NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 2/24/18 - 2/25/18

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, February 24 - Franklin Township, Somerset County
George Washington's Birthday

Come celebrate George Washington's 286th birthday at Rockingham on Saturday. While Washington will be present only in spirit (and in the form of a wonderful life-sized mannequin in an exactingly recreated uniform), visitors who tour his last wartime headquarters will learn about his life and times, before, during and after his careers as commander of the Continental Army and first president of the United States.

Find out more about this iconic symbol of our country; learn why he is more important than just a means to sell cars on Presidents' Day! After the tour, enjoy cake and punch in Rockingham's kitchen.

Tours will be offered from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm on the hour and, possibly, half-hour if needed. (The last tour will be at 3:00 or 3:30 pm, accordingly). Because the size of tours will be limited, reservations will be necessary to guarantee admittance. Please call 609-683-7132 for reservations. A donation of $5 is suggested.

Please note that the regular history of the house will not be emphasized during these special tours, but visitors are always welcome to visit the house on another day for a normal tour. Washington, commander in chief for the Continental Army during the American Revolution, stayed at Rockingham from late August to early November in 1783. It became his final wartime headquarters when the Treaty of Paris was formally signed while he resided there.

Rockingham is located on Rte. 603 (Laurel Ave./Kingston-Rocky Hill Rd.), one mile north of Route 27 in Kingston and one mile south of Route 518 in Rocky Hill.  For more information, call 609-683-7132 or visit www.rockingham.net.

-----------------------------------
Saturday, February 24 - Morristown, Morris County
Author Jeff Finegan to speak at Morristown National Historical Park

Author Jeff Finegan will speak on his I Knew George Washington Series on Saturday at 1:00 pm in the Washington's Headquarters Museum at Morristown National Historical Park. The I knew George Washington series is a unique collection of stories on the “father of his country” as told from the perspective of historic figures who were closely associated with him.

Selected to narrate each book are individuals who, based on their interaction with George Washington, came from distinctly varied walks of life. Together with Washington, they are not only witnesses to his failures and successes, but to the most incredible events in world history.

Admission is free. 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.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, February 24 - 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.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, February 24 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County
Battery Gunnison/New Peck Restoration
Children Friendly Event

The Army Ground Forces Association volunteer group will be dressed in WWII era uniform performing restorations projects and interpreting Battery Gunnison/New Peck at Sandy Hook, a unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Learn more about the restoration and the historic time of January 1943 at Fort Hancock. This free event will be held from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm at Battery Gunnison, Lot G Beach Plaza. For more information, call 718-354-4606 or visit www.nps.gov/gate.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, February 24 - Lower Township, Cape May County
Cape May Lighthouse Open
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 Saturdayy. 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.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, February 24 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Winter Kitchen and Parlor
Children Friendly

Sugaring time arrives in late winter at Howell Farm and operations are in full swing. Visitors are invited to join the work and fun with sap collection, firewood cutting, syrup making, butter making, flour milling and pancake eating.

The trees are tapped beginning in early February. School groups, visitors and farm staff collect and boil down sap for several weeks. The sugar maple tree stores starch in their trunks and roots before the winter; the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap in the spring. Freezing nights and thawing days make for heavy sap flow. The trees are tapped by boring holes into their trunks and collecting the exuded sap beginning in early February. The sap is then processed by heating to evaporate much of the water, leaving the concentrated syrup.

Sap gathering will take place at 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm. Tree tapping demonstrations will be held at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. The sugarhouse will be open from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Pancakes will be available from 12:00 noon - 3:00 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.

-----------------------------------

Saturday, February 24 - 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 and 12:15 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.

-----------------------------------
Saturday, February 24 - 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 and 1:00 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.

-----------------------------------

Saturday - Sunday, February 24 - 25 - 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 and 12:15 pm 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.

-----------------------------------

Saturday - Sunday, February 24 - 25 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
Cabin Fever? 19th Century Maps of Monmouth

Exploring old maps can be fascinating. Our reproduction 19th century maps of Monmouth County and many of its towns and townships may reveal some surprises. Find local landmarks, see familiar names; how much or how little has changed in your neighborhood? Stop by 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.

-----------------------------------

Saturday - Sunday, February 24 - 25 - 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.

-----------------------------------

Saturday - Sunday, February 24 - 25 - Trenton, Mercer County
America, We Served!: Three Centuries of African American Soldiers
Family Friendly

For over three hundred years, African Americans have made incredible contributions to the United States Military. Celebrate Black History Month at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Experience the living history of America's Black Warriors by the veterans themselves and dedicated reenactors! View displays of photos, literature, and artifacts from wars past while talking to the storytellers of America's black men and women at war!

Represented regiments will include The Harlem Hellfighters of WWI, the 6th Regiment USCT of the Civil War, the 369th Regiment portrayed by Ebony Doughboys, and others.

Don't miss this wonderful educational experience for the entire family! Tours of the Old Barracks Museum are included in the admission price, so you can also learn about the last remaining free-standing French and Indian War military barracks in North America.

Special admission rates apply for this weekend: $4 for adults, $2 for seniors/students, and free for children 6 and under and active duty military. The Old Barracks Museum is located at 101 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ. Parking is available in the small lot next to the museum, in the Capitol Complex, and in Trenton City Parking lots - the closest is located at 120 East Front Street. For more information call 609-396-1776 or visit www.barracks.org.

-----------------------------------

Saturday - Sunday, February 24 - 25 - Pemberton Township, Burlington County
Tour Whitesbog

Want to find a special place to visit off the beaten path? Come to the Whitesbog Blueberry and Cranberry museum. There are interesting artifacts and detailed farm history to explore. Its charm will appeal to both the young and the young at heart. This museum has a unique understanding of the area, its people and places that make Whitesbog and the Pine Barrens so important to Jersey. Tours available from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Call first at 609-893-4646 to arrange for a tour. Donation of $5 per person requested.

Historic Whitesbog Village is located at 120 West Whitesbog 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.

-----------------------------------
Sunday, February 25 - River Edge, Bergen County
Washington's Birthday

Dance mistress Denise Piccino and the Tricorne Dancers will give two one hour public performances in the Steuben House at 1:30 and 3:00 pm on Sunday. Ridley & Anne Enslow will provide musical accompaniment on fiddle and hammered dulcimer. Throughout the afternoon, Rodger Yaden will portray General George Washington. Hot cider and crullers will be served in the restored 18th-century tavern in the Campbell-Christie House, where our gift shop is also located. Visitors may also see open-hearth cooking demonstrated in the Out-Kitchen, featuring meal items that General Washington might have eaten during his stay at New Bridge in 1780 and recipes from Martha's cookbook. Re-enactors from the 3rd New Jersey Regiment will demonstrate military life. Activities for Children include: Soldier Drills, Paper Dolls & Scavenger Hunt.

So celebrate the 286th anniversary of Washington’s Birthday at Historic New Bridge Landing, where General George Washington made his headquarters in September 1780, when Continental troops encamped between Van Saun Park in River Edge and Soldier Hill Road in Oradell. A tiger-stripe maple bedstead, reputedly used in a local home where George Washington stayed during the 1780 Steenrapie Encampment, is displayed in the Demarest House. The room in the Steuben House where Washington stayed for ten days during the Steenrapie Encampment is also open for viewing.

Historic New Bridge Landing is an American Revolutionary War Battleground including 3 Jersey-Dutch sandstone houses, exhibits, tavern, gift shop and outkitchen (Barn closed in cold weather). Admission: $12 adults, $7 students, BCHS members free. Parking can be found in parking area at the corner of Main Street and Hackensack Avenue, River Edge. An ADA compliant stonedust path connects the three houses and parking area! No parking will be available at the Steuben House. Historic New Bridge Landing is located at 1201 Main Street, River Edge, NJ. For more information, call 201-343-9492 or visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, February 25 - 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.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, February 25 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
New Brunswick and the Civil War: The Brunswick Boys in the Great Rebellion

At the start of the Civil War, New Brunswick was positioned at the transportation and manufacturing hub of NJ. Young men swapped manufacturing equipment for rifles; those left behind witnessed the war thru letters from sons, brothers & husbands. Their letters offer insights into war’s daily life – revealing their struggles to survive, close encounters with death, & difficulty re-adjusting to civilian life.

Joanne Hamilton Rajoppi, a former journalist, chronicled the military service of her great-grandfather during the Civil War in New Brunswick and the Civil War: The Brunswick Boys in the Great Rebellion, based on the letters he wrote to his family. She followed the story of the Hamilton women after the war with Northern Women in the Aftermath of the Civil War: The Wives and Daughters of the Brunswick Boys.

She is a contributor of Meet Your Revolutionary Neighbors: Crossroads of the American Revolution, and also has authored several pamphlets and calendars detailing the history of New Jersey. She is a trustee and officer of the Union County Historical Society. Books will be available for purchase.

Program is Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Admission: members $10, in advance $12 and $15 at the door. Limited seating - advance registration suggested. Light refreshments included. The Dutch Door Gift Shop will be open. The museum is handicap accessible. Handicap parking is located in the lower parking lot. All parking is free. The Metlar-Bodine House Museum is located at 1281 River Road, Piscataway, NJ. For more information, call 732-463-8363 or visit www.metlarbodinehousemuseum.org.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, February 25 - Fieldsboro, Burlington County
Tours of White Hill Mansion

Over the years plenty of people have lived their lives at the White Hill Mansion. Some of them may still be here.  On Sunday, learn about the people who lived and died in the house from 1:00 - 3:00 pm with the Friends of the White Hill Mansion. Tours are free but a donation is always appreciated.White Hill Mansion is located at 217 4th Street, Fieldsboro, NJ. For more information, e-mail whitehillinfo@yahoo.com or visit www.whitehillmansion.com.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, February 25 - Piscataway, Middlesex County

Presidents Day Celebration

-----------------------------------

Sunday, February 25 - Toms River, Ocean County
Double Trouble Comes to OCHS

Historic Resource Interpretive Specialist Andrew Anderson will present a program about the State Historic Site, Double Trouble Village: A Window into Pine Barrens Industries at the Ocean County Historical Society, 26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River, NJ on Sunday at 2:00 pm. Starting as a company-town with a once-thriving sawmill operation and cranberry farm, Double Trouble Company was one of the largest cranberry operations in the state by the early 20th century. Members and friends will experience a visual history of this settlement. Professional Development Certificates will be available for NJ school teachers attending this program. Refreshments will be served. Call OCHS at 732-341-1880 to reserve your seat. No admission fee, but donations will be accepted. For more information, call 732-341-1880 or visit www.oceancountyhistory.org.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, February 25 - West Orange, Essex County
Harry's Magical Invention Bag
Children Friendly Event

Learn about invention and the important role Edison played in taking invention from a cottage/hobby activity to a full commercial activity - practiced by all major corporations. Hear Harry Roman, a Thomas Edison National Historical Park volunteer, retired engineer, as well as inventor and patent holder, as he discusses the major role NJ plays in the national invention scene-and all the great inventions NJ inventors have brought into our world.

Harry, a nationally known inventor, was a critical player in establishing the NJ Inventors Hall of Fame in 1989, and later went on to chair the organization from 1996-2004. The Hall of Fame honored him with an Inventor of the Year award in 2005 for his pioneering work in robotics, and honored him again in 2012 with a special achievement award for his dedication to the organization.

The program runs from 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 3:00 - 4:00 pm and is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park 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 under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x11 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.

-----------------------------------

Sunday, February 25 - Somerville, Somerset County
Somerville Walking Tour

The Somerville Historic Roundtable and the Heritage Trail Association will offer a FREE walking tour of "Second Story Somerville" on Sunday at 2:00 pm! ​Meet at Division Street and Main Street for this narrated tour! Look above the storefronts and learn about our beautiful architecture! Help us save it for future generations! ​No need to register, just show up. The tour will be held rain or shine (unless it is a torrential storm).

-----------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------
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.

-----------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------

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.

----------------------------------

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.

----------------------------------

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.

----------------------------------

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

-----------------------------------

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