NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 10/26/19 - 10/27/19

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


Friday - Saturday, October 25 - 26 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County
Haunted Hayride at Allaire Village
Children Friendly

Historic Allaire Village, presents Halloween Hayrides on Friday, and Saturday from 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm. With a NEW and spook-tacular route along the winding paths of time, nearly 20 different "scenes" greet visitors of all ages. Your ticket includes not only the haunted hayride, but admission to the village grounds and historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Visit with our ghosts, ghouls, and monsters. Storytelling at the Chapel; a special night out at the Blacksmith Shop; the Manager's House with fortune-telling for your entertainment; Mr. Allaire's House with a haunted house theme; the Carriage House with legendary spirits; the towering four story shadows of the General Store stocked with seasonal goods; and don't forget treats at the Bakery plus our very own Haunted Food Truck! In the dark of the night, from woods to historic homes, the Historic Village at Allaire takes on a twist for the Halloween season. With varied activities we welcome children, families, and adults of all ages!

The cost for the hayride is $10 for children under 12 and $15 for adults. ADVANCED TICKET PURCHASE IS REQUIRED. CAPACITY is LIMITED by "hourly time blocks.” Tickets are for sale by calling 732-919-3500 - please have your credit card ready. You can also purchase tickets at www.allairevillage.org.

If you have young children or your children are afraid of the dark, we recommend coming earlier in the evening for a hayride at twilight.

The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park, 4265 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, October 26 - West Orange, Essex County
Book Launch Reception at Edison National Historical Park

To celebrate the publication of Edison, the new biography of Thomas A. Edison by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edmund Morris, Random House will host a book launch reception from 2:00 - 4:00 pm on Saturday at the park’s laboratory complex. The event is free and open to the general public.

Random House editor Andrew Ward will offer brief remarks at the reception and Thomas Edison National Historical Park will announce the details of “One Book, One Town: West Orange Reads Edison,” a community-wide reading experience to encourage all to read and discuss the biography together.

Copies of Edison will be available for purchase, and on display in the park archives will be rarely-seen historic documents accessed by Edmund Morris while he researched the biography.

Edison is the first major biography of Thomas Edison to be published in the last twenty years. Edmund Morris spent several years exploring the vast five million page archive preserved at Thomas Edison NHP. In the process he has not only resurrected Edison as a person, but as a man of staggering variety – Edison the botanist, naval strategist, the iron-ore miner, the chemist and telegrapher, audio producer and publisher.

Edmund Morris (1940-2019) was born and educated in Kenya and went to college in South Africa. He worked as an advertising copywriter in London before immigrating to the United States in 1968. His biography The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt won the Pulitzer Prize and American Book Award in 1980. Theodore Rex followed in 2001 and Colonel Roosevelt in 2010. Morris was President Reagan’s authorized biographer and wrote the national bestseller Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan in 1999. He is also the author of Beethoven: The Universal Composer (2005) and This Living Hand (2012), a collection of essays.

This event is FREE but tickets must be purchased if you want to visit Glenmont Estate, the home of Thomas Edison. The Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ to see Glenmont, the Edison Estate. Admission is $15.00 per person 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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Saturday, October 26 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County
Secret Places of Sandy Hook: Rapid Fire Gun Batteries

Join the park historian at Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area to learn about the rapid fire gun batteries at Fort Hancock. Explore Batteries Peck, Engle, Urmston, and Morris that date from 1898 through 1909. Bring flash-light/head lamps, insect repellant and wear comfortable walking shoes. This program is free and will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Call the Sandy Hook Visitor Center at 732-872-5970 to make a reservation. The tour will meet in Lot M 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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Saturday, October 26 - 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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Saturday, October 26 -  Morris Township, Morris County
Historic Haunting
Children Friendly Event and Site

On Saturday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm, listen to spooky ghost stories and have a blast with Halloween fun and games at Historic Speedwell. Wear your favorite costume and join in an old-fashioned costume contest. Prizes for all winners. 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, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, October 26 - Chester, Morris County
A Miller's Halloween
Children Friendly Event

On Saturday, enjoy spooky storytelling at 1:00 and 3:00 pm at the Cooper Grist Mill in Chester. Come in costume, and create corn husk dolls, and play old-time games. Tour the gristmill and look for surprises around every corner. Suggested Donation: $3 per adult, $2 per senior, and $1 per child. 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, October 26 - Princeton, Mercer County
Harvest Festival: Celebrating Apples, Richard “the Duke” Stockton’s Cider, and Morven’s Heritage Cooks
Family Friendly Event

Richard “The Duke” Stockton, (1790-1837) wrote proudly of his “cider as fine as wine.” This October, Morven celebrates its second generation of Stocktons with a free family day highlighting Morven’s apple orchards, heritage cooks, and harvest time activities popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The day’s activities include costumed reenactors and hands-on demonstrations, including cider making, distilling, and cooking. There will be pickling, preserving and sweetmeats demos. Foodways to America and the important role of enslaved people in bringing new foods to this country will be recognized. Families will enjoy live period music and try the dances of the time. Take-home crafts for all ages include making corn husk dolls and printing with apples. The museum will be open and free to the public from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

Morven Museum & Garden is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ. For more information, call 609-924-8144 or visit www.morven.org.

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Saturday, October 26 -  Morris Township, Morris County
Meet the Servants at the Willows
Children Friendly Event and Site

On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, during a special hands-on guided tour, learn about the domestic help at the Foster home, The Willows, during the WWI era. Assist the maid with household chores and see what the cook has prepared using the wood-burning stove. Two tours times available: 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 2:00 - 3:00 pm.

Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2 for children ages 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, October 26 - Waretown, Ocean County
Candlelight Walk through Waretown’s Victorian Cemeteries
Family Friendly Event

On Saturday at 5:00 pm, travel back in time, to an era of sailing ships, pirates, and the Revolution! This special event is a candlelight walk through Waretown’s Victorian Cemeteries at dusk. The tour begins at the museum, with light refreshments. Then we move on to Old Presbyterian and Cedar Grove Cemeteries. It’s spooky fun, with a history lesson thrown in!

The cost is $10 per person. All proceeds go to the Waretown Historical Society Scholarship for Southern Regional High School seniors. The tour is limited to 75 guests, and it fills up quickly. Please text 609-661-1733 to reserve a spot.

The tour begins at the Little Red Schoolhouse Museum, 182 Wells Mills Road, Waretown, NJ. We meet for light refreshments and to purchase tickets, then drive to the cemeteries.

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Saturday, October 26 - Atlantic City, Atlantic County
Absecon Lighthouse Hosts Haunted Tours

Do you want to discover if Absecon Lighthouse is home to ghostly keepers that still watch over the shore in Atlantic City? Did the Jersey Devil pay a visit in 1909? Come visit the Absecon Lighthouse to hear the true ghost stories that prompted SyFy's TV Show "Ghost Hunters" to feature the lighthouse!

The New Jersey Researchers of Paranormal Evidence (NJ ROPE) will be on property to help you hunt for ghosts. Plus, hear and see their eerie recordings and video taken during previous paranormal investigations. Guided tours of our grounds and tower will let you explore our rich history and experience some spooky tales. Reservations are required; call 609-449-1360. Tour times are 6:00 and 7:00 and include a tower climb. Tickets are $20.00 and must be reserved.

But wait – there’s more! At 8:00 pm, NJ ROPE invites you to join them on an actual paranormal investigation with ghost tracking equipment! Tickets for this two and a half hour ghost investigation are $45 and also must be reserved.

Since The Inlet Public Private Association renovated the lighthouse tower, rebuilt the Keeper's Cottage and re-opened to visitors, several staff and volunteers have shared stories of being alone on the property but hearing footsteps and voices, smelling smoke, and even seeing a few ghostly apparitions. Now is your chance to experience the Absecon Lighthouse as you've never experienced it before!

Absecon Lighthouse is located at 31 So. Rhode Island Avenue in Atlantic City. It is open to visitors Thursdays through Mondays, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.

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Saturday, October 26 -  Pennsauken, Camden County
"Halloween for the Kids" in Pennsauken
Children Friendly Event

On Saturday the Griffith Morgan House will host its traditional “Halloween for the Kids” event from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm!  The olde house will be haunted by crafts, games and activities of the spooky season, appropriate for the whole family. Ye Olde Pumpkin patch promises to start full of plump pumpkins ready to be made into jack-o-lanterns of all kinds just in time for Halloween! Get one for yourself and the kids and bring them inside to decorate with macabre flair! Treats, games, crafts and local Halloween lore await! Admission and most activities are free, but a nominal fee is charged for some crafts to recover the costs of materials.


Griffith Morgan House is located at 243 Griffith Morgan Lane off River Road between Delair and Route 73 in Pennsauken. Visit the Griffith Morgan House or Pennsauken Historical Society pages or the group “Pennsauken History Forum” on Facebook for more details and directions or call 856-486-9561 and leave a message for more information or e-mail to pennsaukenhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

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Saturday, October 26 - Roebling, Burlington County
The Magnificent Bridges of New York City


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Saturday, October 26 - Union Township, Union County
Pumpkin Patch Day
Children Friendly Event

Join Liberty Hall for their annual Pumpkin Patch Day - a fall tradition for so many families that offers a variety of fall activities appropriate for all ages in a single, convenient day trip!

In addition to pumpkin picking, carving and painting, children will experience a good old-fashioned hayride and make Halloween crafts. There is an additional charge for pumpkins, and lunch will be available for purchase from a vendor.

An all-day event, from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Admission is $12 for children and $8 for adults, and children under 3 are free. Reservations are not required but are suggested. To reserve online, visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall. Liberty Hall is located at 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ. For more information, call 908-527-0400, e-mail libertyhall@kean.edu, or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall.

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Saturday, October 26 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Cookstove Demonstration and 19th Century Woodworking Demonstration
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.

From 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm see how the carpenter uses 19th century woodworking and carving tools during this free demonstration.

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, October 26 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Corn Harvest
Children Friendly Event

A classic scene from America's past will be recreated at Howell Living History Farm when the fields of ripening corn are cut and shocked against a landscape of early fall colors.

Visitors can join in the work and fun from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, helping farmers harvest corn in the fields, shell and grind corn, and taste cornbread.

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, October 26 - Blairstown, Warren County
Walking Tour - Union Brick Cemetery

The Blairstown Historic Preservation Committee (BHPC) will be conducting their annual fall walking tour and this year will feature the Union Brick Cemetery in Blairstown, NJ on Saturday at 1:00 and 3:00 pm. The location of the cemetery is 74 Heller Hill Road, Blairstown, NJ 07825. Blairstown's official historian and BHPC Chairperson Christine Beegle will speak in addition to BHPC Vice Chairperson, Wickliffe Mott and Blairstown's Mayor Stephen Lance. Eagle Scout Joshua Lance earned his Eagle Scout rank this past spring 2019 and will speak of his restoration work and a sign established at the cemetery.

The tour is historical in nature and will speak of over fourteen prominent citizens of Blairstown including:
* John Peter Lanterman - Revolutionary War Veteran and settler of the area in the mid 1700s. Large land owner south of the Paulinskill River.  
William Hankinson - Builder of the 1825 Old Mill on historic Main Street in Blairstown. His father was Brigadier General Aaron Hankinson of the Revolutionary War. 
D. C. Carter - Newspaper publisher of the Blairstown Press circa 1900
Isaac Crisman - Builder of the Union Brick Schoolhouse in the early 1800s - (son Morris was a teacher at the school and a historian who documented the school's history).  
Jared Deremer - Native of this area who made his fortune as a turn-of-the-century inventor of the Deremer Water Wheel. An innovative invention with a highly demanded design for the making of electricity supplied to mining companies and other industrial fields of western states.

The tour will also feature the origins of:
the cemetery; schoolhouse that once stood here; Heller Hill Road which was once the direct route between Blairstown and Hope before 521 was made.

Attendees should sign-in at the welcome table upon arrival.  60 guests will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Parking - The cemetery sits north of the intersection of Heller Hill Road and Union Brick Road. Please follow the direction of CERT members to nearby field that is a short walking distance to the cemetery.  Carpooling is recommended.  Attendees with walking difficulties should notify a CERT member prior to parking to aid in drop-off at the gate.

For more information, call 973-997-0920.

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Saturday, October 26 - South Amboy, Middlesex County
Voice from the Grave Cemetery Tour


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Saturday, October 26 - 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, October 26 - 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 from 10:00 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, October 26 - Cape May, Cape May County
Cape Mayhem & Victorian Oddities Trolley Tour

They Did What??!! Headless Photography? Electric Corsets? Coffin Torpedoes? Explore some of the strange beliefs, superstitions, oddities,  fads, curiosities, and mysteries from the end of the 19th century - the Victorian era - in this half hour trolley tour through the gaslit streets of Cape May. Hear stories from Cape May’s history that are bizarre, unexplained or just downright weird! This Saturday tours at 6:45, 7:45, and 8:45 pm begins and ends at the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Adults $15 and children (ages 3-12) $8. 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, October 26 - Cape May, Cape May County
Phantoms of the Physick Estate: Victorian Spiritualism House Tour
Family Friendly Tour

Victorians were fascinated by Spiritualism and the occult. Visit the “haunted” Physick Estate and learn from your guide about this Victorian obsession. You will even hear an electronic voice phenomenon (EVP) that 21st century technology has captured within these walls, and understand why they are reputed to host more than the living. Appropriate for all ages. The tour will be on Saturday at 12:30, 1:45, and 3:00 pm. 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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Saturday, October 26 - 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. Tour on Saturday at 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, October 26 - 27 - 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 11:45 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:15 pm. Tours on Sunday at 11:45 am and 1:00 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, October 26 - 27 - 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 - 4:00 pm on Saturday and 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm on 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, October 26 - 27 - Cape May, Cape May County
Scarecrow Alley at the Physick Estate
Family Friendly

Once again, the grounds of the Physick Estate will be transformed for a spooky Halloween, and Scarecrow Alley showcases homemade scarecrows -- from the ghoulishly gruesome to the foolishly funny! VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE! Visit the Carriage House Gallery at the Physick Estate during hours of operation and cast your vote for your favorite scarecrow.

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, October 26 - 27 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
Here Lies . . . Historical Headstone Carving
Children Friendly Event & Site

Weeping willow, angel, thoughtful sentiments or simply birth and death dates carefully carved in to a headstone carry a message from the past for all to remember. Watch skilled craftsman Tom Kelleher from Old Sturbridge Village as he carves a traditional slate headstone while sharing some early American social history on customs for passing from this life to the next. Add a side trip to one or more of the historic cemeteries in this area to view many early expressive headstones. This free event runs from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

While there, visit 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, call 609-259-6275 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Saturday - Sunday, October 26 - 27 - Morris Township, Morris County
The Time to Mourn
Mature Children and Adults

On Saturday and Sunday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm at 1:00 and 2:00 pm, tour the Foster family home, The Willows, to explore the unique death and mourning traditions of the Victorian period. Customs, now considered strange, influenced loved ones for months and years after the deceased had passed.

Admission: $6 per adult, $5 per senior (65+), $4 per child age 4 - 16, $2 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, October 27 - 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, October 27 -  River Edge, Bergen County
Harvest Homecoming
Children Friendly Event and Site


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Sunday, October 27 -  Morris Township, Morris County
Historic Halloween Happenings at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm
Children Friendly Event and Site

On Sunday from 1:00 - 3:30 pm, play special Halloween games, decorate cookies, and try on old-fashioned costumes. At 3:30 pm, take a guided walk to see how many pumpkins are hiding in the nearby woods. Afterwards, board the open-air wagon for a ride.

Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2 for children ages 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, October 27 - Montclair, Essex County
Rosedale Cemetery Tour

Founded over 175 years ago, Rosedale Cemetery marked the beginning of a new movement in how America took care of its deceased. We’ll talk about grave imagery as well as the people who are buried in the oldest section of the cemetery. Led by Executive Director, Jane Eliasof, and Assistant Director, Angelica Diggs. 

Admission is $10 per person and registration is required. To register, call 973-744-1796, email mail@montclairhistorical.org, or register online. Tour will begin 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 1 mile of walking.

For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistory.org.

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Sunday, October 27 - Westfield, Union County
The Charles Addams Walking Tour

Join local architect Greg Blasi on a walking tour past Charles Addams’ home, his favorite haunts, and the house said to have inspired his Addams Family creations. Hosted by the Westfield Historical Society. Two tours times are available (rain or shine): Sunday, October 20 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm and Sunday, October 27 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. The tour begins at the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Dudley Avenue.

Please meet architect and Westfield Historical Society Trustee Greg Blasi at 3:00 pm at the corner of Dudley & Lawrence. Tour cost is $5 for Westfield Historical Society members and $10 for non-members. Advance reservations and payment are required. Space is limited, so register soon. Names will be checked at start of tour. Register/Pay online at this link. For more information, visit www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, October 27 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
A Historical Halloween Celebration
Children Friendly Event


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Sunday, October 27 - Little Silver, Monmouth County
Laird’s Applejack History

On Sunday at 2:00 pm, Lisa from Laird’s Applejack will share the history of this famed Monmouth County family business. The talk starts at 2:00 in the barn. The Parker Homestead will be open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The Parker Homestead is located at 235 Rumson Road, Little Silver, NJ. For more information, visit www.parkerhomestead-1665.org.

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Sunday, October 27 - Lambertville, Hunterdon County
Halloween Walking Tour of Lamberville

A special walking tour of Lambertville will highlight our town’s favorite holiday - Halloween! Join Lambertville residents Bambi Kuhl and Lou Toboz, who is also Lambertville's town historian, as they share famous Lambertville tales and lore and stroll past homes decorated for Halloween. This tour is free to members of the Lambertville Historical Society! Suggested donation of $5.00 for non-members. Meet at 2:00 pm at the Marshall House Museum, 60 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ. The tour takes approximately 1.5 hours. For more information, visit www.lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, October 27 - Sparta, Sussex County
Sparta Underground: Men, Mines, and Minerals


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Sunday, October 27 Sparta, Sussex County
NJ Glass: Earth, Wind, and Fire


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Through Friday, November 1 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
Lasting Impressions: Art from the Park
Children Friendly Site

Many artists have been inspired by the beauty of Historic Walnford’s landscape and structures throughout the seasons and across many years. View a selection of paintings, drawings and photographs on display in the Cow Barn. Feel inspired to create your own lasting impression? Plein air artists are always welcome in the park. View the exhibit daily from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

While there, visit 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, Upper Freehold, NJ. For more information, call 609-259-6275 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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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 - Trenton, Mercer County
Preserving the Pinelands: Albert Horner’s Portraits of a National Treasure

The New Jersey State Museum is hosting  Preserving the Pinelands: Albert Horner’s Portraits of a National Treasure from through June 28, 2020 in the 1st floor East Gallery. The exhibit features images which capture the quiet beauty and intimate landscapes of New Jersey’s Pinelands National Reserve by photographer Albert Horner, and artifacts from the NJ State Museum’s collections which tell just some of the stories of the land, animals, people, and industries that make the Reserve a state and national treasure. Horner, a self-taught photographer from Medford Lakes, brings curiosity, reverence and a practiced eye to his craft, recording the forests, cedar swamps, meandering waterways and native wildflowers that make the Pinelands unique. In addition to being home to rare plant and animal species, the Reserve also contains archaeological sites and a vibrant cultural history of craftspeople, industry and agriculture.

The museum is open Tuesday - Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm. It is closed Mondays and on state holidays. The New Jersey State Museum is located at 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ. For more information, 609-292-6300 or visit www.state.nj.us/state/museum/index.html.

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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

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