NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 5/7/16 - 5/8/16
New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings
A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com
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Saturday, May 7 - Salem County
Open House Tour in Fenwick’s Colony
The Salem County Historical Society is pleased to announce that Open House in Fenwick’s Colony, our popular spring open house tour, will be held on Saturday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at historic sites around Salem County.
The 2016 Open House Tour will be highlighting historic sites of Southern Salem County, as we travel the old colonial roads from Salem through Alloway Township to Upper Pittsgrove Township. Many of the sites on the tour played a key role in the American fight for freedom - whether freedom to worship according to conscience, freedom from the British during the Revolutionary War, or freedom for refugees from persecution.
Visitors will have the chance to tour several 18th Century patterned-brick houses, including this year's featured house, the David Davis House in Upper Pittsgrove Township. This patterned-brick house was built in 1731 by David Davis, who was a founder of the Pilesgrove Friends Meeting. The diamond diaper pattern on the gable end was revealed when the stucco was removed from the house in 1981. Be sure to visit this historic treasure, now open for the tour for the first time in almost 20 years.
Patterned-brick enthusiasts will also have the opportunity to tour the John Dickinson House, the most ornate patterned-brick house in the United States. Built in 1754, the west gable wall showcases a variety of patterns created with vitrified bricks. Several other colonial brick houses will also be on tour, including the William Nicholson House (built 1730), Holmeland (built c.1729), the John Jarman House (built 1755), and the Hancock House (built 1734), which was the site of a Revolutionary War massacre.
Before these brick houses were built, many of the early settlers of Salem County originally lived in houses built of logs. Several log cabins will be open for visitors on the tour, including one which was the original home of the Swing family in 1750. Ye Olde Centerton Inn is another colonial frame landmark, which has served travelers in Pittsgrove Township since c. 1706 and is open for the first time as part of the tour.
In addition to private homes, the Open House tour will include several old houses of worship from a broad range of faiths, including a Quaker meeting house in Hancocks Bridge; Presbyterian, Baptist, and Lutheran brick meeting houses; and a Jewish synagogue built by the Alliance Colony in Pittsgrove Township. In 1882, a number of Jewish families fleeing from the pogroms of Russia founded the Alliance Colony near Norma as the first agricultural colony in the United States. Built soon after their arrival, this synagogue remains as a testimony of the refugees' fight for freedom. Be sure to visit this piece of Salem County's long heritage of providing refuge for religious groups seeking freedom to worship according to conscience.
Explore the villages of southern Salem County, with stops in Friesburg to see the Phillip Fries House from the Federal period, in Daretown to see the Old Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church which celebrates its 275th anniversary this year, in Alloway to see the Wistarburgh Glassworks exhibit at the Alloway Museum, and in Salem to see two beautiful Victorian homes and the Olde Salem County Courthouse. We are excited to celebrate the worthy heritage of the settlers of Daretown, Friesburg, Alloway, Hancocks Bridge, Salem, and other towns of Southern Salem County during this year’s tour!
In total, tour participants will visit 20 private homes and sites, all located in the southern section of Salem County convenient to Route 55, the Delaware Memorial Bridge, Route 295, and the NJ Turnpike.
Tickets may be purchased prior to the tour on the Salem County Historical Society's website, www.salemcountyhistoricalsociety.com. On the day of the tour, tickets may be purchased at the Salem County Historical Society (western side of the county) or New Dodge's Market (eastern side of the county). For more information, call 856-935-5004 or e-mail info@salemcountyhistoricalsociety.com.
Saturday, May 7 - Hopewell Township, Mercer CountyOpen House Tour in Fenwick’s Colony
The Salem County Historical Society is pleased to announce that Open House in Fenwick’s Colony, our popular spring open house tour, will be held on Saturday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at historic sites around Salem County.The 2016 Open House Tour will be highlighting historic sites of Southern Salem County, as we travel the old colonial roads from Salem through Alloway Township to Upper Pittsgrove Township. Many of the sites on the tour played a key role in the American fight for freedom - whether freedom to worship according to conscience, freedom from the British during the Revolutionary War, or freedom for refugees from persecution.
Visitors will have the chance to tour several 18th Century patterned-brick houses, including this year's featured house, the David Davis House in Upper Pittsgrove Township. This patterned-brick house was built in 1731 by David Davis, who was a founder of the Pilesgrove Friends Meeting. The diamond diaper pattern on the gable end was revealed when the stucco was removed from the house in 1981. Be sure to visit this historic treasure, now open for the tour for the first time in almost 20 years.
Patterned-brick enthusiasts will also have the opportunity to tour the John Dickinson House, the most ornate patterned-brick house in the United States. Built in 1754, the west gable wall showcases a variety of patterns created with vitrified bricks. Several other colonial brick houses will also be on tour, including the William Nicholson House (built 1730), Holmeland (built c.1729), the John Jarman House (built 1755), and the Hancock House (built 1734), which was the site of a Revolutionary War massacre.
Before these brick houses were built, many of the early settlers of Salem County originally lived in houses built of logs. Several log cabins will be open for visitors on the tour, including one which was the original home of the Swing family in 1750. Ye Olde Centerton Inn is another colonial frame landmark, which has served travelers in Pittsgrove Township since c. 1706 and is open for the first time as part of the tour.
In addition to private homes, the Open House tour will include several old houses of worship from a broad range of faiths, including a Quaker meeting house in Hancocks Bridge; Presbyterian, Baptist, and Lutheran brick meeting houses; and a Jewish synagogue built by the Alliance Colony in Pittsgrove Township. In 1882, a number of Jewish families fleeing from the pogroms of Russia founded the Alliance Colony near Norma as the first agricultural colony in the United States. Built soon after their arrival, this synagogue remains as a testimony of the refugees' fight for freedom. Be sure to visit this piece of Salem County's long heritage of providing refuge for religious groups seeking freedom to worship according to conscience.
Explore the villages of southern Salem County, with stops in Friesburg to see the Phillip Fries House from the Federal period, in Daretown to see the Old Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church which celebrates its 275th anniversary this year, in Alloway to see the Wistarburgh Glassworks exhibit at the Alloway Museum, and in Salem to see two beautiful Victorian homes and the Olde Salem County Courthouse. We are excited to celebrate the worthy heritage of the settlers of Daretown, Friesburg, Alloway, Hancocks Bridge, Salem, and other towns of Southern Salem County during this year’s tour!
In total, tour participants will visit 20 private homes and sites, all located in the southern section of Salem County convenient to Route 55, the Delaware Memorial Bridge, Route 295, and the NJ Turnpike.
Tickets may be purchased prior to the tour on the Salem County Historical Society's website, www.salemcountyhistoricalsociety.com. On the day of the tour, tickets may be purchased at the Salem County Historical Society (western side of the county) or New Dodge's Market (eastern side of the county). For more information, call 856-935-5004 or e-mail info@salemcountyhistoricalsociety.com.
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Saturday, May 7 - Westampton, Burlington County
"Everything Grows at Peachfield"
Children Friendly Event
Plant a marigold for mom in a painted clay pot. We will be planting marigold seeds in Peachfield's gardens. Each participant will receive a clay pot to paint with their own design. After painting the pot we will plant marigold plants in the pots. You will take home a marigold for mother for a very Happy Mother's Day.
Activities begin at 11:00 am and will last about an hour. Cost is $5.00 per family. Reservations are required. 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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Saturday, May 7 - Morris Township, Morris County
History A La Cart
Children Friendly Event and Site
On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, take a narrated, open-air wagon ride. Learn about the historic farm and the people who once lived and worked there. Tour begins at 11:00 am and ends at 11:45 am. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 973-326-7645.
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 7 - Morristown, Morris County
Colonial Games
Children Friendly Event
Have some old-fashioned fun as you take on the same games that the soldiers and the Wick Family played. Try your hand at nine-pins, quoits, trap-ball, nine-man morris, fox & geese, and other 18th century games. Program runs from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at the Wick House at Jockey Hollow, within Morristown National Historical Park, 580 Jockey Hollow Road (approximate), Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.
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Saturday, May 7 - Westampton, Burlington County
"Everything Grows at Peachfield"
Children Friendly Event
Plant a marigold for mom in a painted clay pot. We will be planting marigold seeds in Peachfield's gardens. Each participant will receive a clay pot to paint with their own design. After painting the pot we will plant marigold plants in the pots. You will take home a marigold for mother for a very Happy Mother's Day.
Activities begin at 11:00 am and will last about an hour. Cost is $5.00 per family. Reservations are required. 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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Saturday, May 7 - Morris Township, Morris County
History A La Cart
Children Friendly Event and Site
On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, take a narrated, open-air wagon ride. Learn about the historic farm and the people who once lived and worked there. Tour begins at 11:00 am and ends at 11:45 am. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 973-326-7645.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 7 - Morristown, Morris County
Colonial Games
Children Friendly Event
Have some old-fashioned fun as you take on the same games that the soldiers and the Wick Family played. Try your hand at nine-pins, quoits, trap-ball, nine-man morris, fox & geese, and other 18th century games. Program runs from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at the Wick House at Jockey Hollow, within Morristown National Historical Park, 580 Jockey Hollow Road (approximate), Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.
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Sheep Shearing
Children Friendly Event and Site
On Saturday at Howell Living Farm, Eugene Sheninger of Rockaway Twp. will highlight the program with sheep herding demonstrations. Sheninger will use Border Collies to work the flock and to introduce visitors to herding techniques.Keeping with the farm's time period, shearers will use hand shears during the sheep shearing demonstrations. Throughout the day, visitors can meet twin lambs and try their hand at spinning wool. Wool products and natural fleeces will be on display and for sale. Baked goods and lunch fare will be available in the visitor center throughout the day.
Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org.
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Saturday, May 7 - Franklin Township, Somerset County
Delaware & Raritan Canal Lecture
Did you know that for more than 170 years, the Delaware and Raritan Canal has meandered across the narrow waist of New Jersey? Did you know that the D&R was one of our nation's most successful towpath canals, carrying more tonnage in 1866 than the more famous Erie Canal? Did you know that Johnson & Johnson, Roebling, and Fleischmann's Distillery all had their start along the D&R? And did you know that the canal provides the people of central New Jersey with both a water supply and a premier recreational facility?
Canal author and historian Linda J. Barth will introduce you to the people, the bridges, the locks, and the aqueducts that made the canal work. This waterway, now the centerpiece of a popular state park, transported men and supplies between New York and Philadelphia during three wars. Inventor John Holland used the canal to deliver his Holland VI submarine to Washington for its Navy trials, and luxury yachts, like J .P. Morgan's Tarantula, cruised the waterway. Come learn more about this gem of central New Jersey.
Please join the Meadows Foundation at the historic Hageman House, 209 South Middlebush Road, Franklin Township on Saturday at 2:00 pm for this informative lecture. The fee for attending is $10 and refreshments will be served. The author will have books available for purchase and signing. For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Christine Retz, chrisflp@aol.com or call 732-748-7657.
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Saturday, May 7 - Rockaway, Morris County
Mining Museum Grand Opening & Well House Dedication
Mining Museum Grand Opening & Well House Dedication
Saturday, May 7 - Cape May, Cape May County
The Dr. Is In: Meet "Dr. Emlen Physick"
Meet "Dr. Emlen Physick" on his estate's grounds on Saturday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Opt for a guided tour of his house with its theme in 2016: "What the Heck is That Thing?" Admission: $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). 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, May 7 - Cape May, Cape May County
Cape May Time Capsule Trolley Tour
Experience Cape May's history up close, through the eyes of those who lived it on Saturday. Meet characters from the past who visited, lived, and worked in Cape May, as your trolley travels through town. Costumed historical interpreters bring to life the town's Victorian heritage. Tours at 11:15 am and 1:15 pm. Admission is $25. Meet across from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, 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, May 7 - Farmingdale, Monmouth CountyThe Dr. Is In: Meet "Dr. Emlen Physick"
Meet "Dr. Emlen Physick" on his estate's grounds on Saturday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Opt for a guided tour of his house with its theme in 2016: "What the Heck is That Thing?" Admission: $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). 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, May 7 - Cape May, Cape May County
Cape May Time Capsule Trolley Tour
Experience Cape May's history up close, through the eyes of those who lived it on Saturday. Meet characters from the past who visited, lived, and worked in Cape May, as your trolley travels through town. Costumed historical interpreters bring to life the town's Victorian heritage. Tours at 11:15 am and 1:15 pm. Admission is $25. Meet across from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, 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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Spring Craft Market & Art in the Park
Join us for our first craft show of the year! The craft shows at The Historic Village at Allaire show case local artists as they sell and demonstrate their crafts. The craft market includes handmade items of all varieties from paintings and photography to pottery, woodworking, textiles, and beyond. Admission to the craft market is $2 adults, children under 12 years old and members are free. The market runs from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.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 7 - Trenton, Mercer County
Black National News Service - The Associated Negro Press:
The Best Kept Secret of American Journalism History
Tuskegee Institute graduate Claude Barnett established the Associated Negro Press in 1919 in Chicago, IL. From the year of its founding through 1964, ANP serviced what is arguably America's greatest ethnic/group press with a national and international news coverage that was remarkable for its substance and scope. The story of ANP and Claude Barnett is one of persistence and creativity in the face of limited resources and numerous difficulties.
Lawrence Hogan, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of History, Union County College, will give a slide presentation at the Trenton Free Public Library (120 Academy Street) on Saturday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm that will tell the story of the news agency and the great newspapers it served during the golden age of America's Black 4th Estate, an era when the ANP could be termed "the greatest single power in the Negro race."
The subject of Dr. Hogan's talk is based on his book, A Black National News Service, Claude Barnett and the Associated Negro Press. ANP served Black newspapers across the nation as their press service during the "Golden Era" of African American journalism. Dr. Hogan is also nationally recognized for his work on the history of Black baseball. Most recently published is his The Forgotten History of African American Baseball (Praeger/ABC Clio).
This program is free and open to the public. The Trenton Free Public Library is located at 120 Academy St, Trenton, NJ. For more information, call 609-392-7188.
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Saturday, May 7 - Montclair, Essex County
Historic Walking Tour of Anderson Park
Family Friendly Event
Before Anderson Park was created, three houses and a fire station sat on the property. Find out where they went and other surprising stories about how this Olmsted-designed Essex County park came to exist over a century ago, how it shaped Upper Montclair, and how it led to the formation of other Montclair parks. Also hear about efforts to rejuvenate the landscape of this park, on the National Register of Historic Places. Admission: free. Meet at the boulder at the park's northeast entrance at 10:30 am. Rain cancels. Sponsored by Friends of Anderson Park. For more information, call 973-477-7207 e-mail lisanne@friendsofandersonpark.com, or visit www.FriendsOfAndersonPark.com.-----------------------------------
Saturday, May 7 - Nutley, Essex County
2nd Annual Base Ball Classic presented by the Kingsland Manor of Nutley
Family Friendly Event
Love Baseball? Love history? Watch 1860s Base Ball! On Saturday the Kingsland Manor presents the Flemington Neshanock Base Ball Club versus Kingsland Colonels of Nutley Base Ball Club from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m at Yanticaw Park. Rain Date May 8.
The Flemington Neshanock Base Ball Club plays by 19th-century rules, uses authentic replicas of 19th-century equipment, and wears 19th-century uniforms. Today's Neshanock were re-established in 2001 by Brad "Brooklyn" Shaw, proudly reviving the original name of the team. The Nutley Colonels Club was a semi-professional base ball team that played for many years and was managed by a local All-State baseball star, Anthony J. San Giacomo, just before the club disbanded. The Kingsland Manor is re-establishing that classic base ball club, fielding a "Colonels" team against the Neshanock Base Ball Club. Admission is free. Donations accepted. Yanticaw Park is located at Centre Street and Park Drive, Nutley, NJ. For more information, call 973-661-3410, e-mail KingslandManorRestorationTrust@gmail.com, or visit www.kingslandmanor.org.
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Saturday, May 7 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Embroidery Demonstration
Children Friendly Event
On Saturday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to take a step back in time to see this delicate craft in action. This free event runs from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.
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Saturday, May 7 - Ringoes, Hunterdon County
See the Sourlands - By Bus
Experience the magic and rich history of the western Sourland region: forested ridges, lush meadows, important wetlands, historic sites and pastoral farms - a refuge for heroes, patriots, artists and even ghosts!
See historic sites in Ringoes, Mt. Airy, Lambertville, Newmarket, Woodsville, and more - including the Amwell Academy, Dr. Larison’s “Academy of Science,” the Black River and Western Railroad station, Kirkpatrick Presbyterian Church, the Washington Hotel, the James Marshall House (James Marshall discovered gold in 1848 at Sutter’s Mill in California, thereby starting the California Gold Rush) and Second English Presbyterian Church of Amwell, and its “Cemetery Annex” where black Amwell residents were buried, including at least one Civil War veteran.
Tour the Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead - the oldest on record in Hunterdon County. The original house was built in 1711, and the property remained a working farm well into the twentieth century - in the hands of the same family!
Hear the stories of the folks who lived and died here. Learn about Lenape settlements, slavery, "Washington's Rock," buried treasure, and much, much, more!
Tour begins from the East Amwell Township Municipal Building, lower lot 1070 Route 202 Ringoes, NJ. Check in begins at 8:30 am. Tour begins at 9:00 am. Registration and pre-payment required. Members $25 and non-members $35. Ticket price includes admission to Holcombe-Jimison Farm. For more information, call Marcia Maguire at 609-466-0701.
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Saturday - Sunday, May 7 - 8 and 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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Saturday - Sunday, May 7 - 8 - Princeton, Mercer County
Morven in May
One of New Jersey's most anticipated spring rituals, Morven in May, will take place Saturday and Sunday at Morven Museum & Garden in Princeton. The weekend-long festivities feature a juried exhibition and sale of contemporary American-made fine craft, as well as a Morven's always-popular heirloom plant sale.
Exhibiting for the first time are the renowned furniture maker from Harvard, MA, Peter Shepard; NYC clothing designer Kirsty Morgensen, who designs clothes for men, women and children using Liberty of London fabrics; and rug designers from Door County WI, Wence and Sandra Martinez who design extraordinary flat-weave wool rugs. A full list of the Morven in May exhibitors and images of their work is available on Morven's website, www.morven.org.
Other mediums include basketry, glass, ceramics, decorative and wearable fiber, jewelry, wood, and mixed media. Among the thirty-six exhibitors, there are a number of returning artisans including the renowned basket maker and MacArthur Genius Fellow Mary Jackson.
The weekend kicks off on the museum's Great Lawn with a Friday evening, Max Hansen-catered Preview Party, and then opens to the public for two days. All proceeds from Morven in May help fund the museum's exhibitions, historic gardens, and educational programs.
Tickets for Friday night's Preview Party start at $150 and are available for purchase on Morven's website or by calling 609-924-8144, ext.113.
Morven in May opens to the public on Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday admission are available at the tent entrance and are $10, $8 for Friends of Morven. There is no charge for Plant Sale, only. For more information visit www.morven.org/events/event/morven-in-may.
A National Historic Landmark, Morven Museum & Garden is situated on five pristine acres in the heart of Princeton, New Jersey. This former New Jersey Governor's Mansion showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Garden State through regular exhibitions, educational programs and special events. Morven Museum & Garden is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ . For more information, call 609-924-8144 or visit www.morven.org.
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Sunday, May 8 - Montclair, Essex County
Historic House Tour: Crane House and 2nd Sunday Family Funday
Children Friendly Site
Spend Mother’s Day doing something a little different. Bring your kids and grandkids for tours and activities designed for the family, including making a tussie-mussie* to give to Mom as a memento of the day. A special Mother’s Day family tour is designed around the women and children who were part of the house’s 200 year history. Food historian Carolina Capehart will be demonstrating in the hearth. 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. The site is open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Tours on the hour - last tour 3:00 pm. Admission is $10 per family. The Crane House/Historic WYCA is located at 108 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ.
* What's a tussie-mussie? Tussie-mussies are small bouquets of flowers, wrapped in doilies, that traditionally given as gifts since the Middle Ages. Queen Victoria made them especially popular in the Victorian period (19th century), when they often used as accessories. The choice of the flower often sent a message from the giver to the receiver.
For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.
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Sunday, May 8 - Morristown, Morris County
"Fine, Fancy, and Fashionable: 125 Years Dressing the Bride"
Exhibit Opening and Tea Reception
Make this Mother's Day memorable by attending a special Tea Reception celebrating the Morris County Historical Society's new exhibit Fine, Fancy, and Fashionable: 125 Years Dressing the Bride at Acorn Hall on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.
Displayed in the Exhibit Galleries and period rooms are 30 wedding gowns from the society's extensive collections, highlighting the evolution of fashion through the single most important dress worn during a woman's lifetime. To complement the Exhibit Opening, a delicious afternoon tea buffet will be served on Acorn Hall's historic back porch. The Oak Leaf Gallery gift shop will also be open, and available for shopping.
Admission for this special event is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and Free for children under age 12 and MCHS members.
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 from May 1 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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Sunday, May 8 - West Orange, Essex County
Talk - The Glenmont Garage
Children Friendly Site
Have you ever wondered about what kind of cars Thomas Edison and his family owned and where they kept them. Come, join inventor Harry Roman as he answers these questions and more in the Glenmont Garage. A car pass is required to visit Glenmont and available at the Laboratory Complex visitor center.
Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $10.00, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x11 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.
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Historic House Tour: Crane House and 2nd Sunday Family Funday
Children Friendly Site
Spend Mother’s Day doing something a little different. Bring your kids and grandkids for tours and activities designed for the family, including making a tussie-mussie* to give to Mom as a memento of the day. A special Mother’s Day family tour is designed around the women and children who were part of the house’s 200 year history. Food historian Carolina Capehart will be demonstrating in the hearth. 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. The site is open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Tours on the hour - last tour 3:00 pm. Admission is $10 per family. The Crane House/Historic WYCA is located at 108 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ. * What's a tussie-mussie? Tussie-mussies are small bouquets of flowers, wrapped in doilies, that traditionally given as gifts since the Middle Ages. Queen Victoria made them especially popular in the Victorian period (19th century), when they often used as accessories. The choice of the flower often sent a message from the giver to the receiver.
For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.
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Sunday, May 8 - Morristown, Morris County
"Fine, Fancy, and Fashionable: 125 Years Dressing the Bride"
Exhibit Opening and Tea Reception
Make this Mother's Day memorable by attending a special Tea Reception celebrating the Morris County Historical Society's new exhibit Fine, Fancy, and Fashionable: 125 Years Dressing the Bride at Acorn Hall on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.
Displayed in the Exhibit Galleries and period rooms are 30 wedding gowns from the society's extensive collections, highlighting the evolution of fashion through the single most important dress worn during a woman's lifetime. To complement the Exhibit Opening, a delicious afternoon tea buffet will be served on Acorn Hall's historic back porch. The Oak Leaf Gallery gift shop will also be open, and available for shopping.
Admission for this special event is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and Free for children under age 12 and MCHS members.
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 from May 1 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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Sunday, May 8 - West Orange, Essex County
Talk - The Glenmont Garage
Children Friendly Site
Have you ever wondered about what kind of cars Thomas Edison and his family owned and where they kept them. Come, join inventor Harry Roman as he answers these questions and more in the Glenmont Garage. A car pass is required to visit Glenmont and available at the Laboratory Complex visitor center.Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $10.00, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x11 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.
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Sunday, May 8 - 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 8 - Morristown, Morris County
Soldier at the Huts
Children Friendly Event
Learn about the life of a common soldier during the winter encampment and see the clothing, equipment, and weapons that a soldier used as you visit the replica soldier huts of the Pennsylvania Line. Stop by the Soldier Huts from 1:30 - 4:00 pm within Jockey Hollow at Morristown National Historical Park, 580 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown NJ (address is approximate). This is a FREE event. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.
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Sunday, May 8 - Cape May, Cape May County
Jazz Brunch at the Estate for Mother's Day
Celebrate Mother's Day under the tent at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom with brunch and enjoy live jazz from The Great American Songbook featuring Mary Lou Newnam, saxophone, clarinet and flute, and Sonny Troy, guitar. Program will be held Sunday from 10:30 am - 12:00 noon at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Advance reservations recommended. Admission $30. 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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Sunday, May 8 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Blacksmith Demonstration and Turn of the Nineteenth Century Music
Children Friendly Event and Site
On Sunday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to take a step back in time to watch blacksmiths perform their craft. They will be shaping iron into everyday products. Blacksmiths were as common as an auto mechanic in towns and on farms of the 1890s.
Also on Sunday, take a step back in time to join music man Rich Marzec as he performs songs on the piano from the turn of the century.
These free event runs from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.
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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 8 - Morristown, Morris County
Soldier at the Huts
Children Friendly Event
Learn about the life of a common soldier during the winter encampment and see the clothing, equipment, and weapons that a soldier used as you visit the replica soldier huts of the Pennsylvania Line. Stop by the Soldier Huts from 1:30 - 4:00 pm within Jockey Hollow at Morristown National Historical Park, 580 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown NJ (address is approximate). This is a FREE event. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.-----------------------------------
Sunday, May 8 - Cape May, Cape May County
Jazz Brunch at the Estate for Mother's Day
Celebrate Mother's Day under the tent at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom with brunch and enjoy live jazz from The Great American Songbook featuring Mary Lou Newnam, saxophone, clarinet and flute, and Sonny Troy, guitar. Program will be held Sunday from 10:30 am - 12:00 noon at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Advance reservations recommended. Admission $30. 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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Sunday, May 8 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Blacksmith Demonstration and Turn of the Nineteenth Century Music
Children Friendly Event and Site
On Sunday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to take a step back in time to watch blacksmiths perform their craft. They will be shaping iron into everyday products. Blacksmiths were as common as an auto mechanic in towns and on farms of the 1890s.
Also on Sunday, take a step back in time to join music man Rich Marzec as he performs songs on the piano from the turn of the century.
These free event runs from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.
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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.
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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 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.
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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey
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