Thursday, September 19 – Hunterdon County
The Ten Crucial Days: Washington’s Vision for Victory Unfolds
Historian and author Larry Kidder will tell the story of the battles of Trenton and Princeton that took place between December 25, 1776 and January 3, 1777 and explain why they are so important to the outcome of the American Revolution during his presentation on Sept. 19 at the Bethlehem (NJ) Township Community Center.
Much of his talk focuses on the people of New Jersey, including Bethlehem Township, and ways their lives were influenced by these events. Previously, Mr. Kidder researched the Hunterdon County militia, leading to the publication of his first book on the Revolution titled A People Harassed and Exhausted: The Story of a New Jersey Militia Regiment in the American Revolution. This research fostered an interest in the lives and experiences of people in Trenton during the entire Revolution and resulted in the book Crossroads of the Revolution: Trenton1774-1783. In turn, that research led to his most recent book which provides the basis for this presentation, The Ten Crucial Days: Washington’s Vision for Victory Unfolds, published by The Knox Press.
Mr. Kidder taught history at the Hun School in Princeton for 32 years and has been a volunteer at Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell for over 30 years. He considers his research for presentations, writing and interpretations for Howell Farms to be part of his commitment to lifelong learning for himself and that of his audience and readers. Larry has an extensive knowledge of the township area, as his earliest books and articles focused on the agricultural history of Hunterdon and Mercer counties. He has been a featured speaker for a number of NJ historic societies and at historic sites for many years.
Mr. Kidder’s presentation on Thursday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bethlehem Township Community Center, 405 Mine Rd., Asbury, NJ is sponsored by the West Portal Historic Society. His recent books will be available at the presentation. The Historic Society will serve light refreshments, and a $5 donation is requested. Contact hfe@embarqmail.com for more information.
