NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 1/13/18 - 1/14/18

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, January 13 through Sunday, April 15, 2018 - Cape May, Cape May County
“Franklin Street School: From Segregation to Unification”
Children Friendly

Until Sunday, April 15, view the Center for Community Arts (CCA) Exhibit in the Carroll Gallery on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ.

From its opening in 1928, the Franklin Street School was a symbol of segregation and separation. It stood as a reminder of a racial divide, even after school integration in 1948. For two decades the Center for Community Arts has worked to preserve, stabilize and restore the school. Now a collaborative effort by CCA and the City of Cape May aims to renew the school as a community center, offering meeting space, arts and history programs, exhibits, events and senior activities and services to bring together all the people of Cape Island. The exhibit will include photographs, artifacts and recorded oral and video histories to chronicle the history of the school, the initial efforts to preserve and rehabilitate the building, and plans for the building’s expansion and completion.

Admission to the exhibit is free. Presented by the Center for Community Arts (CCA) in association with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For information on the exhibit, call 609-884-7525 or visit www.CenterforCommunityArts.org. For gallery hours, call 609-884-5404 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday, January 13 - 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 - Sunday, January 13 - 14 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
Cabin Fever? Wallpaper in Early America

Need to get out of the house? Come to Historic Walnford to see samples of early American wallpaper designs including several patterns that decorated walls in the Walns’ elegant home during this free program at Historic Walnford 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, January 13 - 14 - Cape May, Cape May County
Historic District Trolley Tour

Get acquainted with Cape May on a trolley tour as knowledgeable guides present entertaining and educational stories about the nation's oldest seashore resort (tours begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, Washington Street Mall at Ocean Street). Offered Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 pm. $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). Winter trolley tours are co-sponsored by the Carroll Villa Hotel, Congress Hall Hotel, the Grand Hotel and the Queen Victoria Bed and Breakfast Inn. Presented 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, January 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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Sunday, January 14 - River Edge, Bergen County
Historic New Bridge Landing: Where Eagles Fly

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Sunday, January 14 - Union Township, Union County
Open House at the Caldwell Parsonage

On Sunday from 2:00 - 5:00 pm, the Caldwell Parsonage in Union Township, NJ will be open for guided tours. The museum, once the residence of Rev. James and Mrs. Hannah Caldwell, is listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Admission is free. The Caldwell Parsonage is located at 909 Caldwell Avenue, Union Township, NJ. For more information, call 908-687-0048 or visit www.uniontwphistoricalsociety.webs.com.

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Sunday, January 14 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Blacksmith Demonstration
Children Friendly

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, January 14 - Camden, Camden County
African American History Room Opens at Camden County Historical Society

The Camden County Historical Society is excited to announce the opening of their African American History Room on Sunday from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm, featuring a special exhibit on "The Moores of Greenland" (present day Magnolia, NJ). The open house marks the opening of the Camden County Historical Society’s permanent exhibit space for local African American History.

The African American History Room addresses the experience of African Americans through the exploration of history, values, culture, and beliefs as well as the local struggle for freedom, civil rights, and racial equality in Camden County. The Exhibit includes a timeline highlighting events, legislation, people, and social movements on the local and national level that have shaped the lives of African Americans in Camden County, including New Jersey’s role in the slave trade, the Underground Railroad, the development of the first self-governing African American community in the north, and local activities during the Civil Rights Movement.

In partnership with the Lawnside Historical Society, the first rotating exhibit in the African American History Room will feature the “Moores of Greenland,” which tells the story of the African American Moore family spanning three centuries. As a free person in the 1790s, Robert Moore moved from Burlington County, where he was previously enslaved, to the region once known as Greenland (present day Magnolia). From this area, he began a family that created a legacy of community involvement, public health services, and military service spanning more than 225 years. Members of the Moore family were a part of the early development of Lawnside and Magnolia, offered medical checkups and services to underserved communities, and risked their lives protecting our country through the military and National Guard. Descendant Michael Moore will share remarks at 2 pm.

The open house on Sunday is free and open to the public. During regular operating hours, admission to the museum is $5 for non-members and free for members. The exhibit will be open during our normal operating hours through the rest of 2018. The Camden County Historical Society is located at 1900 Park Boulevard, Camden NJ, and is regularly open Wednesday to Friday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm and Sunday 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm. For more information, call 856-964-3333, e-mail admin@cchsnj.org, or visit www.cchsnj.org.

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Sunday, January 14 - Eatontown, Monmouth County
The Monmouth County Genealogy Society topic: “Migration Patterns”

"Migration Patterns" will be the topic of the next meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society on Sunday at 1:30 pm at the Community Center, 72 Broad Street, Eatontown, NJ. Mark White, Monmouth County Genealogy Society President, genealogist, and lecturer will explain how our earliest ancestors spread across the globe, where they came from and how we got to be the diverse world community we are today.  The program is free and the public is welcome.

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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 Sunday, March 25, 2018 - Paterson, Passaic County

Urban / Rural: Landscapes of Passaic by William P. Campbell (1943-1992) Exhibit

The Passaic County Historical Society would like to announce the opening of its newest exhibit Urban / Rural: Landscapes of Passaic by William P. Campbell (1943-1992). This exhibit is a career spanning retrospective, featuring the landscape paintings of local artist William P. Campbell (1943-1992). A Paterson native formally trained at Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts and the School of Fine Arts at William Paterson College, Campbell spent his life painting the landscapes of Northern New Jersey, while working as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service in Passaic.

This exhibition of Campbell’s work focuses on the urban landscape of the City of Passaic. Many of the pieces reflect Campbell's interest in how industry and urban development mingle with, and sometimes overwhelm, the natural beauty of the Passaic River.

The paintings will be on display in Lambert Castle through March 25, 2018. The exhibit is located on the 3rd floor of the museum and can be viewed as a part of the self-guided museum tour. Regular admission applies (adults $5, seniors $4, and children $3).

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, home of the Passaic County Historical Society, is located at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ. For more information regarding museum hours and admission, visit the Passaic County Historical Society’s website at www.lambertcastle.org or call 973-247-0085.

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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 Saturday, April 28, 2018 - Haledon, Passai County
Frederick Douglass Series 2017 Exhibit

The American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark located in Haledon, New Jersey proudly has opened the exhibit Frederick Douglass Series 2017. Frederick Douglass Series 2017 is an exhibit of contemporary paintings and drawings about the life of Frederick Douglass, slave, abolitionist, and statesman. Artist Mark Priest states, "In the United States of America many slaves were safely carried to freedom. This monumental undertaking that has virtually gone unnoticed has been the subject of my work over the past eleven years. My current focus is on Frederick Douglass, Slavery in Maryland, and Underground Railroad Conductor, Harriet Tubman."

Mark Priest is a working artist and professor at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Priest graduated from Yale School of Art in 1989. He is a productive artist with exhibition experience and, he continues teaching studio art to college students.

Frederick Douglass Series 2017 exhibit by Mark Priest is on view at the museum through April 28, 2018. The American Labor Museum is headquartered in the historic Botto House National Landmark, located at 83 Norwood Street, Haledon, NJ. 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, visit www.labormuseum.net or e-mail labormuseum@aol.com.

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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