NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/17/16 - 12/18/16

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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Friday - Saturday, December 16 - 17 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County

Christmas Lantern Tour
Children Friendly Event

The weather is cold, but the scent of Christmas is in the air! Come celebrate the holidays with a stroll through Allaire's lantern lit village, and learn about Christmas in 1836! 

Music, history and a little bit of theater, the Historic Village at Allaire should be your new (or continuing) holiday tradition. Advance purchase recommended. $14.50 per person (not recommended for children under 5 as it is a walking tour and strollers are not permitted in buildings). Group rates are available to parties over 25 individuals, please call the office to book your group tour 732-919-3500.

Spaces are limited, so advanced ticket purchasing is highly recommended! Lantern tours begin at 5:00 pm and leave the visitor center every 15 minutes until 8:00 pm. This year to help keep everything moving smoothly, we are selling timed tickets to access the historic village for the Lantern Tours. Tours will still be on a first come, first serve basis. You should expect to wait only 30 minutes for your tour to begin. The tours take about 90 minutes to complete and are both indoor and outdoor.

Shore Good Eats n’ Treats is going to be our amazing food vendors for this great event. Make sure to check them out! They do all sorts of delicious food!

The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park at 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. Tickets are available at the gate or can be purchased through their web site. For more information, call 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

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Saturday, December 17 - Union Township, Union County
Gingerbread House Workshop
Children Friendly Event

Liberty Hall is hosting a gingerbread house workshop on Saturday. Two sessions will be held from 10:00 - 11:30 am or 1:00 - 2:30 pm. Children will get into the holiday spirit when they decorate their own gingerbread house with candy canes, gumdrops, and more at this popular, annual Liberty Hall event. A tour of Liberty Hall decorated for holidays will follow the workshop. Program Fee: $20.00 for each child and adult, all additional adults $5.00. Reservations are required. Call 908-527-0400. Liberty Hall is located at 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ. For more information, call 908-27-0400 or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall.

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Saturday, December 17 - Cape May, Cape May County
43rd Annual Christmas Candlelight House Tour
Family Friendly

This self-guided walking tour, the main attraction of Cape May's festive holiday season, features homes, inns, hotels and churches decorated for the holidays, plus caroling, strolling musicians, and good old-fashioned cheer. Hospitality centers offer warm beverages and traditional treats. Includes admission to the Physick Estate and "An Old-fashioned Christmas Exhibit" in the Carroll Gallery. Limited shuttle service. The tours will be 5:30 - 8:30 pm on Saturday. Admission: Adults $30, children $20 (ages 3-12). Purchase tickets at the Emlen Physick Estate, located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ or the Washington Street Mall Information Booth. 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 - Sunday, December 17 - 18 - Cape May, Cape May County
Santa's Trolley Ride
Children Friendly Event

Bring the kids to the Physick Estate on weekends for a trolley ride around Cape May with stories and songs led by Mrs. Claus. Then, Santa will greet children with a sweet in the Carriage House. Admission: Adults $10 and children (ages 3-12) $8. The ride will be on Saturday at 11:00 am, 11:45 am, 1:00 pm and 2:15 pm and Sunday at 11:45 am and 1:45 pm. Advance reservation strongly recommended. 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 - Sunday, December 17 - 18 - River Edge, Bergen County
33rd Annual Colonial Christmas Concerts and Tavern Fare

The Bergen County Historical Society celebrates their 33rd Colonial Christmas Concerts, featuring Linda Russell & Companie, in the Steuben House, by reservation. Sinterklaas will be in the Demarest House Museum. Ariel Woll tells the story of Chanukah during intermission. Tour the Washington room. You must make reservations. Tickets are already selling fast, as many people make it part of their holiday celebration every year. There will be two concerts each night: Saturday night at 6:00 and 7:45 pm and Sunday at 6:00 and 7:45 pm (SATURDAY & SUNDAY 6:00 pm SHOWS are SOLD OUT). The gift shop, out-kitchen, and Demarest House will be open. A walking path connects all 3 houses by candlelight.

The Black Horse Tavern in the Campbell-Christie House will be open for light tavern fare. Choose from butternut squash soup & herb biscuit from the Rolling Pin Cafe, Westwood, shepherd pie, fruit pie, hot mulled cider, coffee, tea. Additional cost. The tavern will be open from 5:00 - 8:00 pm each night. From 8:00 - 9:30 pm desserts will be served. Seating is limited.

Tickets for the concert are $32 per person (BCHS members, $25) - purchase online. Seating is limited. Also this weekend see open-hearth cooking in the Dutch out kitchen, browse the gift shop, and tour the Demarest House. Concerts in the Steuben House are a separate admission. No refunds or exchanges. Parking can be found in parking area at the corner of Main Street and Hackensack Avenue, River Edge. A new ADA compliant stonedust path connects the three houses and parking area! No parking will be available at the Steuben House. Historic New Bridge Landing is located at 1201 Main Street, River Edge, NJ. For more information, call 201-343-9492 or visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 17 - 18 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Visit with Santa 
Children Friendly

On Saturday and Sunday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel and enjoy an old- fashioned Victorian Christmas. Children can visit with Santa, then take a walk to the farmhouse and have a cup of cider. Be sure to bring your camera. 

This free event runs from 12:00 - 3:00 pm on both days. 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 - Sunday, December 17 - 18 - Ringwood, Passaic County
41st Annual Victorian Christmas at Ringwood Manor

Come wander through the first floor of Ringwood Manor, beautifully decorated for the holidays! The self-guided  format allows visitors to spend as much or as little time in each room as they wish! Brochures and interpretive signs, along with our knowledgeable volunteers, will provide those interested in the history of the site with plenty of information. Just want to ohh and ahh at the gorgeous furnishings or be inspired to create you own Victorian Christmas decorations? Each room will help you instill a sense of Gilded-Age elegance to your own home! Children are given scavenger hunts and can search for a variety of interesting objects throughout the house. Crafters will have hand-made items for sale to help you buy that perfect holiday gift for your loved one!

While visiting Victorian Christmas, stop by the Carriage Barn Gallery at Ringwood Manor where theRingwood Manor Association of the Arts (RMAA) will be having a "small works"sale. The sale proceeds will help raise ​much needed funding to restore portions of the historic carriage barn roof. 

The Victorian Coffee shop will be open and selling refreshments all three weekends.

Sponsored by the Women's Club of West Milford & the North Jersey Highlands Historical Society & the Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts. $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $3 for children ages 6-12. The site will be open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm all days. Ringwood Manor is located at 1304 Sloatsburg Road, Ringwood NJ. For more information, call  973-962-2240 or visit www.ringwoodmanor.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 17 - 18 - Maplewood, Essex County

Celebrate the Holiday Season at Durand-Hedden
Children Friendly Site

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, December 18 - Pennsville, Salem County
Annual Christmas Open House
Children Friendly Event

The Pennsville Township Historical Society will hold its Annual Christmas Open House on Sunday, December 21 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, at the Church Landing Farm House Museum in Pennsville.

The 1850 Farm House will be beautifully decorated, inside and out, with Victorian Christmas trimmings and decorated trees. From 1:30 - 2:00 pm, visitors can listen as Marlena Robinson sings Christmas Songs in the parlor, after which, from 2:00 - 3:00 pm, visitors will want to gather around the Pump Organ to enjoy traditional Christmas music played by organists Nancy Bubeck, Harlan Buzby, and Kathy Bodine.

Throughout each day, Junior Historians will be reenacting a Christmas Tea Party reminiscent of the early 1900s in one of the second floor bedrooms while in the other bedroom, there will be a historian portraying a Swedish "time traveler" from the early 1600's telling about the arrival of the Swedes and Finns in Lower Penn's Neck and artfully telling about the Swedish legend of Sankta Lucia and her crown of candles.

Our Townsend Building Annex will also be open and feature displays of “Christy" Dickens Carolers, Victorian Christmas Postcards, and our collection of miniature carriages handcrafted by Tom Githens. While you're there, visit with Annette Devitt who will be demonstrating the use of a small spinning wheel, Marcia Walton who will be demonstrating weaving on our full-sized 1910 Finnish Loom. Tom Githens will be available to tell visitors about the miniature carriages and the Christmas model train set he'll be operating.

Visitors are welcome to linger in the relaxing atmosphere of a Victorian era Christmas and enjoy refreshments. The Church Landing Farm Museum is located at 86 Church Landing Road, Pennsville, NJ. Admission is Free. Donations are always welcome and gratefully accepted. For more information call Don at 856-381-2510 or e-mail historyofpennsville@gmail.com.

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Sunday, December 18 - Montclair, Essex County
Holiday House Tours
Children Friendly Event

Tours at the Montclair Historical Society, 108 Orange Road and the Charles Shultz House-Evergreens, 30 North Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. See the houses bedecked in their holiday finery. These special tours incorporate the holiday traditions as well as the stories of the houses and the people who lived there. Begin at the Nathaniel Crane House where less “foppery” reigned in the early 18th century, see the Crane House & Historic YWCA decorated by the Garden Club of Montclair, and then cozy up in our hearth kitchen to learn about holiday food traditions. Move forward in history to the 19th century at the Shultz House to see Molly Shultz’s own collection of Christmas decorations, antique toys, and children’s book exhibit. 

Suggested donation: $5 per family. Members free! For more information, call 973-744-1796 or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.

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Sunday, December 18 - Perth Amboy, Middlesex County
Yuletide in Olde Amboy

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Sunday, December 18 - West Orange, Essex County
Harry's Magical Invention Bag
Children Friendly

Learn about invention and the important role Edison played in taking invention from a cottage/hobby activity to a full commercial activity - practiced by all major corporations. Hear Harry Roman, a Thomas Edison National Historical Park volunteer, retired engineer, as well as inventor and patent holder, as he discusses the major role NJ plays in the national invention scene-and all the great inventions NJ inventors have brought into our world.

The program is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $10.00, 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, December 18 - 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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Sundays through January 8, 2017 - Morristown, Morris County
Christmas Through the Centuries

During this holiday season, take a nostalgic look back at how Christmas was celebrated through the centuries by visiting Acorn Hall, headquarters of the Morris County Historical Society. From now through Sunday, January 8, 2017, enjoy sparkling trees, garlands, and wreaths throughout the mansion complemented by dresses, toys, photos, and historic newspapers featured in the current exhibit Race to the Finish: Newspaper Coverage of Presidential Elections, 1789-2008. This year's decorating highlights include a lavish "Lincoln Christmas" display in the Dining Room featuring Acorn Hall's "famous" upside-down Christmas tree, a 1920s celebration in the Front Parlor, and recollections of the WWII era in the Library. A spotlight will be placed on an Epstein's Department Store display in the Music Room, featuring Christmas store-front window items and memorabilia certain to bring back memories of the Morristown landmark. 

The seasonal decorations are on view Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, and by appointment. Closed Christmas and New Year's Day. The regular admission to tour Acorn Hall and the exhibit is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students, and Free for children under age 12 and MCHS members. 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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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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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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Through December 31, 2016 - Tuckerton, Ocean County
Festival of Trees
Children Friendly Site

Roll out the holly and sharing in some holiday cheer at Tuckerton Seaport's Festival of Trees. The Festival of Trees will feature dozens of trees, each one decorated for a local nonprofit organization with a unique theme. Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. General admission: adults $8, seniors $6, ages 5-12 $5, under five free and Seaport members free. The Tuckerton Seaport and Baymen's Museum is located at 120 West Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ. For more information, call 609-296-8868 or visit www.tuckertonseaport.org.

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Saturdays and Sundays through January 8, 2017 - Princeton, Mercer County
Festival of Trees

Morven Museum and Garden's annual Festival of Trees has become a must-see Princeton holiday tradition. Enjoy the museum’s elegant galleries decorated for the holidays and adorned with trees artfully decorated by local businesses, garden clubs, and non-profit organizations.

This year’s Festival of Trees museum decorators include: Contemporary Garden Club, Dogwood Garden, Garden Club of Princeton, Keris Tree Farm & Christmas Shop, Jazams, McCarter Theater, Princeton Public Library, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Stony Brook Garden Club, VanDerveer Design, West Trenton Garden Club, and Morven Museum & Garden.

No reservations necessary. Morven is open to the public on Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Morven Museum & Garden is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Admission $10, $8 for Seniors, and special pricing for families during Festival of Trees, $15 per group. Friends of Morven, free. Please note that during the Festival of Trees in December and early January, no formal tours are given, but docents are available to answer any questions. Morven Museum and 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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Through January 15, 2017 - Trenton, Mercer County

William E. Pedrick (1868-1927), Survey of the Artist Exhibit

View "William E. Pedrick (1868-1927), Survey of the Artist Exhibit" at the Trenton City Museum, Ellarslie in Cadwalader Park, Trenton, NJ through January 15, 2017.

Born in Mount Holly, William Everitte Pedrick's life was cut tragically short at age 59 when he was killed on his way to work in an automobile accident, leaving behind an enormous portfolio of work that celebrated the personalities and events of the City of Trenton. Well-known throughout Trenton in his day, his paintings hung in the State Capitol, City Hall, the Courthouse, and other public buildings as well as regimental armories, colleges, museums, and courtrooms in other cities.

After studying at the National Academy of Design in New York and attending the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, he came back to New Jersey and set up a studio at the Masonic Temple in Trenton. There he created caricatures of notable local politicians and personalities that graced the pages of the Trenton Sunday Advertiser and his own Acme Magazine. While portrait painting was his favorite branch of art, he was also a well accomplished landscape artist, specializing in scenes depicting the role that Trenton played during the American Revolution. An amateur historian, he thoroughly researched his subjects and never shrunk from pointing out the inaccuracies of famous paintings, most notably Emanuel Leutze's epic "Washington Crossing the Delaware."

A founder of the Trenton Arts Society and the Trenton Art Alliance, he strove to make an art museum possible in the City of Trenton. As an organizer of the Trenton Fair Art Club, he helped choose a painting of an outstanding artist each year to be placed in the municipal collection with the goal of making Trenton a place of recognition in the world of art.

The exhibit is being guest-curated by Laura M. Poll, Archivist at the Trentoniana Collection, Trenton Free Public Library. Paintings are being loaned to the exhibit by the Trenton Free Public Library and The Old Barracks Museum, among others.

The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion is located within Cadwalader Park, Trenton, NJ. For more information, call 609-989-3632 or visit www.ellarslie.org.

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Through January 29, 2017 - Morristown, Morris County
Race to the Finish: Newspaper Coverage of Presidential Elections, 1789-2008 Exhibit

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 through January 29, 2017 at Acorn Hall in Morristown, NJ.

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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Through Sunday, February 5 - Morristown, Morris County

Fashion for the Far East: Collecting Chinoiserie at Macculloch Hall

Like many collectors at the time, W. Parsons Todd (1877 - 1976) delighted in objects made in China and Japan and those created in Europe inspired by Asian design during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This exhibition traces the popularity among early twentieth century collectors for decorative objects made in or inspired by the East through a selection of carpets and porcelain in the Museum's collection. Objects on display will include the fine antique carpets woven in China, the Rose Medallion china made in China for export to the West, a pair of monumental Satsuma Vases urns made in Japan, and a pair of monumental vases created in an Asian style in Dresden, Germany.

Admission is $8, Adults; $6, Seniors and Students; $4, Children 6-12; and free for Members and children under 5. Macullouch Hall is located at 45 MacCulloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-538-2404 or visit www.maccullochhall.org.

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Through Friday, 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 Sunday, May 21, 2017 - Princeton, Mercer County
Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey

Like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan before him, Bruce Springsteen is a pillar of American music. Springsteen has turned his guitar into an instrument of change, using it to tap into the American psyche and connect with the blue-collar man and woman through his melodies and lyrics. From his humble beginnings of rehearsing in New Jersey garages to selling out arenas around the world, Springsteen's career has spanned decades and crossed genres-and has never wavered from its upward trajectory.

This fall, Morven Museum & Garden presents Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey. Traveling from the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, this exhibition features forty photographs of the rock legend and video interviews with five of the six noted photographers: Danny Clinch, Ed Gallucci, Eric Meola, Barry Schneier, Pamela Springsteen, and Frank Stefanko. Together they revisit Springsteen's career as a frontman and songwriter, capturing his charisma and off-stage vulnerability.

The exhibition is on view from November 18, 2016 through May 21, 2017 at Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ. Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-924-8144 or visit www.morven.org.

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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.

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Last Sunday of the month through Fall 2017 - Woodbury, Gloucester County
White Lace and Promises: Two Centuries of Weddings Exhibit

White Lace and Promises: Two Centuries of Weddings, is the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum's most comprehensive wedding exhibit to date! This gorgeous exhibit features over 50 wedding gowns from the museum’s collection, representing the time period from the 1810’s through most of the 20th century. From the hooped dresses and bustles of the 19th century, to the many variations of gowns during the 20th century, nearly every popular wedding gown style is represented. Also showcased are bridal accessories including headpieces, veils, shoes, fans, lingerie, and jewelry. Documentation such as invitations and wedding certificates, along with beautiful photographs from many of these weddings, are also on display. This extensive exhibit will be up until fall of 2017 – do not miss it!

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. If interested in scheduling a private tour during non-public hours to see this exhibit, this may be organized for you and/or your group with advance. 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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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey