NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 4/21/18 - 4/22/18

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, April 21 - Paterson, Passaic County

National Junior Ranger Day at Paterson Great Falls NHP
Children Friendly Event & Site

Calling all Junior Rangers! Become a "Major League" Junior Ranger at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park on Saturday from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.

Decorate your own baseball cap (while supplies last!) and learn about the history behind our National Historic Landmark, Hinchliffe Stadium.

Join the author of the book Skatekey for story time at 11:30 am. Jennifer will read excerpts from her book, and share experiences from her time as a Central High School cheerleader who performed in Hinchliffe Stadium.

Eastern National, our cooperating association, will be joining us to hand out free copies of their new "Passport To Your National Parks® Junior Ranger Edition" books (while supplies last). Collect official park and Junior Ranger cancellations.

These activities will take place in Mary Ellen Kramer Park in front of the stadium. There will be limited parking available at the corner of Maple Street and Walnut Street, as well as in front of the park Welcome Center and at the Paterson Museum. The main address for the park is 72 McBride Avenue Paterson, NJ. For more information, call 973-523-0370 or visit www.nps.gov/pagr.

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Saturday, April 21 - West Orange, Essex County

National Junior Ranger Day at Thomas Edison NHP
Children Friendly Event & Site

In celebration of National Park Week, the National Park Service would like to show its appreciation for all of its junior rangers. Junior rangers explore, learn, and protect national parks.

Learn what it means to be a Junior Ranger. A special Junior Ranger tour of the laboratory complex will be offered at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. 

During Junior Ranger Day young visitors are invited to earn their junior ranger badge as they explore the park and complete their free activity book. Junior rangers can also learn more about Edison's work and try some of the activities that are happening through out the day.  All children participating in the event will get their very own paper Junior Ranger hat.

11:00 am  – Explore Like Edison
Join a Ranger on an exploration of Thomas Edison’s Laboratory. Discover how Edison invented. Find out about some of his little known inventions. Finish the program by taking the invention challenge and earning your Junior Ranger Badge.

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm   Building Challenge
Junior Rangers can test their engineering and inventing skills by building a structure from supplied materials that can hold one of Edison’s records. Can you build a structure that meets all of Edison’s requirements? Take the challenge.

2:00 pm  – Explore Like Edison
Join a Ranger on an exploration of Thomas Edison’s Laboratory. Discover how Edison invented. Find out about some of his little known inventions. Finish the program by taking the invention challenge and earning your Junior Ranger Badge.

3:00 pm – Lights! Camera! Action!
Hollywood, NJ – It all began right here in West Orange, NJ at the laboratories of Thomas Edison. Edison said he would do for the eye what the phonograph did for the ear. Was he successful? You be the judge. Join us as we make life-size stop action film. Everyone gets to be in the movie.

Admission to Thomas Edison National Historical Park is waived on April 21 in honor of National Park Week. Passes for Glenmont must be picked up at the Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x11 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.

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Saturday, April 21 - Newton, Sussex County
Gravestone Dedication for Matthew Davis, Revolutionary War Veteran

On Saturday at 1:00 pm, attend the gravestone dedication for Matthew Davis, Revolutionary War Veteran at the Old Newton Burial Ground. This event is sponsored by the Sussex County Historical Society and the public is welcome. After 237 years, Matthew Davis now has a gravestone. Davis served during the Revolutionary War, first as a Private in the 3rd Company, "The Line", 3rd Regiment of New York Troops and then as Quarter Master in Col. John Lasher's Regiment, New York Militia. The entrance to the burial ground is located between #75 and #79 Main Street, Newton, NJ. For more information, contact Wendy Wyman at 973-383-0015 or 973-214-2143.

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Saturday, April 21 - Haddonfield, Camden County
Mrs. Goodfellow

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Saturday, April 21 - Morristown, Morris County
Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration: Historic Health
Children Friendly Event

What did people living in the 1800s consider a healthy diet? Experience this cooking demonstration as historic recipes are prepared on the open hearth. Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior (65+), $3/child (ages 4 -16). FREE for children under age 4 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Historic Speedwell is located 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, April 21 - Somerset, Somerset County
Fireside Chat: Jeannette Pickering

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Saturday, April 21 - Piscataway, Middlesex County

The Liberty Ball Ball Club - Game
Children Friendly Event

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Saturday, April 21 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Plowing and Harrowing
Children Friendly

On Saturday, free wagon tours of Howell Living History Farm's spring plowing operations will leave from the farmyard, taking visitors to fields where farmers will be plowing with horses and circa 1900 equipment. Rides last approximately 20 minutes and are given on a first come, first serve basis. Tours will be narrated. Rides will leave from the farmyard continuously from 10:30 am until 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.

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Saturday, April 21 - Bordentown, Burlington County
Point Breeze and the Natural World: Bonaparte Collection

The Bordentown Historical Society is located at 302 Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown, NJ. Admission is FREE and donations are greatly appreciated. For more information, visit www.bordentownhistory.org.

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Saturday, April 21 - Cape May, Cape May County
Grand Lighthouse Cruise

Come aboard the Cape May Whale Watcher to view and photograph seven historic lighthouses of the late 19th and early part of the 20th centuries. Most of these lighthouses stand on pedestals out of sight of land and are still operational. Each 5-hour cruise includes narration on the history of each lighthouse and more. Includes continental breakfast buffet and Captain's Lunch buffet. A cash bar is available. The cruise will take place from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Tickets $95 (adults) $75 (children ages 7-12). Sponsored by the Cape May Whale Watcher and 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, April 21 - 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, April 21 - 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, April 21 - Cape May, Cape May County
Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour
Family Friendly

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, April 21 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
A New Broom Sweeps Clean
Children Friendly Site & Event

Spring cleaning begins at Walnford with demonstrations of broom making, weaving carpet beaters, and carving clothes pins. We will have opportunities for you to engage in hands-on historical cleaning, or use this opportunity to appreciate your modern time and energy saving devices. This free event will take place between 1:00 and 4:00 pm.

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, April 21 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Cookstove Demonstration & Accordion Melodies of the 1890s
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. 

Inside the farmhouse, lovely melodies from the 1890s will be played on the accordion.

These free events runs from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. 

Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 21 - 22 - Lower Township, Cape May County
World War II Tower Lookout Museum and Memorial Open
Family Friendly

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. Open Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am - 3:00 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, April 21 - 22 - Morristown, Morris County
Grand Encampment Weekend
Children Friendly Event & Site

Our annual encampment weekend on a Centennial scale! This year, the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary and our annual encampment weekend is our kickoff marquee event. Over 150 reenactors from across the mid-Atlantic region will converge on Jockey Hollow to display a variety of 18th century skills and demonstrations.

Saturday Schedule:
11:00 am - Firing Demonstration and Drill
11:30 am - Film Premiere: Washington Association of New Jersey Film Project: Historical Morristown. Created by Morristown High School juniors Katie Rosa and Kylee Strasser through the guidance of Morristown High School faculty member Michael Butler.
1:00 pm - Firing Demonstration and Drill
1:30 pm - Children’s Drill
3:00 pm - Firing Demonstration and Drill
3:30 pm - Children’s Drill
4:00 pm - Regimental Assembly Retreat for the Evening
5:00 pm - Walking Tour of Fort Hill

Ongoing activities throughout the day (11:00 am - 4:00 pm):
Soldiers at the Huts
18th Century Hearth Cooking in the Wick House
18th Century Laundry Demonstration outside the Wick House
Sutler Tent
Surgeons' Hospital Tent
Children's Games Tent

Sunday Schedule:
10:00 am - Hike to the Huts with the Soldiers
1:00 pm - Firing Demonstration and Drill
1:30 pm - Children’s Drill
3:00 pm - Firing Demonstration and Drill
3:30 pm - Children’s Drill
4:00 pm - Regimental Assembly Retreat for the Evening

Ongoing activities throughout the day (11:00 am - 4:00 pm):
Soldiers at the Huts
18th Century Hearth Cooking in the Wick House
18th Century Laundry Demonstration outside the Wick House
Sutler Tent
Surgeons' Hospital Tent
Children's Games Tent

Jockey Hollow at Morristown National Historical Park is located at 580 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown NJ (address is approximate). This is a FREE event. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Sunday, April 22 - Morristown, Morris County
Martha Washington and Oney Judge

Morristown National Historical Park (NHP) is pleased to partner with the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House for the special presentation, Martha Washington and Oney Judge – a historical actor portrayal of Martha Washington and Miss Oney Judge. The first-person presentation will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday in Morristown NHP’s Washington’s Headquarters Museum, 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ. Admission is free but pre-registration is required.

Oney Judge was an enslaved woman who worked for President and Lady Washington, first in the New York City capital and later in Philadelphia, when the capital moved there. Pennsylvania Law at that time gave enslaved individuals the legal power to free themselves if they were in the state longer than six months. However, President Washington’s position was that Pennsylvania was only his residence because it was temporarily the capital, so the law was not considered applicable.

Oney Judge was actually owned by the estate of Martha Washington’s first husband. Therefore, she could not expect to be freed by George Washington’s will. Instead, she would be transferred as property to Martha’s grandchildren upon the President’s death. Oney learned that her transfer back to the south was imminent because Martha Washington intended to offer Oney as a wedding present to Martha’s granddaughter. Hearing this, Oney made a plan and carried it to fruition in 1796 by escaping north to New Hampshire on the ship, the Nancy.

Since the Fugitive Slave Act made it a federal crime to assist a runaway slave, Oney Judge lived as a fugitive for 52 years. Oney never regretted leaving the Washingtons, quoted as saying, “No, I am free and have, I trust, been made a child of God by the means.” Oney Judge married freed person John Staines, with whom she had three children, two of whom died during her lifetime. She died at age seventy-five, on February 25, 1848 in Greenland, New Hampshire.

Actors from the Historical Theater of America will portray Oney Judge (Alex Simpson) and Martha Washington (Pat Jordan). For more information and to pre-register, click HERE or call 908-396-6053.

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Sunday, April 22 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
Discover History
Children Friendly Event

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Sunday, April 22 - Newton, Sussex County
"Northern Women in the Aftermath of the Civil War"

Join the Sussex County Historical Society at 1:30 pm on Sunday at the Hill Memorial Museum, to hear guest speaker Joanne Rajoppi present "Northern Women in the Aftermath of the Civil War." She will include Sussex County Civil War history. This lecture is co-sponsored by the Sussex County Historical Society and the Private Joseph Bessette Chapter National Society Daughters of the Union 1861-1865. This program is open to the public; members of the co-sponsoring groups are free; others will be asked for a $5 donation. The program will be held at the Hill Memorial Museum, 82 Main Street, Newton, NJ. For more information, call Wendy Wyman at 973-383-0015 or 973-214-2143.

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Sunday, April 22 - 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, April 22 - Montclair, Essex County
Rosedale Cemetery Tour

Founded over 150 years ago, Rosedale Cemetery marked the beginning of a new movement in how America took care of its deceased. We’ll venture into new sections for this guided tour, discussing grave imagery as well as the people who are buried there. Led by Executive Director Jane Eliasof, and Assistant Director Angelica Diggs. Admission is $10/person and registration  is required. Call 973-744-1796 or send a note to mail@montclairhistorical.org. Tour begins at the Rosedale Chapel for a brief introduction at 408 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ. Carpooling is suggested due to limited parking on site and driving to distant parts of the cemetery. Tour is from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, about 2 miles of walking. For more information, visit www.montclairhistory.org.

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Sunday, April 22 - Paterson, Passaic County
Blue Valley Concert at Lambert Castle

On Sunday at 5:00 pm in Lambert Castle, Blue Valley will return to the Lambert Concert Series and present Original Music and Acoustic Favorites. Blue Valley is a Clifton-based, acoustic rock band. Their music focuses on vocal harmonies, and memorable melodies and lyrics. Their performance will feature original music, as well as a few of their favorite covers. For more information about Blue Valley, visit their website bluevalleymusic.com. Admission to the concert is $15. Seating is limited, no reservations will be taken.

This performance is a part of the 2018 Lambert Castle Concert Series. Featuring local musicians and a variety of musical genres, all concerts are performed in the beautiful atmosphere that is Lambert Castle. Check our website for a complete listing of performances and dates.

Lambert Castle is locate at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ. For more information, call 973-247-0085 or visit www.lambertcastle.org.

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Sunday, April 22 - Chatham, Morris County
The History of Dixiedale Farm

Please join The Library of the Chathams and The Chatham Township Historical Society for a presentation about the history of Dixiedale Farm on Sunday. Pat Wells, co-president of the Chatham Township Historical Society, will speak about the Bonnel family and their mills, George Shephard Page, the exotic chicken farm and the Averett estate.

This free lecture will be held at 3:00 pm at the Library of the Chathams, 214 Main Street, Chatham Township, NJ. For more information, visit www.chathamtownshiphistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, April 22 - Westfield, Union County
Sheep to Shawl Festival
Children Friendly Event

Springtime on an early American farm was the real beginning of the new year, the time when the cycle of seasons began. It brought numerous outdoor chores after the long winter – preparing the fields, building fences, early planting… and sheep shearing.

On Sunday follow the sounds of sheep bleating to the Sheep to Shawl Festival at the Miller-Cory House Museum. The process of sheep shearing will be demonstrated by a master shearer, using hand shears as was done in early America. The process of turning wool into cloth will continue with demonstrations of spinning and weaving. Visitors may also watch the performance of 18th century farm tasks such as butter churning, wash day, and making the drink known as switchel. Children can enjoy various games and crafts. An herb sale and a bake sale will be conducted. Free refreshments will be served.

Admission is $4 for ages 13 and older, $3 for ages 3-12, and free age 2 and younger. The Miller-Cory House Museum is located at 614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield, NJ. For more information, call 908-232-1776, e-mail millercorymuseum@gmail.com, or visit www.millercoryhouse.org.

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Sunday, April 22 - 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, April 22 - River Edge, Bergen County
Under the Shad Moon, Chawame Gischuch
Children Friendly Event

The Bergen County Historical Society celebrates Under the Shad Moon, Chwame Gischuch, the Lenape New Year, from 1:00 - 5:00 pm on Sunday

* 1:30 pm: Dr. Meta Janowitz who will speak on Native American foodways, as they relate to the Dutch. She will introduce ceramic forms that were used by the Dutch and traded with the Native Americans. Janowitz is an archaeologist who worked on the African Burial Ground Project in lower Manhattan**.

* 2:30 pm: Primitive Technologist Steve Adams will give a talk on The Material Culture of Prehistory. Adams will talk on the use of stone tools; their manufacture (flintknapping), forms for different functions, re-usage/resharpening sequences, the 'waste flake' pile of expedient tools and the changing stone tool forms through time.

He will discuss the working of plant fiber; its manufacture, the different native species used, the impressively large range of purposes and functions it served, its 'invisible' nature as an organic medium which does not preserve well as an artifact, its foundational value as having 'tied' together the prehistoric world, etc. the selection of local plants would also anchor it in the location and the event. His talk will move outside to demonstrate flintknapping.

This talk will offer an informed glimpse into the 'hardware' of prehistoric peoples - not just those of the New Bridge region, but internationally - this is part of every person's ancient lineage.

Bergen Swan will be represented at the event will volunteers speaking on environmental projects.

Selections from the BCHS Native American collections are on exhibit. Visit the outkitchen where reenactors will be cooking over a fire. The event includes activities for children.

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.

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Sunday, April 22 - Toms River, Ocean County
Maizie Brews a Business

Thanks to the generosity of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, the Ocean County Historical Society will feature Maureen O’Connor Leach in "Maizie Brews a Business," on Sunday at 2:00 pm at 26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River, NJ.

A historic interpreter presenting living history for over 25 years, Ms. Leach portrays Maizie Stanton, a woman facing the challenges of becoming an entrepreneur of a tearoom in the 1920s.

There is no admission charge and refreshments will be served. For more information and to reserve your seat, call 732-341-1880.

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Sunday, April 22 - Montclair, Essex County

Open Houses
Children Friendly Event & Site

Get to know ALL of the Montclair History Center's historic houses in one afternoon! Discover the people whose "many voices" and life stories shaped our community, and travel through the ages with the Crane House and Historic YWCA. Hear about the evolution of our young country from New Jersey's point of view, and learn of a unique story set during a time when the nation was embroiled in the Civil Rights.

Visit our community farm to learn more about our agricultural past, and don't forget to say hello to our happy brood of chickens! 

Your visit then continues to the elegant Shultz House, an amazing, fully-intact time capsule that takes you away to life in the early 20th century. A home chock full of original character, visitors can linger in a classic library full of vintage science instruments, admire Delft handiwork imported from the Netherlands, and marvel at the beautifully crafted woodwork.

Tours of the Crane House & Historic YWCA are on the hour, last tour at 3:00 pm. Tours of the Shultz House are on the half hour, last tour 3:30 pm. Admission is $6/adult; $5/student/senior with ID; $4/child; under 2 free, good for both sites. Member get in free! The Crane House/Historic YWCA is located at 110 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ and the Shultz House is located at 30 North Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ. For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistory.org.

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Sunday, April 22 - Basking Ridge, Somerset County
Narrated Walking Tour of Basking Ridge

Take in the historic village center of Basking Ridge, a favorite Bernards Township gathering place with attractive shops, restaurants and churches. During one of our most popular events, take a stroll on this 1-1/2 hour tour and learn about the famous, and not-so-famous, historic tidbits as you walk the historic downtown village.

Start at the historic 1809 Brick Academy schoolhouse as you learn what it was like to attend a preparatory school in the 1890's. Stroll through this historic district of Basking Ridge, home to small shops, churches, residences and eateries. Meet some of the local residents and characters that are part of the tour. You never know....you might just get invited in.

Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour starts. Parking and restroom facilities are available at the Brick Academy. Tickets are non-refundable (but you can have someone attend in your place). Tour takes place Rain or Shine. Narrated by local resident and THSSH trustee Paula Axt. Meet at 1:00 at the Brick Academy, 15 W. Oak Street, Basking Ridge, NJ.

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Sunday, April 22 - Sparta, Sussex County
Life Along the Wallkill River

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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 6, 2018 - Paterson, Passaic County

Clifton Association of Artists' Annual Members' Show

The Passaic County Historical Society announces the opening of its newest temporary exhibit, Clifton Association of Artists' Annual Members' Show. On exhibit from Wednesday March 28th until Sunday May 6th, this exhibition’s theme is travel, with works by members of the Clifton Association of Artists. The association, which is comprised of members for Clifton and the surrounding area, includes artists of all skill levels who work in venues like watercolor, oil, and pastel painting, photography, sculpture and ceramics. The Clifton Association of Artists is sponsored by the Clifton Recreation Department.

Visitors can access the exhibition, which is on display in the changing exhibit gallery on the 3rd floor, during regular museum hours (Wednesday-Sunday, 1:00 - 4:00 pm). Regular admission applies (adults $5, seniors $4, and children $3). For more information about the Association, visit www.cliftonnj.org/content/clifton-association-of-artists.html

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 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