NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 10/29/16 - 10/30/16
New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings
A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com
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Friday - Saturday, October 28 - 29 - Rahway, Union County
The Spirits of Rahway: A Lantern Lit Tour of Rahway Cemetery
Teens and Adults
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Murder, apparitions, tragic deaths and the unexplained... Join us on this weekend before Halloween for a nighttime tour of the historic Rahway Cemetery and listen as lantern carrying guides tell haunting tales as they walk between the silent stones.
Teens and Adults
Murder, apparitions, tragic deaths and the unexplained... Join us on this weekend before Halloween for a nighttime tour of the historic Rahway Cemetery and listen as lantern carrying guides tell haunting tales as they walk between the silent stones.Four tours are given each night at 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, and 9:00 pm. Tours last one hour and end with refreshments in the Museum kitchen. Tickets are $12 per person and $10 per person for Museum members (tours are designed for teen and adult audiences). This program, now in its 6th year, has become one of the Association's most popular offerings. Reservations are required! Tours have sold out in the past so make reservations early by calling the Museum office at 732-381-0441. Parking available at the Merchants and Drovers Tavern, 1623 St. Georges Avenue, Rahway, NJ. For more information, visit www.merchantsanddrovers.org.
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Friday - Saturday, October 28 - 29 - Morris Plains, Morris County
All Hallow's Evenings - SOLD OUT
Ages 12+
This Halloween, celebrate like it's 1913 with an after-hours tour of Gustav Stickley's Log House, and learn about Victorian-era Halloween customs. By 1913, Halloween was being celebrated by people across America as a night for amusement and superstition, mischief and fortune telling. Revelers spent Halloween night fluttering between fits of laughter and screams of pretend fright as games of divination predicted their fortunes in life and in love.
Our tour begins as night falls. But there's no need to be frightened! By the 1910s, Halloween, not yet a holiday for children, was a night for amusement and superstition, mischief and fortune telling. Victorian era sensibilities had transformed traditional macabre customs associated with the night into playful parlor games and tricks, which provided a clever guise for match-making and romance at society parties. Light refreshments will follow to keep your spirits up!
Tickets are $5 for members and $12 for non-members. Space is limited. Advance registration required; Purchase tickets online or call 973-540-0311. This event is suitable for adults and teens; not recommended for children under age 12. The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms is located at 2352 Route 10 West, Morris Plains, NJ. For more information, call 973-540-0311 or visit www.stickleymuseum.org.
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All Hallow's Evenings - SOLD OUT
Ages 12+
This Halloween, celebrate like it's 1913 with an after-hours tour of Gustav Stickley's Log House, and learn about Victorian-era Halloween customs. By 1913, Halloween was being celebrated by people across America as a night for amusement and superstition, mischief and fortune telling. Revelers spent Halloween night fluttering between fits of laughter and screams of pretend fright as games of divination predicted their fortunes in life and in love.
Our tour begins as night falls. But there's no need to be frightened! By the 1910s, Halloween, not yet a holiday for children, was a night for amusement and superstition, mischief and fortune telling. Victorian era sensibilities had transformed traditional macabre customs associated with the night into playful parlor games and tricks, which provided a clever guise for match-making and romance at society parties. Light refreshments will follow to keep your spirits up!
Tickets are $5 for members and $12 for non-members. Space is limited. Advance registration required; Purchase tickets online or call 973-540-0311. This event is suitable for adults and teens; not recommended for children under age 12. The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms is located at 2352 Route 10 West, Morris Plains, NJ. For more information, call 973-540-0311 or visit www.stickleymuseum.org.
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Friday - Saturday, October 28 - 29 - Cape May, Cape May County
Phantoms of the Physick Estate - What Happens After Dark
Family Friendly
Phantoms of the Physick Estate - What Happens After Dark
Family Friendly
Are you brave enough to tour Dr. Physick's house after dark? Strange things have been seen, heard and done here in the evening hours. Let your guide open a portal to the past and see what discoveries await on Friday and Saturday from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
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The New Jersey Researchers of Paranormal Evidence (NJ ROPE) will be on property to help you hunt for ghosts. Plus, hear and see their eerie recordings & video taken during previous paranormal investigations. Guided tours of our grounds and tower will let you explore our rich history and experience some spooky tales. Beer, wine & refreshments will be provided. Reservations are required; call 609-449-1360. Tour times are 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 pm, and include a tower climb. Tickets are $20.00 and must be reserved.
Since The Inlet Public Private Association renovated the lighthouse tower, rebuilt the Keeper's Cottage and re-opened to visitors, several staff and volunteers have shared stories of being alone on the property but hearing footsteps and voices, smelling smoke, and even seeing a few ghostly apparitions. Now is your chance to experience the Absecon Lighthouse as you've never experienced it before!
Absecon Lighthouse is located at 31 So. Rhode Island Avenue in Atlantic City. It is open to visitors Thursdays through Mondays, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.
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Saturday, October 29 - Atlantic City, Atlantic County
Absecon Lighthouse Hosts Haunted Tours
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Do you want to discover if Absecon Lighthouse is home to ghostly keepers that still watch over the shore in Atlantic City? Did the Jersey Devil pay a visit in 1909? Come visit the Absecon Lighthouse to hear the true ghost stories that prompted SyFy's TV Show "Ghost Hunters" to feature the lighthouse!
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Do you want to discover if Absecon Lighthouse is home to ghostly keepers that still watch over the shore in Atlantic City? Did the Jersey Devil pay a visit in 1909? Come visit the Absecon Lighthouse to hear the true ghost stories that prompted SyFy's TV Show "Ghost Hunters" to feature the lighthouse!The New Jersey Researchers of Paranormal Evidence (NJ ROPE) will be on property to help you hunt for ghosts. Plus, hear and see their eerie recordings & video taken during previous paranormal investigations. Guided tours of our grounds and tower will let you explore our rich history and experience some spooky tales. Beer, wine & refreshments will be provided. Reservations are required; call 609-449-1360. Tour times are 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 pm, and include a tower climb. Tickets are $20.00 and must be reserved.
Since The Inlet Public Private Association renovated the lighthouse tower, rebuilt the Keeper's Cottage and re-opened to visitors, several staff and volunteers have shared stories of being alone on the property but hearing footsteps and voices, smelling smoke, and even seeing a few ghostly apparitions. Now is your chance to experience the Absecon Lighthouse as you've never experienced it before!
Absecon Lighthouse is located at 31 So. Rhode Island Avenue in Atlantic City. It is open to visitors Thursdays through Mondays, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.
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Saturday, October 29 - Union Township, Union County
Pumpkin Patch Day
Join Liberty Hall for their annual Pumpkin Patch Day - a fall tradition for so many families that offers a variety of fall activities appropriate for all ages in a single, convenient day trip!
In addition to pumpkin picking, carving and painting, children will experience a good old-fashioned hayride and make Halloween crafts. There is an additional charge for pumpkins, and lunch will be available for purchase from a vendor.
An all-day event, from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Admission is $12 for children and $8 for adults, and children under 3 are free. Reservations are not required but are suggested. To reserve online, visit this link. Liberty Hall is located at 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ. For more information, call 908-527-0400, e-mail libertyhall@kean.edu, or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall.
Pumpkin Patch Day
In addition to pumpkin picking, carving and painting, children will experience a good old-fashioned hayride and make Halloween crafts. There is an additional charge for pumpkins, and lunch will be available for purchase from a vendor.
An all-day event, from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Admission is $12 for children and $8 for adults, and children under 3 are free. Reservations are not required but are suggested. To reserve online, visit this link. Liberty Hall is located at 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ. For more information, call 908-527-0400, e-mail libertyhall@kean.edu, or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall.
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Saturday, October 29 - Nutley, Essex County
Paranormal Evenings at the Kingsland Manor
Paranormal Evenings at the Kingsland Manor
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Saturday, October 29 - Chester, Morris County
A Miller's Halloween
Children Friendly Event
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On Saturday, enjoy spooky storytelling at 1:00 and 2:30 pm at the Cooper Grist Mill in Chester. Come in costume, and create corn husk dolls and play old-time games. Tour the gristmill and look for surprises around every corner. Cost: FREE but donations appreciated. The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit www.morrisparks.net.
A Miller's Halloween
Children Friendly Event
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Saturday, October 29 - Sussex, Sussex County
Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration
Children Friendly Event
Join the Friends of High Point State Park for a demonstration of open hearth cooking on the Interpretive Center fireplace. Autumn is the season of bountiful harvests and the air will be filled with the aromas of pumpkin and apple. Enjoy a sample tasting of delectable soups, meats, and desserts all cooked fireside. This program will run from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm at the High Point State Park Interpretive Center. Admission is FREE. A donation of $5 or more per family is appreciated. To get to High Point State Park, take Route 23 approximately 7 miles north of the town of Sussex, NJ or 4 miles south of Port Jervis, NY. Both the park office and the main entrance to the park on located on Route 23. For more information, visit http://friendshighpointstatepark.blogspot.com.
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Saturday, October 29 - Morris Township, Morris County
Meet the Irish Servant and the Cook at the Willows
Children Friendly Event and Site
On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, discover the life of domestic help at the Foster home on a guided tour. Assist the maid with household chores and see what the cook has prepared using the wood-burning stove. Two tours times available: 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 2:00 - 3:00 pm.Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2 for 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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Many Dreadful Tales
Children Friendly Site
On Saturday from 6:00 - 9:00 pm, enter the Vail House to hear tales both old and new in a particularly atmospheric setting. A costumed interpreter regales you with horror stories from the Victorian period while, across the hall, a museum staff fills your ears with reports of modern day instances of things going ‘bump’ in the night at museums all over the country. Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior (65+), $3/child (ages 4 -16). FREE for children under age 4 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Historic Speedwell is located 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. Pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.
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Saturday, October 29 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Corn Harvest
Children Friendly Event & Site
A classic scene from America's past will be recreated at Howell Living History Farm when the fields of ripening corn are cut and shocked against a landscape of early fall colors.
Visitors can join in the work and fun from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, helping farmers harvest corn in the fields, shell and grind corn, and taste cornbread.
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, October 29 - Cape May, Cape May County
Mansions by the Sea Trolley Tour
This tour features a century of beachfront development, from Victorian cottages of the 1870s through the most up-to-date of today's housing. It includes some of the most magnificent structures ever erected in Cape May. Offered Saturday at 11:45 am. Tour lasts about 45 minutes and admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ or at the Washington Street Mall Info Booth. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
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Saturday, October 29 - Somerville, Somerset County
Why did Colonial Americans carve skull-headed angels on their loved ones’ tombstones? When did cremation begin? How did the design of burial grounds change over time? When did brown stones give way to white marble? How did cemeteries function as parks and places of amusement, as well as resting places for the dead? What health reforms took place in the nineteenth century and what was their impact on the New Jersey cemetery landscape? In his exciting presentation, Mark Nonesteid, co-author of New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones: History in the Landscape, member of the Association for Gravestone Studies and staff member of the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, will provide the answers to all these questions and more. His talk will look at burial customs and still-extant graves dating from the seventeenth century through the twenty-first, and reveal the cultural patterns that define not only our rituals of death but reflect the history of our cultural beliefs as a community. The program is free of charge.
The Wallace House, built in 1776, served as George Washington’s winter headquarters during the Middlebrook Cantonment of 1778-1779. The house was the country residence of retired Philadelphia merchant John Wallace; Washington rented the use of half the house for himself and his staff and paid Wallace $1,000 for the use of his house and furniture. During his stay, the General hosted foreign dignitaries and planned strategies for the spring military campaign. The house is fully restored and furnished with period furniture.
The Old Dutch Parsonage was constructed in 1751, by the congregations of three local Dutch Reform Churches. The house was occupied by the Reverend John Frelinghuysen and his family until his death in 1754. His successor, the Reverend Jacob Hardenberg was the principal founder and first president of Queens College in New Brunswick, now Rutgers University.
Both sites are administered by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, and are open to visitors Wednesday through Sunday. The Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage are both listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.
The parking lot entrance and interpretive center for the sites is located at 71 Somerset Street, Somerville, NJ. For directions and more information about the sites, visit www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/historic/olddutch-wallace/odwh-wallacehouse.htm.
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Sunday, October 30 - Morristown, Morris County
Historic Haunting
Children Friendly Site
A scary and fun afternoon awaits! Listen to terrifying ghost stories and participate in a variety of Halloween fun and games on Sunday from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm at Historic Speedwell.
Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior (65+), $3/child (ages 4 -16). FREE for children under age 4 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Historic Speedwell is located 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.
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Sunday, October 30 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County
19th Century All Hallow’s Eve at Allaire Village
Children Friendly Event & Site
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What IS the origin of the Jack O'Lantern? Why do we trick or treat? Ever wonder what makes Halloween "Halloween?" Come out to the Historic Village at Allaire's Annual 19th-century All Hallows' Eve. Find out all about the early traditions that make up Halloween today!
The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park, 4265 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. For more information, contact the Allaire Village office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, at 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.
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Sunday, October 30 - River Edge, Bergen County
Sunday, October 30 - Fishkill, New York
Corn Harvest
Children Friendly Event & Site
A classic scene from America's past will be recreated at Howell Living History Farm when the fields of ripening corn are cut and shocked against a landscape of early fall colors.Visitors can join in the work and fun from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, helping farmers harvest corn in the fields, shell and grind corn, and taste cornbread.
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, October 29 - Cape May, Cape May County
Mansions by the Sea Trolley Tour
This tour features a century of beachfront development, from Victorian cottages of the 1870s through the most up-to-date of today's housing. It includes some of the most magnificent structures ever erected in Cape May. Offered Saturday at 11:45 am. Tour lasts about 45 minutes and admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ or at the Washington Street Mall Info Booth. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
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Saturday, October 29 - Cape May, Cape May County
Step into the 19th century where mourning rituals mixed superstition with necessity. Experience the unexpected on this 30-minute guided tour through the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, appropriate for all ages on Saturday from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
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Phantoms of the Physick Estate - The Mourning Hours
Family FriendlyStep into the 19th century where mourning rituals mixed superstition with necessity. Experience the unexpected on this 30-minute guided tour through the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, appropriate for all ages on Saturday from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Old Tombstones and Cemeteries (But were Afraid to Ask)
On Saturday at 1:00 pm, historian Mark Nonesteid will speak at the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Sites about tombstones and cemeteries.
Why did Colonial Americans carve skull-headed angels on their loved ones’ tombstones? When did cremation begin? How did the design of burial grounds change over time? When did brown stones give way to white marble? How did cemeteries function as parks and places of amusement, as well as resting places for the dead? What health reforms took place in the nineteenth century and what was their impact on the New Jersey cemetery landscape? In his exciting presentation, Mark Nonesteid, co-author of New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones: History in the Landscape, member of the Association for Gravestone Studies and staff member of the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, will provide the answers to all these questions and more. His talk will look at burial customs and still-extant graves dating from the seventeenth century through the twenty-first, and reveal the cultural patterns that define not only our rituals of death but reflect the history of our cultural beliefs as a community. The program is free of charge.
The Wallace House, built in 1776, served as George Washington’s winter headquarters during the Middlebrook Cantonment of 1778-1779. The house was the country residence of retired Philadelphia merchant John Wallace; Washington rented the use of half the house for himself and his staff and paid Wallace $1,000 for the use of his house and furniture. During his stay, the General hosted foreign dignitaries and planned strategies for the spring military campaign. The house is fully restored and furnished with period furniture.
The Old Dutch Parsonage was constructed in 1751, by the congregations of three local Dutch Reform Churches. The house was occupied by the Reverend John Frelinghuysen and his family until his death in 1754. His successor, the Reverend Jacob Hardenberg was the principal founder and first president of Queens College in New Brunswick, now Rutgers University.
Both sites are administered by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, and are open to visitors Wednesday through Sunday. The Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage are both listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.
The parking lot entrance and interpretive center for the sites is located at 71 Somerset Street, Somerville, NJ. For directions and more information about the sites, visit www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/historic/olddutch-wallace/odwh-wallacehouse.htm.
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Saturday, October 29 - Bridgewater, Somerset County
Angus K. Gillespie: The Jersey Devil
Angus Gillespie is a folklorist who has studied myths, legends, tales, and ballads found in the United States. His courses in folklore range from historic figures such as Buffalo Bill, Casey Jones, Calamity Jane, and Molly Pitcher to contemporary issues such as urban legends and conspiracy theories. From time to time, Gillespie offers courses in weird folklore where he discusses creatures such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Jersey Devil. His courses in folk life consider physical folklore including architecture, art, craft, cookery, cattle ranching, seafaring, and fence construction. Dr. Gillespie has an impressive background! Come and meet him and find out all about the Jersey Devil at the Van Horne House on All Hallows Eve. The program starts at 2:00 pm.
Refreshments afterward sponsored by Mr. Subs! Admission is free, but space is limited to the first 50 people. Walk-ins are not guaranteed a space. Click here to reserve your FREE ticket today. The Historic Van Horne House is located at 941 E. Main Street. Bridgewater, NJ. Park behind the Target store at 200 Promenade Blvd., Bridgewater, NJ. Handiap parking is available at the house for those requiring it. For more information, visit www.heritagetrail.org.
Angus Gillespie is a folklorist who has studied myths, legends, tales, and ballads found in the United States. His courses in folklore range from historic figures such as Buffalo Bill, Casey Jones, Calamity Jane, and Molly Pitcher to contemporary issues such as urban legends and conspiracy theories. From time to time, Gillespie offers courses in weird folklore where he discusses creatures such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Jersey Devil. His courses in folk life consider physical folklore including architecture, art, craft, cookery, cattle ranching, seafaring, and fence construction. Dr. Gillespie has an impressive background! Come and meet him and find out all about the Jersey Devil at the Van Horne House on All Hallows Eve. The program starts at 2:00 pm.
Refreshments afterward sponsored by Mr. Subs! Admission is free, but space is limited to the first 50 people. Walk-ins are not guaranteed a space. Click here to reserve your FREE ticket today. The Historic Van Horne House is located at 941 E. Main Street. Bridgewater, NJ. Park behind the Target store at 200 Promenade Blvd., Bridgewater, NJ. Handiap parking is available at the house for those requiring it. For more information, visit www.heritagetrail.org.
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Sunday, October 30 - January 29, 2017 - Morristown, Morris County
Race to the Finish: Newspaper Coverage of Presidential Elections, 1789-2008 Exhibit Opening
In recognition of the 2016 presidential election, the Morris County Historical Society offers the thought-provoking Race to the Finish: Newspaper Coverage of Presidential Elections, 1789-2008 beginning on Sunday, October 30 at Acorn Hall.
Featured in the exhibit are rare, original, historic presidential newspapers from the personal collection of local historian, author, and MCHS Board of Trustees member Peter J. Tamburro, Jr. Newspaper headlines and articles illustrate the campaign promises, electoral obstacles, and political gaffes of more than 20 U.S. presidents and their rivals. See early newspaper coverage of George Washington's election through Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, and an authentic copy of the 1948 "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline of the Chicago Daily Tribune.
Complementing the newspapers are period clothing such as an 1876 dress worn to an inauguration party for President Rutherford B. Hayes, political paraphernalia including campaign buttons for Adlai Stevenson and Franklin Roosevelt, and a 1917 telegram sent by President Woodrow Wilson and other cultural artifacts - all from the extensive collections of the MCHS. The exhibit closes on January 29, 2017.
The Morris County Historical Society, founded in 1946, is a member-supported, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Its headquarters, Acorn Hall, is an Italianate Villa mansion open to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays (11:00 am - 4:00 pm) and Sundays (1:00 - 4:00 pm). 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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Race to the Finish: Newspaper Coverage of Presidential Elections, 1789-2008 Exhibit Opening
In recognition of the 2016 presidential election, the Morris County Historical Society offers the thought-provoking Race to the Finish: Newspaper Coverage of Presidential Elections, 1789-2008 beginning on Sunday, October 30 at Acorn Hall.Featured in the exhibit are rare, original, historic presidential newspapers from the personal collection of local historian, author, and MCHS Board of Trustees member Peter J. Tamburro, Jr. Newspaper headlines and articles illustrate the campaign promises, electoral obstacles, and political gaffes of more than 20 U.S. presidents and their rivals. See early newspaper coverage of George Washington's election through Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, and an authentic copy of the 1948 "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline of the Chicago Daily Tribune.
Complementing the newspapers are period clothing such as an 1876 dress worn to an inauguration party for President Rutherford B. Hayes, political paraphernalia including campaign buttons for Adlai Stevenson and Franklin Roosevelt, and a 1917 telegram sent by President Woodrow Wilson and other cultural artifacts - all from the extensive collections of the MCHS. The exhibit closes on January 29, 2017.
The Morris County Historical Society, founded in 1946, is a member-supported, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Its headquarters, Acorn Hall, is an Italianate Villa mansion open to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays (11:00 am - 4:00 pm) and Sundays (1:00 - 4:00 pm). 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, October 30 - Hackensack, Bergen County
34th Annual Toy Soldier Show & Sale
Children Friendly Event
On Sunday, attend the 34th Annual East Coast Toy Soldier Show and Sale - the largest and best attended Toy Soldier Show on the East Coast. It is the largest show of its kind with over 300 exhibitor tables. Find millions of antique and collectible toy soldiers, military miniatures, gaming figures, railroad, Christmas, zoo, farm, diecast, G.I. Joe and action figures, militaria, and antique and collectible toys. This will be the fourth year of the Hess Toy Truck "Meet and Greet." Historical reenactors will also be on-site.
The show is held from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at the Rothman Center at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, NJ. Parking is free. Admission: $7.00 per adult and children under 12 are free. The show is sponsored by Vintage Castings. For more information, call 973-831-8900 or visit www.eastcoasttoysoldiershow.com.
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34th Annual Toy Soldier Show & Sale
Children Friendly Event
On Sunday, attend the 34th Annual East Coast Toy Soldier Show and Sale - the largest and best attended Toy Soldier Show on the East Coast. It is the largest show of its kind with over 300 exhibitor tables. Find millions of antique and collectible toy soldiers, military miniatures, gaming figures, railroad, Christmas, zoo, farm, diecast, G.I. Joe and action figures, militaria, and antique and collectible toys. This will be the fourth year of the Hess Toy Truck "Meet and Greet." Historical reenactors will also be on-site.The show is held from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at the Rothman Center at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, NJ. Parking is free. Admission: $7.00 per adult and children under 12 are free. The show is sponsored by Vintage Castings. For more information, call 973-831-8900 or visit www.eastcoasttoysoldiershow.com.
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Historic Haunting
Children Friendly Site
A scary and fun afternoon awaits! Listen to terrifying ghost stories and participate in a variety of Halloween fun and games on Sunday from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm at Historic Speedwell.
Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior (65+), $3/child (ages 4 -16). FREE for children under age 4 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Historic Speedwell is located 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.
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Sunday, October 30 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County
19th Century All Hallow’s Eve at Allaire Village
Children Friendly Event & Site
What IS the origin of the Jack O'Lantern? Why do we trick or treat? Ever wonder what makes Halloween "Halloween?" Come out to the Historic Village at Allaire's Annual 19th-century All Hallows' Eve. Find out all about the early traditions that make up Halloween today!
The Village will be open from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Admission is $5 per adult and $3 for children under 6 years. There will be pumpkin picking (limited quantity), tractor and wagon rides, historic games, storytelling, and a costume parade and contest for children 12 years and younger. Face Painting and village activities for children of all ages!
Other events include:
* Shore Good Eats are going to be our awesome food vendor for the day.
* Face painting and glitter tattoos: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
* Puppet shows: 12:30, 1:30, and 3:30 pm
* Phydeaux’s Flying Flea Circus and Wahoo Medicine Show: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
* Music with George by the General Store: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.
* Spooky Irish Tales with David Emerson of History on the Hoof: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
* Pumpkin decorating and picking: 11:00 am until supplies last
* Costume Parade and Contest: Begins at 2:30 pm by the General Store
* Candy Corn Guess: Guess the correct number of candy corns in a jar and win the jar. The jar is located in the bakery and will be announced at 2:30 pm
* Craft demonstrations: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.
* Tractor and wagon rides: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Additional cost of $4 adults, $2 children ages 5-12 years old.
Allaire Village, Incorporated is licensed by the State of New Jersey to operate the 40-acre, Historic Village at Allaire, the site of James P. Allaire's Howell Iron Works Company in the 1830s. Allaire Village, Inc. receives no state funding towards the educational programming presented throughout the year, but is strongly supported through private donations, membership fees, fund-raising events, and patronage of their retail stores.
* Face painting and glitter tattoos: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
* Puppet shows: 12:30, 1:30, and 3:30 pm
* Phydeaux’s Flying Flea Circus and Wahoo Medicine Show: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
* Music with George by the General Store: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.
* Spooky Irish Tales with David Emerson of History on the Hoof: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
* Pumpkin decorating and picking: 11:00 am until supplies last
* Costume Parade and Contest: Begins at 2:30 pm by the General Store
* Candy Corn Guess: Guess the correct number of candy corns in a jar and win the jar. The jar is located in the bakery and will be announced at 2:30 pm
* Craft demonstrations: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.
* Tractor and wagon rides: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Additional cost of $4 adults, $2 children ages 5-12 years old.
Allaire Village, Incorporated is licensed by the State of New Jersey to operate the 40-acre, Historic Village at Allaire, the site of James P. Allaire's Howell Iron Works Company in the 1830s. Allaire Village, Inc. receives no state funding towards the educational programming presented throughout the year, but is strongly supported through private donations, membership fees, fund-raising events, and patronage of their retail stores.
The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park, 4265 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. For more information, contact the Allaire Village office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, at 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.
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Sunday, October 30 - River Edge, Bergen County
Harvest Homecoming
Children Friendly Event & Site
Come home to history at the Annual Harvest Homecoming at Historic New Bridge Landing on Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00 pm. Bergen County's premier historic site along the Hackensack River in River Edge will be open to the public for those who like their Halloween weekend with an antique twist. View the epitaphs of long-gone Jerseyans in the photographic tombstone and gravestone rubbings exhibit, and let the kids try making their own brass-plate rubbings. Tour the nineteenth century barn and the three eighteenth century houses, including Washington's September 1780 headquarters in the famous Steuben House, and ask our interpreters about life in an earlier Bergen County. Follow delicious aromas to the reproduction colonial out-kitchen where you can get a peek at the cookery of early Jersey rural life. If that makes you hungry, stop by the Black Horse Tavern for our wonderful cider doughnuts and apple cider. If your children are among the first seventy-five youngsters, make sure they pick a free pumpkin for themselves.
Looking for an interesting gift? Come into the gift shop in the tavern, or browse through the bookstall in the Steuben House parlor where duplicate editions from the Bergen County Historical Society library will be available for purchase-a really unique opportunity for the historical bookworm.
Admission: $10 for adults, $7 for students, and free for BCHS members. Historic New Bridge Landing at 1201 Main Street in River Edge, NJ is the home of the Bergen County Historical Society, a non-profit, volunteer organization founded in 1902. Only seven miles from the George Washington Bridge, HNBL is accessible by highway or by the Pascack Valley Line of New Jersey Transit. For more information, call 201-343-9492 or visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.
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Children Friendly Event & Site
Come home to history at the Annual Harvest Homecoming at Historic New Bridge Landing on Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00 pm. Bergen County's premier historic site along the Hackensack River in River Edge will be open to the public for those who like their Halloween weekend with an antique twist. View the epitaphs of long-gone Jerseyans in the photographic tombstone and gravestone rubbings exhibit, and let the kids try making their own brass-plate rubbings. Tour the nineteenth century barn and the three eighteenth century houses, including Washington's September 1780 headquarters in the famous Steuben House, and ask our interpreters about life in an earlier Bergen County. Follow delicious aromas to the reproduction colonial out-kitchen where you can get a peek at the cookery of early Jersey rural life. If that makes you hungry, stop by the Black Horse Tavern for our wonderful cider doughnuts and apple cider. If your children are among the first seventy-five youngsters, make sure they pick a free pumpkin for themselves.Looking for an interesting gift? Come into the gift shop in the tavern, or browse through the bookstall in the Steuben House parlor where duplicate editions from the Bergen County Historical Society library will be available for purchase-a really unique opportunity for the historical bookworm.
Admission: $10 for adults, $7 for students, and free for BCHS members. Historic New Bridge Landing at 1201 Main Street in River Edge, NJ is the home of the Bergen County Historical Society, a non-profit, volunteer organization founded in 1902. Only seven miles from the George Washington Bridge, HNBL is accessible by highway or by the Pascack Valley Line of New Jersey Transit. For more information, call 201-343-9492 or visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.
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Revolutionary Heroes of Fishkill and the Hudson River Valley
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Sunday, October 30 - Maplewood, Essex County
What’s That Going Bump In The Night?
What is the real story on ghosts? The answer isn’t in Gothic novels, Hollywood movies, or on TV.
Bedminster author and paranormal investigator Gordon Ward believes he knows. He specializes in finding – and communicating with – beings on “the other side.” Survival of the human personality is a popular topic supported by mounting evidence. The word “ghost” is really an umbrella term that defines many types of paranormal phenomena such as apparitions and poltergeists.
At 2:00 pm on Sunday, October 30, Gordon Ward will present “Ghosts: what they are and how to investigate them.” He will explain his views on ghosts, share his experiences investigating haunted locations, including a home in Maplewood, show evidence including audio clips and photographs, and teach attendees how to conduct their own sound investigations without costly equipment. Questions are welcome.
Gordon Ward is also a songwriter and performer and will be co-starring in a new television series about ghosts targeted to air in 2017.
Also on October 30, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. visitors can catch the exhibit, "From Farm to Suburb: The Birth of College Hill," which explores the evolution of a section of Maplewood from a dairy farm to a popular neighborhood of 300 houses. Out in the carriage house the Country Store will be selling historic-themed treasures: early American children’s games, books and toys, facsimile documents, quill pens and ink, historic cook books, cookie molds, tin lanterns, reproduction decorative ceramics, vintage photos, hiking sticks and more. The hard-to-find original Doors of Maplewood poster and Smile, the history of Olympic Park, the new acid-free reproduction of the charming 1931 map of Maplewood, local honey, and Original 1910 Chocolate Fudge Sauce will also be available. Open Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 - 5:00 pm.
Durand-Hedden House is dedicated to telling the history of the development of Maplewood, New Jersey and the surrounding area in new and engaging ways. It is located in Grasmere Park at 523 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood, New Jersey. For more information, call 973-763-7712 or visit www.durandhedden.org.
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What is the real story on ghosts? The answer isn’t in Gothic novels, Hollywood movies, or on TV.Bedminster author and paranormal investigator Gordon Ward believes he knows. He specializes in finding – and communicating with – beings on “the other side.” Survival of the human personality is a popular topic supported by mounting evidence. The word “ghost” is really an umbrella term that defines many types of paranormal phenomena such as apparitions and poltergeists.
At 2:00 pm on Sunday, October 30, Gordon Ward will present “Ghosts: what they are and how to investigate them.” He will explain his views on ghosts, share his experiences investigating haunted locations, including a home in Maplewood, show evidence including audio clips and photographs, and teach attendees how to conduct their own sound investigations without costly equipment. Questions are welcome.
Gordon Ward is also a songwriter and performer and will be co-starring in a new television series about ghosts targeted to air in 2017.
Also on October 30, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. visitors can catch the exhibit, "From Farm to Suburb: The Birth of College Hill," which explores the evolution of a section of Maplewood from a dairy farm to a popular neighborhood of 300 houses. Out in the carriage house the Country Store will be selling historic-themed treasures: early American children’s games, books and toys, facsimile documents, quill pens and ink, historic cook books, cookie molds, tin lanterns, reproduction decorative ceramics, vintage photos, hiking sticks and more. The hard-to-find original Doors of Maplewood poster and Smile, the history of Olympic Park, the new acid-free reproduction of the charming 1931 map of Maplewood, local honey, and Original 1910 Chocolate Fudge Sauce will also be available. Open Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 - 5:00 pm.
Durand-Hedden House is dedicated to telling the history of the development of Maplewood, New Jersey and the surrounding area in new and engaging ways. It is located in Grasmere Park at 523 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood, New Jersey. For more information, call 973-763-7712 or visit www.durandhedden.org.
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Sunday, October 30 - Princeton, Mercer County
Historic Princeton Walking Tour
Children Friendly 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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Children Friendly 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, October 30 - Morris Township, Morris County
The Time to Mourn
Children Friendly Event (Ages 12+) and Site
On Saturday from 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 2:00 - 3:00 pm, tour the Foster family home, The Willows, to explore the unique death and mourning traditions of the Victorian period. Customs now considered strange, influenced loved ones for months and years after the deceased had passed. Suitable for ages 12 and up.
Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2 for 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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The Time to Mourn
Children Friendly Event (Ages 12+) and Site
On Saturday from 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 2:00 - 3:00 pm, tour the Foster family home, The Willows, to explore the unique death and mourning traditions of the Victorian period. Customs now considered strange, influenced loved ones for months and years after the deceased had passed. Suitable for ages 12 and up.Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2 for 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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1st and 3rd Saturdays through November 2016 - Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County
Atlantic Highlands Architectural Walking Tours
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Saturdays and Sundays through December 11, 2016 - Harrison Township, Gloucester County
Game on! Exhibit
A century of sports and recreation in Harrison Township is celebrated in Game On!, a new exhibition at Mullica Hill’s Old Town Hall Museum. Over 100 photographs, artifacts, and rare movie footage of a Mullica Hill Quakers Pop Warner Midget Football Championship game in 1958 feature local teams and athletes from the early 1900s through the 21st century. Objects come from many from private collections as well as the Museum’s holdings, most of which are on exhibit for the first time.
Some of the oldest pieces in Game On! focus on the early history of baseball. Mullica Hill, Richwood, Ewan, and Ferrell all had their own teams, whose players were young men who sometimes played on more than one team just to have the opportunity to play the game.
It wasn’t until the 1940s that Little League teams began to take the place of the young men’s leagues, which gradually disappeared. The exhibition includes photographs and uniforms from both leagues.
The Township has also been home to a number of notable athletes, including football stars and coaches Robert C. Folwell, Jr. and Jim Leonard, major league baseball player and coach, Jeff Datz, outstanding track star William “Peanut” Gaines, and legendary athlete and Clearview High School coach, Lorriane Boyd Ledden.
Clearview’s early sports history is also represented, including programs for the then newly-opened school’s first interscholastic football game, played on October 8, 1960 at Woodstown.
The exhibition opens on the 56th anniversary of that first game and continues on Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, through December 11, 2016. Admission is free. Town Hall is located at the intersection of South Main Street and Woodstown Road in the heart of Mullica Hill’s Historic District. For more information, call 856-478-4949 or visit www.harrisonhistorical.com.
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Through December 31, 2016 - Morristown, Morris County
History of NJ Diners
Children Friendly
When was the last time you ate at a diner? If you are like millions in New Jersey, the answer is not too long ago. Dubbed “the land of diners,” New Jersey’s highways and main streets are dotted with silver airstreams and neon signs of the classic American diner. Moreover, New Jersey was and still is the diner manufacturing industry’s hub. This exhibition at the Morris Museum explores the rich history of the Garden State’s favorite casual eatery through classic photographs and historical artifacts, as well as original oil paintings by Wyckoff, NJ based artist Mark Oberndorf. Admission: adults, $10; seniors and children ages 3-18 $7; children under 3, free. The Morris Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-971-3706 or visit www.morrismuseum.org.
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Atlantic Highlands Architectural Walking Tours
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Saturdays and Sundays through December 11, 2016 - Harrison Township, Gloucester County
A century of sports and recreation in Harrison Township is celebrated in Game On!, a new exhibition at Mullica Hill’s Old Town Hall Museum. Over 100 photographs, artifacts, and rare movie footage of a Mullica Hill Quakers Pop Warner Midget Football Championship game in 1958 feature local teams and athletes from the early 1900s through the 21st century. Objects come from many from private collections as well as the Museum’s holdings, most of which are on exhibit for the first time.
Some of the oldest pieces in Game On! focus on the early history of baseball. Mullica Hill, Richwood, Ewan, and Ferrell all had their own teams, whose players were young men who sometimes played on more than one team just to have the opportunity to play the game.
It wasn’t until the 1940s that Little League teams began to take the place of the young men’s leagues, which gradually disappeared. The exhibition includes photographs and uniforms from both leagues.
The Township has also been home to a number of notable athletes, including football stars and coaches Robert C. Folwell, Jr. and Jim Leonard, major league baseball player and coach, Jeff Datz, outstanding track star William “Peanut” Gaines, and legendary athlete and Clearview High School coach, Lorriane Boyd Ledden.
Clearview’s early sports history is also represented, including programs for the then newly-opened school’s first interscholastic football game, played on October 8, 1960 at Woodstown.
The exhibition opens on the 56th anniversary of that first game and continues on Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, through December 11, 2016. Admission is free. Town Hall is located at the intersection of South Main Street and Woodstown Road in the heart of Mullica Hill’s Historic District. For more information, call 856-478-4949 or visit www.harrisonhistorical.com.
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Through December 31, 2016 - Morristown, Morris County
Children Friendly
When was the last time you ate at a diner? If you are like millions in New Jersey, the answer is not too long ago. Dubbed “the land of diners,” New Jersey’s highways and main streets are dotted with silver airstreams and neon signs of the classic American diner. Moreover, New Jersey was and still is the diner manufacturing industry’s hub. This exhibition at the Morris Museum explores the rich history of the Garden State’s favorite casual eatery through classic photographs and historical artifacts, as well as original oil paintings by Wyckoff, NJ based artist Mark Oberndorf. Admission: adults, $10; seniors and children ages 3-18 $7; children under 3, free. The Morris Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-971-3706 or visit www.morrismuseum.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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Through April 28, 2017 - Trenton, Mercer County
Toy World Exhibit
Children Friendly
Bring the whole family to enjoy this fun new exhibition spotlighting the little-known history of toy manufacturing in New Jersey. Step back to another era and enjoy a bit of nostalgia with more than 100 toys made in New Jersey between 1880 and the late 1960s, during New Jersey's golden era of manufacturing. See how world events helped shape the toys produced here, from tin toys, porcelain dolls, and model trains, through the development of plastics, which ushered in little green army men, Colorforms, Suzy Homemaker ovens and more. Innovations such as the first "talking" doll, created by Thomas Edison, will also be featured.The exhibition features a play area for children and a spot to share your favorite childhood toy memories. Randomly selected memories will be featured on the Museum's Facebook page throughout the exhibition. "Toy World" will be on view from through April 28, 2017.
“Toy World” will be on view in the Riverside Gallery on the New Jersey State Museum's second floor. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 am to 4:45 pm and closed on all State holidays. The Museum is located at 205 W State St, Trenton, NJ. For more information, visit www.statemuseum.nj.gov.
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Through June 2017 - Ocean Township, Monmouth County
Presidents at the Monmouth County Shore Exhibit
One hundred years ago this September, 25,000 people gathered on the grounds of what is today Monmouth University—then a private estate called Shadow Lawn—to see Woodrow Wilson officially accept the nomination of the Democratic Party for a second Presidential run. Wilson was following a popular tradition among American Presidents to retreat to our slice of the Jersey Shore to escape the heat and hubbub of Washington. At the Eden Woolley House, this major exhibit tells the wide-ranging stories of eleven Presidents who spent time here, at the Monmouth County shore.Mrs. Lincoln got the ball rolling
There’s a case to be made that it all started with Mary Todd Lincoln. Mrs. Lincoln travelled to Long Branch in the summer of 1861, probably at the invitation of William Newell, family friend and then supervisor of the life-saving services in New Jersey. Long Branch was already a popular resort, and national coverage of the First Lady’s visit added immeasurably to its fame and appeal.
That fame and appeal continued to draw the wealthy and influential—including the seven presidents who vacationed in resort city, starting with Ulysses Grant.
Seven Presidents in Long Branch
In 1870, a group of wealthy businessmen who summered in the Elberon section of Long Branch presented President Grant with an oceanfront cottage where he vacationed for the next 15 years. When Grant died in 1885, city officials feared the resort might lose its cachet. They needn’t have worried. Six of the next ten Presidents--Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, McKinley, and Wilson--chose to spend time in Long Branch.
The most tragic of these Presidential visits was James Garfield’s last. Mrs. Garfield was in Long Branch recuperating from illness, when, on July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot by an assassin in the Washington train station. He was taken to the White House, where his condition worsened. In hope the sea air might help, Garfield was taken to Elberon. Famously, locals worked through the night to build the spur to carry the President’s railroad car from Elberon Station to the ocean side cottage. He died there 12 days later, September 19.
Beyond Long Branch
Long Branch was not the only Monmouth County destination of Presidents. Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, and Richard Nixon visited our area, if only, in some cases, for a political rally. And then, of course, there’s Warren Harding, whose local connection was a bit less public and a good deal more scandalous. Join us June 26 to learn the full story. The new exhibit is on view through June 2017.
The Township of Ocean Historical Museum offers exhibits on the history of coastal Monmouth County and a full calendar of events. The Museum also houses a library and archive of local history. It is open, free of charge, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday, 7:00 - 9:00 pm Thursday evenings, and 1:00 - 4:00 pm the first and second Sundays of each month. The Township of Ocean Historical Museum is located at 703 Deal Road, Ocean, NJ. For more information, visit www.oceanmuseum.org.
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Sundays through June 30, 2017 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
A Revolutionary Legacy: the Cornelius Low House 275 Exhibit
The newest exhibit to open at the Middlesex County Museum exhibit delves into the history of the Low family and the role they played in the shaping of the United States. A Revolutionary Legacy: the Cornelius Low House 275 exhibit is housed inside the County’s Historic Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum.
This seven-room exhibit contains artifacts that date to the 1700s and includes handcrafted furniture from New Brunswick, paintings by artist Micah Williams, a document signed by Cornelius Low and his wife Johanna, portrait miniatures of several Low family members, and a chair that George Washington used on a visit to the New Brunswick area. These items are on loan from the DAR Jersey Blue Chapter Buccleuch Mansion, the Suffolk County Historical Society and private collections.
The Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum is open on Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm and is located at 1225 River Road, Piscataway, NJ. For more information, call 732-745-4177 or visit www.middlesexcountynj.gov.
A Revolutionary Legacy: the Cornelius Low House 275 Exhibit
The newest exhibit to open at the Middlesex County Museum exhibit delves into the history of the Low family and the role they played in the shaping of the United States. A Revolutionary Legacy: the Cornelius Low House 275 exhibit is housed inside the County’s Historic Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum. This seven-room exhibit contains artifacts that date to the 1700s and includes handcrafted furniture from New Brunswick, paintings by artist Micah Williams, a document signed by Cornelius Low and his wife Johanna, portrait miniatures of several Low family members, and a chair that George Washington used on a visit to the New Brunswick area. These items are on loan from the DAR Jersey Blue Chapter Buccleuch Mansion, the Suffolk County Historical Society and private collections.
The Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum is open on Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm and is located at 1225 River Road, Piscataway, NJ. For more information, call 732-745-4177 or visit www.middlesexcountynj.gov.
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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey
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Wow - great list of things to do. Bet it takes a great deal of work to put this all together. Thanx, HistoryGirl!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sara! Yes, it does take a good chunk of time every week!
ReplyDelete