Historic Happenings Blog

S unday, September 30 -- Mercer County The Hopewell Valley Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday, September 30, 2018, from 3:00 pm until 4:30 pm, in the Morrell Hall at the Pennington United Methodist Church, located at 60 South Main Street, Pennington, NJ. The Annual Meeting will feature a presentation by Mercer County 4-H Agent Chad Ripberger (photo) in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Mercer County 4-H Fair. The Annual Meeting of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society will begin at 3:00 pm with a brief membership meeting, during which there will be an election of officers and trustees. The meeting is open to the public, but voting is for members only. There will also be a short review of  the special events, initiatives, and accomplishments of the past year and remarks from the Hopewell Valley Historical Society President Larry Kidder. At 3:30 pm Chad Ripberger, Mercer County 4-H Agent, will present, “Mercer County 4-H — A Rich History of Making th...

Sunday, September 30 – Hunterdon County Postal History of the Lambertville Area 2:00 PM Pittore Justice Center, 25 S. Union Street, Lambertville Jim Walker, longtime stamp collector and member of Coryell’s Ferry Stamp Club and LHS, will give a talk with PowerPoint presentation on the  history of our mail service. This will include copies of letters from some well-known (and not so well-known) local residents. The subject is a major interest of Jim’s and he has used his expertise to review and evaluate stamps and such for the Rago Arts and Auction Center.

Sunday, September 30 – Essex County Medicinal Plants of the Civil War , with Lesley Parness Sunday, 9/30, 2:00 pm at Durand-Hedden    Medicinal Plants of the Civil War , with Lesley Parness Sunday, 9/30, 2pm, at Durand-Hedden; house and store open 1 to 4 pm On Sunday, September 30, Durand-Hedden will host noted horticulturalist/educator Lesley Parness, who will explain how plants were crucial in every aspect of the Civil War – on the battlefields and on the home fronts of both the North and the South . Her talk will encompass 30 plants and the medicinal properties for which they were known in the 19 th  century. Haunting images from the era will intrigue history lovers as well as gardeners. Audiences are often surprised to see how many "Civil War" plants they are already growing, such as Cornus Florida.  The Dogwood, a familiar native understory tree, whose lovely white flowers set woodlands alight in spring, played a major role in allaying the vicious symptoms of ma...

Sunday, September 30 - Morristown, Morris County Upcycle Sunday: Cardboard Cell Phone Holder On Saturday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, get the most out of your things by upcycling cardboard into cell phone holders.  Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior (65+), $3/child (ages 4 -16). FREE for children under age 4 and Friends members, with a current membership card.  Historic Speedwell is located 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit  www.morrisparks.net .

Sunday, September 30  - Cranford, Union County Open House at Crane-Phillips House The Cranford Historical Society will be hosting tours of the Crane-Phillips House Museum, located at 124 North Union Avenue, Cranford, NJ on Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Admission is free. The Cranford Historical Society was founded in 1927 with a mission to preserve the unique history of Cranford, New Jersey. The Society maintains the Crane-Phillips House Living Museum, an important costume collection, and archives. For more information, call 908-376-0082 or visit  www.cranfordhistoricalsociety.com .

Sunday, September 30  -  Morris Township, Morris County Save Those Seeds As the growing season ends at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, help collect seeds from plants in the garden to sow next spring. This program takes place o n Sunday from 2:00 - 2:45 pm. 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 .

Sunday, September 30 – Mercer County HistoryFest, 1:00 – 4:00 PM    Visit the Historical Society of Princeton for the  2 nd  annual HistoryFest! This year’s theme is “Edible History,” and will feature a hands-on family cooking workshop, as well as an Open Archive with artifacts and photos of local restaurants, past and present.  Admission is free, please visit  www.princetonhistory.org  for a full schedule of events.   Questions? Call 609.921.6748 x102 or email:  eve@princetonhistory.org

Afternoon Garden Tea Party at The Hermitage Sept. 30 The Hermitage Museum is having a garden party tea Sunday, Sept. 30 in its herb and perennial gardens in Ho-Ho-Kus.  Guests will eat scrumptious finger sandwiches and sweets on the grounds of the National Historic Landmark, which was a tea-room a century ago. Tea for the event will be brewed from herbs grown at The Hermitage.  The festivities start at 1 p.m. Space is limited to 50 guests. Tickets are $45 each and can be reserved at:  https:// thehermitage.ejoinme.org/ MyPages/ GardenTeaPartySept2018/ tabid/990371/Default.aspx Tickets include indoor tours of The Hermitage, witness to centuries of American History, including the 1782 marriage of Aaron Burr, the third vice-president of the United States. Master gardeners will give outdoor tours of the Victorian kitchen gardens. The gardeners also will instruct guests in the “Language of Flowers,” which Victorian elite used to send coded messages to their lovers and friends,...

Sunday, September 30 – Hunterdon County Third Annual “World Music Day” Returns to Deer Path Park - September 30, Noon-6pm     Flemington, NJ – Hunterdon County families can experience and interact with music from around the world at the third annual Hunterdon County “World Music Day” at Deer Path Park in Flemington. World Music Day is not just a concert; it is a full day of musical experiences for all ages, including performances from world-class musicians, fun and interactive programs for kids, and jam sessions for musicians of all levels. The free festival is organized by the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission in partnership with the Hunterdon County Division of Parks and Recreation.     The event features a full lineup of performances on the main stage and features The Tony Trischka Quintet. A United States Artists Friends Fellow (2012), Tony is considered to be the consummate banjo artist and perhaps the most influential banjo play...

Harvest Home Festival Harvest Home Festival! Monmouth County Park System Historic Longstreet Farm 44 Longstreet Road Holmdel 07733 9/30/2018  11:00 am - 5:00 pm REGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED AGE RANGE:  All Ages CALL:  (732) 946-3758 WEBSITE MORE DETAILS   An old-fashioned country fair reminiscent of the 1890s. It takes visitors back in time when neighbors gathered to accomplish work, harvest, and spend time socializing and enjoying each others company. It calls not only for the exhibition of the best products that have been grown and the best needlework that has been done in the community, but also for games, athletic contests and similar features of recreational or educational value. Experience old-fashioned fun as it was a century ago with wagon rides, games and live entertainment. See craft demonstrations that will inspire you to start a new hobby or career. Enter one of many competitions ranging from needlework, baked goods to homegrown vegetables. To learn mor...

Community Fossil Hunt Poricy Park Conservancy 345 Oak Hill Road Middletown 07748 7/29/2018, 08/26/2018, 09/30/2018 11:00 am - 1:00 pm REGISTRATION REQUIRED  AGE RANGE:  Preschoolers, Elementary, Tweens COST:  Ages: 5-12 | $5.00 (R) $6.00 13+| $8.00 (R) $10.00 (NR) CALL:  732-615-2260 WEBSITE MORE DETAILS:   Calling all amateur paleontologists! Come dig up some Middletown history at the Poricy Brook Fossil Beds. Expect to find marine fossils from the Cretaceous period, 65-72 million ye ars ago. Meet at the Poricy Park Nature Center for a short orientation before travelling to the fossil beds. An experienced guide will provide you with a trowel and sifter, as well as help you identify your treasures. Please wear rubber boots or old sneakers, as your feet will get wet. Sandals, flip-flops, and other slip-on footwear are prohibited. Ages 5+, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required. Calling all amateur paleontologists! Come di...

Sunday, September 30 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County Grand Re-Opening of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse & Fort Hancock Post Museum Join us on Sunday from 11:00 - 3:00 pm to celebrate the reopening of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Fort Hancock Post Museum. We are opening our doors for all to explore our newly renovated buildings. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will kick off the event with presentations to follow in the Post Museum. Presentations will be led by Dr. Richard Veit, head of the Monmouth University team that conducted the archaeological dig at the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, and Shawn Welch, Board of Directors Member of the Army Ground Forces Association, who will talk about Coastal Defense at Fort Hancock during World War II. Free admission and parking.  For more information, call  732-872-5970  or visit  www.nps.gov/gate .

Sunday, September 30 - Boonton, Morris County Railroad Museum [For A Day] On Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, join the United Railroad Historical Society for a celebration of New Jersey’s railroad history. Railroad Museum [for a day] is hosted by the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey, owners of the largest and most historic railroad collection in New Jersey. During this once-a-year event, the URHS Restoration Facility in Boonton, NJ will become New Jersey’s largest railroad museum. For the seventh consecutive year, the URHS will open the gates of its normally-private Boonton NJ Restoration Facility to showcase some of its historic collection. Railroad Museum [for a day] will provide a rare, family-friendly opportunity to admire, explore, and go inside our historic trains and learn about their connection to the region we live in. Visitors will be able to get up close and personal with vintage railroad equipment and well as visiting classic cars, trucks, buses, and mili...

Saturday, September 29 -- Cumberland County 47 th  Annual Artisans’ Faire and Marketplace Saturday - Sunday,  September 29 - 30  - Greenwich, Cumberland County 47th Annual Greenwich Artisans' Faire & Marketplace Children Friendly Activities Presented by the Cumberland County Historical Society on the grounds of the c. 1730 Gibbon House, 960 Ye Greate Street, Greenwich, NJ 08323. This year is bigger and better, as we are featuring 90 vendors, artisans, craftspeople and historic displays. Joining us this year are the Wheaton Arts Glass Blowers; Rutgers Master Gardeners’ butterfly tent; pirates; and reenactors. On Saturday there will be a British Invasion Car Show  from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm and Masonic Tea Burning Celebration at 1:00 pm. On Sunday there will be an  American Classic Car Show with selected cars from 1910 to 1980 from  10:00 am - 4:00 pm.  Hours are Saturday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Take a step back ...

Saturday - Sunday, September  29 - 30  - Pennsville, Salem County 14th Annual Historic Soldiers Weekend Historic Soldiers Weekend is a historical encampment, featuring reenactors, and their equipment, from every American conflict, spanning from the French and Indian War to the Vietnam War. In some instances, both sides of the conflicts will be present, such as the Revolutionary War loyalists and "redcoats", Civil War confederate units, and WWII German infantry units. Hours for Saturday are 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Admission is free. Re-enactment units will be camping out for the weekend at Historic Fort Mott, living as their ancestors did. Journey back in time to give yourself and your children, students and guests a chance to see, hear and touch real history through the life of a typical soldier during the French & Indian War, Civil, World Wars and beyond. This event is free to the public. Fort Mott is located at 454 Fort Mott Road, Pennsvil...

Sunday, September 30   - Blairstown, Warren County Historic Blairstown Footbridge Paint and Click

Sunday, September 30 - Washington Township, Burlington County Antique Glass and Bottle Show The Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. once again combines a bit of yesteryear and modern technology when it presents it fall Antiques, Glass & Bottle show. The popular Antique Glass and Bottle Show; held both in the spring and fall, will welcome shoppers beginning at 9:00 am and continue until 3:00 pm. Bottles, glass items, antiques and collectibles will be available from a variety of vendors. Food and beverages will be available throughout day. There is no admission charge to enter the park for the day’s event and they are brought to you by the Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc.; the officially recognized friends organization of Batsto Village.  Parking close to vendors will be plentiful. The historic Batsto mansion; home to the Richards family for nearly 100 years and later owned by Philadelphia Industrialist Joseph Wharton will be open from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm for guided tours. There is a $...