Mid- to late-July 2021 Events of a Historical Bent in NJ

 

Saving New Jersey's History, County by County, and Town by Town.

 

Tuesdays in July and August

Spend your summer at Liberty Hall Museum! Explore our fairy village, learn to write in secret code, and hunt for animals around the property. Join us for our Summer Adventure Programs including Adventures in Nature, Fairy Trails and Tales, Leaf it to Me, and Scouts, Spies, and Soldiers Programs. All programs include a snack. Programs available on a 4-week rotating schedule. 

Two program times available every Tuesday; 11:00am-1:00pm, Child+Parent program; 2:00-4:00pm, Drop-Off program

Recommended for ages 6 - 12.

WHEN: 11 a.m. for child & parent or 2 p.m. drop-off
WHERE: Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave., Union
FEE: 11 am session - $10.00 per child; $4.00 per adult; 1 pm session - $12 per child, $10 for members
Special Offer: Buy 3 Summer Adventures, get 1 free (use promo code: Summer). Offer ends July 31st.

Reservations required; to purchase tickets visit our website or call 908-527-0400.

Tuesday evenings in July and August

Sunset Stroll Garden Tours

Promenade our property under the backdrop of a crimson sky and setting summer sun and join us for a Sunset Stroll. 

WHEN: every Tuesday evening starting on June 22nd, 7 p.m.-8 p.m.
WHERE: Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave., Union
FEE: $10 per person, Free for LHM members/Kean Alumni

Reservations required in advance; to purchase tickets visit our website or call 908-527-0400. 

July 17, 24; August 7, 14, 21—Morris County

Dig it! Plant it! Eat it!

This summer join us for nature, history, and art! With this free program children will:

• Visit the new Sensory Garden
• Create Art with Teaching Artist, Lisa Madson
• Explore Nature with Fun Activities

Two sessions available: July session (July 10, July 17, and July 24); August session (August 7, August 14, and August 21) 

Programs run from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Recommended for children ages 5 to 10 years old. Space is Limited. Registration Required. Register for this FREE program on the MHHM website events page. (Remember to register for all three dates in the session)

WHERE: 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown; 973-538-2404

Wednesdays in July and August -- Morris County

Lunch with the Librarian

Wednesdays in July and August

12:00 p.m.

Join us under the beech tree in Macculloch Hall's gardens for story time! Free, no preregistration needed, rain or shine. No bathroom facilities available

In partnership with the Morristown Morris Township Public Library.

WHERE: Macculloch Hall Gardens, 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown; 973-538-2404

Farmstead Arts presents

A Simple Summer Art Show

WHEN: July 12 - August 15; Opening reception July 12 at 7pm
WHERE: Farmstead Arts, 450 King George Road, Basking Ridge
ADMISSION: free

Featuring the works of artist extraordinaire Oscar Peterson (and his students) (Image: "We Too" Oscar Peterson)

farmsteadartscenter.org

Thursday, July 15—Union County

Third Thursday Lecture Series: A Colony, an Estate, and a Founding Father: The Founding of American Cities

Just as the nation’s Founding Fathers had great plans for a new country, discover how early colonists had great plans for a new colony between the Staten Island Sound and the Delaware River (New Jersey)! Join Liberty Hall Museum for our Third Thursday Lecture and learn how and why colonists chose this land in particular and explore how William Livingston, one of our nation’s Founding Fathers, used that same logic in planning his own estate at Liberty Hall!

WHEN: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
FEE: $10 per zoom link, $8 for LHM members
WHERE: This is a virtual program over Zoom, links will be emailed to ticket holders. To purchase tickets visit our website or call 908-527-0400 

 

Mondays, beginning July 12—Morris County Summer cruises on the Floating Classroom The Lake Hopatcong Foundation Floating Classroom is back on Lake Hopatcong, after a full season off due to COVID-19, and we are excited to get out on the water again with our informational, ecology-based public cruises!  WHEN: every Monday from July 12 through August 30, from 11 am to 12:30 pm. WHERE: These Monday excursions will depart from Hopatcong State Park, 260 Lakeside Boulevard, Landing, NJ. Once on board, guests enjoy a hands-on adventure, learning all about Lake Hopatcong, while taking part in experiments such as water clarity testing with secchi disks and collecting and studying phytoplankton from lake water samples. TICKETS: $20 for adults, $15 for children age 17 and under, and $18 for seniors ages 65 and up. Activities are geared toward guests who are at least 10 years old, but younger guests are welcome to come aboard and join the cruise. Please note: the trip fee is in addition to the cost of entering Hopatcong State Park, which is $6 for New Jersey residents and $10 for out-of-state residents per carload on weekdays in the summer. After disembarking from the floating classroom, visitors are welcome to enjoy the other amenities at the park for the day. Free State Park passes are available until July 4 through NJDEP's "Vax and Visit" program.  Tickets are non-refundable unless the cruise is canceled by the Lake Hopatcong Foundation due to severe weather or low attendance. If a cruise is not filled to the needed capacity for your selected cruise, we will contact you to reschedule or refund your full purchase price. Cruise cancellations will be announced 24 hours before the scheduled cruise date. Parking is available at Hopatcong State Park in the designated area shown on this map. DO NOT PARK in the area designated for boat trailer parking only. A crew member will be stationed in the left corner of the parking lot, near the boat ramp, to direct you to the Floating Classroom.    Friday, July 16—Ocean County Fire Pit Historical Chat—A Look Back on Lacey Hotels and Maritime Industry The Lacey Township Historical Society will offer a series of chats focusing on various historical topics to celebrate Lacey’s history and the 150th Anniversary.  Topics to be covered are The Birth of Lacey Township, A Retrospective Look on Lacey Hotels and Maritime Industry, History of the Fire Department, John Parker Honorary Mayor and Historian Sharing Memories of Living in Lacey, History of the Lacey Police Department, and a special program for children featuring Tales of the Area Handed Down Through Generations.   WHEN: every Friday from July 9 through August 13. Programs to start at 7pm, rain or shine. WHERE: All fire pit chats will be held at the Museum Schoolhouse, 126 South Main Street, (behind Mrs. Walker’s Ice Cream).  Participants are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. In the event of inclement weather, programs will be offered inside, adhering to CDC guidelines. No registration or admission fee is required. Donations are always welcomed.   Saturday, July 17—Monmouth County Annual Arts and Crafts Festival followed at night by Film One Fest at the Harbor The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society will host its annual Arts and Crafts Festival, one of the longest running in eastern New Jersey. WHEN: Saturday, July 17. Rain date for this event is Sunday, July 18. WHERE: Veterans Park on First Ave. Forty-eight participants will be on hand with their artistry. Water-colors, prints, photography, woodworking, ceramics, fabric and floral displays, an array of decorative items, unique hand made jewelry and other original artistic creations will be shown and sold. Their artistic works will be displayed from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Veterans Park which is opposite Borough Hall. This event organized by the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society will also feature a chance auction. All proceeds from this event will be used for the continuing restoration of the Strauss Mansion Museum, home of the Society and educational programs.  Visit ahhistory.org and at 27 Prospect Circle each Sunday between 12 and 4 pm to envision the Victorian splendor we are preserving for future generations.  For any further information contact kfrantz46@gmail.com or call 732-513-0372. Saturday, July 17—Morris County Family Fun Day: Discovery Day! 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Free!  The day-long indoor/outdoor event includes mini tours of the new exhibit, hands-on crafts in our Education Annex, exploring the fascinating art of solagraph photography, playing games on the METC lawn, digging into some archaeology, and musical entertainment from Popsical School of Performance! This event is free but pre-registration is recommended. Click here to register! Saturday and Sunday, July 17-18—Cape May County HISTORIC COLD SPRING VILLAGE - JULY 17 & 18  Automobiles, Planes and Trains  Cruise into Historic Cold Spring Village for the Annual Automobiles, Trains and Planes Weekend. Classic Cars will be on display from 11am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday. See beautifully restored and preserved vehicles parked along the Village’s tree-lined, shell-paved lanes.  Talk with the owners and learn about the process of restoring classic cars well as the fascinating stories behind their manufacture and history. In addition to automobiles, there will be model train displays both days in the Welcome Center exhibited by the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Model RR Club. NASW Aviation Museum will also be on hand with a restored MASH Helicopter!  WHERE: The museum is located between Route 9 and Seashore Road (Rte. 626) three miles north of Victorian Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern terminus of the Garden State Parkway. ADMISSION: A special combination admission ticket is available at the Village gatehouses for $15.00, which includes both admission to the Village and NASW Aviation Museum, a savings of $11.00. The Automobiles, Trains and Planes Weekend is generously sponsored by Kindle Auto Plaza. Historic Cold Spring Village is a 19th c. open air non-profit living history museum that portrays the crafts, trades, lifestyle and issues from the “Age of Homespun.” Open from 11am-4:00pm Thursday thru Sunday, period-clothed interpreters discuss and demonstrate the daily life of a rural South Jersey community of the Early American period.  The Seashore Road admission gate is open Thursday thru Sunday; the Route 9 admission gate is open Saturday and Sunday. During the season, the entrance fee is $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted free. Unlimited free admission is available with museum membership. For more information on events including guided walking tours, ghost tours, membership, volunteering, or booking private affairs, please call (609) 898-2300, ext. 10, or visit the Village website at hcsv.org. Wednesdays, July 21 and August 18—Mercer County Twilight Walking Tours WHEN: Wednesdays, July 21 and August 18, at 6:00 p.m. WHERE:  Morven, 55 Stockton St., Princeton ADMISSION: $10; Free for Members, Group size is limited. Registration required by day before. Visit Morven for an early evening docent-led stroll of our grounds to enjoy a combination architectural, historical, and garden tour - and maybe even take the chestnut walk to view the famed Battle Monument and ring the USS Princeton bell next door! Each month's tour highlights a different era in Morven's history. Sign up for one or two summertime tours: July 21 - Helen Hamilton Shields Stockton & Robert Wood Johnson, Jr. at the beginnings of the 20th century August 18 - The Governors at Morven—New Jersey’s First Governors Mansion Click here for details and tickets. Saturday, July 23—Morris County Summer Concert Series: Los Nueve Del Sabor 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Free! A Salsa & Latin Jazz Band from Roselle Park, NJ bringing the blend of Montunos, Salsa and popular Latin styles from the Caribbean and South America! Los Nueve Del Sabor is composed of salsa music artists from the NY/NJ area, and will bring high-energy Latin music to METC! For the full concert line up visit www.metc.org!

Sunday, July 25—Bergen County

Summer Walking Tour of Historic New Bridge Landing

2 pm - 3:30 pm

Site Tour of Historic New Bridge Landing by BCHS Past president & Museum Collection Chair Deborah Powell. Learn about the stone houses of Bergen County through three examples at HNBL. Explore the history of the site's complex history beginning with the Native Americans, the history of the American Revolution at New Bridge and the people who lived here and their livelihoods. 

WHERE: Begin at the Meadow at the corner of Hackensack Ave and Main St, River Edge, NJ (#10 on the map.) We'll end the tour with groups in the 1752 Steuben House. 

Free parking at HNBL Parking Lot at that corner or take the train to the New Bridge Landing stop on the Pascack Valley Line. Dogs on leash allowed but not in houses. Masks and distancing may be required. Dress appropriately for sun, bring water. 

ADMISSION: BCHS Members Free. Public: Adults - $12.00 & students - $7.00

Wednesday, July 28 -- Cape May County

Public invited to meet historian Richard Striner at Book Signing Event 

WHEN: Wednesday, July 28, at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Carriage House Museum Shop at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May

Author and historian Richard Striner will sign his book Summoned to Glory: The Audacious Life of Abraham Lincoln. The event is sponsored by the Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) Lessons of History Team.

 “In the troubling times through which we have been living, there is much to be learned from the decency of Abraham Lincoln's leadership, the brilliance he showed in confronting racial injustice, and the way he faced up to our very worst divisions to create a better future for the nation,” Striner said. “Even at this late date in the study of our 16th president, the Lincoln story is full of surprises.”

Striner taught history for over 30 years at Washington College, in Chestertown, Md. He is author of more than a dozen books, an acclaimed Lincoln scholar, and his books and articles have covered political history, presidential history, literature, economics, film, architecture and historic preservation. His most recent book, Summoned to Glory: The Audacious Life of Abraham Lincoln (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020), will be available for purchase at the Carriage House Museum Shop. 

ADMISSION: free and open to the public for this book signing. 

Cape May MAC membership is open to all. Visit capemaymac.org/support/membership to learn more. .For information about Cape May MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals and special events, visit capemaymac.org. For information about historic accommodations, contact Cape May Historic Accommodations at capemaylodging.com. For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508

LEAGUE OF HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF NJ Sponsors Christmas in July

 

 

EXCITING EVENTS FOR LOVERS OF HISTORY!

Vintage Baseball at Historic New Bridge Landing

WHEN: Saturday, July 10, 11 am - 2 pm
WHERE:  Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main Street, River Edge
ADMISSION: $12 adults, $7 students, 6-21 yrs, BCHS members free. (Household membership is only $30, come to most events free or reduced to fundraisers.) No refunds unless we cancel the event.
100% of your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. 

Love baseball? Love history? Step back into yesteryear when the Bergen County Historical Society hosts an old-time game in the meadow at Historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge. Featuring the Flemington Neshanock verses the Enterprise Club of New Bridge.

Experience the crack of bat, the cheers and jeers of the cranks, and baseball the way great-grandpa saw it, when these two teams play with 19th century rules, equipment, and uniforms in an open field in games that count! A great way for the family to enjoy America’s game in a beautiful historic setting!

To watch for Casey at the Bat at this first big event in The Meadow, make sure to bring a hat, blanket or chair, and sunscreen.  

Hot dog vendor scheduled for area in front of the Campbell-Christie House, the gift shop will be open with new items. Ice cream truck. Walking tour by BCHS interpreter available during the break between games on the history of Historic New Bridge Landing, a battleground in the American Revolution.

New Bridge baseball scorecard available with each ticket, limited quantities. Make a ticket reservation. Cash or credit too.

Consider taking the train to HNBL. Trains traveling south & north arrive at the New Bridge Landing Station. Check NJ Transit schedule for updates on the Pascack Valley line. Free parking at HNBL. Enter at the corner of Hackensack Avenue & Main Street. Visitors should cross at the light.

Dig it! Plant it! Eat it!

This summer join us for nature, history, and art! With this free program children will:

• Visit the new Sensory Garden
• Create Art with Teaching Artist, Lisa Madson
• Explore Nature with Fun Activities

 Two sessions available:

• July session (July 10, July 17, and July 24); Programs run from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• August session (August 7, August 14, and August 21); Programs run from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Recommended for children ages 5 to 10 years old. Space is Limited. Registration Required. Register for this FREE program on the MHHM website events page. (Remember to register for all three dates in the session)

WHERE: 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown; 973-538-2404

Lunch with the Librarian

WHEN: Wednesdays in July and August, 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Macculloch Hall Gardens, 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown; 973-538-2404

Join us under the beech tree in Macculloch Hall's gardens for story time! Free, no pre-registration needed, rain or shine. No bathroom facilities available.

In partnership with the Morristown Morris Township Public Library.

LEARN ABOUT NJ HISTORY THIS WEEK VIA ZOOM

 

 

Wednesday, May 19 -- Virtual

Join METC and Kelly Caldwell, Director of Conservation at EverGreene Architectural Arts virtually on Wednesday, May 19, at 7pm for an inside look at historic building conservation. We will explore the craftsmanship of traditional trades, and the art and science behind historic preservation. 

Kelly will also discuss the on-going interior restoration at the museum, highlighting some of the techniques used to restore the beautiful James Library Building. This program is free but pre-registration is required for access to the Zoom link. Use this link to register.

Thursday, May 20 -- Virtual

Madison Historical Society Presents

“The Battle of Connecticut Farms and the Death of Hannah Caldwell”

Actor and historical interpreter Meridoc “Doc” Burkhardt will present “The Battle of Connecticut Farms and the Death of Hannah Caldwell” at the May 20, 2021 meeting of the Madison Historical Society. This free online meeting via Zoom will begin at 7 pm. If you are interested in participating, contact the Madison Historical Society either through the website  or email (historicalsociety@rosenet.org). Please provide your e mail address in order to receive an appropriate link to join the Zoom presentation.

Doc Burkhardt will tell the story of Reverend James Caldwell and of his wife, Hannah’s heroism during the Battle of Connecticut Farms. In his portrayal of Rev. Caldwell, he will include a video tour of the Caldwell Parsonage, which is now the home of the Union Township Historical Society. Mr. Burkhardt will be assisted in the presentation by David Arminio, a retired English teacher in Union Township. Mr. Arminio will describe the details of the battle and its importance to the Revolution.

Doc Burkhardt has a wide background in television, film, Off-Broadway and regional theatre. He received a BA in Theatre and Speech from Wagner College and has studied acting, dance and voice. Among other professional experiences, he has worked with Spike Lee in A Miracle at St. Ana and the Universal film American Gangster. He has appeared on Saturday Night Live and several productions at the School of Visual Arts. Currently he hosts a TV show entitled “Wining and Dining” on channel 34. 

Mr. Burkhardt has been working with the Township of Union Historical Society through a Heart Grant. In past years he has appeared as the historical personage of Reverend James Caldwell in a program that focuses on citizenship and local history to Union elementary school students.

David Arminio has been involved with the Union Historical Society for over 20 years, having served as president for five years and currently serving as vice-president.

Thursday, May 20 -- Virtual

Third Thursday Virtual Lecture: Secrets of Liberty Hall House Tour

Help Liberty Hall Museum celebrate our 21st birthday! Join us for our monthly Third Thursday Lecture for a fun, virtual, behind the scenes tour of Liberty Hall! Discover the former residents, explore the many rooms of the mansion, and enjoy the mysteries and wonders of this incredible 250-year-old home.

WHEN: 7:00pm-8:00pm
WHERE:  This is a virtual program over Zoom
FEE: $10 per Zoom link, $8 for LHM members. Zoom links will be emailed to ticket holders.

To purchase tickets, visit our website or call 908-527-0400. 

Thursday, May 20 -- Virtual

Monmouth County Historical Association

Gary Saretzky presents

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Gustavus Pach

The most successful 19th century photographer in Long Branch was Gustavus Pach (1845-1904), one of the several brothers in the Pach Brothers, a prominent firm with more than a dozen branch studios in the Northeast U.S. Gustavus Pach began photographing in Long Branch from a mobile wagon in 1866 and opened a gallery there the following year. He is highly regarded for hundreds of scenic stereo views of Monmouth County. Pach also made thousands of fine portraits, for which many of the glass negatives are at the Monmouth County Historical Association. This slide lecture provides a history of the Pach Brothers with an emphasis on the life and work of Gustavus Pach. https://www.monmouthhistory.org/historically-speaking

Gary D. Saretzky, archivist, educator, and photographer, worked as an archivist for more than fifty years at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Educational Testing Service, and the Monmouth County Archives. Saretzky taught the history of photography at Mercer County Community College, 1977-2012, and served as coordinator of the Public History Internship Program for the Rutgers University History Department, 1994-2016. He has published more than 100 articles and reviews on the history of photography, photographic conservation, and other topics, including “Nineteenth-Century New Jersey Photographers,” in the journal, New Jersey History, Fall/Winter 2004, a revised version of which is available at www.saretzky.com.

Saturday, May 22 -- Union County

Westfield Historical Society and Rake & Hoe Garden Club Announce “Garden Tours & Tea”

The Rake & Hoe Garden Club and the Westfield Historical Society invite the community to partake in Garden and Arboretum Tours of the Reeve House property on Saturday, May 22, from 2-4pm (a rain date is planned for May 23). Save the date!

Guests will enjoy tours of the Claire Brownell Memorial Gardens which are maintained by the Rake & Hoe Garden Club and funded by the Caroline Stephens Holt Fund; and, separate tours of the Reeve House property’s arboretum. The Reeve family were amateur horticulturists and planted many unique specimens of trees on the property. In addition, there will be a talk by Diane Genco on the Monarch butterfly and maintaining a butterfly-friendly garden. Families are encouraged to attend.

Refreshments will be served, and the Rake & Hoe Garden Club will be selling pollinator plants. Books and items of historical interest will also be available for sale by the Westfield Historical Society.

Mark your calendars. Registration information will be available shortly.

Saturday, May 22 -- Union County

Aunt Carrie’s Attic Sale

Saturday, May 22, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Miller-Cory House, 614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield.

We are accepting donations. Please call the office if you have some merchandise to donate. Please do not bring: text books, clothing, old electronics, computers, printers or any items that are broken or missing pieces. We need volunteers to help sort, price and work the day of the sale. We will start organizing the sale on May 20 and May 21 and will need help setting up and breaking down on the sale day, May 22. If you have any time to spare, please call the office to volunteer or if you have donations…(908) 232-1776. Remember, this is our biggest fundraiser of the year.

Saturday, May 22 -- Monmouth

P.T. Barnum

Saturday, May 22, 2021, 6pm

Neill Hartley portrays master showman P.T. Barnum in this exciting and entertaining look at one of the most colorful and well-known personalities of all time, who brought high and low culture to all of America.

A brilliant and shameless promoter, Barnum gave the wise public of the 19th century shameless hucksterism, peerless spectacle, and everything in between—enough entertainment to earn the title " master showman" a dozen times over. Barnum weathered accusations of fraud with the attitude that there was no such thing as bad press, and he became one of the richest men in America.

Space is Limited!

$29 per person

Masks must be worn in the Chapel.

GET TICKETS HERE

Sunday, May 23 -- Virtual

Historic Peachfield and the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the State of New Jersey are pleased to announce the fourth presentation of COFFEE and COLLECTIONS, our newest online series:

"Take A Seat: Our Ware Chairs"

May 23, 2021 - 2:00 pm-3:00 pm

Join Peachfield's own Grace DeMarco who will lead a discussion and slide presentation on the history of the Ware chair and the Ware Family, and how these pieces ended up in the collection of Historic Peachfield.

We hope you will join us in honoring our shared national heritage by celebrating the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship of our forebears!

Cost per participant is $10.00. Friends of Peachfield admission is free!

Friends of Peachfield may register by sending an email to colonialdamesnj@comcast.net with "Friends of Peachfield" in subject line. 

The Zoom link will be mailed to you.

To make a reservation, please make checks payable to

NSCDA-NJ and mail to: Peachfield

180 Burrs Road, Westampton, NJ 08060

 Or you can use PayPal by clicking "Pay Now". 

 Sunday, May 23 - Virtual

Clara Barton – In Her Own Words

A Zoom webinar sponsored by the Bordentown Historical Society in celebration of Clara’s 200^th birthday, Sunday, May 23, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. It will be given by Jane Scimeca, Professor of History at Brookdale Community College. Registration is necessary and can be done on our website, www.BordentownHistory.org. Please email questions to bordentownhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Sunday, May 23 – Virtual

Ocean County Historical Society Hosts WWI Program

Join Monmouth University Specialist Professor of Public History and former US Army Fort Monmouth Command Historian Melissa Ziobro on May 23 at 2:00 pm for a Zoom presentation on how the US Army Signal Corps employed women as telephone switchboard operators during WWI.

The “Hello Girls” worked long hours to ensure battlefield communications. After the war, they fought for veteran status and are being considered for a Congressional Gold Medal today. Register by emailing your name, zip code, and email address to oceancountyhistory.zoom@gmail.com