NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 2/17/18 - 2/18/18

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday - Monday, February 17 - 19 - Morristown, Morris County
Grand Opening of the Discover History Center at Morristown National Historical Park
Family Friendly Event

Morristown National Historical Park and the Washington Association of New Jersey are pleased to announce the Grand Opening of the Discover History Center and the completion of the Military Gallery at Washington’s Headquarters Museum on Presidents Day weekend, February 17-19, 2018. The result of nearly a decade of work, the new Discover History Center (DHC) is a $2.2 million dollar project for the 21st-century. The Washington Association and its fundraising efforts included gifts from members, friends, and corporations, contributing $1.8 million dollars to the project, enabling its completion.

The immersive, interactive, exhibits will engage visitors of all ages with hands-on and multi-media experiences to explore the stories of Morristown, the Continental Army, General Washington, and Continental Congress during the years that “tried men’s souls.”

The galleries feature many never-before seen artifacts, interactive activities geared towards children and adults, and five new videos to experience. Visitors can step into the footsteps of a Continental soldier for inspection, lift a musket to feel its weight, and walk past snow drifts and into a re-created log hut. On the museum’s main level, the military gallery now features an interactive timeline of the Revolutionary Era. A redesigned mini-theater provides space for the park’s introductory film, uniform signage, and audio-description and listening devices ensure accessibility for all visitors to the museum.

The official opening ceremony will be Saturday at 10:00 am in the Washington’s Headquarters Museum Auditorium, 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ.

The weekend will feature a variety of activities in addition to the new exhibits: 
* The Ford Mansion, used by General Washington as his headquarters, will be open for self-guided tours. Visitors may enjoy colonial toys, games, and riddles in the mansion.
* In the Museum, representatives from the Washington Association, Crossroads of the American Revolution, Morris County Tourism Bureau, and the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts will have special exhibits and make presentations each day.
* Musician Linda Russell will perform the hammered dulcimer, playing historic music of the time period.
*The 2nd New Jersey Regiment, Helms' Company reenactment group will represent the soldiers who camped at Morristown, and have a variety of uniforms, weapons, and equipment on display. 
* Photo-Artist Xiomaro will discuss a new exhibit of his work on display in the museum. Gallery walks will take occur each day at 1 pm, and a selfie station is available.

During the three-day opening event, free timed tickets will be issued to visitors for entrance into the Discover History Center exhibit at the museum information desk on a first come, first serve basis. Visitors may enjoy the other activities while waiting for their timed admission into the exhibit.

The museum will also be open on Tuesday, February 20th and will then resume its normal weekly visitor hours of Wednesday-Sunday, 9:30 am - 5:00 pm. During museum operating hours, guided tours of the Ford Mansion are available by timed tickets available at the museum information desk. Admission to the Washington’s Headquarters Museum and Ford Mansion tours is free to the public.

Morristown National Historical Park is located at 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-539-2016 x-210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Saturday, February 17 - Haddonfield, Camden County
George Washington's Chef "Hercules"
Children Friendly Event

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Saturday, February 17 - Cape May, Cape May County
Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour

Board a MAC trolley tour for a 30-minute evening ride through the streets of Cape May. The paranormal findings of ghost writer Craig McManus come alive as your guide translates McManus' stories. Tour offered Saturday at 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Admission: $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Monday, February 17 - 19 - Lower Township, Cape May County
Cape May Lighthouse Reopens for the Season
Children Friendly

On Saturday, the Cape May Lighthouse, Oil House and Museum Shop reopens for the season. The lighthouse is an 1859 structure with 199 steps to the watch gallery for a panoramic view of the Jersey Cape and Atlantic Ocean. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible Visitors' Orientation Center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and lighthouse memorabilia. Open 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Cape May Point State Park is located in Lower Township, NJ. Admission to the Visitors' Orientation Center and the ground floor of the lighthouse is free. Tower admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday, February 17 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Winter Kitchen and Parlor
Children Friendly

See what's cooking in two farmhouse kitchens -- one with a circa 1785 open hearth and one with a 1892 Glenwood stove -- and learn about the equipment, furnishings and other ingredients that made them work! Tasting is part of the fun ... for those who help the cooks by splitting firewood for the hearth and stove, bringing in ice for an icebox and churning butter for bread made from the farm's wheat. In the parlor, there will be books, board games and music. This program runs from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

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

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Saturday - Sunday, February 17 - 18 - Cape May, Cape May County
Combination Trolley/Physick Estate Tours
Family Friendly

Enjoy a guided trolley tour of Cape May's Historic District, followed by a guided tour of Cape May's only Victorian house museum, the Emlen Physick Estate, with the house tour theme for 2017-18, "Let's Go Shopping! Victorian Consumer Culture." Tours begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, Washington Street Mall at Ocean Street. Tours will be held Saturday at 11:00 am, 12:15 pm and 1:30 pm and Sunday at 11:00 am and 12:15 pm (11:00 am tours include a guided tour of the Physick Estate; 12:15 and 1:30 pm tours include a self-guided tour of the Physick Estate, available through 3 pm). Admission is $22 for adults and $14 for children (ages 3-12). The Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. 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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Saturday - Sunday, February 17 - 18 - Cape May, Cape May County
Emlem Physick Estate Guided Tours
Family Friendly

Enjoy this entertaining and educational guided tour of Cape May's only Victorian house museum, the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, with the house tour theme for 2017-18, "Let's Go Shopping! Victorian Consumer Culture." The tour will be held Saturday and Sunday at 11:45 am. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). The Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, 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 - Sunday, February 17 - 18 - Cape May, Cape May County
Emlem Physick Estate Self-Guided Tours
Family Friendly

Spend time exploring the rooms and collections of the Physick House Museum at your own pace, with knowledgeable interpreters and volunteers to answer questions. In some rooms you will meet a member of the Physick family or domestic staff, who will discuss the "hows and whys" of the objects found there. Self-guided tours will be held Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). The Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, 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 - Sunday, February 17 - 18 - 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 at 11:00 am, 12:15 pm and 1:30 pm and Sunday at 11:00 am and 12:15 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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Saturday - Sunday, February 17 - 18 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County
History House

An 1898 lieutenant's quarters on "Officers Row" overlooking Sandy Hook Bay is furnished to resemble the WWII era, the busiest time in the fort's history. This free event takes place Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 noon - 4:30 pm at History House, No. 1 Officers Row, within Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/gate.

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Sunday, February 18 - Cape May, Cape May County
Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour

Board a MAC trolley tour for a 30-minute evening ride through the streets of Cape May. The paranormal findings of ghost writer Craig McManus come alive as your guide translates McManus' stories. Tour offered Sunday at 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Admission: $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Sunday, February 18 - Princeton, Mercer County

Historic Princeton Walking Tour
Children Friendly Tour

Enjoy a 1.9 mile, two-hour walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Bainbridge House, Nassau Hall, the University Chapel, and Palmer Square. The early history of Princeton, the founding of the University, and the American Revolution are just some of the stories from Princeton’s history that you will learn on your tour.

Admission: $7 per adult; $4 children ages 6 to 12; free for children age 5 and under. Tours begin in front of the Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Tour begins at 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. Walk up ticket sales are cash only; guides cannot provide change. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Sunday, February 18 - Montclair, Essex County
Historic House Tour: Crane House/YWCA
Family Friendly

Step back through over 200 years of American history at Montclair's historic properties at 108 Orange Road. Visit the reinterpreted Crane House to reflect the YWCA period from 1920 - 1965, check out the farm, and meet the chickens. The site is open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. 

Tours of the Crane House & Historic YWCA are on the hour and the last tour begins at 3:00 pm. Admission is $6/adult; $5/student/senior with ID; $4/child; under 2 free. For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.

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Sunday, February 18 - Bridgewater, Somerset County
Five Generals Bus Tour of Washington's Middlebrook Cantonment

Visit and discover all five existing houses where George Washington, Henry Knox, Baron Von Steuben, Nathaniel Greene, and Lord Alexander were headquartered during the Middlebrook Cantonment of 1778-1779. 

The tour will begin at the Van Horne House where guests will enjoy an overview of Middlebrook presented by living historian, dance master, and tutor to the Van Horne children Master William Turner (aka David Lang). Once guests are properly 'schooled' in the importance of the Middlebrook Cantonment of 1778-79, we will board the buses and head off to: The Abraham Staats House, The Jacobus Vanderveer House, The Wallace House and the Van Veghten House, ending at the Van Horne House for refreshments in the tavern.

Tours are limited to 20 people each tour. Tours at 11:00 am,  1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm. Tours may be consolidated to fill available seating. Bottled water will be provided upon check in. Tickets are $25 per person. For tickets, click here. 

The Van Horne House is located at 941 East Main Street, Bridgewater, NJ. Parking availabble in the Target parking lot directly behind the house. For more information or to register, call 732-356-8856 or visit www.heritagetrail.org.

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Sunday, February 18 - Perth Amboy, Middlesex County
A Military Timeline

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Sunday, February 18 - Westampton, Burlington County
Blue Willow Tea

Blue Willow China has been popular for over 200 years. First made in China, it made its way to England in the late 1700s. Share a cup of tea, traditional tea sandwiches and sweets served on the Dames' Blue Willow China. Hear about the story of the star crossed lovers that fled the wrath of the tyrant who wished to marry the young women. Learn the history and evolution of the pattern we've come to know as Blue Willow.

Admission is $20 per person. Seating is limited; prepaid reservations are required to guarantee seating. Tickets are limited to four per person. Program runs from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

Peachfield is located at 180 Burrs Road, Westampton, NJ. For more information and to register, call 609-267-6996, e-mail colonialdamesnj@comcast.net, or visit www.colonialdamesnj.org.

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Sunday, February 18 - Wall Township, Monmouth County

Sunday Talk with Ulysses S. Grant

On Sunday, drop in for a talk with President Ulysses S. Grant at the Allaire Chapel. Before or after the program, the villagers will be preparing for President's Day - drop by and visit them! The program will take place from 1:00 - 2:30 pm at the Allaire Chapel in Allaire Village. Tickets $15.00 per person. To purchase tickets, go to www.allairevillage.org and click on the event tab.

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, February 18 - Morristown, Morris County
Greystone's Legacy: Topic of Upcoming Talks at Morris County Historical Society

The evolution of the Preserve Greystone movement and its impact on preserving other Kirkbride buildings nationwide will be the focus of a talk by authors Rusty Tagliareni and Christina Mathews at Acorn Hall on Sunday at 2:00 pm. The program is sponsored by Morris County Historical Society (MCHS).

This is the first of two multimedia presentations by the best-selling authors of the award-winning Images of America book Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Greystone’s connection to remaining Kirkbride buildings, and the similarities between Greystone and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic  Asylum (TALA) in West Virginia, a preserved Kirkbride building. A MCHS trip to TALA, which is open to the public, is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, April 12-14.

In addition to discussing how the loss of Greystone has led to stronger preservation efforts of surviving Kirkbride buildings nationwide, Tagliareni and Mathews will show a 15-minute screening of their never-before-seen, in-production documentary film Greystone’s Last Stand. They also will review their plans with the Morris County Park Commission to build a memorial on the grounds of the old Greystone hospital. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the established fund for the memorial.

The second event featuring Tagliareni and Mathews will be held on Sunday, March 11, also at 2:00 pm, when the authors will focus specifically on the history of our nation’s Kirkbride asylums and the many connections between Greystone and Trans-Atlantic Lunatic Asylum.  The program also will include a vignette screening of Greystone’s Last Stand, highlighting the link between the two asylums and how one could have saved the other from demolition, if only given the chance.

Book signings will follow both presentations. Tickets to each event are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for students, and free for MCHS members, attendees participating in the TALA bus trip, and children under 12.

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

The Morris County Historical Society, founded in 1946, is a member-supported, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Acorn Hall, an Italianate Villa, is located at 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ. TO RSVP or for more information, call 973-267-3465 or visit www.acornhall.org.

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Through Sunday, March 2, 2018 - Cape May, Cape May County

Hail to the Chiefs! Exhibit

In honor of Presidents Day, The Museum of Cape May County is hosting an exhibit, “Hail to the Chiefs!” that highlights more than 15 of our nation’s leaders, including two of our nation’s finest presidents – George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

On display are artifacts from The Museum’s collections as well as from a private collector that bring these patriotic men to life. Many of the privately owned artifacts have never before been on public display.

This exhibit features original documents such as letters, ambassadorships and presidential pardons. Books bearing presidential autographs are also on display. Many pieces of artwork depicting Lincoln and Washington are showcased as part of the exhibition. Also on display are two exquisite dolls dating back to the 18th century depicting the likeness of George Washington and his wife, Martha. 

“Hail to the Chiefs!” runs through March 2, 2018. The exhibit is in The Museum’s gallery, located in the Administrative Building. Hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. Admission is free. For more information, call 609-465-3535 or visit www.cmcmuseum.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. 

This exhibit will run until March 30, 2018.  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 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, April 15, 2018 - Cape May, Cape May County
“Franklin Street School: From Segregation to Unification”

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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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 3, 2018 - Princeton, Mercer County
A Gentleman’s Pursuit: The Commodore’s Greenhouse

Morven Museum & Garden presents A Gentleman’s Pursuit: The Commodore’s Greenhouse, which reveals the remarkable findings at Morven from Hunter Research’s excavation of one of New Jersey’s earliest greenhouses on view from through June 3, 2018.

Research done in the 2000s, revealed that Commodore Robert F. Stockton (1795-1866) had built the greenhouse during his tenure at Morven. Account books showed that the Commodore had paid for the installation of gutters on the building in October 1854, placing its construction at approximately 1852-54. An inventory upon his death indicated that the greenhouse contained 15 lemon trees, 100 Japonicas, 10 cati, 4 azaleas, 3 Daphnes and “Misc. plants.” Based on research it is believed that the greenhouse was torn down in the 1880s.

Little else was known about the greenhouse until a 2013 archaeological dig conducted by Hunter Research, Inc., who is partnering with Morven for his exhibition, uncovered the brick and stone foundation of the structure. Excavations over the next two summers revealed thousands of cultural artifacts, including the remains of the cast iron furnace which heated the greenhouse, and glass from the window panes that allowed sunlight in. The greenhouse denotes the refined gentleman’s pastime of the Commodore, reflecting his social prominence and financial standing to enjoy such an exquisite hobby. Due to New Jersey’s gradual emancipation law, the Commodore no longer owned any enslaved people by the time the greenhouse was constructed.  The maintenance of the structure and plants within was likely left to a trained gardener and paid farm hands.

“This exhibition is unique in that it allows visitors to follow the process of archaeologists and historians as they work their way from identifying archaeological digs, unearthing and dating artifacts, researching primary documents, and comparing contemporaneous sites to reveal a fuller picture of what Morven’s greenhouse would have been like,” says, Elizabeth Allan, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions.

“The exhibit shows how archaeology opens a fascinating window into the greenhouse that serviced Morven’s gardens,” says Richard Hunter, President/Principal, Hunter Research, Inc. For the past 30 years, Trenton-based Hunter Research, a historic preservation and cultural resources consulting firm, has been actively engaged in interpreting historic sites for the benefit of the general public.

A Gentleman's Pursuit: The Commodore’s Greenhouse is on view at Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ, through June 3, 2018. Admission: Adults - $10, Seniors (60+)/Students/Active Military Personnel - $8, Children 6 and under - Free, Friends of Morven - Free. Morven’s Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

For more information, call 609-924-8144 or visit www.morven.org.

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Through June 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