NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 1/23/21 - 1/24/21

New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, January 23

“Immigration and Americanization - Eastern European Workers in Trenton's Roebling Factories”

Virtual Program

 

The Trent House Association presents a virtual illustrated talk, “Immigration and Americanization - Eastern European Workers in Trenton's Roebling Factories.” The program will begin at 1:00 pm on Saturday via Zoom at https://bit.ly/3nTJ51U. Suggested donations of $10 can be made at www.willliamtrenthouse.org/donation.html. 

 

The Trent House Museum continues to expand its interpretation of Trenton's history. In this program, available via Zoom, records of Roebling Factory employees in the years immediately after World War I are used to explore the question, "Why were some workers who immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe considered 'American' while others were not?"

Four boxes of employee records found in the Trentoniana Collection of the Trenton Public Library are a treasure trove of detailed information about nearly 900 men who worked in Building 2, Department 50, of the Roebling Wire Factory in Trenton in the early part of the 20th century. Samuel Stephens, trustee of the Trent House Association, and Matthew Xu, student intern from West Windsor - Plainsboro High School South, present the results of their examination of these records. They focus on factors that affected why some workers' employment records reported a dual nationality combining their country of origin with "American," and others did not. They explore factors in the individual workers' lives as well as in the social and political dynamics of the time and ask us to consider what the experiences of these immigrants might tell us about immigration to the United States today.

The 1719 William Trent House Museum is dedicated to sharing the authentic history of the house, property, and people with our communities, connecting the past with today and tomorrow. For more information, visit www.williamtrenthouse.org.

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Saturday, January 23 - Cape May, Cape May County

Emlen Physick House 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 on Saturday at 1:45 pm. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased online or at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by Cape May 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, January 23 - Lower Township, Cape May County
Climb the Cape May Lighthouse
Family Friendly Site

The Cape May 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 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm on Saturday. 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 $12 for adults, $8 for children (ages 3-12). Children under 3 and active military are FREE. Sponsored by Cape May MAC. For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, January 23 - 24 - Atlantic City, Atlantic County
Absecon Lighthouse Open
Family Friendly

Absecon Lighthouse will be open Thursdays through Mondays, from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, with the last climb 1/2 hour before closing. 

Parking, exhibits, and Keeper’s Cottage museum are free. Admission to climb the 228 steps to the top is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6 for children 4-12, and $5 for Atlantic City residents; active military and children under 4 are free. Dogs on leashes are welcome on the two-acre lawn and in the museum space. Masks and social distancing are required, plexi-glass shields are installed in the gift shop and Watch Room at the top for your safety, and plastic gloves will be issued to climbers. 

First lit in 1857, Absecon Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey and the third tallest in the country. It is the oldest man-made structure in Atlantic City, boasts a first-order Fresnel lens still in place at the top, and offers fabulous views of Atlantic City and Brigantine.

The Absecon Lighthouse is located at 31 South Rhode Island Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ. For more information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, January 23 - 24 - 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! Participate anytime between 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm.

Price is $5. Purchase tickets online or at the Carriage House Museum Shop. The Emlem Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. 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, January 23 - 24 - 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 $20 and children (ages 3-12) $15. Tours on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 pm. Sponsored by the Cape May 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, January 24 - Union Township, Union County

Open House at the Caldwell Parsonage

The Union Township Historical Society will host an open house at the Caldwell Parsonage, 909 Caldwell Avenue, Union, NJ on Sunday from 2:00 - 5:00 pm. Admission is free. To maintain social distancing, reservations are required by calling 908-591-4377.

Visitors can: 

* collect Union County's Hannah Caldwell, James Caldwell, and Battle of Connecticut Farms trading cards;

* receive Union County Passport booklets and have them stamped--the Parsonage, part of the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, is an official National Park Service cancellation site;

* view a new exhibit of 10 historic Union documents archivally preserved, partially through a grant from the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs;

* purchase 36" x 48" reproductions of the Thomas Hughes 1860 Union farm map for $15; and

* enjoy the exhibit of historic household conveniences; farm implements; old TV’s, radios, and office equipment in the Tool Museum in the carriage house.

The following protocols will be observed:

* masks required;

* social distancing;

* sign in with email address;

* temperature checks;

* portable UV sanitizing wand for surfaces; and

* hand-sanitizer available.

The UTHS had to cancel tours in March, July, and August and programs in April, May, September, November, and December. Each of those would have produced much needed revenue for the centuries-old house. It is hoped that members of the community would consider an in-person contribution or an online donation at www.unionnjhistory.com.

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Sunday, January 24

When Women Lost the Vote

Virtual Program

Some women and free people of color voted in New Jersey during the first three decades of New Jersey’s statehood. The Museum of the American Revolution brings new clarity and understanding to this contentious period in early New Jersey democracy in When Women Lost the Vote. Join a Museum Educator to explore this exhibition from home and consider the implications of New Jersey history for the national struggle for women’s suffrage. Among the artifacts featured is a lady’s pocket on loan from Wallace House State Historic Site.

Admission is free. This program is being held Sunday at 2:00 pm. Email wallacedutch@dep.nj.gov to register and receive invitation to live broadcast. Please note this presentation will NOT be recorded for later viewing. For more information on the event, visit  https://fb.me/e/5emyGDUd0.

This presentation is sponsored by the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage Association with support from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

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Saturday - Monday, January 23 - 25 - Tuckerton, Ocean County

Tuckerton Lighthouse Open

Family Friendly Event

After much careful consideration and implementing enhanced safety measures, Tuckerton Seaport is getting ready to open the Lighthouse for long weekends. The Tucker's Island Lighthouse will be open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. We will also have the Pop-Up Shop open at these times. Reserved timed tickets will be required for everyone. This helps us limit capacity and maintain social distancing. Masks will be required at all times. The building's high touch surfaces and bathrooms will be fogged and disinfected daily. Tuckerton Seaport reserves the right to make changes to the schedule or cancel at any time due to circumstances beyond our control at the discretion of the museum. Safety always comes first around here. In the event that we need to cancel any dates, guests who have pre-purchased tickets will receive a full refund.

How do you make reservations? Reservations can be made in two ways: Online or at the Welcome Booth!

Online:  Visit https://tuckertonseaport.org/december-lighthouse-admission-tickets 

Tickets are just $5/person. We are currently limiting capacity to just 8 guests per entry time every 30 minutes.

Seaport Members can use the discount code Member20 for their complimentary tickets. Members will be required to bring their Membership Card with them when visiting or the discount will not be valid. Membership benefits for Seaport Family Members include two adults as well as any accompanying children under 18. Additional guests should reserve their tickets at the regular price online. Everyone needs a ticket for entry with the exception of children under age 5 who are complimentary.

The Tukerton Seaport is located at 120 W. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ. For more information, call 609-296-8868 or visit https://tuckertonseaport.org.

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