NJ Labor Day Weekend Historical Happenings: 9/2/17 - 9/3/17

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, September 2 - Morristown, Morris County

Soldier at the Huts
Children Friendly Event

Learn about the life of a common soldier during the winter encampment and see the clothing, equipment, and weapons that a soldier used as you visit the replica soldier huts of the Pennsylvania Line. Stop by the Soldier Huts from 1:30 - 3:00 pm within Jockey Hollow at Morristown National Historical Park, 580 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown NJ (address is approximate). This is a FREE event. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Saturday, September 2 - Toms River, Ocean County
Antiques and Collectibles Faire

Celebrate Labor Day with your family and friends at the Ocean County Historical Society's Antiques and Collectibles Faire on Saturday on the grounds surrounding the museum on 26 Hadley Avenue and the Ocean County Parking Garage on Madison Avenue in Toms River, NJ from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Join the fun as you shop for antiques and collectibles as well as items crafted by a local wool spinner, basket maker, and decoy carver. Buy a 50-50 raffle ticket sponsored by OCHS.

History buffs will be thrilled to know that they can chat with Civil War reenactors who make history come alive. Children are welcome to participate in games and crafts of the Civil War era. Families may visit the medical tent and learn more about the work of the full Union surgeon, carrying the rank of major, who will display surgical, dental, and other medical instruments and explain where the full surgeon worked during the Civil War.

The Artists' Garden and Music Garden will feature the fine arts. Several NJ authors will have their latest books available for sale and signing on the grounds. There will be food vendors and delicious baked goods made by OCHS volunteers. Other Historical Society volunteers will be selling OCHS publications, used books, genealogical research booklets, and interesting antiques. There's a treasure for everyone! Tour the OCHS museum and its current exhibitions. The event will be held rain or shine! For more information, visit www.oceancountyhistory.org.

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Saturday, September 2 -  Morris Township, Morris County
Explore the Farm Wagon Ride
Children Friendly Event and Site

Enjoy an interpretive horse-drawn wagon ride at Fosterfields Living History Farm on Saturday while discovering the importance of sustainable farming. Learn about the methods, equipment, crops, and enterprises of Charles Foster’s farm in the early 1900s. Wagon ride from 10:15 am - 12:00 noon and included in regular admission.

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, September 2 - Morristown, Morris County
Go With The Flow!
Children Friendly Event & Site

Streams provided an important water supply to farms. On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, follow a stream to see where it goes and what life it sustains with a guide. One hour programs at 1:00 and 2:00 pm.

Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (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, September 2 - Tewksbury, Hunterdon County

23rd Annual Tewksbury Flea Market

The Tewksbury Historical Society is hosting its 23rd annual Flea Market, which is one of its main fundraisers, on Saturday, from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm in the Johnson Family/Cedar Lane Farm Field located ½ mile north of the village of Oldwick on County Route 517. The rain date will be Sunday, September 3rd. This is one of the largest flea markets in New Jersey on Labor Day weekend. There will be 115 vendors in attendance; all vendor spaces were sold out in late July. Last year saw over 1,200 people in attendance. There will be a $1/car suggested donation, collected at the exit. Vendors will display old and new items of all types including antiques, toys and collectibles, farm fresh produce, household items, and more. The Pottersville Volunteer Fire Company will be serving breakfast and lunch to benefit their operations.  Early birds can gain admission from 7:00 am - 8:00 a.m. at a cost of $ 10 per person.  Early Birds should enter the site via Homestead Road. The Tewksbury Historical Society booth has an eclectic mix of multiple items, all donated by Society members and residents of Tewksbury. All proceeds benefit the Society's building fund.

The Tewksbury Flea Market is easily accessible off Exit 24 of the Interstate 78.  Following the signs for Oldwick/County Route 523/517 north or from Route 206 south from Chester. For more information, contact the Tewksbury Historical Society at 908-832-6734 or visit www.tewksburyhistory.net.

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Saturday, September 2 - Cape May Point, Cape May County
The Keeper's on Duty
Children Friendly Event

The perfect prelude to a climb of the Cape May Lighthouse on Sunday at 1:15 pm. Learn the historic beacon's story, as told by one of the current keepers at the Education Center in Cape May Point State Park (adjacent to the Cape May Lighthouse). All Keeper's on Duty are free and open to the public. Cape May Point State Park is located at 215 Light House Avenue, Cape May Point, 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, September 2 - Cape May Point, Cape May County
Lighthouse Storytime
Children Friendly Event

Bring your young children to the Education Center in Cape May Point State Park (adjacent to the Cape May Lighthouse) to listen to nautical tales and lighthouse adventure stories on Sunday at 12:30 pm. Free admission. Cape May Point State Park is located at 215 Light House Avenue, Cape May Point, 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, September 2 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Plowing Match
Children Friendly Event and Site

Howell Living History Farm will hold its Annual Plowing Match on Saturday and the public is invited to watch and participate in the event, which features old-fashioned plowing and log pulling competitions, a craft and pony rides for children, and lots of food, music and old fashioned fun.

A dozen teams of draft animals from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York are entered in the match, which tests the performance of farmers, their horses and oxen, and their plows as they turn furrows. Judging will take place from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon. Winners of the Fine Plowing Class will receive trophies, ribbons and cash prizes.

Members of the general public aged 16 and older can try their hand at plowing in the Visitor Plowing event. Winners receive ribbons.

Sheep, chickens and pigs can be seen in the farmyard area all day.

Beginning at 12:00 noon, hungry plowers and visitors can lunch on roast pork sandwiches, a chicken BBQ, Kosher franks and Howell Farm potatoes and sweet corn. Noontime festivities will include music by the Jugtown Mountain String Band, door prizes, and plowing award presentations.

After the plowing competition, visitors can watch as teamsters use their animals to navigate an obstacle course. Cash prizes for professional classes are furnished by the Friends of Howell Farm, and made possible through donations.

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, September 2 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Accordion Melodies of the 1890s

Children Friendly Event & Site

On Saturday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to hear music from yesteryear played on an accordion. 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 - Sunday, August 2 - 3 - Cape May, Cape May County
Hands-On History Weekend at Historic Cold Spring Village
Children Friendly Event & Site

Two days of family-friendly, interactive and educational fun are planned for Historic Cold Spring Village’s ‘Hands-on History’ Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. Children will be given a ‘Pastport’ at the start of their Village trip, which can be stamped at the buildings they visit after completing a take-home craft or activity, like writing with a quill pen, carding wool or making a pinch pot. Pastports can be redeemed at the Country Store for a free treat! The Family Activity Area will feature children’s dress-up clothes, historic games, and take-home crafts including corn husk dolls. Other family-friendly activities include nursery rhymes with Mother Goose, a seek and find, and live entertainment.

Historic Cold Spring Village is a nonprofit, open-air living history museum that portrays the daily life of a rural South Jersey community of the Early American period. It features 26 restored historic structures on a 30-acre site. From late June to early September, interpreters and artisans in period clothing preserve the trades, crafts and heritage of "the age of homespun." Fun and educational activities for children are featured Tuesday through Sunday, with special events every weekend through mid-September.

Historic Cold Spring Village is located on Route 9, three miles north of Victorian Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern terminus of the Garden State Parkway. Admission during the season is $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted free. Unlimited free admission is available with Village membership. The Village Nature Trail at Bradner's Run is open to the public for free self-guided tours. For more information, call 609-898-2300, ext. 10, or visit www.hcsv.org.

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Saturday - Monday, September 2 - 4 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
Historical Fun and Games!
Children Friendly Event & Site

Experience two centuries of fun this weekend at Historic Walnford! On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, they will offer a variety of historical games both indoors and out, for all to enjoy. Young or older, passive or active, there will be something to engage everyone. Admission and parking are free.

While there, visit the large, elegant Walnford home built in 1774, the 19th century gristmill and the farm buildings set in a beautiful landscape. Walnford is located at 62 Walnford Road, Upper Freehold, NJ. For more information, call 609-259-6275 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Every Sunday through September 3 - Walpack Center, Sussex County
Rosenkrans House and Museum and Van Campen Inn - Open House

Visit the Rosenkrans House & Museum, one of the oldest buildings in Walpack Center. Volunteers from the Walpack Historical Society will be present to answer any questions you may have about the area and its history.  The grounds at Walpack Center are open from dawn to dusk. 

The open houses are made possible by volunteers from the Walpack Historical Society, and may be subject to their volunteer schedule. Call 973-948-4903 for any updates on their scheduled Sunday open hours. The Rosenkrans House & Museum and the Van Campen Inn are part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/dewa.

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Every Sunday through September 3 - Hardwick, Warren County
1800's Village Life at Millbrook Village

Stroll at your leisure through Millbrook Village on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Several buildings will be open and staffed with rangers and volunteers demonstrating traditional skills and reminiscing about 1800's life in the village. By 1875, Millbrook had reached a peak of 75 inhabitants and about nineteen major buildings. Today's Millbrook Village does not replicate the Millbrook of 1832 or 1900. Rather, it evokes the feeling of countryside hamlets where most of the nation's people lived until the end of the 19th century. Please take a step back in time and see how things have (or haven't) changed! Millbrook Village is free to tour. Millbrook Village is part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Millbrook Village is located in Hardwick Township, NJ at the intersection of Old Mine Road and Millbrook Road, County Route 602N. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/dewa.

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Sunday, September 3 - Manalapan, Monmouth County
Guided Walking Tour of Monmouth Battlefield

On Sunday, meet at the Monmouth Battlefield visitor center at 1:30 pm for a free guided walking tour of the battlefield with Friends of Monmouth Battlefield President, Dr. David Martin. Appropriate hiking apparel is encouraged. Monmouth Battlefield State Park is located at 16 New Jersey Business 33, Manalapan, NJ. For more information, visit www.friendsofmonmouth.org.

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Sunday, September 3 - South River, Middlesex County
Open House

Stop by the South River Historical & Preservation Society on Sunday from 1:30 - 3:30 pm and view exhibits on all aspects of Borough history including: schools; churches and houses of worship; local businesses and organizations; daily life; events and celebrations; and more. While you are there, see the cemetery located behind the building, ask questions, drop off donations, or exchange hometown stories with the docents. The museum is located at 64-66 Main Street, South River. For more information, visit http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njsrhps/museum.html.

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Sunday, September 3 - 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, September 3 - Budd Lake, Morris County
33rd Annual Scandinavian Fest
Children Friendly Event

On Sunday from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, attend the 33rd Annual Scandinavian Fest is held at Vasa Park, which was built in the 1920s. It is a not-for-profit event to celebrate and promote the cultures, histories and current life of the six Nordic nations: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Vasa Order of America is a Swedish-American fraternal, cultural and educational organization that was started in 1896. This event is held rain or shine. Tickets are $11 per person online or $14 at the gate for adults and $13 for seniors. Children 12 and under are free. Entry will be free for those dressed in authentic folk dress. Free parking. Vasa Park is located at 1 Vasa Drive, Hackettstown, NJ. For more information, visit www.scanfest.org.

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Sunday, September 3 - Morristown, Morris County
Extra Baggage: The Women and Children of the Continental Army 
Children Friendly Event

Washington lamented that the families of the soldiers slowed down the army on the march but he knew that many had nowhere else to go. They often got jobs with the military performing essential tasks needed to keep the army going. Learn about the surprising roles that women and children played in the life of the Continental Army. Stop by the Soldier Huts from 1:30 - 4:00 pm within Jockey Hollow at Morristown National Historical Park, 580 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown NJ (address is approximate). This is a FREE event. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Sunday, September 3 - Haledon, Passaic County
Labor Day Parade

The Annual Labor Day Parade, co-sponsored by the American Labor Museum/Botto House Natonal Landmark, the Borough of Haledon, and the City of Paterson, takes place on Sunday.  Step-off is at 1:30 pm at the Botto House in Haledon. The parade finishes at the Great Falls Historic District in the City of Paterson.

This year's Labor Day Parade will be lead by Grand Marshals John Currie, Chairman, Passaic County Democratic Party and John Shinn, Director, United Steel Workers District 4.

On Sunday, the Museum will be open to visitors, the Museum Store will be open to the public before the parade step-off.

All community organizations, unions, businesses, cultural groups, and individuals interested in joining this historic march can contact the Museum at 973-595-7953 or by e-mail at labormuseum@aol.com or visit the Museum's website www.labormuseum.net.

It was on June 28th, 1894 that President Grover Cleveland (a native of Caldwell, NJ) signed the bill that made Labor Day a legal national holiday. In that same year, on Monday, September 3, 1894, the first official holiday was celebrated and every first Monday of September thereafter.

The Botto House National Landmark, home of the American Labor Museum, located at 83 Norwood Street, Haledon, NJ, is the 1908 home of immigrants and was the meeting place for over 20,000 silk mill workers during the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike. The Museum offers a free lending library, restored period rooms, changing exhibits, Old World Gardens, educational programs and special events. The Museum's hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9:00 am- 5:00 pm. Tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm or by appointment. For more information, call 973-595-7953, e-mail at labormuseum@aol.com or visit www.labormuseum.net.

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Through Sunday, 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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Through Monday, September 4, 2017 - Morristown, Morris County
Art in the Park: Students Celebrate "Ingenuity in the Face of Adversity" with Dream Rocket Collaboration
Family Friendly

Morristown National Historical Park debuts its first collaboration with Dream Rocket Project (DRP), a project of the International Fiber Collective, Inc (IFC), to collect thousands of artworks from kids around world and use those works to wrap a 385-foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket replica. DRP's aim is to expose kids to the importance of collaboration and the multi-disciplinary learning that inspires youth to "DREAM big, THINK big, and make a difference." Launched in 2009, this project hopes to collect over 9,000 submissions and estimates over 36,000 people will participate.

For its part, Morristown NHP's participants focused on the theme of 'Ingenuity in the Face of Adversity," a nod to Morristown's storied history of endurance, inventiveness, and survival.

In total, 73 works of art by 763 participants were created and are on display in the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center. The participants are from 59 classes throughout 17 schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. See a sampling of the artwork and photos of it on display at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedreamrocket/sets/72157660798869378.

The exhibit is in the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center until September 4, 2017. The Visitor Center is located 580- 600 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown, NJ. The days of the week that it is open varies throughout the season. For more information and for hours, call 973-539-2016 ext. 210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Through Sunday, September 17, 2017 - Trenton, Mercer County
Cadwalader Park: An Olmsted Vision

The Trenton Museum Society, along with the Cadwalader Park Alliance, is pleased to announce an exciting summer exhibit highlighting Cadwalader Park and its world-famous designer, Frederick Law Olmsted. Exhibitions on both floors of the museum will run from July 8 through September 17 with various complementary events, lectures and tours. Frederick Law Olmsted (FLO) is widely regarded as the Father of Landscape Architecture in America.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1822, Frederick Law Olmsted spent many years experiencing various professions and touring the world seeking and absorbing knowledge before honing in on landscape design as his life's passion. He first studied surveying, engineering, chemistry and farming and toured Europe visiting numerous parks and private estates. He published books on his travels and used his literary activities to oppose slavery and to argue for abolition of slavery in the southern United States. By the time FLO began his work in landscape architecture, he had developed a belief in community and understood the importance of public institutions. Olmsted believed that the public realm should be a respite; a place to retreat from the stress of urban life, and that public open space should be accessible to all people. In 1857 he took the position of superintendent of Central Park in New York City and, along with architect Calvin Vaux, won the design competition for the park the following year. He then spent the next seven years as the primary administrator in charge of the construction of Central Park. Olmsted's success in park-making in NYC led to his renowned career designing and creating some of our nation's most important urban parks. By the time FLO began to design Cadwalader Park in 1890, he had been planning parks in this country's leading cities for over 30 years. Cadwalader Park in Trenton is Olmsted's last great urban park.

Cadwalader Park has the distinction of being the only New Jersey park designed personally by Frederick Law Olmsted. While many other New Jersey parks and spaces were designed by the Olmsted firm in the years following the creation of Trenton's largest park, Cadwalader is the only New Jersey park to be designed by FLO himself. Trenton is fortunate to possess one of these urban treasures which still preserves many of the landscape and spatial qualities of the original plan. Cadwalader Park is beloved by many of Trenton's residents who nostalgically recall pony rides, picnics, concerts, and the balloon man and, also, by many who come today to experience tennis matches, baseball games, and family outings not to mention those who flock to the various exhibits offered at the Trenton City Museum. In addition, Mercer County is privileged to accommodate Olmsted's greatest campus design, the grounds of Lawrenceville School. Olmsted's core design principles are evident at Lawrenceville School in the rolling landscape and curving paths throughout.

For more information and tour times, call 609-989-3632, visit www.ellarslie.org, or e-mail tms@ellarslie.org.

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Last Sunday of the month through September 29, 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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Through Sunday, October 1, 2017 - Paterson, Passaic County
From the Photographic Archives, The Men Who Served: 1861-1964 Exhibit

The Passaic County Historical Society would like to announce the opening of its newest exhibit, From the Photographic Archives, The Men Who Served: 1861-1964. On exhibit until Sunday, October 1, 2017, the display showcases some of the military photographs from the Society's permanent collection. Over thirty photographs have been selected for this exhibit to demonstrate the common experience of American servicemen, from the American Civil War to the conflict in Vietnam. Their uniforms, equipment, and weapons changed over time, but their fears, triumphs and trials remained constant.

Visitors can access the exhibition, which is on display in the changing exhibit gallery on the 3rd floor, during regular museum hours (Wednesday - Sunday, July 12 - Sept 3: 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm; September 6 - October 1: 1:00 - 4:00 pm). General museum admissions apply (adults $5, seniors $4, children $3, and members free).

Passaic County Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was founded to cultivate interest among individuals and the community-at-large in the rich history of Passaic County. To this end our museum in Lambert Castle showcases examples of the County’s cultural and artistic diversity, as well as examples of the County’s natural, civil, military, and ecclesiastical history. The Society also maintains a library and archive, which houses manuscripts, books and photographs of historical and genealogical interest.

Lambert Castle is located at 3 Valley Rd, Paterson, NJ. For more information, visit www.lambertcastle.org or call 973-247-0085.

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1st and 3rd Saturdays through November 2017 - Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County
Atlantic Highlands Architectural Walking Tours

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Through June 2018 - Ocean Township, Monmouth County
New Jersey and the Great War: Local Stories of World War I 

Opening - Sunday, June 25, 2017 - 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm 

Bringing World War One Home
Though overshadowed by its sequel, World War One had profound and lasting effects on politics, social order, and individual lives. “New Jersey and the Great War: Local Stories of World War One,” the exhibit opening to the public at the Eden Woolley House, Sunday, June 25, sets out to make that case—with particular emphasis on the people and happenings of our state.

The Big Picture
The Great War reshaped the world. The U.S. emerged a world power. The seeds were sown for the rise of fascism and the spread of communism. Middle Eastern national boundaries were redrawn, fueling ethnic conflicts that continue to threaten.

At home, the scope and power of the U.S. government grew. A national army took over state militias. National security clashed with civil rights. Ethnic tensions grew--as did opposing organizations that either fed or defended against them. Women entered the work force in unprecedented numbers—and developed a irreversible taste for independence.

New Jersey’s Role
New Jersey was an industrial powerhouse that supplied the Allies even before we entered the war—and for that drew the attention of saboteurs. Once in the war, we boosted our manufacturing output. The army built facilities here that played major roles in the war effort, including Camps Dix, Merritt (a major embarkation base), and Vail (later Fort Monmouth).

New Jersey supplied two high-profile figures of the war era, most notably, the President himself. Wilson was a former New Jersey governor who ran his presidential campaigns from right here in Monmouth County. His nemesis during the war years, Alice Paul, was a militant suffragist from Burlington County who labelled the president “Kaiser Wilson.” Her White House picketing and arrest drew national attention and in large part led Wilson to reverse his opposition to the 19th Amendment.

One Man’s Story 
Behind the headlines are the stories of people. The exhibit tells, among others, of Joe Marino (born Giuseppe Maranaccio). Joe ended up in Asbury Park, U.S. citizen, father of four, and owner of Marino’s Bar on Main St. But he started life in Accadia, Italy. 

Italy, originally allied with Germany, remained neutral at the onset of war, then sided with the Allies. Nearly 6 million Italians served—including a teenaged Joe Marino. He was captured and imprisoned for years in Austria. Near the end of the war, he escaped and walked under cover of darkness the hundreds of miles back to his village. His sweetheart, assuming him dead, had married. Heartbroken, Joe moved to Rome where he worked three years to save the money to immigrate to the states.

This exhibit runs through June 2018. 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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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey