NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/2/17

New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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Every Friday - Sunday through January 7, 2018 - West Orange, Essex County
Holidays at Glenmont
Children Friendly

The sights and sounds of the season will greet visitors when they come to Thomas Edison's home in Llewellyn Park during "Holidays at Glenmont." Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. Staircases will be ringed with boughs and red ribbon bows and wreaths will hang in every window. In the den, the majestic ten foot tree will be set and the presents underneath will be waiting as if the Edison children Madeleine, Theodore, and Charles, will soon come running down the stairs from their rooms - after they've checked their stockings in the upstairs living room! Family china will be displayed on the dining room table and the scene will be completed with holiday cards that were received by the family.

The Edison home, Glenmont, is located on a fifteen-acre estate in Llewellyn Park, the country's first private residential community. Built in 1880, the twenty-nine room mansion contains the original furnishings and family items used by the Edisons. The estate grounds include gardens, a greenhouse, barn, and the poured concrete garage containing the family's automobiles. Thomas and Mina Edison are buried on the grounds of the estate.

Car passes and tour tickets must be purchased at the Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $10.00 and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children 15 and under are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x11 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.

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Saturday, December 2 - Princeton, Mercer County
Victorian Christmas at Millbrook Village
Family Friendly Site

On Saturday from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, join park rangers and volunteers for a Victorian Christmas celebration. Village buildings, decorated in mid to late 19th-century style, will be open for tours and demonstrations. Watch holiday meals being prepared over an open fire or woodstove. Enjoy the many children's activities hosted in the Van Campen farmhouse, including many hands-on period toys, games, and Victorian crafts.

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 and directions, call 908-841-9531, 908-537-2544, or 973-875-3461 or visit their Facebook page.

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Saturday, December 2 - Cape May, Cape May County
Wassail Day at Historic Cold Spring Village
Children Friendly

Historic Cold Spring Village opens its Homespun Holidays season with Wassail Day on Saturday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. The Village paths come alive with the sounds and smells of wintertime at this free event. Select buildings will also be open where guests can enjoy hot beverages and treats served by historical interpreters in period clothing. Visitors can meet Father Christmas in the Country Store from 1:00 - 2:00 pm and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout the festively decorated Village grounds for a small fee. The Country Store will be open and stocked with unique holiday gift ideas including traditionally-processed wool, artisan crafts for the home, books, jewelry, toys and old fashioned candy.

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 end of the Garden State Parkway. For more information, call 609-898-2300, ext. 10 or visit the Village www.hcsv.org.

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Saturday, December 2 - Princeton, Mercer County
Princeton University Eating Clubs
Family Friendly Site

Princeton University’s majestic Eating Clubs, lining Prospect Avenue and Washington Road, represent student social life at Princeton as much as “spires and gargoyles,” in the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald, represent academic life on campus. On Saturday from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, Clifford Zink, author of Princeton Prospect Foundation’s recently released book The Princeton Eating Clubs, will lead an exterior tour of the clubhouses, as well as an interior visit to three clubs – Colonial, Cap & Gown, and Cloister. Participants will learn about the architecture, origins, and development of the sixteen Classical and Gothic-style clubhouses, which date from 1895 to 1928. The tour starts and ends at Colonial Club, 40 Prospect Avenue, Princeton, NJ. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online at www.princetonhistory.org, or by calling 609-921-6748 x102. Space is limited.

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Saturday, December 2 - Salem, Salem County
30th Annual Yuletide Open House Tour

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Saturday, December 2 - Cape May, Cape May County
Christmas Traditions Lecture

Learn how Prince Albert brought Christmas traditions to England from Germany when he married Queen Victoria, and how these traditions spread to America in this richly illustrated lecture at the Episcopal Church of the Advent located at the corner of Franklin and Washington Streets in Cape May, NJ. Much of what we associate with the celebration of Christmas comes from the Victorian era, including Christmas trees, Christmas cards, Christmas carols and our image of Santa Claus. Admission is $10. The lecture will be held Saturday at 2:00 pm. 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, December 2 - Cape May, Cape May County
44th Annual Christmas Candlelight House Tour
Family Friendly

This self-guided walking tour, the main attraction of Cape May's festive holiday season, features homes, inns, hotels and churches decorated for the holidays, plus caroling, strolling musicians, and good old-fashioned cheer. Hospitality centers offer warm beverages and traditional treats. Includes admission to the Physick Estate and "An Old-fashioned Christmas Exhibit" in the Carroll Gallery. Limited shuttle service. The tours will be 5:30 - 8:30 pm on Saturday. Admission: Adults $35, children $20 (ages 3-12). Purchase tickets at the Emlen Physick Estate, located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ or the Washington Street Mall Information Booth. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday, December 2 - Cape May, Cape May County
Santa's Trolley Ride
Children Friendly Event

Bring the kids to the Physick Estate on Saturday for a trolley ride around Cape May with stories and songs led by Mrs. Claus. Then, Santa will greet children with a sweet in the Carriage House. Adults $10 and children (ages 3-12) $8. Trolley rides at 11:00 am, 11:45 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:15 pm. Advance reservation strongly recommended. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday, December 2 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Christmas on the Farm
Children Friendly Event & Site

St. Nick, his elves and a jingling sleigh loaded with cookies, coal and holiday cheer will arrive at Howell Living History Farm on Saturday, highlighting an all-day program, "Christmas on the Farm."

The celebration begins at 10:15 am, when children can climb aboard a horse-drawn work wagon for a ride to the woods to cut down a Christmas tree. All children will be given a chance to take a turn helping farmers cut the tree with a 2-man saw. Afterwards, all visitors can help decorate the tree with ear corn, pinecones and other natural ornaments. Helpers will be treated to hot apple cider and cookies.

St. Nick's sleigh will descend from the Farm's northern slopes at 12:30 pm. Its white-bearded navigator will check Christmas lists and give out treats (or coal, as the case may be) until 3:00 pm.

Gift baskets, wreaths and other items will be available for sale in the Visitor Center gift shop. Featured will be handmade gifts and ornaments crafted by the Pleasant Valley Stitchers. Howell Farm is also an official drop off site for Toys for Tots. Share the gift of giving by bringing an unwrapped toy to the farm.

The farm barn yard will be closed beginning Sunday, December 3 and will reopen in late January for the ice harvest program.

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, December 2 - Fair Lawn, Bergen County
Dutch Christmas
Children Friendly

Garretson Forge and Farm will its annual Dutch Christmas celebration on Saturday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, replete with Sinter Klaas, baked goods, craft tables, and craft demonstrations. Admission is free. The Garretson, one of the oldest historic sites in Bergen County, was home to six generations of the Garretson family and remains a rare surviving example of simple farming life that was prevalent in the 1700s and 1800s. The Forge and Farm are located at 4-02 River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ. For more information, call 551-206-4380 or 201-797-7545 or visit www.garretsonfarm.org.

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Saturday, December 2 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Cookstove Demonstration
Children Friendly Event

On Saturday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to see what is cooking on the woodstove in the out kitchen. Discover how food, recipes, cooking techniques and the kitchen itself has changed since the 1890s. This free event runs from 11:00 am - 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, December 2 - Pemberton Township, Burlington County
Events at Whitesbog - Volunteer Work Day & Village Tour
Family Friendly

Volunteer Work Day: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Come out and join our volunteers in outdoor or indoor projects at Whitesbog Village.Greens cutting, hangings wreaths, bundling swags, meeting new people, and take some greens home for your own centerpieces! We will have hot beverages waiting for volunteers! Bring the whole family out to start a holiday tradition of volunteering together! Lights will go up in the Barrel Factory, decorations on the windows and the doors of each house! Plenty of greens and beautiful holly! Have a scout troop or family friend, bring them too! We are open to all and all abilities! We have tools, gloves, etc. to get you started. All participants get lunch in the General Store. For more information on volunteering regularly, visit www.whitesbog.org/volunteer.

Whitesbog Village History Tour: 1:00 pm
Stroll the Historic Village, learn about Whitesbog's role in history and visit Suningive, the worker's cottage, and other museums and buildings that speak to Whitesbog's heritage. $5 donation/person. Advance reservations requested but not required. Please call 609-893-4646. This is a great opportunity to step inside and learn the history of Whitesbog, cranberry farming and the importance of the village to the birth of the cultivated blueberry.

Historic Whitesbog Village is located at 120 North Whites Bogs Road, Browns Mills, NJ. It is located at mile marker 13 on County Route 530 (Pemberton Township). For more information, call 609-893-4646, e-mail WhitesbogPreservationTrust@gmail.com or visit www.whitesbog.org.

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Saturday, December 2 - Trenton, Mercer County
British Occupation of the Old Barracks
Children Friendly Event & Site

Come to the Old Barracks this December as the 17th Regiment of Infantry returns as they first did in December 1776! This event will commemorate the occupation of Trenton by British troops just weeks prior to the Battle of Trenton, and offer visitors a view into this often misrepresented side of American history.

Throughout the day on Saturday, visitors to the Old Barracks will meet reenactors of the 17th Regiment of Infantry as they portray the daily lives of British soldiers. These men will drill, perform musket demonstrations, cook over the outdoor camp kitchen, sew winter clothing, and more in this unique event that will show a side of the Revolutionary War not often seen before.

Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, and free for active duty military personnel, members of the Old Barracks Association, and children 5 and under. The Old Barracks Museum will be open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday. The Old Barracks Museum is located at 101 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ. For more information, call 609-396-1776 or visit www.barracks.org.

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Saturday, December 2 - Trenton, Mercer County
Holiday Open House and Greens Sale
Children Friendly Site

On Saturday from 12:30 - 4:00 pm, tour the magnificent 1719 Trent House Museum, decorated for the holidays by the talented members of the Garden Club of Trenton. The Trent House Museum Shop features special items and seasonal gifts. Seasonal refreshments will be provided for our guests all afternoon in the Carriage House/Visitor Center.

Beautifully designed table arrangements and decorated wreaths will be for sale, created by the Garden Club of Trenton. Cut Christmas trees, undecorated wreaths and loose fresh magnolia branches will also be available for sale and awaiting your own creative touch. Event proceeds will benefit the curatorial work and educational programming of the non-profit Trent House Association.

The Trent House Museum Shop will feature special items and seasonal gifts at a discounted rate. Seasonal refreshments will be provided for our guests all afternoon in the Carriage House/Visitor Center.

The 1719 William Trent House is the oldest building in our state capital. A Georgian-style manor house restored to its former glory and carefully furnished as it would have been in the early 18th century, it is located at 15 Market Street, Trenton, NJ adjacent to the Hughes Justice Complex. Ample free parking. For more information, call 609-989-0087 or visit www.williamtrenthouse.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 2 - 3 - Bedminster, Somerset County
15th Annual Colonial Christmas
Family Friendly Event

A Colonial Café, an array of holiday merchants, musical performances, reindeer, gingerbread workshops for children and a holiday decorating workshop for adults are just a few of the highlights in store for visitors to the 15th Annual Colonial Christmas at Bedminster’s historic Jacobus Vanderveer House & Museum, sponsored by Bevan, Mosca & Giuditta, P.C.; Investors Bank; Meeker Sharkey & Hurley; The Provident Bank Foundation, Yolanda A. Cillo, M.D.; and Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Molé. The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House invite visitors of all ages to experience Christmas past and present when the circa 1772 Dutch Colonial home opens its wreath-clad doors Saturday and Sunday, November 25 - 26 and Saturday and Sunday, December 2 - 3. Hours are from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm daily.

The popular fundraiser features tours of the museum, which will be decorated for the holidays by Lynn and Jessica Angelone of Angelone’s Florist in Raritan, Gail Whiting of Design Consultants in Bedminster, Susan Miniman of Susan Laura Interior Design in Bedminster along with her daughter Sara Miniman, broker/manager of Weichert’s Bedminster office and Jeanne Galbraith, of Mendham. Visitors will also enjoy holiday shopping with boutique merchants and artisans; Colonial musicians, re-enactors and crafters; pet photos with Santa Paws; military demonstrations; a reindeer program; Santa visits; a gingerbread house workshop for children; and a holiday decorating workshop for adults.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, December 2
* 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Museum Tours
Holiday Shopping with Design Consultants, Classic Home & Garden, Stanton Sweets, India Hicks, Le Fashion Cottage, White Birch Candle Company, and Lace Creations
Colonial Re-Enactors and Crafters
Demonstrations by the Alice Beatty Chapter of the Association of Traditional Rug Hooking
* 10:00 am and 3:00 pm
Gingerbread house workshop for children accompanied by an adult, courtesy Ms. Gail’s Kids Cooking. Cost of the program is $40 per kit, limited to one child & one adult per kit, and includes admission to the house tour for one (1) adult. Walk-in registration $50 per kit. (Pre-registration required. Visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org or call 908-396-6053)
* 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Enslows perform Colonial American Christmas Music
* 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Colonial Café Open – serving traditional American soups, salads, sandwiches, sides and desserts
* 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm
Pet Photos with Santa Paws – Bring your pet for a holiday photo with Santa!
* 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Bedminster School Hand Bells

Sunday, December 3
* 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Museum Tours
Holiday Shopping with Design Consultants, Classic Home & Garden, Stanton Sweets, India Hicks, Le Fashion Cottage and Lace Creations
Colonial Re-Enactors and Crafters
The Evolution of the Gingerbread Man with Susan McLellan Plaisted
Demonstrations by the Alice Beatty Chapter of the Association of Traditional Rug Hooking
* 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Colonial Café Open – serving traditional American soups, salads, sandwiches, sides and desserts
* 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Santa Visit
* 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Bernards High School Madrigals Performance

Admission is $10 (children 12 and under, free). The house is open from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located at 3055 River Road (in Bedminster’s River Road Park), Bedminster, NJ. The entrance to the house is via River Road Park. For more information, call 908-396-6053 or visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 2 - 3 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
A One-Horse Open Sleigh Selfie
Children Friendly Event

We supply a pretty little red sleigh and an assortment of hats and scarves if you wish to give your photo a “Currier & Ives” feel against the backdrop of green holly; you provide the smiling faces and the camera. Please, no professional photographers. This free program runs from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

While there, visit the 19th century gristmill and the farm buildings set in a beautiful landscape. Walnford is located at 62 Walnford Road, 08501. For more information, call 609-259-6275 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 2 - 3 - Jefferson Township, Morris County
Christmas in the Village
Children Friendly

The Jefferson Township Museum, also known as the George Chamberlain House, will reopen for the "Christmas in the Village" celebration. Opening hours for the Museum Christmas Weekend are 10:00 am - 4:00 pm on Saturday and 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm on Sunday. “A Nutcracker Christmas” is the theme of this year’s decorations. The Christmas celebration is the only time the antique harmonium in the parlor is played. The museum is decorated by members of the Museum Garden Club and the Jefferson Township Historical Society. Docents dressed in period costumes will be on hand, and hot mulled cider will be served outside by the pot-bellied stove on the banks of the brook. Mrs. Santa Claus will be making an appearance. Admission to the museum is free. The Jefferson Township Museum is located at 315 Dover-Milton Road, Jefferson, NJ. Be sure to visit Miss Elizabeth's Shoppe located in the original kitchen of the museum, where small antiques, collectibles, handmade and handcrafted items will be offered for sale for your holiday shopping. For more information, call 973-697-0258 or visit www.jthistoricalsociety.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 2 - 3 - Montclair, Essex County
Holiday House Tours
Children Friendly

Tours at the Montclair Historical Society, 108 Orange Road and the Charles Shultz House-Evergreens, 30 North Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday as part of the Essex County Holiday House tour. See the houses bedecked in their holiday finery. These special tours incorporate the holiday traditions as well as the stories of the houses and the people who lived there. See the Crane House & Historic YWCA decorated by the Garden Club of Montclair, then visit the hearth to learn about holiday food traditions. Move forward in history to the Shultz House featuring Molly Shultz’s own collection on Christmas decorations, mantle decorations from local florists, antique toys, and children’s book exhibit.

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

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This year’s Old Fashioned Holidays theme is “The Nutcracker Suite” and we invite you and your family to visit the beautifully decorated rooms of the historic Foster Armstrong House. Tours of the circa 1790’s house will be held Saturdays and Sundays, November 25th and 26th, and December 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 10th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.

This year guests will be greeted by a multitude of gingerbread men in our front keeping room, not to eat, but to look at, smell, and enjoy! Our next room features “The Nutcracker Suite”, a display of nutcrackers will surround a tree which is filled with the characters from the ballet story. A Victorian themed tree will grace our Montague Township Room with old glass ornaments from the past. The “Winter Wonderland”, a dazzling white tree decorated with and the beloved holiday story “The Night Before Christmas” in mind waits in the center hallway.

Model railroad trains will be running in the front Armstrong Room with many vintage train pieces and a special silver tree will be on display. Our always popular annual scavenger hunt will be scattered throughout all of the displays for the delight of both children and adults! This year it will be based from the children’s story, “The Gingerbread Man”.

There will also be three special musical presentations this year. On Sunday, November 26 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, the Skylands Dulcimer String Band, a five person acoustical band that plays a mix of Folk, Celtic, Appalachian and Classical music. This is a new special holiday program for our historical society. Students from the Bell Choir at the Montague Elementary School, directed by music teacher Mrs. Jody Taylor, will host their annual performance on Saturday, December 9th at 2:00 pm. Our finale is a forte from the very popular “Harmony in Motion” group who will be caroling on our closing day, Sunday, December 10th from 1:00 - 3:30 pm. Please do not miss these exclusive dates at the Foster Armstrong House!

Our gift shop, The Foster General Store, will be open during tours with handmade items for sale from our historic crafters and local artisans. Also available for purchase will be a number of rare and limited edition books from our collection.

The Foster-Armstrong House is located on CR521/320 River Road, about 1 mile north of Route 206 and the Milford/Montague Bridge and within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Snow dates, pictures, and more information about M.A.R.C.H. can be found online at www.facebook.com/MontagueNJHistory or by calling 973-293-3106.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 2 - 3 & 9 - 10 - Walpack, Sussex County
Walpack Christmas

Join the Walpack Historical Society for a "Walpack Christmas" at the Rosenkrans Museum, Main Street, Walpack Center, NJ within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The celebration and open house will take place on Saturday and Sunday, December 2 and 3 and Saturday, December 9 from 12:00 - 4:30 and Sunday, December 3 -4:30 pm .

The Rosenkrans Museum will be decorated in the old-fashioned style and refreshments will be served. The museum, a circa 1850 one and a half story frame building with eyebrow windows, was once the typical style of home in the Delaware River Valley. In addition, the Walpack Methodist Episcopal Church will be open and decorated for the holiday. The church was built in 1871 and was once the hub of religious and social activities in Walpack Township. The interior of the church was painted by an unknown artist in 1872 in the tromp-l'oeil or "fool the eye" style. The church is not heated so dress accordingly.

The event is free and the public is invited. All ages are welcome. For more information, call 973-948-4903 or visit www.walpackhistory.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 2 - 3 - Ocean Township, Monmouth County
Holiday Weekend

Christmas season has always been a highlight of the Township of Ocean Museum calendar. For 25 years, we filled the auditorium of the old Oakhurst School the first weekend in December with exhibits, trains, crafts, and handmade goodies. We continued the tradition in our new home, transforming the Woolley House into a holiday showcase for two days each December.

On Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, the museum holds its 33rd Holiday Weekend. Model trains and Christmas collections fill the Our Town Gallery. On the porch, the Ocean Township Garden Club sells freshly made wreaths. The Hearth and Home Gallery is emptied to make way for an expanded Museum Shop and Bakery stocked full of homemade treats and one-of-a-kind gifts hand-crafted by Museum quilters. Children search the house for hidden nutcrackers in a "Holiday Hunt." Sunday afternoon, the winning quilt raffle ticket is drawn. All this is followed by the lighting of the Township Christmas Tree on the Museum grounds Sunday at 4:30 pm.

And, as is also our custom, the Holiday Weekend coincidences with the premiere of new mini exhibit-this year, "Farms Galore." From its earliest settlements, Ocean Township—like most of Monmouth County—was farmland. Our founding families—the Potters, Drummonds, Whites, Tuckers, land that today is covered with homes, apartments, offices, and shopping centers. The mini-exhibit opening Holiday Weekend tells the story of our rural beginnings and traces the forces that transformed the Township from a farming community to a modern, high-density (2,497 people per square mile) suburb.

Join us to learn more, shop local, and start the season in style. The museum 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 Eden Woolley House is located at 703 Deal Road, Ocean, NJ. For more information, call 732-531-2136 or visit www.oceanmuseum.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 2 - 3 - Morristown, Morris County
Holly Walk
Family Friendly Event

Holly Walk returns to Morris County just in time for the holidays. The event will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. This year the historic sites that will be open and decorated for Christmas are:

The Ford Mansion at Morristown National Historical Park (Saturday and Sunday)
The Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall, Morristown (Sunday only)
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum and Gardens, Morristown (Saturday and Sunday)
The Schuyler-Hamilton House, Morristown (Saturday only)
The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, Parsippany-Troy Hills (Saturday and Sunday)
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, Madison (Saturday and Sunday)
Each site will offer special programming created just for Holly Walk weekend, and their gift shops will be fully stocked with unique items for holiday shoppers.

Advanced sale tickets are now on sale for $30 per person. They may be purchased at the office of the Morris County Tourism Bureau, 6 Court Street, Morristown or online. Additionally, tickets may be purchased for $35 during the event, but at Macculloch Hall only (cash or check). Children 12 and under FREE.

For more information about Holly Walk, including how to purchase tickets and program details at the historic sites, please visit https://www.morristourism.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 2 - 3 - South Bound Brook, Somerset County
Home for the Holidays: Holiday at The Abraham Staats House
Children Friendly

The Abraham Staats House will be decked out in festive finery and offer seasonal music and tours, during Holiday at the Abraham Staats House on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Free admission, donations accepted. Come view the decorated rooms of the house, festively and individually decorated by local organizations. Seasonal music and light refreshments.

Candlelight Tours at the Abraham Staats House on Saturday: Led by a guide in period 18th century clothing, visit rooms of the house, decorated for the season. Learn about the house, Staats family and early history of Christmas. Enjoy light refreshments and seasonal music. Tours offered at 6:30, 7:00 and 7:30 pm. Admission: $10 per person with advance reservation (recommended) and $15 for walk-ins. Tour size is limited. To reserve, visit www.staatshouse.org to pay via credit card, call 732-469-3198, or e-mail info@staatshouse.org (include name, address, contact info and number in your party). For more information, visit www.staatshouse.org.

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Sunday, December 3 - River Edge, Bergen County
Sinter Klaas Day
Children Friendly

Enjoy Jersey Dutch holiday treats, refreshments, and a visit with Sinter Klaas in the restored tavern in Campbell-Christie House, 1201 Main Street, River Edge, NJ, on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Illustrated talk on the history of Christmas at 2:00 pm in the Steuben House.

See open-hearth cooking in authentic Jersey Dutch Out Kitchen. All three Jersey-Dutch sandstone houses are open for tours. For that special holiday gift, browse unique historical gift shop. We have a children's cornhusk angel ornament workshop throughout the afternoon.

For that special holiday gift, browse the unique historical gift shop. Live Christmas trees will be available for purchase. Event parking in parking lot across street. Free admission. For more information, call 201-343-9492 or visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.

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Sunday, December 3 - Cape May, Cape May County
Santa's Trolley Ride
Children Friendly Event

Bring the kids to the Physick Estate on Sunday for a trolley ride around Cape May with stories and songs led by Mrs. Claus. Then, Santa will greet children with a sweet in the Carriage House. Adults $10 and children (ages 3-12) $8. Trolley rides at 11:45 am, 1:00 pm, and 1:45 pm. Advance reservation strongly recommended. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Sunday, December 3 - Hammonton, Burlington County
Winter In the Pines
Children Friendly

The Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. (BCCI) will host a holiday celebration; “Winter In the Pines “on Sunday at Historic Batsto Village. The headline event of the day will be a holiday musical presentation performed by New Jersey’s own troubador; Valerie Vaughn, from 1:00 - 2:00 pm in the Batsto Visitor Center auditorium. There is a $5.00/person admission fee the show.

Valerie Vaughn is a singer, musician and songwriter from Tuckerton, NJ who specializes in teaching through music the history and folklore of South Jersey. In addition to performing in her home state of New Jersey, she has performed in England and the Southwest of the United States.

Carriage rides through the village conducted by the South Jersey Carriage Company will commence at 12:30 pm. There is a $3.00 per person charge and the beautiful Victorian design carriage will wind its way around several of the buildings located in the upper village.

Adding to the festive atmosphere of the day, carolers from the Aurora Choir of St. Nick’s Church (Egg Harbor City) will stroll the Village entertaining visitors with songs of the season.
The stately Batsto mansion; dressed in the splendor of the winter season, will be available to tour. There is a $3.00 per person charge for tours.

The famous Batsto Post Office will be open to hand cancel holiday mail in the tradition of Batsto...with no zip code! Due to its age and historical significance, a zip code is not required to be part of the hand postmark cancellation at the Batsto Post Office; first opened in 1852.

Blacksmith Toby Kroll of Three Cedars Forge will demonstrate some of the techniques and tools of the trade in the Batsto blacksmith shop.

Light refreshments will be served in the Exhibit Room that adjoins the Batsto Post Office. Several displays for both adults and children are available for viewing. The Batsto Museum Shop will also be open to assist with your holiday shopping needs. A large selection of pinelands books, jewelry, ornaments, apparel and many other pinelands related gifts are available for purchase.

Batsto is located in the Pinelands of Burlington County, South Jersey approximately 7 miles east of Hammonton on Route 542 and about 15 miles west of Exit 50 on the Garden State Parkway. Further information may be obtained by calling the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024 or visit www.batstovillage.org.

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Sunday, December 3 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
The Sounds of Christmas
Children Friendly Event

On Sunday, celebrate the holidays by visiting the beautiful Longstreet farmhouse at Holmdel Park. Enjoy the welcoming warmth of this historic home with the backdrop of wistful music as Larry Mosser and Mary Nagen play Christmas carols on the hammered dulcimer and fiddle. 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, December 3 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
East Amwell Historical Society 5th Annual Holiday Historic House Tour

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Sunday, December 3 - Readington Township, Hunterdon County

Dutch Sint-Nikolaas Day to be Celebrated at the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead

As a way to honor the Dutch heritage of the 1741 Bouman-Stickney Farmstead, the Readington Museums will be hosting Dutch Sint-Nikolaas Day on Sunday. The program runs continuously between 1:00 and 4:00 pm. Dutch Sinterklass will be available for pictures, Colonial musicians will perform historic holiday pieces that showcase an historic violin and hammered dulcimer. In addition, historic cooks, Bev Altrath and Arlene Soong will demonstrate authentic 18th century Dutch cooking using the Farmstead’s original open hearth. They plan to make waffles and gingerbread over the open flame. Visitors may also make a pomander ornament to take home, as well as enjoy cider and homemade Dutch cookies. This program is held at the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead in the Stanton section of Readington, GPS address: 114 Dreahook Road Lebanon NJ 08833. Although there is no fee, donations are gladly welcome. In case of inclement weather please call the Museums to find out the status of the program. For more information, call Program Director Margaret Smith at 908-236-2327 or visit www.readingtonmuseums.org.

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Sunday, December 3 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
Photography and Videography with William A. Ortega

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Sunday, December 3 - Westampton, Burlington County
Holiday Tea at Peachfield

Peachfield will again be decorated for the holidays and the New Jersey Colonial Dames will serve their tea specialties of the season at our annual holiday tea from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Come and join us as we gather around the hearth with a warming fire and sample our favorite repasts. Entertainment will be provided by members of the RVRHS Chamber Choir.

Advance admission: $18 per adult, $9 per child under 15 years. Reservations paid in advance are strongly recommended. Peachfield is located at 180 Burrs Road, Westampton, NJ. For more information, call 609-267-6996 or visit www.colonialdamesnj.org.

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Sunday, December 3 and 10 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County
Christmas at Allaire
Children Friendly

Join the members of the Howell Iron Works Co as they celebrate the holiday season. Each historic home will be decorated according to a different Christmas traditions. As visitors explore the village they will learn how our holiday traditions developed. There will be story telling in the Enameling Building, Horse and Wagon rides, silhouette cutting demonstrations, music programs in the Historic Chapel, hearth cooking demonstrations, craft demonstrations and much more. St. Nicholas will be wandering the village giving out candy canes to the good boys and girls. This is a wonderful family friendly activity!

You can also bring your holiday cards to be sent from the historic post office located in the General Store. Bring your addressed envelopes with a stamp, and they will receive a special Allaire cancellation showcasing a historic building.

The event runs from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Admission: $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for children under the age of 12. Horse and Wagon rides are an additional fee of $7 adults, $5 children under 12 years old. The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park at 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. Tickets are available at the gate or can be purchased through their web site. For more information, call 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

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Sunday, December 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, December 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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Sundays, December 3, 10, and 17 - Pennsville, Salem County
Annual Christmas Open House
Children Friendly Event

The Pennsville Township Historical Society will hold its Annual Christmas Open House on Sundays, December 3, 10, and 17 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, at the Church Landing Farm House Museum in Pennsville.

The 1850 Farm House will be beautifully decorated, inside and out, with Victorian Christmas trimmings and decorated trees, as well as special Christmas decorations throughout seven outbuildings.

Our Townsend Building Annex will also be open and feature displays of “Christy" Dickens Carolers, Victorian Christmas Postcards, and our collection of miniature carriages handcrafted by Tom Githens.

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

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Through Friday, December 10, 2017 - Clinton, Hunterdon County
Festival of Trees at the Red Mill
Family Friendly

This annual holiday favorite returns just in time for the holiday season. The Festival features a beautiful display of decorated trees, wreaths, and centerpieces that are available to win through in a raffle. Raffle and silent auction winners will be announced on Monday, December 11 and items can be picked up that week. On Saturday and Sunday, the Red Mill Museum Village is open from 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm. Admission is $5 per person age 6 and up. The Red Mill Museum Village is located at 56 Main Street, Clinton, NJ. For more information, call 908-735-4101 or visit www.redmill.org.

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Through Sunday, January 1, 2018 - Cape May, Cape May County
An Old-Fashioned Christmas Exhibit
Family Friendly

An exhibit of holiday traditions through the years complete with model trains, toys, and much more! At the Carroll Gallery at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. The exhibit will be available for viewing from Friday, November 17, 2017 through Sunday, January 1, 2018. The Gallery is open daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas); hours vary. Free admission. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information or gallery hours, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturdays and Sundays through January 7, 2018 - Princeton, Mercer County
Festival of Trees

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

This year’s Festival of Trees museum decorators include: Contemporary Garden Club, Dogwood Garden Club, Garden Club of Princeton, Grounds for Sculpture, Homestead Princeton, KA Signature Interior Design LLC, Keris Tree Farm & Christmas Shop, McCarter Theatre Center, Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton Public Library, Stony Brook Garden Club, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed, VanDerveer Design, and West Trenton Garden Club.

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

Admission $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (60+)/students/active military personnel, and children 6 and under are free. Friends of Morven, free. Please note that during the Festival of Trees in December and early January, no formal tours are given, but docents are available to answer any questions. Morven Museum and Garden is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ. For more information, call 609-924-8144 or visit www.morven.org.

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Through Mid-January 2018 - Cape May Court House, Cape May County
"Bank on It!" Exhibit

More than 40 Victorian mechanical banks will be on display in The Museum of Cape May County’s gallery through mid-January as part of its newest exhibition, “Bank on It!”

These exquisite mechanical marvels will take visitors back to a time when a penny saved was a penny earned and children were taught the lesson of thrift by a depositing their coins into a toy bank. Now highly collectible, the metal banks on display feature the “newest” technology of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Banks on display offer a child’s view of the Victorian world. Banks depicting animals, magicians, birds, people and places are depicted throughout the exhibition.

In addition to the collection of banks visitors will also be able to feast their eyes on a hand-crafted scale model of Cape May’s Queen Victoria. This dollhouse, completely electrified and filled with miniature period-piece furniture, is a delight to see.

“Bank on It!” may be enjoyed at The Museum Monday through Friday, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. This exhibition, made possible by the generosity of John and Sarah Turner, is free and open to the public. The Museum of Cape May County is located at 504 U.S. 9, Cape May Court House, NJ. For more information, call 609-465-3535 or visit www.cmcmuseum.org.

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Through Sunday, January 28, 2018 - Morristown, Morris County

A Presidential Collection: W. Parsons Todd Collects Washington, Lincoln, and More!

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum (MHHM) presents A Presidential Collection: W. Parsons Todd Collects Washington, Lincoln, and More!, featuring a selection of correspondence, art, and artifacts related to our past presidents. This exhibition is on view through January 28, 2018 in the Schoolroom Gallery.

Items on view include a silhouette locket of George Washington rumored to contain his hair, china from Presidents Lincoln, Grant, Pierce, Hayes and more, as well as one of five known existing copies of George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1789.

The exhibition also anticipates the interest of children in history, and includes a special children's component titled Eating & Working in the President's House. Through interactive displays, children learn about the day-to-day lives of famous presidents and their families.

Macculloch Hall is located at 45 Macculloch Avenue in Morristown. More information, please call the MHHM at 973-538-2404 or visit www.maccullochhall.org.

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Through Friday, March 30, 2018

All Aboard…Trains! Exhibit at the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum

All Aboard…Trains!, our new exhibit at the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum, will be a hit for the whole family! The main attraction will be the running train displays throughout the museum. Also featured will be the extensive Tyco Train collection which was once the private collection of the Tyler family, founder of Tyco. Railroad memorabilia from throughout the years will also be on display, in addition to vignettes from Victorian times to the 1950’s. The museum will be decked out for the holiday season as well.

The museum is offering FREE ADMISSION for the entire month of December! We will also be adding the following evening hours to our regular hours: Wednesday, December 6 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm, and Tuesday, December 12, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. We will also be open Saturday, December 2, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. This exhibit will run until March 30, 2018. Following are our regular hours: 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. The museum will be closed on December 25 and December 31.

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 notice. Regular admission from January - March: 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.gchsnj.org.

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Through Sunday, May 13, 2018 - Morristown, Morris County
The Cutting Edge: Medicine in Morris County, 1876 - 1976

Morris County Historical Society will feature the many contributions Morris County doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and veterinarians have made to the field of medicine at both the local and global levels at its upcoming exhibit, "The Cutting Edge: Medicine in Morris County, 1876-1976." The exhibit will open on Sunday, September 10 and run through Sunday, May 13, 2018.

Morris County is a hub of innovation in the medical field. The "Grandfather of the Epidural," James Leonard Corning, MD, lived at Acorn Hall, now the MCHS headquarters; the country's first Doctor of Veterinary Medicine was born in Mount Olive; the biggest studies disproving the benefits of lobotomies took place at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital; and the Right-to-Die controversy first made national headlines through the case of Karen Ann Quinlan in the 1970s and 1980s.

Morris County also is home to The Seeing Eye, Bayer's North American Headquarters, and Morristown Medical Center, a nationally-ranked hospital in the fields of cardiology and orthopedics.

The exhibit will honor the 125th anniversary of Morristown Medical Center, include stories and photos of and objects from Greystone Park never before exhibited, and commemorate the 100th anniversary of the burning of the original All Souls' Hospital. It also will explore the history of The Seeing Eye, right-to-die cases, veterinarian medicine, local pharmaceutical giants, impact of diseases, such as tuberculosis and Spanish Flu, and notable medical professionals who treated Morris County residents.

A formal Exhibit Opening will be held on Thursday, September 21 at 6:00 pm. Morris County Historical Society is located at Acorn Hall, 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ and is open Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, and Sundays, 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Admission, which includes the exhibits and landscaped grounds, is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students, and is free for children under 12 and MCHS members. For more information, call 973-267-3465 or visit www.MorrisCountyHistory.org.

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

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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Through December 30, 2018 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
Over There, Over Here: New Jersey During orld War I

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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey

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