NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 2/25/17 - 2/26/17

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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Saturday, February 25 - Franklin Township, Somerset County
George Washington's Birthday

Come celebrate George Washington's 285th birthday at Rockingham on Saturday. While Washington will be present only in spirit (and in the form of a wonderful life-sized mannequin in an exactingly recreated uniform), visitors who tour his last wartime headquarters will learn about his life and times, before, during and after his careers as commander of the Continental Army and first president of the United States.

Find out more about this iconic symbol of our country; learn why he is more important than just a means to sell cars on Presidents' Day! After the tour, enjoy cake and punch in Rockingham's kitchen.

Tours will be offered from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm on the hour and, possibly, half-hour if needed. (The last tour will be at 3:00 or 3:30 pm, accordingly). Because the size of tours will be limited, reservations will be necessary to guarantee admittance. Please call 609-683-7132 for reservations. A donation of $5 is suggested.

Please note that the regular history of the house will not be emphasized during these special tours, but visitors are always welcome to visit the house on another day for a normal tour. Washington, commander in chief for the Continental Army during the American Revolution, stayed at Rockingham from late August to early November in 1783. It became his final wartime headquarters when the Treaty of Paris was formally signed while he resided there.

Rockingham is located on Rte. 603 (Laurel Ave./Kingston-Rocky Hill Rd.), one mile north of Route 27 in Kingston and one mile south of Route 518 in Rocky Hill.  For more information, call 609-683-7132 or visit www.rockingham.net.

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Saturday, February 25 - Montclair, Essex County
Research Your Home's History

Have you ever wondered about the history of your Montclair home? This free workshop will assist you in discovering local resources available to help you research the history of your Montclair home and property. Choose from one of three sessions: Saturday, February 25 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm; Saturday, March 25 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm; or Tuesday, April 25 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Space is limited. Registration is required. For more information, call 973-744-0500 ext. 2235. Register through the Montclair Public Library at www.montclairlibrary.org. Presented by the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission, Montclair History Center (formerly known as the Montclair Historical Society), and Montclair Public Library. All sessions will be held at the Main Library, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, NJ.

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Saturday, February 25 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Maple Sugaring
Children Friendly

Sugaring time arrives in late winter at Howell Farm and operations are in full swing. Visitors are invited to join the work and fun with sap collection, firewood cutting, syrup making, butter making, flour milling and pancake eating.

The trees are tapped beginning in early February. School groups, visitors and farm staff collect and boil down sap for several weeks. The sugar maple tree stores starch in their trunks and roots before the winter; the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap in the spring. Freezing nights and thawing days make for heavy sap flow. The trees are tapped by boring holes into their trunks and collecting the exuded sap beginning in early February. The sap is then processed by heating to evaporate much of the water, leaving the concentrated syrup.

Sap gathering will take place at 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm. Tree tapping demonstrations will be held at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. The sugarhouse will be open from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Pancakes will be available from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm.

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 - Sunday, February 25 - 26 - Trenton, Mercer County
America, We Served!: Three Centuries of African American Soldiers
Family Friendly

For over three hundred years, African Americans have made incredible contributions to the United States Military. Celebrate Black History Month at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Experience the living history of America's Black Warriors by the veterans themselves and dedicated reenactors! View displays of photos, literature, and artifacts from wars past while talking to the storytellers of America's black men and women at war!

The Revolutionary War will be represented by the predominately African American Rhode Island Regiment. The Civil War will be represented by The 6th Regiment United States Colored Troops. World War II will be represented by The 5th Platoon. Other authentically kitted out reenactors will represent the War of 1812, the Buffalo Soldiers of the American West, and the Harlem Hellfighters of World War I fame.

On Saturday at 2:30 pm, Dr. Jeffrey T. Sammons will give a lecture on his book Harlem's Rattlers and the Great War: The Undaunted 369th Regiment and the African American Quest for Equality. Dr. Sammons is a Professor of History at NYU with special interests in African-American History, military history, black autobiography, film history, and sports history.

On Sunday, at the top of every hour from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Chadd Gray will perform a 20 minute vignette on the life of Eugene Bullard, the first black fighter pilot. Chadd Gray is a budding actor from Voorhees, New Jersey. At 20 years old, he has graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy's conservatory program, located in New York. Trained in classical and contemporary acting forms, for both the stage and film, he has played characters ranging from Shakespeare's ever calculating Richard III to the hopelessly confused teenager, Bleeker, in Juno. As the year comes to a close, Chadd has plans to continue his education to earn his degree while also starting his YouTube channel where he can post original content written, directed, and filmed by himself and other creatives.

Don't miss this wonderful educational experience for the entire family! Tours of the Old Barracks Museum are included in the admission price, so you can also learn about the last remaining free-standing French and Indian War military barracks in North America.

Special admission rates apply for this weekend: $4 for adults, $2 for seniors/students, and free for children 6 and under and active duty military. The Old Barracks Museum is located at 101 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ. Parking is available in the small lot next to the museum, in the Capitol Complex, and in Trenton City Parking lots - the closest is located at 120 East Front Street. For more information call 609-396-1776 or visit www.barracks.org.

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Sunday, February 26 - 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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Sunday, February 26 - Trenton, Mercer County
"The Lady from Philadelphia"

Please join us at the Trenton House on Sunday to commemorate the birthday of Marian Anderson with a presentation of "The Lady from Philadelphia."

Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia on February 27, 1897, to a family of humble means. A woman of simple dignity and serene charm, Marian Anderson raised her art to a level of such perfection that when she sang, her music became akin to a religious experience in its emotional impact.

"The Lady from Philadelphia" is a musical narrative that tells the story of the extraordinary life and career of the legendary singer Marian Anderson. The program combines spoken narration, photographic slide projections, live singing and historic recordings of Marian Anderson's own voice.

Featuring Trenton's own Deborah Ford
Deborah Ford is an award-winning soprano who has traveled the world performing in various venues. She holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and completed post-graduate studies at the European Seminars, Vocal Institute in Germany and the American Institute for Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Ms. Ford is the Music Director at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, owner of Music Seminars Inc., and serves as a Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commissioner.

Pre-registration suggested. Purchase tickets at www.williamtrenthouse.org/deborahford. Tickets are $15 for non-members and $12 for members. Complimentary refreshments and tours of the museum will be available. The presentation will held in the Visitor Center, which is handicapped accessible. Ample free parking. The Trent House Museum is located at 15 Market Street in Trenton, NJ adjacent to the Hughes Justice Complex. For more information, call 609-989-0087 or visit www.williamtrenthouse.org.

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Sunday, February 26 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
Presidents Day Celebration

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Sunday, February 26 - Union Township, Union County
UHS Athlete's Respectful Rivalry with Olympic Champion & Vauxhall Historical Society Veterans' Exhibit

Come to an open house at the Caldwell Parsonage on Sunday, from 2:00 - 5:00 pm and learn about Eulace Peacock, UHS Class of 1933, the U. S. track and field competitor dreaded by Jesse Owens. In addition, view part of the Vauxhall Historical Society's exhibit of U. S. military veterans who served our country since World War I.

Owens said of Peacock in 1935, "Eulace is a great runner, and a very good jumper.  [He] has been right behind me for quite a while. It looks as though he's more than caught up now.... I don't know whether I can defeat him again." He never did.

Peacock's New York Times 1992 obituary reads that the senior track star set a state scholastic long jump record (24' 4.25") that remained unbroken for 44 years until Renaldo Nehemiah of Scotch Plains, jumped 24' 11."

The museum, once the residence of Rev. James and Mrs. Hannah Caldwell, is listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free but donations are greatly appreciated. The Caldwell Parsonage is located at 909 Caldwell Avenue, Union, NJ. For more information, call 908-591-4377 or visit www.uniontwphistoricalsociety.webs.com.

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Sunday, February 26 - Perth Amboy, Middlesex County
A Military Timeline
Children Friendly Event

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Sunday, February 26 - Westfield, Union County
Westfield Historical Society Presentation: Newark Through the Ages

Elizabeth R. Del Tufo, president of the City of Newark Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission, will conduct a Sunday afternoon presentation about the history of the city of Newark. The talk will take place on Sunday at 2:30 pm at the Reeve House in Westfield, New Jersey.

Ms. Del Tufo will trace the city's history from its earliest days in the late 1600s through the Revolutionary War, the Industrial Era, the Post-World War II Era, the riots of 1967, and the growth and revitalization taking place today. Along the way, she will discuss many of Newark's most well-known and architecturally significant landmarks and notable statues.

Elizabeth is a longtime resident of the city of Newark with a long and productive involvement in the cultural life of the city.  She served as the first Director of Cultural Affairs for the County of Essex. She founded The Newark Arts Council and served as its first director. The New Jersey State Council on the Arts praised her work by stating: "She has created an organization second to none in promoting and presenting the arts." Ms. Del Tufo was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology for her work in preserving the history of Newark and for her contributions to building a vibrant new Newark.

Space is limited and prior registration is required so to make a reservation kindly e-mail westfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com or call 908-654-1794. There is a suggested donation of $5 to help offset costs and to support the Society. In case of inclement weather, there will be a notice on the website and on the voicemail. For more information, call 908-654-1794 or visit www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, February 26 - Somerville, Somerset County
Discover “The Hidden History of Slavery in New Jersey”

On Sunday at 1:30 pm, at the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic sites, historian Timothy Hack will uncover the lost and forgotten stories of the slaves who once lived in colonial New Jersey.

From its days of earliest settlement, African American slavery existed in colonial New Jersey. Sometimes slaves succeeded in running away; sometimes they were freed; most often they remained in life-long bondage. Decades before the onset of the American Revolution, slaves at different times and places across the colony planned revolts against their masters, seeking their own freedom. In bondage, slaves raised families, built communities, learned trades, established their own churches and forged connections across race and class barriers. Join historian Timothy Hack as he unfolds their forgotten histories.

Timothy Hack is Chair of the History and Social Science Department at Middlesex County Community College and a Ph.D candidate at the University of Delaware.

There is a five dollar per-person fee to attend this program. All visitors must register for this program in advance. To register, call 908-725-1015 or e-mail whouse3@verizon.net. Please register early, as seating is limited.

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.

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, February 26 - Madison, Morris County
Fleece to Shawl Demonstration
Family Friendly Event

Come see Anne Choi of Middle Brook Fiberworks and her talented team of spinners and weavers demonstrate the process of creating a beautiful scarf, from raw fleece to finished design on Sunday from 12:30 - 4:30 pm. In this four-hour demonstration, the team will card, spin, weave, and finish using fleece dyed with natural plant dyes used by the early Americans farmers. Questions are encouraged!

This four-hour on-going demonstration is in conjunction with METC's new exhibit, "Garden State: Living off the Land in Early New Jersey," which explores how farmers used all their resources, including fleece from sheep, to survive. The event is included with paid admission and guests are encouraged to ask questions and return to the museum throughout the day to see the team's progress. The Museum of Early Trades and Crafts is located 9 Main Street, Madison, NJ. For more information, call 973-377-2982 or visit www.metc.org.

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Through March 12, 2017- Trenton, Mercer County
Furniture as Art at Ellarslie, the Trenton City Museum

The Trenton City Museum hosts "Furniture as Art," four exhibits-in-one that highlight the items that bring comfort and beauty to our lives - furniture. How many of us take our daily surroundings for granted? This exhibit helps us to see the everyday with fresh eyes.

On the museum's second floor, Furniture from the Permanent Collection features furniture from the collection of the Trenton Museum Society - antique furniture made in and associated with Trenton. Many of these reminders of Trenton's past manufacturing heyday have never before been seen by the public. Rustic Regional Windsor Chairs includes a collection of early Windsor chairs loaned by private collectors. According to TMS trustee and curator of the exhibit David Bosted, "The first American Windsor chair is believed to have been made here in the Delaware Valley in 1730. About a dozen pre-1850 Windsor Chairs will be on view along with a half-dozen colonial-revival reproductions, to illustrate the various forms and artistic features of rustic regional Windsor chairs."

On Sunday, February 26, 2017, Robert Whitley talks about furniture restoration during his 50+ year career. 

The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie is located in the middle of the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Cadwalader Park, with an entrance on Parkside Avenue, in Trenton, New Jersey. There is no fee for admission although donations are accepted. There is abundant free parking including handicap accessible parking.  The museum is handicapped accessible. 
For more information, call 609-989-3632 or visit www.ellarslie.org.

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Through March 31, 2017 - Plainfield, Union County
Funky Turns 40: Black Character Revolution Firsts Opening Reception and Curators' Talk

The Plainfield Public Library announces a new guest exhibit from the Museum of Uncut Funk, Funky Turns 40: Black Character Revolution Firsts. The exhibit commemorates the 40th anniversary of 1970s Saturday morning cartoons that featured positive Black animation characters for the first time in television history.

The pioneering cartoon characters featured in this exhibition present an unheralded legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and several animation, American, and Black History firsts. This flat-panel exhibit has traveled to the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, and the Purdue University Black Cultural Center. Plainfield Public Library is pleased and honored to be able to present this one-of-a-kind, traveling exhibit to the residents of Plainfield and Union County. Visitors are encouraged to join exhibit curators Loreen Williamson and Pamela Thomas for a special talk about the importance of the materials found in this exhibition. Free commemorative buttons will be given to program attendees on February 11 (as long as supplies last). All Ages Welcome! The exhibit opens at 10:30 am in the ALD Room (lower level) of the Plainfield Public Library, 800 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ. For more information, call 908-757-1111 or visit www.plainfieldlibrary.info.

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Through Sunday, April 9 - Cape May, Cape May County

Moore History: The Story of William J. Moore of Cape May

The Center for Community Arts (CCA) once again presents an exhibit in association with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) that highlights and illuminates African-American life and history in Cape May and the surrounding region. This year's exhibit, in the Carroll Gallery of the Emlen Physick Estate, is entitled "Moore History: The Life and Works of William J. Moore."

The CCA History Committee has selected important original documents, objects, and photographs of Mr. Moore's long and honored life. William J. Moore was principal of the segregated West Cape May Elementary Annex school for 52 years, inspiring many of his students to go on to college and careers. He served as the executive of Cape May Golf Club and then the pro at Cape May Tennis Club, which was named in his honor at his 100th birthday. He raised nine children with his wife, Susie (Smothers) Moore, and founded the William J. Moore Scholarship Fund.

Many of his students and friends remember him to this day. Their testimonies and recollections accompany Mr. Moore's own words and those of his children. The exhibit will be open to the public on Saturday, January 14 with an official opening ceremony on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 16 at 4:00 pm at the Carroll Gallery in the Carriage House at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street. The exhibit opening is free and open to the public; light refreshments will be served.

The exhibit is open to the public as follows: Saturdays, January 14 - February 4, 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm; Saturday, February 18, 11:00 am - 3:30 pm, Sunday, Feb. 19, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, Monday, February 20, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Saturday, February 25, 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm, Saturday, March 4, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, Saturday, March 11, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm. The exhibit is open daily, March 18 - April 19. Hours vary.

The Emlen Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Admission is free. Sponsored by the Center for Community Arts (CCA) in association with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For information on the exhibit, call 609-884-7525 or see www.CenterforCommunityArts.org. For gallery hours call 609-884-5404 or visit www.capemaymac.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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Sunday, February 19 through Sunday, June 25, 2017 - Morristown, Morris County
1917: World War, Women’s Rights, and Weaponry Sciences Exhibit Opening

In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I, Morris County Historical Society offers a provocative exhibit highlighting The Great War’s impact on Morris County. The new exhibit 1917: World War, Women’s Rights, and Weaponry Sciences, displayed throughout Acorn Hall, will be available from Sunday, February 19 through Sunday, June 25, 2017. Stories of Morris County’s brave men and women during the WWI era will be complimented by authentic WWI uniforms, weaponry and militaria, period clothing, and ephemera.

Focusing on sacrifices of Morris County residents, the exhibit honors the men and women who gave their lives during the war, highlights the culture clash of women seeking recognition as equals and the right to vote, and features the tremendous advances in weaponry science credited to the work of men and women at Picatinny Arsenal and throughout Morris County.

The Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, and on Sundays from 1:00- 4:00 pm. For a tour of Acorn Hall and to see the exhibit is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students, and Free for children under age 12 and MCHS members. To see the exhibit, only, is one half of the price of admission.

The Morris County Historical Society, founded in 1946, is a member-supported, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Acorn Hall, an Italianate Villa, is located at 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-267-3465 or visit www.acornhall.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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Through September 3, 2017
Garden State: Living Off the Land in Early New Jersey Exhibit
Family Friendly

How far is the distance from farm to table? For families in early New Jersey it was measured in inches. These families did not make their living “by bread alone.” They relied not only on wheat and corn, but also on bees, cows, apples, and vegetables to support themselves and their communities. The Garden State: Living off the Land in Early New Jersey explores the technology and tools, from bee smokers to cradle scythes, that farmers in 18th and 19th century New Jersey utilized in order to survive. The exhibit also features a new generation of Garden State farmers who are working to make the distance from farm to table a little bit shorter for today’s families.

This exhibit is on display through September 3, 20017 at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts located at 9 Main Street, Madison, NJ. Admission: Adults – $5; Students, children and adults 65+ – $3; METC members and children under 6 – FREE; Family maximum rate – $15.00. For more information, call 973-377-2982 or visit www.metc.org.

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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