NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 3/24/18 - 3/25/18

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, March 24 - Freehold, Monmouth County
Open Hearth Open House
Children Friendly Event

Join us at the Covenhoven House on Saturday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm for our Open Hearth Open House. Take a tour of the historic house, enjoy 18th-century recipes cooked on the hearth, and period children’s games outside. This event is free and open to the public. Visitors will be transported back in time as costumed interpreters demonstrate how food was prepared in an eighteenth-century open-hearth kitchen at the Covenhoven House in Freehold. Featuring a rotating theme and menu, this program offers visitors the opportunity to learn about colonial foods cooked over the open hearth, then sample the results. Afterwards, enjoy a tour of the 1750’s home, illustrating what life was like for the Covenhoven family as they moved away from their Dutch traditions and embraced a more English lifestyle.

The Covenhoven House is located at 150 West Main Street, Freehold, NJ. For more information, call 732-462-1466 x11 or visit www.monmouthhistory.org.

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Saturday, March 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.

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Saturday, March 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.

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Saturday, March 24 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Sawmilling and Tree Planting
Children Friendly

Howell Farm invites visitors of all ages to get a grip on history by grabbing a shovel, saw, drawknife, or cant hook when helping hands are needed to plant trees, cut firewood, make barn pegs and ready logs for the sawmill.

The work will begin when farmers use a portable sawmill to cut lumber for barn repairs and restoration projects. Visitors can help by using spud bars to de-bark logs and cant hooks to roll them to the mill.

Those who like working the old-fashioned way can use a two-man saw to cut rounds that will then be split into firewood, wheel chocks, and barn peg blanks. Mallets, froes, and draw knives are among the tools that visitors can try. Youngsters can make and take home a barn peg like the ones used to hold together a timber frame barn.

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, March 24 - Haledon, Passaic County
Author Mark Torres's Book Talk

On Saturday at 1:30 pm, the American Labor Museum proudly welcomes the general public to a book reception and signing event with Mark Torres. Mr. Torres will discuss his recently published children's book, Good Guy Jake/Buen Chico Jake (Hardball Press, 2017). Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Light refreshments will be served.

In his book, Mr. Torres tells the story of a sanitation worker named Jake, who has repaired broken toys he pulled from the trash on his rounds and given to children at the local shelter. When Jake is fired for breaking city regulations, his union takes the case to arbitration. Mr. Torres asks his young readers to imagine, "Will Jake win his job back?"

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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Saturday, March 24 - Cape May, Cape May County
Historic Haunts House Tour
Family Friendly

Get into the spirit of things on a guided tour of the historic (some say haunted) Physick Estate, which includes a discussion of Victorian spiritualism on Saturday at 7:30 pm. This is a limited tour. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday, March 24 - Cape May, Cape May County
Historic Haunts Combo Tour
Family Friendly

Combine the Ghosts of Cape May trolley tour with a visit to the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, where you will visit a home séance room of the 1890s and learn of the Victorians' fascination with spiritualism on Saturday at 7:00 pm. Admission is $22 for adults, $14 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday, March 24 - Cape May, Cape May County
Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour

Take this spine-tingling, 30-minute evening trolley ride through the streets of Cape May with a guide who relates the paranormal findings of medium Craig McManus on Saturday at 8:30 pm. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for children (ages 3-12). Tours leave from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth at Ocean Street. 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, March 24 - Roebling, Burlington County
Roebling Lofts in Trenton, Construction vs. Preservation

On Saturday from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, John Hatch, FAIA, will discuss the long-term redevelopment of the John A. Roebling’s Sons Company factory buildings in the City of Trenton. Topics will include the wide range of historic preservation and redevelopment projects that have already taken place; what’s worked and hasn’t worked at the Roebling Complex; and his most recent experience as architect and developer of Roebling Lofts and Roebling Center. The impact of this important and historic site on the City of Trenton and the region, as well as future plans, will also be discussed.

This presentation is appropriate for all ages, and will take place inside the Roebling Museum’s Media Room. It is part of the museum’s monthly Saturday Lecture Series. Admission is $7 ($6 for Museum Members). Advance reservations are strongly recommended. If you do not wish to purchase your ticket on-line, please call the museum at 609-499-7200 to reserve your seat. For more information, visit www.roeblingmuseum.org

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Saturday, March 24 - Paterson, Passaic County

Screening of An Artist Working as a Letter Carrier – William P. Campbell

We have all seen the films about the famous artists, the successful artists, but does anyone really look at the so called 'failed artist’? Or the struggling artist? Join the Passaic County Historical Society at Lambert Castle on Saturday as Katrina Delmar presents her trans-generational experimental documentary film about her artist father William Campbell. An Artist Working as a Letter Carrier – William P. Campbell is a personal, sometimes funny – sometimes heartbreaking film, it explores themes around art, failure, love, family, and class.

Postman/Artist William P. Campbell painted life on the streets of Passaic, New Jersey as he saw it: under smokestacks and red brick factory fortresses, at the river’s edge, where nature met industry, as rails gave way to highways, as industry gave way to poverty. From the late 1950s to the early 1990s, Campbell painted extraordinary out of ordinary.

Doors open at 7:00 pm. Screening will begin at 7:15 pm. Please join us afterward for light refreshment and a final opportunity to view the Urban / Rural: Landscapes of Passaic by William P. Campbell exhibition. This event is free admission but donations are requested.

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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Saturday - Sunday, March 24 - 25 - Lower Township, Cape May County
World War II Tower Lookout Museum and Memorial Open

Fire Control Tower No. 23 on Sunset Boulevard is New Jersey's last freestanding World War II tower, part of the immense Harbor Defense of the Delaware system known as Fort Miles. After an award-winning restoration in 2009, visitors can climb to the 6th floor spotting gallery while learning about the homeland defense efforts during World War II. The ground floor of the tower, the All Veterans Memorial, and boardwalk interpretive panels are fully accessible. Reopening for the season on Saturday and Sunday, 12:000 noon - 3 pm. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children (ages 3-12) (One child free with paying adult). The World War II Lookout Tower is located on Sunset Boulevard in Lower Township, near Cape May Point. 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, March 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.

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Saturday - Sunday, March 24 - 25 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
High Flying Fun
Children Friendly Site & Event

When the March winds blow, fly a kite! Stop by this weekend to try your hand at making an old-fashioned kite. You supply the creativity and a bit of manual dexterity to go with the paper, string, sticks, and glue we will have available (If you want to try to fly your kite when it’s complete, please bring a spool of kite string).

While there, tour the large, elegant Walnford home built in 1774, the 19th century gristmill, and the farm buildings set in a beautiful landscape. Walnford is located at 62 Walnford Road, 08501. For more information, visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Saturday - Sunday, March 24 - 25 and Saturday, March 31 - Whippany, Morris County
Easter Bunny Express
Children Friendly

New Jersey's Original Easter Bunny Express celebrates its 26th continuous year of operation in 2018. Celebrate the return of spring and the Easter holidays with a ride on the Whippany Railway Museum's Easter Bunny Express. Our Special Easter Train Ride ensures a fun outing for the kids...and the entire family.

During each excursion, the Easter Bunny makes his way through the train and visits with the children onboard. The Bunny's helpers follow along, giving the kids a special Easter gift. Be sure to bring your camera and take pictures of the kids with the Easter Bunny, so they can always remember their day onboard the train! Our kid-friendly hobos and clowns will also be on each train to entertain the children with tricks and jokes.

The 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland and return is a thrill for the children as they enjoy what for many will be their very first train ride...and they can also learn about and experience the history of New Jersey's rich railroad and transportation heritage. Riders will have time onboard the train to enjoy the spring weather and the excitement during the ride.

The Whippany Railway Museum's Easter train is the original excursion of its type in the North Jersey area - since 1992 our Easter Trains have been complete sell-outs, and seeing the excited faces of the children as they climb aboard the train ensures an afternoon of family fun. Passengers can combine the thrill of riding our Springtime Streamliner along with touring the museum site, with its outstanding collection of historic railroad locomotives, rolling stock, operating model train layouts and vintage farm tractors.

In addition to the regular coaches that make up the train, make your day Extra Special by purchasing limited tickets for a nostalgic Easter ride aboard the museum's elegant 1927-era Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) 'Club Car' Jersey Coast. The car has the look and feel of a private club with individual leather chairs, mahogany interior accented with stained glass, built-in tables and period ceiling fans. The Jersey Coast, recalls the 1930s when the CNJ operated its deluxe coach train, The Blue Comet, between Jersey City and Atlantic City, NJ. The striking, authentic exterior paint scheme of cream and blue reminds one of a comet streaking through space. It is the only car of its type operating in New Jersey.

So round up your family and friends and climb aboard for some great Easter fun and laughter! Ordering tickets is fast and easy! Trains depart at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 pm each day, rain, snow, or shine. The Whippany Railroad is located at 1 Railroad Plaza, at the Intersection of Route 10 West & Whippany Road in Whippany, NJ. Train fare: Adults: $17.00, Children (under 12): $12.00, Infants (1 year and under): Free. 

The Museum building will be open from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm each day of operation. Admission of $1.00 for children and $2.00 for adults (separate from train ride fare and payable at the door) supports the continued maintenance and restoration of the historic Museum building, grounds, and exhibit collection.

To order tickets and for more information, visit www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net or call 973-887-8177. The Whippany Railway Museum, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit Operating Heritage Railroad that is staffed by volunteers. Donations from the public help to keep the museum operational, but funds are still required to support this unique New Jersey treasure. Proceeds from the train rides further enhance the Museum's mission and its historic preservation efforts.

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Sunday, March 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.

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Sunday, March 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.

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Sunday, March 25 - Somerville, Somerset County
Dress Up in Colonial Clothing Day
Children Friendly Event

On Sunday at 1:30 pm, learn about the modes and manners of the 18th century, try on costumes based on clothes worn in the 1770s, and make your own hat to bring home. Program is for families with children ages 8-12. Fee: $7 per child. This event will be held at the Old Dutch Parsonage, 71 Somerset Street, Somerville, NJ. Program is for ages 8-12; parental supervision is required. All adults attending must be accompanied by a child. Reservations are required for this program and space is limited. Call 908-725-1015 or e-mail whouse3@verizon.net to register.

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Sunday, March 25 - Stockton, Hunterdon County
A History of Inventing in New Jersey: From Thomas Edison to the Ice Cream Cone

New Jersey is famously the home of Thomas Edison’s “invention factory” where he patented the phonograph, the light bulb, and many more innovations. Less well known are the New Jerseyans who created the first drive-in theater or those who cultivated blueberries or whipped up the first ice cream cones and M&Ms.

The Prallsville Mills speaker series surveys all of these innovations with author Linda Barth at 2:00 pm on Sunday. Barth will explore groundbreaking, useful, fun and even silly inventions and their New Jersey roots. This event is free and open to the public.

Other iconic aspects of American life, like Bubble Wrap, the boardwalk, the Band-Aid, and even professional baseball itself started in New Jersey. Barth notes that modern life would be a lot harder without the vacuum cleaner, plastic, and air-conditioning, and the many other important advances in medicine and surgery were developed here.

A lifelong resident of the Garden State, Linda Barth has written two books on the D&R Canal and Hidden New Jersey. A History of Inventing in New Jersey: From Thomas Edison to the Ice Cream Cone was released in 2013. With her husband, she has published The Millstone Valley Through Time and Somerville Through Time. She has also contributed to the Encyclopedia of New Jersey.

The Prallsville Mills complex is located at 33 Risler St, Stockton, NJ and is considered a significant example of early American industrial architecture that was included on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Today, the Mill proudly features cultural and historic events for the entire community. For more information, visit www.prallsvillemills.org.

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Sunday, March 25 - Morristown, Morris County
Woody Guthrie’s Wardy Forty: Greystone Park State Hospital Revisited

Photographer Phil Buehler and Woody Guthrie's grand daughter, Anna Guthrie Canoni, will share stories and photos from the folk singer's days at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital on Sunday at 2:00 pm at Acorn Hall.

Guthrie, who suffered from Huntington’s disease, a degenerative neurological disorder, was a patient at Greystone from 1956 through 1961. He lived in Ward 40 and referred to it as Wardy Forty. It was here that a young and unknown Bob Dylan met his idol and a musical torch was passed.

Buehler has dedicated much of his life exploring the ruins of 20th century America. While visiting the Greystone site, Buehler stumbled upon photographs and negatives of Guthrie as a patient. He reached out to Guthrie’s daughter, Nora, at the Woody Guthrie Foundation & Archives, and with Guthrie’s case number in hand, Buehler began a 10-year odyssey that resulted in a book, co-authored with Guthrie Canoni, Woody Guthrie’s Wardy Forty: Greystone Park State Hospital Revisited.

Buehler and Guthrie Canoni’s presentation will include untold and inspiring stories of Woody’s life at Greystone. Images of the decaying hospital are juxtaposed with Guthrie’s letters, family snapshots, home movies and recollections of his friends, family and doctors. A book signing for Buehler and Guthrie Canoni’s Wardy Forty: Greystone Park State Hospital Revisited will follow their talk.

Acorn Hall is located at 68 Lafayette Avenue, Morristown, NJ. As seating is limited, RSVPs and advance ticket purchases are strongly encouraged. Tickets are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors; $7 for students; and free for MCHS members and children under 12. To RSVP, purchase tickets, or for further information, call 973-267-3465 or visit www.morriscountyhistory.org.

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Sunday, March 25 - River Edge, Bergen County

March to the Vote - Countdown to Women Getting the Vote 100 Hundred Years Ago in 2020

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Sunday, March 25 - Toms River, Ocean County

New Jersey Cemeteries & Tombstones: History in the Landscape

Join us on Sunday at 2:00 pm at the Ocean County Historical Society, 26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08753, to enjoy an informative and entertaining talk by Dr. Richard Veit, Chair of the History and Anthropology Department at Monmouth University, as he tells about his research on NJ cemeteries and tombstones.

From the earliest memorials used by Native Americans to the elaborate structures of the present day, Dr. Veit uses grave markers to take an off-beat look at New Jersey’s history that is both fascinating and unique. He describes burial places from High Point to Cape May and from the banks of the Delaware to the Jersey Shore to explain what cemeteries tell us about people and the communities in which they live. 

No admission fee. Donations are accepted. Refreshments will be served. Call 732-341-1880 to reserve your seat. For more information, visit www.oceancountyhistory.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