NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 9/14/19 - 9/15/19

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, September 14 - Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County

Atlantic Highlands Historical Society Outdoor Flea Market

The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society will hold its annual Outdoor Flea Market at the Atlantic Highlands Marina (off First Avenue) on Saturday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The rain date is Saturday, September 21.

The 145 spaces with 100+ vendors will have treasures for everyone, vendors offering a variety of antiques and collectibles, crafts, second time around, and some new items. Among the merchandise to be found is furniture, tools, fishing equipment, jewelry, books, vintage postcards, tee shirts, linens, clothing, toys, art, glassware, and a variety of household goods. Also this year we will hold a Chance Auction for ten delightful baskets brimming with merchandise. The Society will also sell a variety of refreshments, food and baked goods.

Society members will be on hand to answer questions about our organization its programs, projects society memberships and our upcoming events. Society merchandise will also be available for purchase.

All proceeds from this event will be used towards the restoration of the AHHS Museum, the Strauss Mansion, at 27 Prospect Circle, as well as educational programs throughout the year. For more information, call 732-291-4313 or 732-291-9337 or visit www.ahhistory.org.

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Saturday, September 14 - Manalapan, Monmouth County
Spirits of the Jerseys State History Fair
Children Friendly Event and Site

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Saturday, September 14 - Princeton, Mercer County

Stony Brook Walking Tour

Before there was a "Princeton," six Quaker families established a community on the fertile ground along Stony Brook. This two-hour hike explores the lives of the early settlers and the community they established, while following a portion of the trail George Washington took from Trenton to the Princeton Battlefield. Stops include the Stony Brook Meeting House and Burial Ground, walking a portion of the "hidden" back road into Princeton, and a view of the Battlefield.

Admission: $5 per person and includes farmhouse museum admission. Tours begin at the Updike Farmstead farmhouse, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ at 1:00 pm and ends at 3:30 pm. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Saturday, September 14 - 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 and its 6-inch guns at Sandy Hook, a unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Visitors are invited to stop by on this work and training day to chat and learn more about the historic time period of March 1943, the preparation for the May 1943 reactivation of Battery Gunnison/New Peck, and the restoration and preservation projects currently underway. 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, September 14 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County

Battery Potter Tours
Children Friendly Tour

Join a park ranger guided tour of Sandy Hook's oldest gun batteries. Completed in 1895 it was the first concrete disappearing gun battery built in the United States. This free tours begin at 1:00 pm and runs continuously until 4:30 pm. Battery Potter is 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, September 14 - Chester, Morris County
National Milling Day
Children Friendly Site

On Saturday from 1:00 - 5:00 pm, celebrate the 264th birthday of Oliver Evans, a 1780s inventor, who created the first automatic flour mill. See some of his inventions at work at the Gristmill. View a collection of antique printed flour bags. Cost: Suggested donation of $3 per adult, $2 per senior, and $1 per child age 4 - 16. 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, September 14 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Cookstove Demonstration and Accordion Melodies of the 1890s
Children Friendly Site & Event

On Saturday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to see what is cooking on the woodstove in the out kitchen. Discover how food, receipts, cooking techniques, and the kitchen itself has changed since the 1890s. This free events run from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.

While there, stop in the farmhouse to hear melodies from the 1890s played on the accordion. This free events run 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, September 14 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County
Allaire Village's Late-Summer Flea Market

Hunt for hidden treasures amid furniture, books, art work, bottles, knick knacks, and so much more at Allaire Village's Late-Summer Flea Market! The event runs from 8:00 - 3:00 pm. $2 admission for adults and children under 12 get in free. The rain date is September 15.

The Historic Village at Allaire is located at 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. For more information, contact the Allaire Village office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, at 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

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Saturday, September 14 -  Harmony Township, Warren County
Agripalooza and Tractorcade
Children Friendly Event 

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Warren County will be holding their 2019 Agripalooza/Tractorcade at the Van Nest-Hoff-Vannatta Farmstead® on Saturday, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. 

Warren County celebrates local agriculture with
- Tractor Parade
- Tack Sale
- Workshops and Demonstrations
- Live Animals
- Agricultural Displays
- Live Music

There will be a food vendor on-site and admission is free. This event replaces the traditional Fall Open House. The rain date is Sunday, September 15. The farmstead is located at 3026 Belvidere Road, Route 519, just north of the Municipal Building in Harmony Township, NJ. For more information, visit www.hoffvannattafarm.org.

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Saturday, September 14 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County

Canning & Storytelling
Children Friendly Event

It’s the end of summer and the crops are bountiful. It’s time to “put up” some food. At Howell Living History Farm, you can help. The farm will be the site of a canning and cooking program. Not only can you learn how to can and pickle your garden favorites...but you can sample some of the treats.

Throughout the day, farmers will be canning and pickling surplus garden crops like cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes and more.  You can sample the results and take home recipes and other secrets that made canning a mainstay of the 1900 farm.

While the tomatoes are stewing, be sure to visit the nooks and crannies in the barnyard where members of the New Jersey Storytellers Network are sharing stories about farms and farming, past and present. Be prepared to tell stories of your own during special sessions held in the horse barn and blacksmith's forge!

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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Saturdays through September 28 - Byram Township, Sussex County
Summer at Waterloo
Family Friendly

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Saturday, September 14 - Lambertville, Hunterdon County
Gaia's Way and Sustainable Historic Renovation

Join the Lambertville Historical Society from 1:00 - 3:00 on Saturday for a tour of the extraordinary Richard Holcombe farmstead - now called Gaia’s Way - which dates to 1744 and is currently under renovation. The owners, construction manager and materials specialist Lia Nielsen and architect Jason Kliwinski, will discuss this complex project, their vision of “sustainable historic restoration,” and their plans to transform this abandoned property back into a local gem. And they will guide us through the 3,000-square-foot house, two barns and other outbuildings, and around the grounds. After the tour, we will enjoy beverages and snacks on the porch and mingle.

Parking is free and on the grounds. This property is on River Road (aka Daniel Bray Highway) just north of Route 202 on the right. The rain date is September 21 from 1:00-3:00 pm.

This event is $5 for the public and free for Lambertville Historical Society members. Gaia's Way is located at 1680 RT-29 (Daniel Bray Highway), Lambertville, NJ 08530. Learn more at www.gaiaswayfarm.com.

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Saturday, September 14 - Cape May, Cape May County
Underground Railroad Trolley Tour

On Saturday at 10:00 am, join the Center for Community Arts' (CCA) Community History Committee on a trolley tour of the places where escaped slaves sought refuge and help to continue their journeys to freedom. Hear the stories and visit some of the places connected with the Underground Railroad, including: a look at the Owen Coachman House; a walk in a historic cemetery where our earliest free Black settlers are buried; and a glimpse of the summer home of Stephen Smith, a leading businessman, abolitionist and unsung hero of the Underground Railroad. Learn how Harriet Tubman found Cape May as a resource for earning money to fund her work. Board the trolley at the Washington Street Mall information booth at Ocean Street for this 2-hour tour. Admission is $25 per adult. 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, September 14 - Cape May Point, Cape May County
Cape May Lighthouse Full Moon Climb

Let the light of the full moon guide you up the 199 stairs to the starry top, overlooking historic Cape May. Since it opened to the public in 1988, some 2.5 million people have climbed the 199 steps to the top of the Cape May Lighthouse; but a smaller, select group can say they have experienced the grand vista of the evening sky from atop this majestic beacon at nighttime. Climb the 199 steps of the Cape May Lighthouse to the top where you'll be able to see the full moon in all its glory on clear nights and enjoy a spectacular moonlit view. 

The Cape May Lighthouse is located in Cape May Point State Park, Lower Township. Climbs will be held between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Admission: $15 for adults, $8 for children (ages 3-12) and active military or veterans. Tower admission is free for “Friends” members. Purchase tickets from the Keeper at the Lighthouse the night of the event. 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, September 14 - Cape May, Cape May County
Whalers Cottages at Batts Lane Self-guided Tour

On Saturday between 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm, take a self-guided tour of two beautifully restored, historic cottages that Chris & Dave Clemans have just donated to Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities! Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Owen Coachman House incorporates a c. 1700 “Whalers Cottage” - one of the oldest surviving structures in Cape May County. It was moved to this site in 1846 by Owen Coachman, a free black man who purchased land here for a farm. A tour of this site brings to life the important story of our county’s free African American community in the years before the Civil War. Admission is $10 per adult and children (ages 3-12) $5. 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, September 14 - 15 - Cape May, Cape May County
Cape May Historic District Trolley Tour

Enjoy a 45 minute guided tour with entertaining and enlightening stories about the nation's oldest seaside resort and how it survived. Accessible trolley available with advance notification. Tours begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.

Adults $15 and children (ages 3-12) $8. Tours on Saturday at 1:00, 2:15 am, and 4:00 pm. Tours on Sunday at 11:45 am, 1:00 pm, 2:15 pm, and 2:45 pm. 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, September 14 - 15 - Cape May, Cape May County
Welcome to Cape May Trolley Tour

This tour is designed for the first-time visitor to Cape May who wants a quick introduction to the many cultural, historical, and natural attractions on the island. From Cape May Harbor to Sunset Beach, tourgoers will learn all they need to know to make the most of their Cape May visit. Tours begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.

Adults $15 and children (ages 3-12) $8. Tours on Saturday at 11:00 am and 1:30 pm and Sunday at 11:00 am and 1:30 pm. 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, September 14 - 15 - Lower Township, Cape May County
Climb the Cape May Lighthouse
Family Friendly Site

On Saturday, the Cape May Lighthouse, Oil House and Museum Shop reopens for the season. The lighthouse is an 1859 structure with 199 steps to the watch gallery for a panoramic view of the Jersey Cape and Atlantic Ocean. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible Visitors' Orientation Center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and lighthouse memorabilia. Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Cape May Point State Park is located in Lower Township, NJ. Admission to the Visitors' Orientation Center and the ground floor of the lighthouse is free. Tower admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, September 14 - 15 - Cape May, Cape May County
Physick Estate Scavenger Hunt
Family Friendly

Have an adventure the whole family will enjoy at the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate! Use our map to explore the grounds and find the answers to questions about the Physick family and life in Victorian times on this educational scavenger hunt. Turn in your answer sheet at the Carriage House Museum Shop and receive a prize!

$5 includes map and clues. Maps and clues available at the Hill House office or the Carriage House Visitors Center at the Emlen Physick Estate. The Emlem Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, September 14 - 15 - Lower Township, Cape May County
World War II Tower Lookout Museum and Memorial Open
Family Friendly Site

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 - 4:00 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, September 14 - 15 - Cape May, Cape May County
Civil War Weekend at Historic Cold Spring Village
Children Friendly Event & Site

The Civil War comes to life at Historic Cold Spring Village’s annual Civil War Weekend, on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Visitors can tour Union and Confederate camps and meet authentically clad and equipped military and civilian reenactors who will discuss the everyday lives of Civil War soldiers and the roles civilians played in supporting them. 

The Village, which re-creates a rural community in the 1800s, serves as the perfect backdrop in presenting this event to the public. The battle reenactment begins at 2:00 pm. Visitors will be unable to enter the Village grounds at 1:45 pm. It is strongly encouraged that visitors arrive before 1:30 pm. The Village buildings will be closed during the battle and will reopen afterward.

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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Saturday - Sunday, September 14 - 15 - Hardwick, Warren County
Millbrook Days at Millbrook Village
Children Friendly Event

Are you tired of the fast pace of the 21st century? Step back to a quieter time where the high price of gas, credit cards, cell phones, and computers are not found. Experience Millbrook Days where Millbrook Village comes alive as it was over a century ago on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Volunteers in period clothing will demonstrate 19th century crafts and trades recreating the atmosphere of a late 19th century rural farming community. Try the stilts, jump rope or roll the hoop. There will be kid’s games throughout the village. Marbles, checkers, ring toss, tug of war, sack race and corn husk doll making to name a few. Kids of all ages can join the fun. No batteries needed!

Millbrook’s “residents” will be busy plying their trades and doing everyday chores and activities. Woodstove cooking, butter churning, spinning yarn, weaving, natural dyes, gardening, lace making, sewing, quilting, food drying and preserving, gourd decorating, open hearth cooking and other things will be demonstrated.

The blacksmith, wood workers, wheelwright, carvers, slate splitter, tinsmith, miller, rope maker, chair caner, shaker box maker, chair maker, wooden pitch fork maker, wet plate photographer and other craftsmen will be demonstrating their skills. Step in and ask if you can help; there are lots of hands-on things to try.

An assortment of hit and miss engines will be setting the tempo for the corn Sheller, grinder and other vintage machinery. To some the sound of the old engines is music too.

Apples are in season. The grinder and press will be turning out some fresh cider and the kettle will be cooking down some apples for delicious apple butter. Lend a hand, it’s fun.

There’s something for everyone to see and enjoy. A friendly atmosphere abounds and new friends are sure to be found at Millbrook Village. Everything is free of charge and family oriented. Donations are accepted.

Picnic and restroom facilities are available. Parking and admission is free. This event will be held rain or shine.

Millbrook Days is presented by the Millbrook Village Society in cooperation with the National Park Service. Millbrook Village is part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Millbrook Village is located in Hardwick Township, NJ at the intersection of Old Mine Road and Millbrook Road, County Route 602N.  For more information and directions, call 908-841-9531, 908-537-2544, or 973-875-3461 or visit their Facebook page.

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Sunday, September 15 - 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. Tours will be at 12:30, 1:45, and 3:00 pm on Sunday. Admission is $15 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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Sunday, September 15 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County

Mortar Battery Tours

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. This free tours begin at 1:30 pm and runs continuously until 4:30 pm. Mortar Battery is 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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Sunday, September 15 - Westfield, Union County
The Fine Art of Lacemaking
Family Friendly

Handmade lace – delicate, intricate and time-consuming to produce, has long been an expensive and desirable fashion accessory. Cherished for its fine workmanship and airy patterns, lace has been worn since the 15th century. At the Miller-Cory House Museum, lace makers will demonstrate bobbin lace and talk briefly about its history and the different regions that practice and celebrate this beautiful traditional handcraft. Visitors may also try creating basic stitches on bobbin lace pillow forms. This program runs from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

The program includes tours of the fully furnished circa 1740 farmhouse and demonstrations of 18th century open-hearth cooking featuring authentic early American techniques and recipes. 

Admission is $5 for ages 13 and older, $3 for ages 3-12, and free age 2 and younger. No reservations are necessary. 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.com.

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Sunday, September 15 - Morristown, Morris County
From Farmland to Elegant Tables: A History of Land Use in Morristown and Morris Township

Explore the history of land use through special presentations at The Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall, The Morristown and Morris Township Library, and Macculloch Hall Historical Museum. Tour Macculloch Hall’s historic garden at 12:15 pm then hear Joseph Grabas, author of Owning New Jersey (Charleston, SC: History Press, 2014) talk about the history of buying land in Morris County and New Jersey in the Library's Lower Level Meeting Room at 1:30 p.m.; after the talk venture over to the Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall for a tour of their barn and to view historic farming tools at 3:15 pm.

For more information, contact the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center at 973-538-3473 or njhgc@jfpl.org.

This tour is the first event related to the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center’s exhibit, The Changing Landscape of Morris County, which tells the history of land use in the region. The exhibit will be on display in the F.M. Kirby Gallery at the Morristown and Morris Township Library from September 7 through the end of 2019. The Morristown and Morris Township Library is located at 1 Miller Road, Morristown, NJ.

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Sunday, September 15 -  Morris Township, Morris County
Fosterfields Fall Harvest Fest
Children Friendly Event and Site

Come one, come all to the country fair at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm with farm animals, wagon-rides, food trucks, live music, crafts, exhibits, demonstrations, period games, wood-burning cook stove demos, and hands-on activities. This annual event attracts hundreds of people! Fun for the entire family from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm.

Admission: $8 per adult, $7 per senior (65+), $6 per child age 4 - 16, $4 per child age 2 & 3. FREE per child under age 2. Friends members are half price 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, September 15 - Maplewood, Essex County
Horseshoe Crabs: A Fascinating Conservation Study

If you headed ‘down the Shore’ this summer, you may have brushed up against a few horseshoe crabs on the beach – and had hardly given a thought to these odd, distant relatives of spiders. Yet horseshoe crabs are 300 million-year-old living fossils that are so valuable that in the late 1990s they became the center of a perfect storm of competing interests.

At 2:00 pm Sunday, New Jersey environmentalist Tedor Whitman will tell us why commercial fisheries, tourism officials, ornithologists, government (local, county, state, and federal) agencies, and pharmaceutical interests all fought to determine the use and future of these animals. Fortunately, the fate of the horseshoe crab fell into the hands of a resourceful biological technician and a handful of determined citizens.

Tedor Whitman is the Executive Director of the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary in Short Hills. He has over 25 years of experience teaching and leading conservation programs across a wide range of U.S. ecosystems. Before joining the Arboretum in 2014, Tedor was, among other things, the Director of Education for Zoo Miami and Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, a high school biology teacher at the TERRA Environmental Research Center, and the Director of Biological Stewardship at a large nature center in Westchester, N.Y. For seven years, he was also the Director of Education for the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ.

Parking is available on neighboring streets. Admission is free; donations are appreciated.

Durand-Hedden’s charming Country Store will open for this event. Check out historic-themed treasures such as early American children’s games, books and toys; facsimile documents; quill pens and ink; historic cookbooks; cookie molds; tin lanterns; and reproduction decorative items and ceramics. You’ll also discover the hard-to-find original Doors of Maplewood poster, Smile, the history of Olympic Park, and the new acid-free reproduction of the charming 1931 map of Maplewood.

Durand-Hedden House is dedicated to telling the history of the development of Maplewood, New Jersey and the surrounding area in new and engaging ways. It is located in Grasmere Park at 523 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood, New Jersey. For more information, call 973-763-7712 or visit www.durandhedden.org.

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Sunday, September 15 - 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, September 15 - Salem, Salem County
Salem County Historical Society Annual Luncheon

The Salem County Historical Society will host its 2019 Annual Luncheon on Sunday at the Inn at the Salem Country Club in Salem, NJ. This year’s luncheon will be of special interest as it will be in memory of former Board Trustee William J. Gallo, Jr. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served at 1:00 pm and the luncheon will begin at 1:45 pm. This year’s luncheon will also feature a presentation by Hal Taylor, an illustrator and author, who will be giving a presentation entitled, “Salem County and the Delaware River.”

In addition to the program our annual raffle and silent auction will run throughout the luncheon and will feature many items and offerings of local interest. The raffle item this year is a weekend for two in the Historic District of Annapolis, Maryland. This package includes a two nights' stay at the Reynolds Tavern in the Jefferson Suite, afternoon tea and two gift certificates for dinner in Annapolis! You do not need not be present at the luncheon to win the raffle.

This event is open to the public and tickets for the luncheon begin at $40 per person. Those wishing to purchase tickets to the luncheon or for the raffle should contact the society or visit www.salemcountyhistoricalsociety.com.

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Sunday, September 15 - Somerset, Somerset County
A Spirited War: George Washington and the Ghost of the American Revolution in Central New Jersey

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Sunday, September 15 - Bridgewater, Somerset County
Murder Mystery Lunch

Who murdered the illicit lovers Reverend Edward Hall and Mrs. Eleanor Mills in the 1920s? Join the Heritage Trail on Sunday at 11:00 am to try to find the answer! Over the course of three hours, you will be introduced to the players, review the evidence, learn about the politics of the time that affected the case, and learn how the case was investigated.

Twelve lucky people will be randomly chosen to be on the jury, and they will deliberate and render their verdict. Will it be you?

Everyone will enjoy a box lunch and share their opinions of the murders and who is guilty.

As an additional bonus, attendees may purchase our book, COLD CASE: Hall Mills Murder Revisited for $5 off the original price. Other books will also be on sale, too.

Seating is limited so reserve your ticket now. Tickets are only $25! Purchase them online.

Optional: feel free to wear your 1920s attire to put us in the time frame. Fun, but definitely not required!

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

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Sunday, September 15 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County
Nike Missile Radar Site Tours

Guided tours of the Integrated Fire Control (IFC) site will allow you to see the inner workings of the facility where supersonic nuclear armed Nike Hercules missiles were controlled and guided using Cold War era computers and radars. You will have the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the veterans who actually worked on the Nike Air Defense System. Free tours from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Meet at Horseshoe Cove, Parking Lot L on Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area. For more information, call 732-872-5970 or visit www.nps.gov/gate.

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Through Sunday, October 13, 2019 - East Amwell, Hunterdon County
“The Art of Natural Expression” featuring the art of Angela Marie Franco & Donna Foran

Angela Marie Franco’s career spans 44 years as an accomplished graphic designer, copywriter, database developer and marketer, specializing in corporate communications and branding. Her work includes designing hundreds of logos. She has lead corporate marketing departments in national and international companies and had her own advertising/marketing agency since the 1980s. She produced marketing seminars for business owners in New York City and was head of the Marketing SIG at the American Marketing Association and the Marketing Club at the  Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.

Angela attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan and earned two degrees - magna cum laud - in Graphic Design and Marketing Communications.

Since moving to Flemington, NJ in 2016, she has put aside her computer and is now creating multi-media art that is black ink centric and influenced by 1920s German Expressionism, M.C. Escher, Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie MackIntosh. She enjoys re-interpreting how the colorful Hunterdon County sky reflects in abstract scenes that are both ominous yet whimsical.

Donna Foran has been painting since the tender age of eight years old. A life-long resident of Hunterdon County, she attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and earned a degree in the Commercial Arts. Seeing beauty all around her, she is inspired by her surroundings from area landscapes, flowering fields and country side views of Hunterdon County.

Since 2009 Donna exclusively paints in oil colors and has refined her skills by continually learning and challenging herself. She is a regular participant in area art shows and has won several 1st place awards for her serene and colorful works. Donna is a member of Friends of Historic Flemington and the Creative Path Artists.

A meet the artist reception will be held Friday, September 13 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Admission to the East Amwell Museum and exhibit will be free and open to the public on weekends from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The exhibit will be on display from September 7 through October 13, 2019. For more information, call 908-237-3303 or visit www.eastamwellhistory.org.

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Through Sunday, November 3 - Cape May, Cape May County
The Iconic Cape May Lighthouse Exhibit
Family Friendly

Illuminating the darkness over the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay for 160 years, Cape May’s lighthouse is the third beacon to guide mariners through the tumultuous waters at the confluence of the ocean and bay. Memories and historic images abound, from the keepers who dedicated their lives to maintaining the light, the MAC preservationists who restored it, and all those who’ve relied upon it for more than a century and a half.

This exhibit will be held at the Carroll Gallery on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate. Admission to the exhibit is free. Visit www.capemaymac.org/carriage-house-hours for exhibit hours. The Emlem Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Through November 11, 2019 - Woodbury, Gloucester County
War to End Wars: Centennial of WWI & Veterans’ Day

War to End Wars: Centennial of WWI & Veterans’ Day, our new exhibit at the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum, honors the centennial of World War I and its veterans.  Come view uniforms worn by local, youthful doughboys as well as original liberty bond and enlistment posters carefully preserved by our librarians for over one hundred years! The exhibit also honors veterans of all wars since World War I as Americans now celebrate the day the war ended as Veterans’ Day. The exhibit is now open and will run through Veterans’ Day. The exhibit will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The museum is also open on the last Sunday of each month September through April from 2:00 - 5:00 pm as well as Saturdays April 6 and May 4 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. 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 2019 - Ridgewood, Bergen County
Here Comes The Bride - Chronicling Two Hundred Years of Wedding Customs & Traditions

Something old. Something new. Something borrowed. Something blue. Tossing the bouquet. Bride and Groom cake toppers. Putting a sixpence in your shoe. Where did these traditions originate? Why do we still honor them today? Please join us as we walk down the aisle and trace the history of Ridgewood’s wedding traditions.

The Schoolhouse Museum celebrates the opening of its current featured exhibit “Here Comes The Bride - Chronicling Two Hundred Years of Wedding Customs & Traditions.” This new exhibit features items dating from 1789-1989, showcasing many beautiful wedding gowns from the museum's collection - some of which have never been on exhibit before.

While at the museum, see the curio cabinet exhibit “50 Small Things with Big Histories.” The exhibits are open until December 2019 and are free to the public with donations suggested at the door. Museum hours are Thursdays and Saturdays from 1:00 - 3:00 pm and Sundays from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

The Schoolhouse Museum is a historic one-room schoolhouse in Ridgewood, New Jersey, originally built in 1872, that has been turned into a gallery space which now houses the Ridgewood Historical Society. Entirely volunteer-run, the non-profit Historical Society presents annual exhibits, events and workshops in a community that values education, family and local and national history. The museum is located at 650 E Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.

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Through Sunday, January 5, 2020 - Parsippany, Morris County
The American Arts and Crafts Chair: “A Message of Honesty and Joy”

The exhibition will feature thirteen exemplary examples of side chairs by handicraft-oriented furniture manufacturers--among them Gustav Stickley’s Craftsman Workshops, the L&JG Stickley Company, the Charles P. Limbert Company--as well as smaller, craft-oriented workshops such as Charles Rohlfs, the Roycroft Shops, Byrdcliffe Arts Colony, and Rose Valley Association. The exhibition will explore the usefulness and appealing designs of these vital products of the American Arts and Crafts movement and show how these chairs brought a message of honesty and joy to their makers and their possessors. Guest curator is David Cathers. 

On view from: Saturday, June 1, 2019 to Sunday, January 5, 2020. Thursdays through Sundays 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Admission varies depending on the type of tour. Free to Members. Craftsman Farms is located at 2352 Route 10 West, Morris Plains, NJ. For more information, call 973-540-0311, email info@stickleymuseum.org, or visit www.stickleymuseum.org.

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Through June 28, 2020 -  Piscataway, Middlesex County
Mid-Century New Jersey Exhibit

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Through 2020 - Ocean Township, Monmouth County

"Votes for Women: The Story of Suffrage"

When the Founders crafted the U.S. Constitution, they gave the authority to decide who could vote to the states. All but one decided it would be men—white, property-owning men, 21 years old and older.

The one exception was New Jersey. For the first few decades of our new nation, property-owning women in New Jersey could vote. But in 1807, state legislators took a step backward and rescinded the right. New Jersey women joined their sisters across the country who were shut off from the ballot.

The new exhibit, “Votes for Women: The Story of Suffrage” opening in the Woolley House, Sunday, tells of the remarkable campaign waged by women across the country to gain (and for New Jersey women, to regain) the vote.

The Start of a Movement
Most historians mark the start of the American suffrage movement from the 1848 Women’s Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Both women had discovered their political voice fighting for the abolition of slavery. Both had felt the sting of being shut out by male-dominated leadership. They were outraged, frustrated, and ready to take on the status quo. 

The status quo at the time was a sorry mess for women. Not only were they barred from public speaking and leadership positions, but married women could not own property, keep their own wages, or enter into any legal contract. Women were shut out of most professions. Divorce was near impossible, even in cases of abuse. A woman’s place was in the home—often an inherited home whose title had been ceded to her husband.

In 1851, three years after the Seneca Falls conference, Elizabeth Cady Stanton met Susan B. Anthony. Though strikingly unlike in appearance and temperament, they became lifelong friends. Together, they made a formidable team that reigned for more than 50 years as the iconic leaders of the suffrage movement.

Anthony and Stanton travelled the country making speeches and gathering support. When Stanton, mother of seven, cut back on travel, she stayed hard a work—writing Anthony’s speeches, organizing supporters, even rewriting the Bible from a feminist perspective.

Both women were bitterly disappointed when Congress refused, following the Civil War, to expand the language of the 15th Amendment to bar discrimination in voting based on both race and sex. Their outrage generated harsh statements from these former abolitionists that created a lasting racial rift among suffragists.

Anthony and Stanton did not give up. In 1878, they pushed for a 16th Amendment to guarantee women the right to vote. The “Susan B. Anthony Amendment,” as it became known, failed in this first attempt and was introduced anew to each session of Congress for the next 42 years! The (by then) 19th Amendment, granting women’s suffrage, was finally ratified in 1920.

They Didn’t Live to see It
Neither Stanton nor Anthony lived to see passage. Their efforts fell short of their goals. But the inroads they gained, the organizations they created, and the national awareness they built set the stage for the next generation—the early 20th century activists who carried the campaign for women’s suffrage to victory.

The Second Wave
Among this second wave of suffragists were the daughters of Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Mott—and newcomers, including Carrie Chapman Catt and New Jersey native Alice Paul. Catt and Paul were rivals. Their strategies and styles were at odds. Catt favored local campaigns to change state voting laws. She thought militant demonstration unpatriotic after the U.S. entered World War I in 1917.

In contrast, Paul took the fight for a U.S. Constitutional amendment to President Wilson’s doorstep. She lead an 18-month long picketing campaign at the gates to the White House. She welcomed arrest and used the mistreatment of imprisioned suffragists to build public sympathy. Faced with a public relations nightmare, Wilson gave in and threw his support in favor of the federal amendment.

Passage of the Anthony Amendment was “the greatest expansion of democracy on a single day the world had ever seen” (Eleanor Clift, Founding Sisters).

The Township of Ocean Historical Museum, founded in 1984, is a member-supported, non-profit organization. Its headquarters, the Eden Woolley House, is one of the few 18th century structures still in existence in the Township and is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (1:00 - 4:00 pm), Thursday evenings (7:00 - 9:00 pm - March 15 through December 15 each year) and the first and second Sundays of each month (1:00 - 4:00 pm). The Museum also maintains a library and archive, which houses manuscripts, books, and photographs of historical and genealogical interest. For more information, call 732-531-2136 or visit www.OceanMuseum.org.

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