NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 7/21/18 - 7/22/18

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings
A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com
Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.


Friday - Saturday, July 20 - 21 - Paterson, Passaic County
Shakespeare at Lambert Castle

Visitors to Lambert Castle on Friday and Saturday may find themselves transported to Elizabethan times. The Passaic County Historical Society will host ATC Studios’ Summer Shakespeare Conservatory for two performances at Lambert Castle on Friday at 7:00 pm in the Gallery and Saturday at 3:00 and 5:00 pm on the Castle lawn.

The production is the culmination of a 4 week program at Clifton’s ATC. The performance, which will last less than an hour and a half, is definitely user-friendly: a great way to introduce someone to the Bard, and a wonderful treat for those who know the works well. 

For the Gallery performance on Friday, tickets are $10, general admission. There is limited seating. Call 862-243-ATCS (2827) for reservations. Lawn performances on Saturday are FREE and donations are gratefully accepted. Royalty Seating for Saturday's performances (reserved prime lawn space): $10. If you are attending the lawn performance, please bring beach chairs, lawn chairs, or a blanket.

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

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Saturday, July 21 - West Orange, Essex County
Glenmont Open House

Glenmont Estate, Thomas Edison's home, will host an Open House event from 12:30 - 4:00 pm on Sunday. The 1st and 2nd floors of Glenmont will be open for a self-guided viewing on these days. You must first pay your entrance fee at the Laboratory Complex Visitor Center and obtain a car pass before going to Glenmont.

The tour 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 for adults, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x33 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.

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Saturday, July 21 - Morris Township, Morris County
Caroline’s Special Place: Cottage Garden
Children Friendly Event & Site

Caroline Foster was an avid gardener. On Saturday from 1:45 - 2:30 pm at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, take a walk through the Cottage garden to enjoy its colorful flowers, and make a family-friendly craft.

Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (2 and 3). FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, July 21 - Morristown, Morris County
Go With The Flow!
Children Friendly Event & Site

Streams provided an important water supply to farms. On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, follow a stream to see where it goes and what life it sustains with a guide. One hour programs at 1:00 and 2:00 pm.

Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (2 and 3). FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, July 21 - Chester, Morris County
Nature Art
Children Friendly Event & Site

On Saturday from from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at the Cooper Gristmill in Morris County, use grain and natural items to create artwork. Explore painting, printmaking, rubbings, and collage/mosaic while designing artwork to take home. Cost: FREE but donations appreciated. The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, July 21 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Evening Hayrides
Children Friendly Site

On Saturday evening, Howell Living History Farm will have hayrides that last 20 minutes, carrying visitors over the lanes of the 130 acre working farm. During the program, visitors can also take self-guided tours, picnic in the picnic area and join a marshmallow roast.

Rides will leave the barnyard area every 25 minutes beginning at 5:10 pm, with the last ride departing at 8:00 pm. Rides will be given on a first come, first serve basis to the first 200 visitors. Rides are intended for individual and family participation; groups cannot be accommodated. There is no charge for the wagon rides.

A wheelchair accessible wagon is also available. Individuals who would like to ride on this wagon should call 609-737-3299 in advance. On the dates when evening hayrides are offered, the Farm will be closed during the day.

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, July 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 7:45 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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Saturdays through September 1, 2018  - Cape May Point, Cape May County
The Keeper's on Duty
Children Friendly Event

What's it like to be a Lighthouse Keeper?  If you’d like the answer to this question and others, join us for The Keeper's On Duty, at the Education Center at Cape May Point State Park (adjacent to the Cape May Lighthouse) on Saturday at 1:15 pm. The Keeper of the Cape May Lighthouse presents an informative and entertaining half hour talk on the history and lore of the famous 1859 Cape May Lighthouse. Suited for everyone from children to lighthouse buffs, it’s the perfect introduction to your lighthouse climb! All Keeper's on Duty are free and open to the public. Cape May Point State Park is located at 215 Light House Avenue, Cape May Point, NJ. Co-sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) and Cape May Point State Park. For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturdays through September 1, 2018 - Cape May Point, Cape May County
Lighthouse Storytime
Children Friendly Event

Bring your young children to the Education Center in Cape May Point State Park (adjacent to the Cape May Lighthouse) to listen to nautical tales and lighthouse adventure stories on Saturday at 12:30 pm. Free admission. Cape May Point State Park is located at 215 Light House Avenue, Cape May Point, NJ. Co-sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) and Cape May Point State Park. For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 21 - 22 - Cape May, Cape May County
Emlen Physick Estate Tour
Family Friendly Tour

Take a guided tour of Cape May's Emlen Physick Estate, the magnificent Stick Style mansion attributed to renowned Victorian architect Frank Furness. A tour of the 15 beautifully restored rooms gives you a glimpse into the lifestyle of this Victorian-era Cape May family. Physick Estate Tours take approximately 45 minutes and end with a visit to the 1876 Carriage House where you can see the current exhibit in the Carroll Gallery. The tour starts at 11:45 am and ends at approximately 12:30 pm. 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 - Sunday, July 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, July 21 - 22 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County
Battery Potter and Mortar Battery Tours

Meet with park staff to tour two historic batteries at Sandy Hook this weekend.

Battery Potter: Explore and tour Sandy Hook's oldest disappearing gun battery.  This is also the first concrete gun battery that was built in America, completed in 1895. 

Mortar Battery: Join a park ranger guided tour of the Mortar Battery and learn about the first Endicott era (1894 - 1910) concrete gun battery that defended New York and its harbor against attack by enemy warships.

These free tours begin at 1:00 pm for Battery Potter and at 1:30 pm for Mortar Battery. All tours run continuously until 4:30 pm. They are located with the Fort Hancock Historic Post at Sandy Hook. Sandy Hook is part of Gateway National Recreation Area. For more information, call 732-872-5970 or visit www.nps.gov/gate.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 21 - 22 - Cape May, Cape May County
Railroad Days at Historic Cold Spring Village
Children Friendly Event & Site

All aboard! Historic Cold Spring Village’s Annual Railroad Days will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. Railroad Days is the perfect outing for folks interested in railroad history, model and toy trains, or just enjoying a unique collection in a unique historical setting.

In the Village Welcome Center, under the Friends’ Pavilion and along the Village’s shady lanes, visitors will find presentations and displays from a variety of groups..

At 2:00 pm in the Welcome Center on both Saturday and Sunday, Jim Stephens, HCSV Deputy Director of Education and Interpretation, will present a talk on Richard Trevithick, the little known inventor of the modern steam locomotive. Children can enjoy trackless train rides around the Village on Saturday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm, departing behind the Welcome Center (additional fee required). The Family Activity Area will feature special event-themed children’s take-home crafts.

Historic Cold Spring Village is a non-profit, open-air living history museum that portrays the daily life of a rural South Jersey community of the Early American period. It features 26 restored historic structures on a 30-acre site. Tuesday through Sunday, from late June to early September, interpreters and artisans in period clothing preserve the trades, crafts and heritage of “the age of homespun.” Fun and educational activities for children are featured Tuesday through Sunday, with special events every weekend through September.

The Village is located on Route 9, three miles north of Victorian Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern terminus of the Garden State Parkway. Admission during the season is $14 for adults and $12 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted free. Unlimited free admission is available with Village membership. The Village Nature Trail at Bradner's Run is open to the public for free self-guided tours. For more information, call 609-898-2300, ext. 10, or visit www.hcsv.org.

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Sunday, July 22 -  Morristown, Morris County
Best Dressed in the Vail House: The Women of Speedwell
Children Friendly Site

Many women have lived in the Vail House in the last 150 years, as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, owners, or servants. Join the discussion on the many roles they played, featuring costumed interpreters leading tours of the Vail House from 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm. Admission: $5 per adult, $4 per senior, $3 per child age 4 - 16, FREE per child under age 4. Historic Speedwell is located at 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Sunday, July 22 - Bridgeton, Cumberland County
Potter's Tavern Open House

The Cumberland County Historical Society is excited to announce that the Potter’s Tavern will be open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 15 and Sunday, July 22. We hope you will join us for a tour of this historical building and explore one of the County’s oldest preserved landmarks. The Tavern is located at 51 West Broad Street, Bridgeton, NJ.

Tavern keeper, Matthew Potter, Jr. came to Bridgeton from Philadelphia and opened the tavern in 1773. It became a favorite meeting place for the local young men just before the Revolutionary War. Today, it is one of New Jersey’s most significant historical shrines and is an excellent example of the type of frame houses built in New Jersey during the 17th and 18th century. It was here that the Plain Dealer, Cumberland County’s pioneer newspaper, was published for the purpose of supporting the drive for American liberty from the Crown rule. The fact that Matthew Potter gave a home to the Plain Dealer placed him in personal danger, risking a charge of treason during this time. The distinguished historian, John T. Cunningham, said that the fact the Plain Dealer appeared every Tuesday morning probably made it New Jersey’s first regular “newspaper.”

For more information, call the office of the Cumberland County Historical Society at 856-455-8580.

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Sunday, July 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, July 22 - Montague, Sussex County
Montague Open Houses

MARCH, the Montague Association for the Restoration of Community History, is pleased to announce that both its museum sites will be open on Sunday. The Foster-Armstrong House and the Nelden-Roberts Stonehouse will be open to the public from 1:00 - 4:00 pm for museum house tours. Tours will be held every 30 minutes and docents will be available at both sites to guide you through our local history and artifact collections.

The Foster-Armstrong House, circa 1790, a two story Dutch colonial, is located on SC521/ 320 River Road, about 1 mile north of the Milford/Montague Bridge. It is listed on the State Historic Register of NJ and is a National Historic Register Site. Ten rooms are set up with local history displays in each room. Rooms contain an original bee hive oven, native Indian artifacts, Duke Mortimer's Dramatic Art Workshop collection, a military room, a quilt room and to scale model covered bridges of the northeast United States. 

At the Foster-Armstrong House from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, Barbara Meyer will demonstrate basketmaking.

The Nelden-Roberts Stonehouse, circa 1820, is located at 501 Route 206 North, about 1 mile south of the Milford/Montague Bridge. It is listed on the State Historic Register on New Jersey. The first floor is set up as a schoolhouse, which is what the building was originally built for. The second floor has a schoolmaster's bedroom and native Indian artifacts.

Both museums are located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/MontagueNJHistory.

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Sunday, July 22 - Fair Lawn, Bergen County
Garretson Forge and Farm Open House

Garretson Forge and Farm will hold an open house on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The Gerretson, one of the oldest historic sites in Bergen County, was home to six generations of the Garretson family and remains a rare surviving example of simple farming life that was prevalent in the 1700s and 1800s. Admission is free but donations are welcome. The Forge and Farm are located at 4-02 River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ. For more information, call 551-206-4380 or 201-797-7545 or visit www.garretsonfarm.org.

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Sunday, July 22 - River Edge, Bergen County
Summertime Tours
Children Friendly Site

On Sunday, Historic New Bridge Landing will be open for tours. Visit Bergen County's Premier Historic Site. All 3 Jersey-Dutch sandstone houses, including the Steuben House, a state historic site, are connected by an ADA compliant gravel walking path. The Westervelt-Thomas Barn will be open. Take-away kite making project included for children and kite flying in the Meadow if conditions are right.

Admission: $12 adults, $7 students, BCHS members free. Historic New Bridge Landing is located at 1201-1209 Main Street, River Edge, NJ. Free parking available or take a train on the Pascack Valley Line from Secaucus via NJ Transit to the New Bridge Landing Train stop. For more information, visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.

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Sunday, July 22 - Morris Township, Morris County
Hook, Line, and Sinker!
Children Friendly Event & Site

On Sunday from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, cast a fishing line at the pond to see if any fish respond. Catch of the day will be tossed back.

Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (2 and 3). FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Sunday, July 22 - Tewksbury, Hunterdon County
Tewksbury Barn Tour 

The 11th biennial Tewksbury Barn Tour, co-sponsored by the Tewksbury Historical Society and Tewksbury Trail Association, will be held this year on Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, rain or shine. There will be five (5) barns on the tour offering a diverse display of country life in Tewksbury.

This year’s barns offer a wide array of architecture, operations, farming and practical use, from an active equestrian operation, to new barn still going through its final stages of construction to a barn relocated from Ontario Canada and reassembled on a farm outside Oldwick. Tour attends will get to view a new horse operation sparing no detail in its layout, form and function.

Tickets can be purchased on-line through the Tewksbury Historical Society’s website at www.tewksburyhistory.net then click on the Barn Tour page through July 20. Advance tickets are $20 per person and $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets will not be mailed but must be picked-up the day of the event, along with a brochure and tour road map, at the Christie Hoffman Farm 108 Fairmount Road West (Route 512) Fairmount section of Tewksbury Township, NJ. Tickets may also be purchased the day of the tour, while they last, at the Christie Hoffman Farm, at a cost of $25 per person. Tickets must be purchased no later than 1:30 pm to allow enough time to complete the tour by 4:00 pm as the tour ends promptly at 4:00 pm. For more information, call 908-832-6734 or visit www.tewksburyhistory.net.

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Sunday, July 22 - Sparta, Sussex County
Sussex County Views: The Art of Toni Chaplin


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Sunday, July 22 - Waldwick, Bergen County
Waldwick Signal Tower Open House

The Erie Signal Tower in Waldwick will be open for tours on Sunday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. The tower is located at 3 Bohnert Place, Waldwick, NJ. It can also be accessed via the Waldwick Museum of Local History via a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks and a short walk. For more information, visit www.allaboardwaldwick.org.

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Through Tuesday, July 31 - Montclair, Essex County
Nubian Heritage Quilters Guild Presents Harlem Renaissance “All that Jazz"
Family Friendly

The Nubian Heritage Quilters was established to preserve, and document the importance of African American quilting. Serving the community, to encourage and revitalize others in their knowledge of this craft, to give them a sense of their heritage through quilting. The exhibit will be held at the Crane House & Historic YWCA. For more information on the exhibit visit www.nubianquilters.org. Demonstrations in hand piecing, machine piecing, hand quilting, rotary cutting and appliqué, and crazy quilt blocks. Special exhibits in Trees of Life, small little village, postcards, “The Great Migration” – Jacob Lawrence, Surprise Art Quilts, and “Oppression by Any other Name.” Exhibit demonstrations will be held on June 16 and 17 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Admission is $6 adults, $2 students, children 5 & under are free. The exhibit will also be open to the public on July 15 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm or by appointment, regular admission rates of the Montclair History Center apply. The Crane House & Historic YWCA is located at 110 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ. For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.

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Through September, 2018 - Freehold, Monmouth County
Summer at the Jersey Shore Exhibition

The months of June through August mean a time of sun, fun, and outdoor activities at the Jersey Shore. Monmouth County Historical Association now features an exhibition that captures some of the various pastimes that were offered to visitors years ago during the summer season. Summer at the Jersey Shore will remain on view through September 2018. Museum hours are Tuesdays - Saturdays 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. 

Paintings, prints, and drawings dating from 1850 to 1940 illustrate such things as horse racing, sun and sea bathing, sport fishing, casino gambling, preaching on the beach, steamboats that served the shore, and shore landscapes. Artists represented include Alfred T. Bricher, George C. Lambdin, Winslow Homer, August Kollner, John W. Alexander, Theodore R. Davis of Asbury Park, and Michel Jacobs of Rumson. Scenes depict activities at Sea Bright, Long Branch, Monmouth Park, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Manasquan, and Cape May. Souvenirs displayed from Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, and Red Bank displays the types of mementos that shore visitors could purchase as a token of their summertime experience, either as a day-tripper or as an extended stay guest at one of the many hotels and boarding houses available in New Jersey's coastal communities.

In many respects, shore visitors of the twenty-first century can take advantage of the same range of activities as those who enjoyed the area's attractions in the nineteenth century, with a large gap in between. In 1894, New Jersey outlawed horse racing and gambling. In the intervening years, they have been restored. Horse racing returned to a new Monmouth Park in 1946, casino gambling to Atlantic City in 1976, and Governor Murphy placed the first bet under the new sports betting law at Monmouth Park on June 13. The sun, sandy beaches, saltwater fishing, social life, and easy access from Philadelphia or New York continue to draw thousands of visitors to the Jersey Shore each year.

For more information, visit www.monmouthhistory.org.

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Through Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - Cape May, Cape May County
Capturing Cape May's Architecture: The Making of a National Historic Landmark

In the early 1970s, a team from the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) produced pen and ink drawings of Cape May, NJ's most significant historic structures that were instrumental in saving this seaside town - "the best-preserved late 19th century resort in America." The drawings enabled Cape May to become a National Historic Landmark and a national tourist destination. Now, for the first time, these intricate drawings and the stories of the architects whose hands created them are on exhibit at the Carroll Gallery. Curator Karen Fox, author of The Chalfonte, provides visitors with a unique look at how a small band of preservationists saved not only the buildings, but a culture of the past creating a future. The exhibit "Capturing Cape May's Architecture: The Making of a National Historic Landmark" is on display at the Carroll Gallery in the Carriage House of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. The exhibit is presented by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) and is open daily through Wednesday, October 31, 2018; times vary. Admission is free. MAC is a multifaceted not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. MAC membership is open to all. For information about MAC's year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit MAC's www.capemaymac.org.

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Through December 28, 2018 -  Morristown, Morris County
George Washington’s Headquarters: Photographs by Xiomáro

Morristown National Historical Park (NHP) invites the public to view the exhibition George Washington’s Headquarters: Photographs by Xiomáro. The 22 large images of the Ford Mansion – Washington’s base of operations during the Revolutionary War winter of 1779-1780 – are on view in the museum until December 28, 2018. The exhibition of Xio’s photographs of Washington’s Revolutionary War headquarters highlights the house’s dual role as a residence. 

Xiomáro (pronounced “SEE-oh-MAH-ro”) is an internationally-recognized artist and speaker whose photography has been covered by The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and CBS Eyewitness News. His work has been widely exhibited at venues such as Harvard University and New York City’s Fraunces Tavern Museum. Next year, Arcadia Publishing is releasing Xio’s photo book, Weir Farm National Historic Site, about Julian Alden Weir, the father of American Impressionist painting.

A free eBook of the photographs is available at www.xiomaro.comThe exhibit is at the Morristown National Historical Park’s Washington Headquarters Museum, 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ. Admission is free. For more information. visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Through 2018 - Woodbury, Gloucester County
Out of the Box: Rare & Unusual Objects

Intrigued about what might lie behind closed doors in a museum? Out of the Box: Rare & Unusual Objects, our new exhibit at the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum, will give visitors a peek into some of our most exceptional artifacts. Objects that have not been on view to the public for years will be out on display for all to see. We have chosen an array of unique items from every category imaginable in the museum’s collection. Most of these artifacts are between 100 – 200 years old, and haven’t seen the light of day in decades. Come to experience the rare, odd, quirky, beautiful, and even creepy treasures just waiting to be revealed. The exhibit opens on Sunday, April 29 when admission will be free that day! The exhibit will be closed on Mondays, and summer Sundays, but open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm from May 2 through the summer months. Monday hours will resume on September 5, 2018, along with last Sunday of the month hours. Please visit www.gchsnj.org for further details. The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum is located at 58 N. Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ. For more information, call 856-848-8531 or visit www.gchsnj.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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Through June 2019 - Ocean Township, Monmouth County
"Wet as the Atlantic Ocean: Prohibition in New Jersey”

The 18th Amendment—the measure that made the manufacture, sale, or transport of alcoholic beverages a federal offense for the 13 years, 10 months, 19 days, and 17 hours of Prohibition—was repealed in 1933. It is the only Constitution Amendment ever to be undone. And its doing and undoing were the results of a tug-of-war between the “Wets” and the “Drys” that played out across the country.

A new exhibit opening to the public Sunday, in the Richmond Gallery of the Eden Woolley House reveals where New Jersey stood in that tug-of-war. “Wet as the Atlantic Ocean: Prohibition in NJ” brings the debates, glamour, and violence of the Roaring Twenties home.

How did it happen?
The prohibition debate had been argued across the country for nearly a century before the 18th Amendment outlawed alcohol nationwide. Maine passed the first state prohibition law in 1846 and by the Civil War, several other states had followed suit.

So what happened in the first decades of the next century to elevate debate into a campaign for a Constitutional Amendment—that took the fight national?

• Drunkenness was a real problem. The proliferation of saloons fueled a drinking culture, and between 1900 and 1913, beer and alcohol consumption soared. Women and families suffered.
• Women had been campaigning for abstinence since the early 1800s, By the turn of the century they were finding their voice, stridently advocating for the vote-— and increasingly for prohibition. Organizations like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union were gaining ground.
• Many Americans felt threatened by the influx of immigrants whose cultural norms around alcohol threatened prevailing white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant values.
• On the global scene, the unthinkable carnage of the First World War and the alarming success of the Russian Revolution fueled a nostalgic longing for control and order.

Under these conditions, pro-prohibition sentiment grew. By 1919 more than half the country lived in dry states, counties, or towns. If the 18th Amendment were to be passed, it needed to happen before the 1920 census, the results of which would give greater power to the anti-prohibition cities.

The last state to Ratify
Ours was the last state to ratify the 18th amendment and it did so in 1922, two years after the measure was in effect. (Rhode Island and Connecticut never ratified.) We fought Prohibition in court. New Jersey joined Rhode Island in a losing challenge before the Supreme Court (1920). And we were back in 1931, when the Supreme Court overruled a New Jersey federal judge’s decision invalidating the 18th Amendment.

New Jersey’s Resistance
It’s no surprise, then, that Prohibition enforcement in New Jersey was lax. Local fishermen and boaters shuttled bootlegged liquor to shore from rum-running ships lined up just outside the legal limit. Speakeasies thrived with little risk of raid. The state underfunded enforcement. Corruption was rampant. Local police turned a blind eye. Even the teetotaling and incorruptible Ira Reeves, the man put in charge of federal enforcement in New Jersey, resigned after eight months and took up the anti-Prohibition cause!

This exhibit runs through June 2019. 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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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey

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