Historic Happenings Blog

Saturday, March 30 – Mercer County If These Stones Could Talk : Reading and Book Signing Local authors document the history of African American families in New Jersey’s Sourland Mountains communities Trenton, NJ  (For immediate release)—The Trent House Association welcomes  Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills, authors of the recently released If These Stones Could Talk:  African American Presence in the Hopewell Valley, Sourland Mountain and Surrounding Region in New Jersey  for a presentation and reading, followed by discussion and book signing.  The program will be from 1:00- 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, at the Trent House Museum, 15 Market Street, Trenton, New Jersey. If These Stones Could Talk  brings fresh light to a forgotten corner of American history that begins in a small cemetery in central New Jersey.  Authors of  If These Stones Could Talk  Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills started their journey through the past as two middle aged Afric...

Sunday, March 10 – Hunterdon County 2:00 pm Spring Membership Meeting and Lecture “A Proud Heritage” Presbyterian Church 10 East Main Street   The Hunterdon County Historical Society is pleased to present: “‘ A Proud Heritage”  on Sunday,  March 10, 2019 at 2:00 pm  at the Flemington Presbyterian Church, 10 East Main Street in Flemington.      The lecture explores the fascinating history of African Americans in the Sourland Mountain Region of New Jersey that was almost lost to time. As research partners, Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills co-authored the book, “ If These Stones Could Talk ,” (2018), based on over a decade’s worth of research on the contribution of African Americans who lived in this region. It was through this research that Beverly has been able to trace her ancestry to African Americans who were enslaved in Hopewell Township prior to the Revolutionary War!       Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills are founders ...

Tuesday, March 5 – Somerset County at 7 p.m.    The Van Harlingen Historical Society, co-sponsoring with One Montgomery and Montgomery Mosaic, is honored to offer a very special presentation entitled:  " A Proud Heritage: The African American Contribution to the Sourland Mountain and Surrounding Region , "  by speakers Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills.     Municipal courtroom of the Montgomery Township Municipal Building, 2261 Rt. 206, Belle Mead, NJ 08502.  All are welcome!      Learn about the African American presence from this region dating back to colonial times that has been left out of local history. Buck and Mills will highlight the accomplishments of prominent African Americans who served in the military and the agricultural contributions of African Americans working as slaves on the plantations in Hopewell Valley . They will discuss the work of African Americans in peach orchards, basket mak...