org or www.usrhistoricalsociety.org.
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Saturday, May 14 - Mount Laurel, Burlington County
Tour Paulsdale
Paulsdale is open to the public for Second Saturday Tours at 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm. Paulsdale is the birthplace of Quaker suffragist Alice Paul. Tours include a 15-minute presentation about Alice Paul's life and work and a walk around the porch where visitors learn about the Paul family's daily life in the house, the restoration of the house, and its present day use as a girl's leadership center. Tours are $5.00 per person.
Paulsdale is located at 128 Hooton Road, Mount Laurel, NJ. For information about group tours or future tour dates, contact the Alice Paul Institute at 856-231-1885, e-mail info@alicepaul.org, or visit www.alicepaul.org.
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Saturday, May 14 - Bloomfield, Essex County
Morris Canal Park at Oak Tree Lane Opening
Children Friendly Event and Site
The Township of Bloomfield along with the Recreation Department and the Bloomfield Morris Canal Greenway Committee cordially invite you to the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Township's newest park, Morris Canal Park at Oak Tree Lane, on Saturday at 11:00 am.
The park, a surviving section of the historic Morris Canal, features a trail that once served as a mule towpath and the canal bed. Walk along the actual route coal boats once traveled through Bloomfield as they made their 102-mile journey across northern New Jersey.
The Morris Canal's five-mile stretch through Bloomfield has now been transformed into the Morris Canal Greenway, part of a statewide effort to retrace the canal's footprint. The Morris Canal Greenway in Bloomfield connects the Park at Oak Tree Lane in the northern part of town to Wright's Field on the southern end, while highlighting the canal's remnants, other historical sites, parks, and environmental assets.
Various dignitaries from Bloomfield Township, Essex County and the Canal Society of New Jersey, as well as others, will be in attendance to mark this momentous occasion. For more information, please contact Michael Sceurman, Recreation Director at 973-743-9074 or e-mail msceurman@bloomfieldtwpnj.com.
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Saturday, May 14 - Morris Township, Morris County
Breakfast is Served!
Children Friendly Event and Site
On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in the Farmhouse kitchen, watch as a typical breakfast for farm families is prepared on the wood-burning cook stove. Help with these chores from 10:30 am - 12:00 noon.
Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2for children ages 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, May 14 - Chester, Morris County
Born to be Shorn
Children Friendly Event and Site
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On Saturday from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm at the Cooper Grist Mill in Chester, visit the lambs and watch hand-shearing of the sheep. See how fleece is processed and made into garments. Hands-on activities include weaving, spinning, and making crafts. Cost: $3 per adult, $2 per senior (65+), and $1 per child age 4 - 16. FREE for children under age 4, and Friends of Fosterfields and Cooper Mill members with a current membership card. The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit www.morrisparks.net.
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Saturday, May 14 - Little Egg Harbor, Ocean County
"A Long Retreat" NJ in Revolutionary War
On Saturday, the Tuckerton Historical Society presents Arthur S. Lefkowitz, author and historian, who will present a 50-minute slide program based on his book The Long Retreat. This program focuses on the British invasion of New Jersey in late 1776, which ended with Washington's famous Christmas night raid on Trenton. Mr. Lefkowitz will demonstrate that the closest the British ever came to winning a military victory in the American Revolution was at New Brunswick, New Jersey, on December 1, 1775. This presentation will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the Giffordtown Schoolhouse Museum, 35 Leitz Blvd., Little Egg Harbor, NJ. For more information, call 609-294-1547 or visit www.tuckertonhistoricalsociety.org.
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Saturday, May 14 - Hopewell Township, Mercer CountyTour Paulsdale
Paulsdale is open to the public for Second Saturday Tours at 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm. Paulsdale is the birthplace of Quaker suffragist Alice Paul. Tours include a 15-minute presentation about Alice Paul's life and work and a walk around the porch where visitors learn about the Paul family's daily life in the house, the restoration of the house, and its present day use as a girl's leadership center. Tours are $5.00 per person.Paulsdale is located at 128 Hooton Road, Mount Laurel, NJ. For information about group tours or future tour dates, contact the Alice Paul Institute at 856-231-1885, e-mail info@alicepaul.org, or visit www.alicepaul.org.
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Saturday, May 14 - Bloomfield, Essex County
Morris Canal Park at Oak Tree Lane Opening
Children Friendly Event and Site
The Township of Bloomfield along with the Recreation Department and the Bloomfield Morris Canal Greenway Committee cordially invite you to the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Township's newest park, Morris Canal Park at Oak Tree Lane, on Saturday at 11:00 am.
The park, a surviving section of the historic Morris Canal, features a trail that once served as a mule towpath and the canal bed. Walk along the actual route coal boats once traveled through Bloomfield as they made their 102-mile journey across northern New Jersey.
The Morris Canal's five-mile stretch through Bloomfield has now been transformed into the Morris Canal Greenway, part of a statewide effort to retrace the canal's footprint. The Morris Canal Greenway in Bloomfield connects the Park at Oak Tree Lane in the northern part of town to Wright's Field on the southern end, while highlighting the canal's remnants, other historical sites, parks, and environmental assets.
Various dignitaries from Bloomfield Township, Essex County and the Canal Society of New Jersey, as well as others, will be in attendance to mark this momentous occasion. For more information, please contact Michael Sceurman, Recreation Director at 973-743-9074 or e-mail msceurman@bloomfieldtwpnj.com.
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Saturday, May 14 - Morris Township, Morris County
Breakfast is Served!
Children Friendly Event and Site
On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in the Farmhouse kitchen, watch as a typical breakfast for farm families is prepared on the wood-burning cook stove. Help with these chores from 10:30 am - 12:00 noon.Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2for children ages 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, May 14 - Chester, Morris County
Born to be Shorn
Children Friendly Event and Site
On Saturday from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm at the Cooper Grist Mill in Chester, visit the lambs and watch hand-shearing of the sheep. See how fleece is processed and made into garments. Hands-on activities include weaving, spinning, and making crafts. Cost: $3 per adult, $2 per senior (65+), and $1 per child age 4 - 16. FREE for children under age 4, and Friends of Fosterfields and Cooper Mill members with a current membership card. The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit www.morrisparks.net.-----------------------------------
Saturday, May 14 - Little Egg Harbor, Ocean County
"A Long Retreat" NJ in Revolutionary War
On Saturday, the Tuckerton Historical Society presents Arthur S. Lefkowitz, author and historian, who will present a 50-minute slide program based on his book The Long Retreat. This program focuses on the British invasion of New Jersey in late 1776, which ended with Washington's famous Christmas night raid on Trenton. Mr. Lefkowitz will demonstrate that the closest the British ever came to winning a military victory in the American Revolution was at New Brunswick, New Jersey, on December 1, 1775. This presentation will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the Giffordtown Schoolhouse Museum, 35 Leitz Blvd., Little Egg Harbor, NJ. For more information, call 609-294-1547 or visit www.tuckertonhistoricalsociety.org.
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Pleasant Valley House Tours
Children Friendly Site
On Saturday at Howell Living Farm, the houses of grist miller John Phillips, his farmer-son Henry and Henry’s blacksmith-son Lewis will be featured during a 90 minute walking tour, hosted by Howell Farm historian Larry Kidder. A tour of the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse is included. Transportation to the historic houses is available for those needing assistance. Call the site for tour specifics, starting point, and time.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.org.
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Saturday, May 14 - Princeton, Mercer County
Stony Brook Walking Tour
Following a portion of the trail George Washington took from Trenton to the Princeton Battlefield, this tour includes stops at the Stony Brook Meeting House and cemetery.
Admission: $5 per person and includes farmhouse museum admission. Tours begin at the Updike Farmstead farmhouse, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ at 2:00 pm and ends at 3:30 pm. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.
Following a portion of the trail George Washington took from Trenton to the Princeton Battlefield, this tour includes stops at the Stony Brook Meeting House and cemetery.
Admission: $5 per person and includes farmhouse museum admission. Tours begin at the Updike Farmstead farmhouse, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ at 2:00 pm and ends at 3:30 pm. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.
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Saturday, May 14 - Edison, Middlesex County
Folk Dancers of Peru
Folk Dancers of Peru
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Saturday, May 14 - Farmingdale, Monmouth CountyLate Spring Flea Market
Hunt for hidden treasures amid furniture, books, art work, bottles, knick knacks, and so much more! The late spring flea market at Allaire runs from 8:00 - 3:00 pm. $1 admission for adults, children under 12 and members get in free. The village, General Store, and Bakery are open as well. The rain date is Sunday, May 15.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, May 14 - Trenton, Mercer County
Annual Meeting and Program of the Trent House Association
Please join us for this public lecture at 1:00 pm which will be hosted in conjunction with our Annual Members' Meeting. Lecture presented by David Hart: Historian, Author and Filmmaker. This illustrated lecture will examine the life of John Hart and his role as a leader in the American Revolution. David Hart will also discuss an upcoming film about John Hart’s life, in which the Trent House will be used as one of the filming locations.
As New Jersey’s first Assembly Speaker, John Hart was among the early New Jersey leaders to play an integral role in the American Revolution. During the summer of 1776, Hart attended the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia as a delegate from New Jersey and signed the Declaration of Independence. In December of that year, during the Hessian occupation of Trenton and the surrounding area, Hart escaped and hid for a short time in a cave in the Sourland Mountains of present-day East Amwell Township. The Continentals’ capture of Trenton on December 26, 1776 allowed Hart to return home. In June 1778, on the eve of the Battle of Monmouth, General Washington’s troops encamped themselves on Hart’s Hopewell farm. Less than a year later while the war raged on, John Hart’s story came to an unfortunate end, dooming this quiet Patriot’s deeds to historical obscurity.
Admission: $10.00 for non-members and free for members. Complimentary light refreshments and tours of the Trent House. The William Trent House is located at 15 Market Street in Trenton, adjacent to the Hughes Justice Complex. Ample free parking. For more information, call 609-989-3027 or visit www.williamtrenthouse.org.
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Saturday - Sunday, May 14 - 15 - Bedminster, Somerset County
John Phillip Osborne: An American Master Exhibition and Sale
The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House will host a special exhibition and sale of works by American master painter John Phillip Osborne with the J. M. Stringer Gallery of Fine Art (formerly of Bernardsville and now based in Vero Beach, FL).The exhibition – John Phillip Osborne: An American Master – will run May 7-8 and May 14-15 with a special Mothers & Mimosas Tour, Sunday, May 8 in honor of Mother’s Day. The collection includes approximately 30 oil paintings and pen and ink drawings depicting a range of subjects.
The exhibition will be open Saturdays 12:00 - 5:00 pm and Sundays 1:00 - 5:00 pm during both weekends. Docents will be available for guided tours of the Vanderveer House and informational material about the 1772 Dutch-Colonial home, period rooms and furnishings are available throughout the house.
Admission $10 (Free to members of the Jacobus Vanderveer House and children 12 and under). The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located at 3055 River Road East (in Bedminster's River Road Park), Bedminster, NJ 07921. For more information, call 908-396-6053 or visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org.
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Sunday, May 15 - Princeton, Mercer County
Historic Princeton Walking Tour
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. Tours begin in front of the Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Tour begins at 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. Walk up ticket sales are cash only; guides cannot provide change. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.
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Sunday, May 15 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
Walnford Day
Children Friendly Site & Event
The sights and sounds of the past come alive at Historic Walnford in Upper Freehold on Sunday between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm. Plan on spending an afternoon taking a step back to explore the past!
Activities planned for the day include:
• Quill Pen Calligraphy
• Blacksmith Demonstrations
• Old-Fashioned Games
• Dressing up in period garments
• Weaving & Spinning Demonstrations
• Horse Drawn Wagon Rides from 1:00 - 4:00 pm
While there, tour 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, 08501. For more information, visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.
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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. Tours begin in front of the Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Tour begins at 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. Walk up ticket sales are cash only; guides cannot provide change. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.
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Sunday, May 15 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
Walnford Day
Children Friendly Site & Event
The sights and sounds of the past come alive at Historic Walnford in Upper Freehold on Sunday between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm. Plan on spending an afternoon taking a step back to explore the past!Activities planned for the day include:
• Quill Pen Calligraphy
• Blacksmith Demonstrations
• Old-Fashioned Games
• Dressing up in period garments
• Weaving & Spinning Demonstrations
• Horse Drawn Wagon Rides from 1:00 - 4:00 pm
While there, tour 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, 08501. For more information, visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.
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Sunday, May 15 - East Brunswick, Middlesex County
Covered Bridges Program
On Sunday, the East Brunswick Historical Society will present a program on covered bridges. The program will take place at the historical society headquarters at 78 Milltown Road, East Brunswick, NJ. Speaking at the event at 2:00 pm will be Richard J. Garlipp, Jr, author of New Jersey's Covered Bridges. There also will be a display of covered bridges from around our nation. The display will be available from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Parking, admission, and refreshments are free.
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Sunday, May 15 - Whippany, Morris County
Excursion Train Rides
Children Friendly Event and Site
Spend Sunday at the Whippany Railway Museum on a 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland on a mid-1900s Excursion Train. The combined age of the equipment used on the vintage train is an astounding 635 years! Be on the lookout for deer, turtles, wild turkeys, hawks, and rabbits, as the route takes you past a natural swamp with abundant wildlife. Trains depart at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 pm from 1 Railroad Plaza at the Intersection of Route 10 West & Whippany Road in Whippany, NJ. Train fare is: Adult: $14; child (under 12): $9; infants (1 year and under): Free. Ticket price includes admission to the Museum grounds, Museum building which houses historical railroad, steam ship memorabilia displays, operating model trains, gift shop and the outdoor operating large scale model trains.
The "Excursion Train Ride" is a fundraising effort to benefit the Whippany Railway Museum, a 501 (c)3 non-profit Operating Heritage Railroad that is staffed by Volunteers. Donations from the public help to keep the Museum operational, but funds are still required to support this unique New Jersey treasure. Proceeds from the train rides will further enhance the Museum's mission and its Historic Preservation efforts. For more information, call 973-887-8177 or visit www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net.
On Sunday, the East Brunswick Historical Society will present a program on covered bridges. The program will take place at the historical society headquarters at 78 Milltown Road, East Brunswick, NJ. Speaking at the event at 2:00 pm will be Richard J. Garlipp, Jr, author of New Jersey's Covered Bridges. There also will be a display of covered bridges from around our nation. The display will be available from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Parking, admission, and refreshments are free.
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Sunday, May 15 - Whippany, Morris County
Excursion Train Rides
Children Friendly Event and Site
Spend Sunday at the Whippany Railway Museum on a 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland on a mid-1900s Excursion Train. The combined age of the equipment used on the vintage train is an astounding 635 years! Be on the lookout for deer, turtles, wild turkeys, hawks, and rabbits, as the route takes you past a natural swamp with abundant wildlife. Trains depart at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 pm from 1 Railroad Plaza at the Intersection of Route 10 West & Whippany Road in Whippany, NJ. Train fare is: Adult: $14; child (under 12): $9; infants (1 year and under): Free. Ticket price includes admission to the Museum grounds, Museum building which houses historical railroad, steam ship memorabilia displays, operating model trains, gift shop and the outdoor operating large scale model trains.The "Excursion Train Ride" is a fundraising effort to benefit the Whippany Railway Museum, a 501 (c)3 non-profit Operating Heritage Railroad that is staffed by Volunteers. Donations from the public help to keep the Museum operational, but funds are still required to support this unique New Jersey treasure. Proceeds from the train rides will further enhance the Museum's mission and its Historic Preservation efforts. For more information, call 973-887-8177 or visit www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net.
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Sunday, May 15 - Eatontown, Monmouth County
"Genealogy: It's Not a Tree or a Chart, It's a Story!"
"Genealogy: It's Not a Tree or a Chart, It's a Story!" will be the topic of the May 15th meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society. Author and genealogist Maureen Wlodaczyk will explain how to breathe life into your family tree. She will share her ideas of how to take a family tree chart and layer on historical context (the social, economic, religious, military and other aspects of the times in which our ancestors lived) to enrich and give dimension to our family stories.
Maureen, a writer, columnist, family historian, and lecturer, is a self-described "history and genealogy addict." Beyond researching and writing about her own family history, she searches for true stories of people and events lost to time, rediscovering and sharing those tales through her books, magazine articles, and her presentations to genealogical and historical groups.
She is a member of the Irish American Writers & Artists organization and several genealogical societies. She was selected for 2014 and 2015 Excellence-in-Writing awards by the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE). Maureen currently writes a genealogy column: "History & Mystery Perfect Together" for the e-magazine Garden State Legacy. She is also a contributing writer for the genealogical e-magazine "Irish Lives Remembered."
The presentation will be held on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 72 Broad Street, Eatontown and is free of charge.
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Sunday, May 15 - Skillman, Somerset County
The Forgotten Village at Skillman Park
Learn about the fascinating history of one of the earliest treatment centers for those with epilepsy in the United States, the State Village. With its own farm, power plant, ice house, fire department, theater and over 100 other buildings, this Skillman Village was a small town onto itself.
Program from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at Memorial Hall, 424 Route 518, Blawenburg, NJ next to Blawenburg Reformed Church. There will be presentations, a panel discussion, exhibit of vintage photos plus semi-guided tours at Skillman Park, Route 601, Skillman from 3:30 - 5:00 pm. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Dan Pullen, who lived at the State Village as a child. Plus a panel of former residents at the site. A keepsake booklet filled with interesting articles and maps will be available for $15. For more information, visit www.vanharlingen.org or e-mail info@vanharlingen.org.
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Sunday, May 15 - Chatham, Morris County
Chatham Township & the Civil War
On Sunday, the Chatham Township Historical Society presents Chatham Township & the Civil War, presented by Bill Styple. Bill is the author of several books on the Civil War, including Generals in Bronze: Interviewing the Commanders of the Civil War and The Andersonville Diary and Memoirs of Charles Hopkins, 1st New Jersey Infantry. Learn about the men who went to fight, how the war affected the town, and a local stop on the Underground Railroad. Program beings at 2:00 pm at the Chatham Township Municipal Building, 58 Meyersville Road, Chatham, NJ. All are welcome. For more information, call 973-635-4911 or visit www.chathamtownshiphistoricalsociety.org
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Spring is upon us. Visitors will get a tour of the museum's Victorian flower, herb, and vegetable gardens as well as our barn and outhouse. If you have a plant from your garden and would like to plant it at the museum, please bring it with you.
The Crane-Phillips House Museum, 124 North Union Avenue, Cranford, NJ. Admission is free but reservations are required - call 908-276-0082 or e-mail cranfordhistoricalsociety@verizon.net. The society has been dedicated to the perpetuation of Cranford's history by continuing to collect and document the town's past as we now enter the 21st century. For more information, visit www.cranfordhistoricalsociety.com.
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"Genealogy: It's Not a Tree or a Chart, It's a Story!" will be the topic of the May 15th meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society. Author and genealogist Maureen Wlodaczyk will explain how to breathe life into your family tree. She will share her ideas of how to take a family tree chart and layer on historical context (the social, economic, religious, military and other aspects of the times in which our ancestors lived) to enrich and give dimension to our family stories.
Maureen, a writer, columnist, family historian, and lecturer, is a self-described "history and genealogy addict." Beyond researching and writing about her own family history, she searches for true stories of people and events lost to time, rediscovering and sharing those tales through her books, magazine articles, and her presentations to genealogical and historical groups.
She is a member of the Irish American Writers & Artists organization and several genealogical societies. She was selected for 2014 and 2015 Excellence-in-Writing awards by the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE). Maureen currently writes a genealogy column: "History & Mystery Perfect Together" for the e-magazine Garden State Legacy. She is also a contributing writer for the genealogical e-magazine "Irish Lives Remembered."
The presentation will be held on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 72 Broad Street, Eatontown and is free of charge.
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Sunday, May 15 - Skillman, Somerset County
The Forgotten Village at Skillman Park
Learn about the fascinating history of one of the earliest treatment centers for those with epilepsy in the United States, the State Village. With its own farm, power plant, ice house, fire department, theater and over 100 other buildings, this Skillman Village was a small town onto itself.
Program from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at Memorial Hall, 424 Route 518, Blawenburg, NJ next to Blawenburg Reformed Church. There will be presentations, a panel discussion, exhibit of vintage photos plus semi-guided tours at Skillman Park, Route 601, Skillman from 3:30 - 5:00 pm. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Dan Pullen, who lived at the State Village as a child. Plus a panel of former residents at the site. A keepsake booklet filled with interesting articles and maps will be available for $15. For more information, visit www.vanharlingen.org or e-mail info@vanharlingen.org.
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Sunday, May 15 - Chatham, Morris County
Chatham Township & the Civil War
On Sunday, the Chatham Township Historical Society presents Chatham Township & the Civil War, presented by Bill Styple. Bill is the author of several books on the Civil War, including Generals in Bronze: Interviewing the Commanders of the Civil War and The Andersonville Diary and Memoirs of Charles Hopkins, 1st New Jersey Infantry. Learn about the men who went to fight, how the war affected the town, and a local stop on the Underground Railroad. Program beings at 2:00 pm at the Chatham Township Municipal Building, 58 Meyersville Road, Chatham, NJ. All are welcome. For more information, call 973-635-4911 or visit www.chathamtownshiphistoricalsociety.org
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Sunday, May 15 - Cranford, Union County
House and Garden Tour at The Crane-Phillips House Museum
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The Cranford Historical Society presents "A House and Garden Tour" at the Crane-Phillips House Museum on Sunday, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The Crane-Phillips House Museum is the primary programming site of the Cranford Historical Society. Known as "Cranford's Historic Gem," this quaint Victorian cottage stands next to the Rahway River near the 18th-century river crossing, "Crane's Ford." An outstanding example of Andrew Jackson Downing architecture, it is dressed in its original 1870s Victorian colors. The museum offers a rare glimpse of the life of a modest family in the Victorian era of opulence. An inviting parlor offers a look at times long past. Permanent and changing exhibits, featuring items from the society's costume, tool, and local history collections are displayed.
The Cranford Historical Society presents "A House and Garden Tour" at the Crane-Phillips House Museum on Sunday, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The Crane-Phillips House Museum is the primary programming site of the Cranford Historical Society. Known as "Cranford's Historic Gem," this quaint Victorian cottage stands next to the Rahway River near the 18th-century river crossing, "Crane's Ford." An outstanding example of Andrew Jackson Downing architecture, it is dressed in its original 1870s Victorian colors. The museum offers a rare glimpse of the life of a modest family in the Victorian era of opulence. An inviting parlor offers a look at times long past. Permanent and changing exhibits, featuring items from the society's costume, tool, and local history collections are displayed.Spring is upon us. Visitors will get a tour of the museum's Victorian flower, herb, and vegetable gardens as well as our barn and outhouse. If you have a plant from your garden and would like to plant it at the museum, please bring it with you.
The Crane-Phillips House Museum, 124 North Union Avenue, Cranford, NJ. Admission is free but reservations are required - call 908-276-0082 or e-mail cranfordhistoricalsociety@verizon.net. The society has been dedicated to the perpetuation of Cranford's history by continuing to collect and document the town's past as we now enter the 21st century. For more information, visit www.cranfordhistoricalsociety.com.
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Sunday, May 15 - Burlington, Burlington County
Envisioning New Jersey: An Illustrated History of the Garden State
On Sunday, the Burlington County Historical Society presents "Envisioning New Jersey: An Illustrated History of the Garden State" from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Join us as we welcome Maxine Lurie, professor emeritus of history at Seton Hall and co-author of Envisioning New Jersey. She will discuss Envisioning New Jersey, a companion book to A History of the Garden State. Envisioning New Jersey is the first illustrated book on the Garden State that covers its complete history. Be among the first to get a glimpse into this book scheduled to be printed in June 2016.
Admission is $5 per person. Program to be held at the Burlington County Historical Society. Entrances located on 457 High Street and 454 Lawrence Street in Burlington, NJ. For more information and to RSVP, call 609-386-4773 or e-mail burlcohistsocprograms@verizon.net.
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Sunday, May 15 - Westampton, Burlington County
The Great Seal - What's on the Back of the Dollar Bill?
On the back of every dollar bill is the Great Seal. What is the Great Seal? Who created the seal and when did it become the official insignia of the United States? All of these questions and more will be answered as we explore the origin of The Great Seal at Peachfield on Sunday from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm.
Tours of the house will be available at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Admission is free. A free-will donation is welcome in support of the museum. Reservations are recommended. Peachfield is located at 180 Burrs Road, Westampton, NJ. For more information and to register, call 609-267-6996, e-mail colonialdamesnj@comcast.net, or visit www.colonialdamesnj.org.
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On Sunday, the Burlington County Historical Society presents "Envisioning New Jersey: An Illustrated History of the Garden State" from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Join us as we welcome Maxine Lurie, professor emeritus of history at Seton Hall and co-author of Envisioning New Jersey. She will discuss Envisioning New Jersey, a companion book to A History of the Garden State. Envisioning New Jersey is the first illustrated book on the Garden State that covers its complete history. Be among the first to get a glimpse into this book scheduled to be printed in June 2016.
Admission is $5 per person. Program to be held at the Burlington County Historical Society. Entrances located on 457 High Street and 454 Lawrence Street in Burlington, NJ. For more information and to RSVP, call 609-386-4773 or e-mail burlcohistsocprograms@verizon.net.
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Sunday, May 15 - Maplewood, Essex County
Revolutionary War Muster at Durand-Hedden House in Maplewood
Children Friendly Event
Back by popular demand, the Third New Jersey Regiment reenactment group returns to Grasmere Park surrounding the Durand-Hedden house 11:00 am - 5:00 pm on Sunday to set up a living history camp for visitors. The well-known reenactors will accurately demonstrate 18th-century military and civilian life activities including tent building, military drills, musket firing, natural dyeing, and weaving. They will also offer the opportunity to examine military and domestic accoutrements and equipment. The event is free (donations appreciated).
The historic Third New Jersey Regiment, also called the "Jersey Blues" because its coats were blue with red lapels, was mustered during the American Revolution and has a claim to be part of the longest history of any U.S. military unit. Locally in 1780, during the War of Independence, the Regiment assumed defensive positions around Elizabethtown. In June of that year it was the first to engage the British and Hessian invasions from Staten Island. Joined by local militia and the rest of the Jersey Brigade, the Regiment fought a delaying action at Connecticut Farms (Union, NJ). A few days later, on June 23, it was engaged again and fought valiantly as a leading element in the Battle of Springfield, NJ. A year later the "Jersey Blues" also participated in the siege and victory at Yorktown.
Durand-Hedden House is dedicated to telling the history of the development of Maplewood and the surrounding area in new and engaging ways. It is located in Grasmere Park at 523 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood, NJ. For more information, call 973-763-7712 or visit www.durandhedden.org.
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Children Friendly Event
Back by popular demand, the Third New Jersey Regiment reenactment group returns to Grasmere Park surrounding the Durand-Hedden house 11:00 am - 5:00 pm on Sunday to set up a living history camp for visitors. The well-known reenactors will accurately demonstrate 18th-century military and civilian life activities including tent building, military drills, musket firing, natural dyeing, and weaving. They will also offer the opportunity to examine military and domestic accoutrements and equipment. The event is free (donations appreciated).The historic Third New Jersey Regiment, also called the "Jersey Blues" because its coats were blue with red lapels, was mustered during the American Revolution and has a claim to be part of the longest history of any U.S. military unit. Locally in 1780, during the War of Independence, the Regiment assumed defensive positions around Elizabethtown. In June of that year it was the first to engage the British and Hessian invasions from Staten Island. Joined by local militia and the rest of the Jersey Brigade, the Regiment fought a delaying action at Connecticut Farms (Union, NJ). A few days later, on June 23, it was engaged again and fought valiantly as a leading element in the Battle of Springfield, NJ. A year later the "Jersey Blues" also participated in the siege and victory at Yorktown.
Durand-Hedden House is dedicated to telling the history of the development of Maplewood and the surrounding area in new and engaging ways. It is located in Grasmere Park at 523 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood, NJ. For more information, call 973-763-7712 or visit www.durandhedden.org.
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Sunday, May 15 - Walpack, Sussex County
Locating Fort Carmer
On Sunday, the Walpack Historical Society continues to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service by presenting a new opinion on the location of Fort Carmer, which dates back to the French & Indian War. For years, a stone building at the intersection of Old Mine Road and Peters Valley Road was identified as Fort Carmer. It is now believed that this building was constructed in the early 19th century. Hixon and Sharon Spangenberg of Layton will offer their opinion on the true location of Fort Carmer. By 1757, the county reported six fortifications along the Delaware River. In 1758, seven forts are mentioned. Eventually, there were more than a dozen forts and ranging posts in northwestern NJ; Fort Carmer was one of them. The meeting begins at 1:00 pm at the Walpack M.E. Church, Main Street, Walpack Center in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Sussex County, NJ. Weather permitting, after the meeting the society will visit the new site. For more information, call 973-948-4903.
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On Sunday, the Walpack Historical Society continues to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service by presenting a new opinion on the location of Fort Carmer, which dates back to the French & Indian War. For years, a stone building at the intersection of Old Mine Road and Peters Valley Road was identified as Fort Carmer. It is now believed that this building was constructed in the early 19th century. Hixon and Sharon Spangenberg of Layton will offer their opinion on the true location of Fort Carmer. By 1757, the county reported six fortifications along the Delaware River. In 1758, seven forts are mentioned. Eventually, there were more than a dozen forts and ranging posts in northwestern NJ; Fort Carmer was one of them. The meeting begins at 1:00 pm at the Walpack M.E. Church, Main Street, Walpack Center in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Sussex County, NJ. Weather permitting, after the meeting the society will visit the new site. For more information, call 973-948-4903.
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Sunday, May 15 - Camden, Camden County
Camden County Historical Society Grand Reopening
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Sunday, May 15 - Hopewell, Mercer County
New Jersey's Colonial Landscape
Joseph R. Klett, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, will present a lecture in his hometown of Hopewell on the subject of "New Jersey's Colonial Landscape." The event will take place at the Hopewell Museum, 28 East Broad Street, Hopewell, at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Mr. Klett will discuss both the geography and ancient boundary lines of old New Jersey, as well as archival sources for the colonial period. The talk is based on his monograph, "Understanding New Jersey's Geography in the Proprietary Period," which was published as a special issue of The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey to celebrate the New Jersey 350th anniversary in 2014. It won last year's Donald Lines Jacobus Award from the American Society of Genealogists for scholarly contribution to the field of genealogy, nationally. Mr. Klett will also include a colonial case study focusing on the Hopewell area. For more information, visit www.hopewellvalleyhistory.org.
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Joseph R. Klett, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, will present a lecture in his hometown of Hopewell on the subject of "New Jersey's Colonial Landscape." The event will take place at the Hopewell Museum, 28 East Broad Street, Hopewell, at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Mr. Klett will discuss both the geography and ancient boundary lines of old New Jersey, as well as archival sources for the colonial period. The talk is based on his monograph, "Understanding New Jersey's Geography in the Proprietary Period," which was published as a special issue of The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey to celebrate the New Jersey 350th anniversary in 2014. It won last year's Donald Lines Jacobus Award from the American Society of Genealogists for scholarly contribution to the field of genealogy, nationally. Mr. Klett will also include a colonial case study focusing on the Hopewell area. For more information, visit www.hopewellvalleyhistory.org.
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The Great Seal - What's on the Back of the Dollar Bill?
On the back of every dollar bill is the Great Seal. What is the Great Seal? Who created the seal and when did it become the official insignia of the United States? All of these questions and more will be answered as we explore the origin of The Great Seal at Peachfield on Sunday from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm.Tours of the house will be available at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Admission is free. A free-will donation is welcome in support of the museum. Reservations are recommended. Peachfield is located at 180 Burrs Road, Westampton, NJ. For more information and to register, call 609-267-6996, e-mail colonialdamesnj@comcast.net, or visit www.colonialdamesnj.org.
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Through May 15, 2016 - Harrison Township, Gloucester County
Two New Exhibits on Display
Harrison Township Historical Society's Old Town Hall Museum has reopened this spring with two new exhibitions exploring 10,000 years of local history. The new installations feature the society's rich holdings, many of which are on exhibit for the first time."
Two New Exhibits on Display
Harrison Township Historical Society's Old Town Hall Museum has reopened this spring with two new exhibitions exploring 10,000 years of local history. The new installations feature the society's rich holdings, many of which are on exhibit for the first time."
"Living Off the Land: Food, Farms and Families" focuses on Harrison Township's agricultural heritage. Food production has been a prominent feature of the area for centuries, due to its fertile soil, progressive family farms, and close proximity to major metropolitan markets in Philadelphia, New York and beyond. The exhibition examines a wide range of farm products produced here, from fruits and vegetable crops to dairy, poultry, and pork through artifacts dating from the early 1800s to the present day.
Going even farther back into the township's history, "The Stone Age in Harrison Township" features the society's extensive Paleo-Indian collection. This archaeological record provides evidence of 10,000 years of human habitation here. Interestingly, the objects include stone hoes and adzes showing how long crops have been grown and harvested here.
"Eyewitnesses," the society's interactive presentation in the first floor gallery concludes this spring. Here a collection of objects tell their own stories through an audio soundtrack accessible through visitors' mobile devices and online. The exhibition is also available at the society's website (www.harrisonhistorical.com). Both on-line and gallery visitors can vote for their favorite object and story. Museum visitors are also encouraged to share a "selfie" with their favorite object.
The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, through May 15, 2016 (closed Mother's Day) and admission is free. Old Town Hall Museum is located at 62 South Main Street in Mullica Hill, NJ. For more information, call 856-478-4949 or visit www.harrisonhistorical.com.
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Through June 10, 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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Through June 26, 2016 - Park Ridge, Bergen County
The Jazz Age: Fashions, Flappers, and Flasks
Pascack Historical Society volunteers invite you to revisit a historical time when conservative American traditions and mores were pushed to the limit. A new exhibit, The Jazz Age: Fashions, Flappers, and Flasks, will open on Sunday, April 17 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, at 19 Ridge Avenue, Park Ridge, NJ. Admission is free, but donations are happily accepted at the door to the barrier-free 1873 museum. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult. The exhibit will run during regular visiting hours through June 26.
The Jazz Age, the time between the end of World War I (1918) and the Stock Market crash of 1929, was noted for increased nationwide prosperity, liberated social and sexual behaviors, Prohibition, and the accompanying production of bootleg liquor, speakeasies, jazz and ragtime music.
Young carefree women drank liquor freely from decorative flasks and smoked cigarettes in public, dangling them from jeweled cigarette holders, as they danced the Charleston and Blackbottom with wild abandon. Short skirts, plunging necklines and low backs on dresses put more of the female body parts on display than ever before. The female fashion silhouette presented a boyish figure with flattened breasts and very loose fitting clothes. Emancipation from traditional gender styles encouraged women to cut their long hair and free them from the complicated styles of the Edwardian Age. The short "bob" hairstyle needed to be cut more regularly and a plethora of beauty parlors opened nationwide according to exhibit PHS Trustees Helen Whalen and Grace Wohn, exhibit curators.
Visitors will see many day and dinner dresses, coats and accessories worn and used by the women of the Pascack Valley during this short and exciting time in American history. For more information, call 201-573-0307 or visit www.pascackhistoricalsociety.org.
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Through June 26, 2016 - Sparta, Sussex County
Vintage Costume Jewelry Exhibit
With a focus on vintage costume jewelry “Made in America,” you are invited to “Faux and Fabulous: 100 Years of Vintage Costume Jewelry” at the Sparta Historical Society’s Van Kirk Homestead Museum. This exhibition in the Changing Gallery, curated by Joyce Zakierski Simmons, features period costume jewelry adornments.
Faux jewelry played an eminent part in our American society. Featuring major American designers and manufacturers, the accessories on exhibit illustrate the historic design styles prevalent from 1900-2000. With discoveries and inventions, new materials prevailed. Glass, silk, metal, wood, leather, imitation stones and especially plastic materials are used in each piece of costume jewelry. These components, known as findings, were made all over the world, but the final product was assembled here in the USA. What makes this exhibit exciting is that the costume jewelry industry basically started in America, with Providence, RI its home. The rarely seen hand manipulated beaded Miriam Haskell archival jewelry, will add to the other giant early 20th century manufacturing houses of Coro, Trifari, Monet, and Napier.
This wearable art of glamorous necklaces, brooches, earrings and bracelets will dazzle you throughout the exhibit. As you learn of the history of retro costume jewelry, these treasures will delight both the collector and the interested visitor. There are fun facts for future collectors and smart tips on choosing investment pieces. Simply stop in to see what was in grandma’s jewelry box.
The exhibit hours are from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, on the second and fourth Sunday of the month and runs through Sunday, June 26, 2016. Gallery talks will take place at 2:00 pm on Sundays. The show is open to the public and handicap accessible. Special group viewing hours may be arranged through the Sparta Historical Society, Van Kirk Homestead Museum and History Education Center, 336 Main Street (Route 517, use Sparta Middle School Driveway), Sparta, NJ 07871. For more information, call 973-726-0883 or SpartaHistoricalSocNJ@gmail.com.
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Through July 9, 2016 - Freehold, Monmouth County
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Through June 26, 2016 - Park Ridge, Bergen County
The Jazz Age: Fashions, Flappers, and Flasks
Pascack Historical Society volunteers invite you to revisit a historical time when conservative American traditions and mores were pushed to the limit. A new exhibit, The Jazz Age: Fashions, Flappers, and Flasks, will open on Sunday, April 17 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, at 19 Ridge Avenue, Park Ridge, NJ. Admission is free, but donations are happily accepted at the door to the barrier-free 1873 museum. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult. The exhibit will run during regular visiting hours through June 26.
The Jazz Age, the time between the end of World War I (1918) and the Stock Market crash of 1929, was noted for increased nationwide prosperity, liberated social and sexual behaviors, Prohibition, and the accompanying production of bootleg liquor, speakeasies, jazz and ragtime music.
Young carefree women drank liquor freely from decorative flasks and smoked cigarettes in public, dangling them from jeweled cigarette holders, as they danced the Charleston and Blackbottom with wild abandon. Short skirts, plunging necklines and low backs on dresses put more of the female body parts on display than ever before. The female fashion silhouette presented a boyish figure with flattened breasts and very loose fitting clothes. Emancipation from traditional gender styles encouraged women to cut their long hair and free them from the complicated styles of the Edwardian Age. The short "bob" hairstyle needed to be cut more regularly and a plethora of beauty parlors opened nationwide according to exhibit PHS Trustees Helen Whalen and Grace Wohn, exhibit curators.
Visitors will see many day and dinner dresses, coats and accessories worn and used by the women of the Pascack Valley during this short and exciting time in American history. For more information, call 201-573-0307 or visit www.pascackhistoricalsociety.org.
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Through June 26, 2016 - Sparta, Sussex County
Vintage Costume Jewelry Exhibit
With a focus on vintage costume jewelry “Made in America,” you are invited to “Faux and Fabulous: 100 Years of Vintage Costume Jewelry” at the Sparta Historical Society’s Van Kirk Homestead Museum. This exhibition in the Changing Gallery, curated by Joyce Zakierski Simmons, features period costume jewelry adornments.Faux jewelry played an eminent part in our American society. Featuring major American designers and manufacturers, the accessories on exhibit illustrate the historic design styles prevalent from 1900-2000. With discoveries and inventions, new materials prevailed. Glass, silk, metal, wood, leather, imitation stones and especially plastic materials are used in each piece of costume jewelry. These components, known as findings, were made all over the world, but the final product was assembled here in the USA. What makes this exhibit exciting is that the costume jewelry industry basically started in America, with Providence, RI its home. The rarely seen hand manipulated beaded Miriam Haskell archival jewelry, will add to the other giant early 20th century manufacturing houses of Coro, Trifari, Monet, and Napier.
This wearable art of glamorous necklaces, brooches, earrings and bracelets will dazzle you throughout the exhibit. As you learn of the history of retro costume jewelry, these treasures will delight both the collector and the interested visitor. There are fun facts for future collectors and smart tips on choosing investment pieces. Simply stop in to see what was in grandma’s jewelry box.
The exhibit hours are from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, on the second and fourth Sunday of the month and runs through Sunday, June 26, 2016. Gallery talks will take place at 2:00 pm on Sundays. The show is open to the public and handicap accessible. Special group viewing hours may be arranged through the Sparta Historical Society, Van Kirk Homestead Museum and History Education Center, 336 Main Street (Route 517, use Sparta Middle School Driveway), Sparta, NJ 07871. For more information, call 973-726-0883 or SpartaHistoricalSocNJ@gmail.com.
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Through July 9, 2016 - Freehold, Monmouth County
19th Century New Jersey Chairmaking Exhibit
Monmouth County Historical Association's newest exhibition Of the Best Materials and Good Workmanship: 19th Century New Jersey Chairmaking at the Museum at 70 Court Street will remain open through July 9, 2016.
This exhibition explores the diversity of products made by chairmakers in New Jersey from the late 18th century through 1900 and explores four different galleries: the craft of chairmaking, Windsor chairs, common chairs, and factory made chairs. It draws from chairmakers from throughout the Garden State, including a large collection of chairmaking tools, equipment, benches, patterns and stencils collected by William H. MacDonald of Trenton. MacDonald, who had one time worked in Freehold, donated the collection to the Association in the mid and late 20th century. The exhibition represents the first time the entire collection of tools, equipment and patterns have ever been displayed together.
Hammond explained that the name for the exhibition is taken from the language commonly used by New Jersey manufacturers in their newspaper advertisements promoting themselves against craftsmen from New York and Philadelphia.
Many of the items in the exhibition come from throughout the Garden State, from Bergen to Cumberland and Salem counties, and span the era from 1780 to 1900. Some of the items on display are on loan from several different historical societies as well as the Rutgers archives’ special collection and are representative of both local and regional chairmakers.
Of particular interest is one section devoted to the Ware family of Cumberland County, a family that represents a unique chapter in the history of American furniture production. Nineteen members of the family spanning four generations made traditional slat back, rush-seated chairs in the Delaware Valley tradition from the late 18th century to about 1940.
The gallery portraying factory made chairs includes perforated furniture made by Gardener and Company in 1872, a business in Glen Gardner, folding chairs popular on ocean liners dating back as far as 1868 and made by the Collignon Brothers in Closter, in Bergen County, using wood from the sawmill across the Hackensack River from the plant, and the Cooper Chair factory of Bergen, noted for its delicate chairmaking styles.
The Gallery devoted to Windsor chairs includes the earliest known marked Windsor chair, one made by Ezekiah Hughes in Salem County in the 1780s. The exhibition at the Museum displays one of the largest collections of Windsor chairs ever shown.
Monmouth County Historical Association is a private non-profit organization that has been working to preserve history and provide educational opportunities since its founding in 1898. The Historical Association’s Museum and Library is located at 70 Court Street in Freehold, NJ. Museum hours are: Tuesdays - Saturdays 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Library is open Wednesdays through Saturdays. For more information about the Association, call 732-462-1466 or visit www.monmouthhistory.org.
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Through August 28, 2016 - Boonton, Morris County
Boonton and the Electronics Industry Exhibit
Our new changing exhibit features the numerous electronics companies that existed in Boonton during the infancy of electronics. Aircraft instrumentation, electronic testing instruments, and radios will be on display. Learn more about Boonton's significant contributions to the electronics industry by visiting us at the historic Dr. John Taylor House in Boonton NJ. The site is open on Sunday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. The museum is located at 210 Main Street, Boonton NJ. For more information, call 973-402-8840.
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Through August 2016 - Cranbury, Middlesex County
Merchants of Main Street: A Stroll Through the Shoppes of Cranbury's Past
Stop by the Cranbury Museum to view "Merchants of Main Street: A Stroll Through the Shoppes of Cranbury's Past," the Cranbury Museum's current exhibit which celebrates the creativity, hard work, and entrepreneurial skills of the Main Street merchants of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
Main Street was filled with a diversity of businesses-general stores and candy stores, millinery and hat shops, blacksmith and harness shops, banks, and newspaper offices. Through the centuries, Main Street met the needs of the Cranbury shopper. Come take a stroll down Main Street, visit our merchants and view their wares and services. This exhibit will be displayed through August 2016 at Cranbury Museum, 4 Park Place East, Cranbury, NJ. The museum is open on Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-655-2611 or visit www.cranburyhistory.org.
Through December 31, 2016 - Far Hills, Somerset County
More Than a Game Exhibit at the USGA Museum
Children Friendly
Visitors to the USGA Museum in Far Hills will be surprised to learn that there is much to discover about the game of golf. Originally installed in February of 2014, the exhibit "More Than a Game" focuses on how the creation of African-American golf clubs positively impacted the community, despite the pervasive prejudice and racism of the Jim Crow era. They founded institutions that celebrated the game, and their culture, setting a new standard for what a free and open society could be.
Local schools and youth groups are invited to arrange a field trip to the museum to learn about diversity in golf through the exhibit's centerpiece which is the story of William "Bill" Powell and the Clearview Golf Club. Founded in 1946 in East Canton, Ohio, Clearview is the only public golf course in the United States designed, built, owned, and operated by an African American. Celebrating their 70th anniversary this year, its existence is a testimonial to the vision, determination and integrity of Powell, who overcame numerous obstacles in the pursuit of his dream. Lesson plans are available upon request for teachers and group leaders prior to or following their onsite experience.
Powell's Clearview Golf Club was not the only African-American golf institution founded in this era. The exhibit also honors other clubs that made significant contributions to minority golf including Shady Rest Country Club in Scotch Plains, NJ, home course of John Shippen, the first American and the first African American to play in a U.S. Open Championship in 1896. Also featured are significant trophies from the United Golfers Association and many other various artifacts that celebrate the men and women who made sacrifices in an effort to realize their dream of equality on the greens.
The USGA is one of the world's foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game's history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing "For the Good of the Game" grants program. Additionally, the USGA's Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the museum, this exhibit and field trip opportunities, please contact Kim Gianetti at 908-326-1948 or by email at kgianetti@usga.org. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
Monmouth County Historical Association's newest exhibition Of the Best Materials and Good Workmanship: 19th Century New Jersey Chairmaking at the Museum at 70 Court Street will remain open through July 9, 2016.This exhibition explores the diversity of products made by chairmakers in New Jersey from the late 18th century through 1900 and explores four different galleries: the craft of chairmaking, Windsor chairs, common chairs, and factory made chairs. It draws from chairmakers from throughout the Garden State, including a large collection of chairmaking tools, equipment, benches, patterns and stencils collected by William H. MacDonald of Trenton. MacDonald, who had one time worked in Freehold, donated the collection to the Association in the mid and late 20th century. The exhibition represents the first time the entire collection of tools, equipment and patterns have ever been displayed together.
Hammond explained that the name for the exhibition is taken from the language commonly used by New Jersey manufacturers in their newspaper advertisements promoting themselves against craftsmen from New York and Philadelphia.
Many of the items in the exhibition come from throughout the Garden State, from Bergen to Cumberland and Salem counties, and span the era from 1780 to 1900. Some of the items on display are on loan from several different historical societies as well as the Rutgers archives’ special collection and are representative of both local and regional chairmakers.
Of particular interest is one section devoted to the Ware family of Cumberland County, a family that represents a unique chapter in the history of American furniture production. Nineteen members of the family spanning four generations made traditional slat back, rush-seated chairs in the Delaware Valley tradition from the late 18th century to about 1940.
The gallery portraying factory made chairs includes perforated furniture made by Gardener and Company in 1872, a business in Glen Gardner, folding chairs popular on ocean liners dating back as far as 1868 and made by the Collignon Brothers in Closter, in Bergen County, using wood from the sawmill across the Hackensack River from the plant, and the Cooper Chair factory of Bergen, noted for its delicate chairmaking styles.
The Gallery devoted to Windsor chairs includes the earliest known marked Windsor chair, one made by Ezekiah Hughes in Salem County in the 1780s. The exhibition at the Museum displays one of the largest collections of Windsor chairs ever shown.
Monmouth County Historical Association is a private non-profit organization that has been working to preserve history and provide educational opportunities since its founding in 1898. The Historical Association’s Museum and Library is located at 70 Court Street in Freehold, NJ. Museum hours are: Tuesdays - Saturdays 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Library is open Wednesdays through Saturdays. For more information about the Association, call 732-462-1466 or visit www.monmouthhistory.org.
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Through August 28, 2016 - Boonton, Morris County
Boonton and the Electronics Industry Exhibit
Our new changing exhibit features the numerous electronics companies that existed in Boonton during the infancy of electronics. Aircraft instrumentation, electronic testing instruments, and radios will be on display. Learn more about Boonton's significant contributions to the electronics industry by visiting us at the historic Dr. John Taylor House in Boonton NJ. The site is open on Sunday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. The museum is located at 210 Main Street, Boonton NJ. For more information, call 973-402-8840.-----------------------------------
Through August 2016 - Cranbury, Middlesex County
Merchants of Main Street: A Stroll Through the Shoppes of Cranbury's Past
Stop by the Cranbury Museum to view "Merchants of Main Street: A Stroll Through the Shoppes of Cranbury's Past," the Cranbury Museum's current exhibit which celebrates the creativity, hard work, and entrepreneurial skills of the Main Street merchants of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
Main Street was filled with a diversity of businesses-general stores and candy stores, millinery and hat shops, blacksmith and harness shops, banks, and newspaper offices. Through the centuries, Main Street met the needs of the Cranbury shopper. Come take a stroll down Main Street, visit our merchants and view their wares and services. This exhibit will be displayed through August 2016 at Cranbury Museum, 4 Park Place East, Cranbury, NJ. The museum is open on Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-655-2611 or visit www.cranburyhistory.org.
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Through October 23, 2016 - Morristown, Morris County
"Fine, Fancy, and Fashionable: 125 Years Dressing the Bride"
"Fine, Fancy, and Fashionable: 125 Years Dressing the Bride" offers an opportunity to experience the joy, magic, and elegance of 30 different wedding days and a visual timeline of bridal dresses from Mary Johnson Condit's 1840 silk gauze A-line gown to Alice Woodridge's 1954 lace tea-length dress. Join a bride and groom as they arrive at their reception in the dining room, a bride and her mother on the special day, and a busy bride creating her gown on an 1852 Florence sewing machine. Bridal accessories including shoes, gloves, veils, headpieces, photos, invitations, newspaper clippings, diary entries, and even a cake-topper, complete the display. The exhibit is on view through October 23, 2016. Acorn Hall is located at 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-267-3465 or visit www.acornhall.org.
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"Fine, Fancy, and Fashionable: 125 Years Dressing the Bride"
"Fine, Fancy, and Fashionable: 125 Years Dressing the Bride" offers an opportunity to experience the joy, magic, and elegance of 30 different wedding days and a visual timeline of bridal dresses from Mary Johnson Condit's 1840 silk gauze A-line gown to Alice Woodridge's 1954 lace tea-length dress. Join a bride and groom as they arrive at their reception in the dining room, a bride and her mother on the special day, and a busy bride creating her gown on an 1852 Florence sewing machine. Bridal accessories including shoes, gloves, veils, headpieces, photos, invitations, newspaper clippings, diary entries, and even a cake-topper, complete the display. The exhibit is on view through October 23, 2016. Acorn Hall is located at 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-267-3465 or visit www.acornhall.org.
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More Than a Game Exhibit at the USGA Museum
Children Friendly
Visitors to the USGA Museum in Far Hills will be surprised to learn that there is much to discover about the game of golf. Originally installed in February of 2014, the exhibit "More Than a Game" focuses on how the creation of African-American golf clubs positively impacted the community, despite the pervasive prejudice and racism of the Jim Crow era. They founded institutions that celebrated the game, and their culture, setting a new standard for what a free and open society could be.Local schools and youth groups are invited to arrange a field trip to the museum to learn about diversity in golf through the exhibit's centerpiece which is the story of William "Bill" Powell and the Clearview Golf Club. Founded in 1946 in East Canton, Ohio, Clearview is the only public golf course in the United States designed, built, owned, and operated by an African American. Celebrating their 70th anniversary this year, its existence is a testimonial to the vision, determination and integrity of Powell, who overcame numerous obstacles in the pursuit of his dream. Lesson plans are available upon request for teachers and group leaders prior to or following their onsite experience.
Powell's Clearview Golf Club was not the only African-American golf institution founded in this era. The exhibit also honors other clubs that made significant contributions to minority golf including Shady Rest Country Club in Scotch Plains, NJ, home course of John Shippen, the first American and the first African American to play in a U.S. Open Championship in 1896. Also featured are significant trophies from the United Golfers Association and many other various artifacts that celebrate the men and women who made sacrifices in an effort to realize their dream of equality on the greens.
The USGA is one of the world's foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game's history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing "For the Good of the Game" grants program. Additionally, the USGA's Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the museum, this exhibit and field trip opportunities, please contact Kim Gianetti at 908-326-1948 or by email at kgianetti@usga.org. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey
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