NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 5/7/22 - 5/8/22

New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Sunday, May 7 - Morristown, Morris County

National Public Gardens Day

Family Friendly Event

Celebrate National Public Gardens Day in Macculloch Hall Historical Museum's historic garden! Special presentations, nature scavenger hunts, and art activities in the garden. At 1:30 pm see The Raptor Trust's Fantastic Falcons. This FREE event will be held rain or shine and will be held from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. For more information, visit www.maccullochhall.org.

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Saturday, May 7 - Absecon, Atlantic County
Absecon Lighthouse Spring Festival

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Saturday, May 7 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Cookstove and Embroidery Demonstration   
Children Friendly Site & Event

On Saturday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel and stop by the out kitchen to see what’s cooking on the wood-fired stove. Discover how recipes, cooking techniques and kitchens have changed since the 1890s. This free events run from 11:00 am - 3:30 pm.

From 1:00 - 3:00 pm, view the lost art of applying decorative designs with a needle and thread. Be inspired by the various stitches and embellishments to create a beautiful piece of clothing or decoration for the home.

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, May 7

Sons & Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage

Virtual Program

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Saturday, May 7 - Jefferson Township, Morris County

Plant Sale

The Museum Garden Club of Jefferson will have its 14th annual plant sale on Saturday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm at the Jefferson Township Museum, 315 Dover Milton Road, Jefferson, NJ. The plant sale will be held rain or shine. Locally grown perennials, assorted annuals, herbs, vegetables, and gift plants will be available for purchase.

Members of the garden club, including NJ Master Gardeners, will be on site to assist shoppers with your plant selections and your gardening questions. Miss Elizabeth’s Gift Shoppe will be open so that you can pick up a gift for Mother’s Day. Proceeds from the sale support the garden club's efforts to maintain Miss Elizabeth's garden on the grounds of the Jefferson Township Museum. Pandemic guidelines are always followed. For more information, email gardener.jhs@jeffersontownship.net or visit www.jeffersontownship.net/360/HistoricalSociety.

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Saturday, May 7 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County

Sheep Shearing

Children Friendly

"Shear Fun" is in store, with sheep shearing and herding, wool spinning, and weaving demonstrations throughout the day. Visitors can learn about sheep care, fleece cleaning, and wool use - with shearing demonstrations at 11:00 am, 12:00 noon, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm - then watch award-winning border collies herd sheep in the round pasture, and learn about whistle commands, puppy training, and more. Herding demonstrations are at 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm. The site is open from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Please note that all 2022 programs will be modified to encourage social distancing and reflect current State guidelines for public events. Visitors are required to carry masks at all times, and wear them when social distancing isn't possible.

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, May 7 - Roebling, Burlington County

Walking Tour of Historic Roebling

On Saturday, join Roebling Museum guides for a walking tour of historic Roebling, the company town built in 1905 by the builders of the Brooklyn Bridge. This riverfront town on the Delaware is a virtually untouched example of worker housing from the American industrial age. Its 700 homes, company store, school, and library are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and every building has an important story to tell. The tour starts at 1:00 pm and lasts approximately 1 hour. Free with Museum admission ($7). The tour starts at the Museum, 100 Second Avenue, Roebling, NJ.

About Roebling Museum: Housed in the historic gatehouse to the Roebling mill site, Roebling Museum tells the story of the origins and growth of Roebling, NJ a company town built in 1905 by the John A. Roebling’s Sons Co. Exhibits, tours, and programs document the majority-immigrant workforce that built the iconic suspension bridges of the American industrial age. The village of Roebling, including 700 homes, is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Open Thursday-Saturday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.

For more information, call 609-499-7200 or visit www.roeblingmuseum.org.

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Saturday, May 7 - Cape May, Cape May County
Underground Railroad Trolley Tour

On Saturday at 10:30 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 how legendary anti-slavery fighter, Harriet Tubman, walked these streets, as did prominent railroad businessman and former slave, Stephen Smith, whose railroad cars carried hundreds to freedom. The trolley travels through parts of Cape May and West Cape May, with stops along the way, including the Mt. Zion Cemetery. Board the trolley at the Washington Street Mall information booth at Ocean Street for this tour. Admission is $25 per adult and $15 per child (ages 3-12). Co-sponsored by Cape May MAC and Center for Community Arts (CCA). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, May 7 - 8 - Cape May, Cape May County

Welcome to Cape May Trolley Tour

This 45 minute 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 $20 and children (ages 3-12) $15. Tour on Saturday at 12:30 and 3:00 pm and Sunday at 12:15 pm. Cape May MAC membership is open to all. 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, May 7 - 8 - Cape May, Cape May County

Mansions by the Sea Trolley Tour

You’ll hear how the rich lived in the early 1900s in the most elegant part of town on this trolley tour that includes the eastern beachfront. You’ll see the broad streets and massive plots on Cape May’s east side – an area marketed as “New Cape May” at the turn of the 20th century. Today, new, beachfront second homeowners have continued the tradition, running the gamut from the mere wealthy to the fabulously rich. This narrated tour travels along Beach Drive through the early 20th century East Cape May Development areas. Guides discuss history and architecture. Begins and ends at the Ocean Street trolley stop.

Adults $20 and children (ages 3-12) $15. Tour on Saturday at 1:45 pm and Sunday at 1:30 pm. Cape May MAC membership is open to all. 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, May 7 - 8 - 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 on Saturday and Sunday at 12:30, 1:45, and 3:00 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 - Sunday, May 7 - 8 - 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 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

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, May 7 - 8 - 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 - 3:00 pm. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 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 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, May 7 - 8 - 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 11:45 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:15 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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Saturday - Sunday, May 7 - 8 - 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 10:00 am - 4:00 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 $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, May 7 - 8 - 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, May 7 - 8 - Camden, Camden County

Battleship New Jersey Fire Power Tour
Family Friendly

This self guided tour of the overall view of the Battleship New Jersey takes guests five levels up and two decks below. The Main Deck features an Exhibit Museum that encompasses the 48 years in and out of service. Guides are available for questions in the Captain's Quarters and CEC.

Active Military, World War II Veterans, and former Crew Members of BB-62 are asked to stop at the Box Office in the Battleship NJ Visitor's Center. Proudly inform our Ticketing Staff of your service to our Great Nation and receive a complimentary ticket to board the "Big J".

* All guests will be screened in the Visitors Center before entering the Battleship’s Pier, must wear a face covering and practice social distancing.
* Please check your email after purchase for your ticket to either print or save to your mobile device and take with you for check-in in the Visitors Center.

Firepower tour tickets are available to use at any date and time we are open for tours. Admission: Adults are $25.00 and children ages 5-11, veterans, and seniors (62+) are $20.00. Tickets can be purchased online. Battleship New Jersey is located at 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ. For more information, call 856-966-1652 or visit www.battleshipnewjersey.org.

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Saturday - Monday, May 7 - 9 - Tuckerton, Ocean County

Outdoor Strolling Admission: Tuckerton Seaport

Family Friendly

Tuckerton Seaport is open for strolling for long weekends. The Tuckerton Seaport will be open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Guests are asked to arrive before 4pm. Check in at the Lighthouse upon arrival for info on exhibits open for touring both indoors and outdoors. The Gift Shop is now located inside the Lighthouse. Masks will be required at all times. 

Tickets are $5/person. 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. Everyone needs a ticket for entry with the exception of children under age 5 who are complimentary.

The Tuckerton 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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Sunday, May 8 - Franklin Township, Somerset County

Tours of the Historic Wyckoff-Garretson House (1730)

Explore American history through local history from the perspective of the people who LIVED it in the Wyckoff-Garretson House, a historically preserved, Dutch-style, farm house built in 1730! Journey back through time with a knowledgeable docent who will guide you through historically interpreted rooms and three centuries of daily life in the Wyckoff-Garretson household, the 18th, 19th, and early 20th. The Wyckoff-Garretson House is open every Second Sunday of the month, April to October, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, and the tours are FREE!

The Meadows Foundation offers many other exciting cultural and educational programs and events throughout the year! Please follow us on FaceBook (@MeadowsFoundation), Instagram (@meadows.foundation), and Twitter (@TheMeadowsNJ), and visit our website www.TheMeadowsFoundation.org to stay up-to-date on all the interesting happenings.

The Meadows Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to give Franklin Township, NJ's past a future by preserving and restoring 18th and 19th Century historic sites, encouraging public appreciation for local heritage and vernacular architecture, and supporting environmental efforts to preserve open space, farmland, and other historic sites. Kindly consider supporting our efforts by becoming a member, volunteering your time and skills, or making a tax-deductible donation.

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Sunday, May 8 - Early 2023 - Morristown, Morris County

From the Waist Up, 1840-1920

 

From skillfully handmade garments to those crafted by renowned European fashion houses, an incredible array of never-before-seen bodices, vests, jackets, shirtwaists, and accompanying accessories from within Morris County Historical Society’s collection will be on display in a new exhibit, “From the Waist Up: Bodices, Vests & Jackets, 1840-1920” at Acorn Hall beginning Mother’s Day, May 8, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, through early 2023.

Opening day will feature an ongoing exhibit presentation by MCHS Curator Anne Motto with refreshments on the Hall’s back porch. Admission for opening day is $10 for nonmembers; $5 for members; $3 for children; moms are free.

Women frequently kept several bodices to match a particular skirt, such as a casual bodice for daytime and a formal bodice for evening. Skirts also often received more wear, and as pieces were handed down, the bodice alone was preserved. Attire for men such as silk hats and military dress uniforms were also often left untouched by the passage of time. Accessories such as hats, hair pieces, cufflinks, purses and jewelry were all necessary to complete the look.

Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall is located at 68 Lafayette Avenue, Morristown, and is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, and Sundays, 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Admission, including exhibits and landscaped grounds, is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students, and is free for children under 12 and MCHS members. For more information, visit www.MorrisCountyHistory.org.

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Sunday, May 8 - Sparta, Sussex County

"The Best of Van Kirk Museum"

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Through Summer 2022 - Freehold, Monmouth County

Let Us Play

In celebration of the holiday season, Monmouth County Historical Association debuted Let Us Play on November 27, the newest exhibition at the Association’s Museum and Library & Archives in Freehold, NJ. Drawing on MCHA’s extensive collection, Let Us Play traces several centuries of children’s joyful pastimes and their evolving playthings.

Let Us Play features every child related article in the Association’s collection, many on display for the very first time. From the colonial era through the 20th century, the exhibit traces the evolution of play and the effect the industrial revolution, consumerism, and the burgeoning influence of advertising had on children’s ideas of fun and their beloved toys. Childhood treasures displayed  range from dolls and dollhouses, games and cast iron banks to books, carriages and historic photos.

Let Us Play will generally be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays each week from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm at the MCHA Museum, Library and Archives, 70 Court Street, Freehold, NJ but please check for current hours before visiting. For more information, visit www.monmouthhistory.org.

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Through June 2022 - Asbury Park, Monmouth County

“One Voice Is Not Enough: Asbury Park’s Musical Diversity Since 1871”

The Asbury Park Museum’s new pop-up exhibit, “One Voice Is Not Enough: Asbury Park’s Musical Diversity Since 1871” explores the many styles of early Asbury Park music. The exhibit is on display in the east lobby of the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, 1401 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ. It is free to visit at any time between now and June 2022.

Music historians Pamela and Charlie Horner have curated the exhibit. It covers the first 100 years of Asbury Park music – a story told through stand-up banners, wall-mounted posters, a music soundtrack with 4 hours’ worth of selected recordings, two continuously running 35-minute informative slide shows (175 slides total), and two display cases full of Asbury Park music artifacts. The exhibit covers spirituals, gospel, brass bands, marching bands, concert bands, ragtime, stride piano, jazz, blues, pop, rhythm & blues, rock & roll, doo wop, soul, and rock music from the early 1870s to the early 1970s. On display are items like Bobby Thomas’ personal 78 RPM copy of “Doll Face,” the first Rhythm & Blues by an Asbury Park group plus Bobby’s handwritten lyrics from the flip side; Stormin’ Norman Seldin’s classic cowboy hat; an 1898 wax cylinder by baritone J. W. Myers; an Arthur Pryor 78 RPM record; sheet music by Billy Terrell & Ray Dahrouge and Lenny Welch; a red vinyl 45 RPM record by Nicky Addeo & the Darchaes; an album and program from the Missionary Jubilaires; a Southside Johnny autographed harmonica; a framed autograph and print of Fats Waller; and much more. 

Funded in part by a Diversity Innovation grant from Monmouth University, the exhibit design is by Stan Cain Designs, and the exhibit is hosted by the historic Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel. For more information, visit www.AP-Museum.org.

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Through 2022 - Middletown, Monmouth County

Beneath the Floorboards: Whispers of the Enslaved at Marlpit Hall

Beneath the Floorboards: Whispers of the Enslaved at Marlpit Hall is the first exhibit to come out of the Monmouth County Historical Association's Living and Breathing initiative, which will reinterpret our Colonial-era historic houses to include the stories of the enslaved African Americans who once resided within them. The exhibition will offer a better understanding of how slavery took root in early Monmouth County, as well as the complex dynamics of daily life and relationships among the enslaved.

The telling of New Jersey’s history is often fragmented, with little remembrance of the thousands of men, women, and children living under forced servitude for more than two centuries. The curators, Bernadette Rogoff and Joe Zemla, have framed the exhibit upon the lives of seven of these individuals: Ephraim, William, Elizabeth, Clarisse, Hannah, Tom, and York, all of whom once lived at Marlpit Hall. Extensive archival documentation, archaeological evidence, and objects from MCHA’s museum collection - some on view to the public for the first time - help tell the larger story of slavery in Monmouth County and New Jersey.

Marlpit Hall is located at 137 Kings Highway, Middletown, NJ. For more information, visit www.monmouthhistory.org.

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Through January 8, 2023 - Trenton, Mercer County

New Jersey State Museum Exhibition - "Jaw Dropping World of Sharks"

Sharks are one of the most feared animals throughout the world, even though the odds of ever encountering one are highly unlikely. "Jaw Dropping World of Sharks," a new exhibition from the New Jersey State Museum, aims to dispel some of the myths and misunderstandings about sharks and their relatives by exploring their biology, fossil record, conservation and cultural significance.

The exhibition opens April 9, 2022 in the Riverside Gallery on the museum’s second floor. On display will be specimens and artifacts from the museum’s collections that demonstrate the world of sharks.

The “Jaw Dropping World of Sharks,” will be on view through Jan. 8, 2023. The New Jersey State Museum is located at 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ. For more information, call 609-292-6464 or visit www.state.nj.us/state/museum.

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