NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 5/13/17 - 5/14/17

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Saturday, May 13 - Princeton, Mercer County

Stony Brook Walking Tour

Before there was a "Princeton," six Quaker families established a community on the fertile ground along Stony Brook. This hike explores the lives of the early settlers and the community they established, while following a portion of the trail George Washington took from Trenton to the Princeton Battlefield.

Admission: $5 per person and includes farmhouse museum admission. Tours begin at the Updike Farmstead farmhouse, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ at 2:00 pm and ends at 3:30 pm. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Saturday, May 13 - Manalapan, Monmouth County
Spirits of the Jerseys State History Fair - CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
Children Friendly Event and Site

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Saturday, May 13 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Felting Demonstration

Children Friendly Event & Site

On Saturday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to learn the process of felting wool that can be used in garments. This free event runs from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Saturday, May 13 - Mount Laurel, Burlington County
Tour Paulsdale & Feminism Today: An Introduction

Paulsdale is open to the public for Second Saturday Tours at 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm. Paulsdale is the birthplace of Quaker suffragist Alice Paul. Tours include a 15-minute presentation about Alice Paul's life and work and a walk around the porch where visitors learn about the Paul family's daily life in the house, the restoration of the house, and its present day use as a girl's leadership center. Tours are $5.00 per person.

What do feminists want? Don't women in the U.S. have it better than women in other parts of the world? Learn about the issues that affect American women today and how women are trying to solve them. This info session will be led by API's own Kris Myers, API Program Director and adjunct professor of Women's Studies. Admission: $5.00 or free with tour admission. Program starts at 2:00 pm.

Paulsdale is located at 128 Hooton Road, Mount Laurel, NJ. For information about group tours or future tour dates, contact the Alice Paul Institute at 856-231-1885, e-mail info@alicepaul.org, or visit www.alicepaul.org.

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Saturday, May 13 -  Morristown, Morris County
Rockin’ and Rollin’ a House: Moving Historic Structures
Children Friendly Site

On Saturday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, learn how historic buildings are moved to preserve their architecture, if not their context. Take a close look at what happened when the Moses Estey House and the L’Hommedieu House were moved to Historic Speedwell from the heart of Morristown. Admission: $7 per adult, $6 per senior, $5 per child age 4 - 16, FREE per child under age 4. Historic Speedwell is located at 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, May 13 -  Morris Township, Morris County
Breakfast for Mom
Children Friendly Event and Site

On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, in the Farmhouse kitchen, help make a special breakfast that children prepared for their mothers during the early 20th century. For your mom, create a card to celebrate Mother’s Day. This event will be held from 10:30 am - 12:00 noon.

Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, May 13 - Chester, Morris County
Born to be Shorn
Children Friendly Event and Site

On Saturday from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm at the Cooper Grist Mill in Chester, visit the lambs and watch hand-shearing of the sheep. See how fleece is processed and made into garments. Hands-on activities include weaving, spinning, and making crafts. Cost: $3 per adult, $2 per senior (65+), and $1 per child age 4 - 16. FREE for children under age 4, and Friends of Fosterfields and Cooper Mill members with a current membership card. The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, May 13 - Montclair, Essex County
Family Fun: Architectural Walking Tour
Family Friendly Event

Gothic, eyebrow, or palladium? On this Family Walking Tour, we’ll look for architectural details in the beautiful homes located on the streets near the Crane House and Historic YWCA. Teach your kids the language of architecture. Maybe you’re raising the next Mead, McKim, or White! Admission: $10/family, $5 if you have a family membership with the Montclair History Center. Each family gets one free herb at the herb sale. Meet at 110 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ in back of the Crane House & Historic YWCA. For more information, call 973-744-1796 or visit www.montclairhistory.org.

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Saturday, May 13 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Pleasant Valley House Tours 
Children Friendly Event

On Saturday at Howell Living Farm, the houses of grist miller John Phillips, his farmer-son Henry and Henry’s blacksmith-son Lewis will be featured during a 90 minute walking tour, hosted by Howell Farm historian Larry Kidder. A tour of the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse is included. Transportation to the historic houses is available for those needing assistance. Call the site for tour specifics, starting point, and time.

Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org.

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Saturday, May 13 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County
Spring Craft Market

Join us for our first craft market of the season! Come shop a wide selection of handmade crafts and items from jewelry to woodworking, ceramics, sculpture and everything in between. All of the items are handcrafted and the show is juried. This is the perfect place to shop for Mom or anyone else special in your life. Rain date is Sunday, May 14. Gates open for shoppers at 10:00 am and the market closes at 4:00 pm. Admission is $2 for adults and children under 12 years old are free.

The Historic Village at Allaire is located at 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. For more information, contact the Allaire Village office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, at 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

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Saturday - Sunday,  May 13 - 14 - Atlantic City, Atlantic County

Mothers Climb Free at Absecon Lighthouse

Looking for a memorable way to tell Mom she's the light of your life? Then bring her to Absecon Lighthouse on Saturday and Sunday, because dear old Abby is treating Mothers to a free climb. Moms who show their "I Climbed" card at nearby Tony Boloney's Pizza afterward will receive a free slice of pizza as a reward. Hours of operation are 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, with the last climb at 3:30 pm. Parking on-site is free and dogs are welcome on leashes in the museum. First lit in 1857, Absecon Lighthouse is New Jersey's tallest lighthouse and the country's third tallest lighthouse.

Absecon Lighthouse is a state-owned historic property administered by the non-profit Inlet Public/Private Association. Located at 31 So. Rhode Island Avenue in Atlantic City, NJ 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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Sunday, May 14 - Morristown, Morris County

Mother's Day Tea to Honor Gold Star Mothers

The Morris County Historical Society is pleased to announce it will partner with the Sgt. Ryan E. Doltz Memorial Foundation, Inc. for a special Mother's Day Tea at Acorn Hall on Sunday at 2:00 pm. The event, held in concert with the current MCHS exhibit, 1917: World War, Women's Rights, and Weaponry Sciences, will celebrate all mothers, and especially honor the courage and sacrifices of Gold Star Mothers: those who have lost a child in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces. At 2  p.m., guest speaker Cheryl Doltz, a Gold Star Mother and president of the Sgt. Ryan E. Doltz Memorial Foundation, Inc., will pay tribute to Gold Star Mothers, and describe the efforts of the foundation she created in memory of her son, Ryan, following his combat death in Iraq in 2004.

The foundation's efforts include distributing scholarships to graduating seniors at several Morris County high schools, and to members of the NJ National Guard and their dependents. Those attending the tea can honor past and present members of the U.S. Armed Forces by participating in "Hearts of Hope" to create a healing-art heart craft that will be donated to local veterans' associations, and by writing messages of support to be distributed through "Operation Gratitude," which sends postcards and care packages to soldiers and veterans throughout the U.S. and overseas. There will also be information about specific ways individuals can contribute or help support other local organizations that serve the needs of our active duty military and veterans.

Tea and light refreshments will be served on Acorn Hall's back porch. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Sgt. Ryan E. Doltz Memorial Foundation, Inc. The cost to attend the Mother's Day Tea is $20 for adults; $15 for seniors; $10 for students and MCHS members, and $5 for children under age 12. Acorn Hall is located at 68 Morris Avenue in Morristown, NJ. For more information, and to make recommended reservations, call 973-267-3465 or e-mail MCHSAcornHall@gmail.com.

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Sunday, May 14 - Cape May, Cape May County
Cape May Lighthouse on Mother's Day

Celebrate Mother's Day with a climb to the top of the Cape May Lighthouse! Moms climb free on Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Regular admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Sunday, May 14 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Blacksmith Demonstration

Children Friendly Event & Site

On Sunday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to take a step back in time to watch blacksmiths perform their craft. They will be shaping iron into everyday products. Blacksmiths were as common as an auto mechanic in towns and on farms of the 1890s. This free event runs from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Sunday, May 14 - Bedminster, Somerset County
Special Exhibition and Mothers & Mimosas Tour at the Jacobus Vanderveer House & Museum
Children Friendly Site

On Sunday from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm, the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House will host a special exhibition and sale of works by American master painter John Phillip Osborne with the J. M. Stringer Gallery of Fine Art (formerly of Bernardsville and now based in Vero Beach, FL).

The exhibition - John Phillip Osborne:  An American Master - will run May 13-14 and May 20-21 with a special Mothers & Mimosas Tour on Sunday, May 14 in honor of Mother's Day. The collection includes approximately 30 oil paintings and pen and ink drawings depicting a range of subjects.

"We are thrilled to welcome John Osborne and the J.M. Stringer Gallery back to the Jacobus Vanderveer House & Museum," commented Craig Sutherland, President of the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House." John is a preeminent painter of Revolutionary War-era subjects and several of his works are part of our permanent collection."

The exhibition will be open Saturdays 11:00 am - 6:00 pm and Sundays 12:00 - 5:00 pm during both weekends. Docents will be available for guided tours of the Jacobus Vanderveer House & Museum and informational material about the 1772 Dutch-Colonial home, period rooms and furnishings are available throughout the house.

Admission is $10 per person; Members FREE; Children 12 and under FREE. The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located at 3055 River Road (in Bedminster’s River Road Park), Bedminster, NJ. For more information, visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org.

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Sunday, May 14 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
Guided Tours of the Metlar-Bodine House Museum

Curious about the yellow house situated on the hill above River Road, opposite Johnson Park, in Piscataway? On Sunday from at 12:30 and 2:30 pm, visitors are welcome to discover the story behind Piscataway's exceptional history, view artifacts from a unique collection of area memorabilia and marvel at the architecture of a house built, over three centuries, in the NJ vernacular style. Visitors even have the option of using a 21st century resource (not usually available in a small museum): an app, designed for the comprehensive map exhibit - a splendid pictorial display of the museum's theme: From Indian Trail to Interstate. Tours are approximately one hour. Dutch Door Gift Shop open. The Metlar-Bodine House Museum, circa 1728, is listed on the National and NJ State Registers of Historic Sites and is the official historical and cultural museum of Piscataway Township.

Guided tours start at 12:30 and 2:30 pm only. Pre-tour registration is required. Admission: $5 per person. The Dutch Door Gift Shop will be open. The museum is handicap accessible. Handicap parking is located in the lower parking lot. All parking is free. The Metlar-Bodine House Museum is located at 1281 River Road, Piscataway, NJ. For more information and to register for tours, call 732-463-8363. For more information, visit www.metlarbodinehousemuseum.org.

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Sunday, May 14 - Sparta, Sussex County
A New Era: Women, Their Hats, and Social Change

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Sunday, May 14 - 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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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 - Madison, Morris County
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