Historic Happenings Blog

Sunday, March 8 – Union County  2:00 to 4:00 p.m. "Liberal Libations of the 18 th  Century” Miller-Cory House Museum, 614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield Colonists treasured their beer, rum, and hard cider. "Mourt's Relation," a journal kept by the Pilgrims, states that the Pilgrims decided to land in Massachusetts instead of sailing on to Virginia because they were running out of beer! Colonists, adult and children alike, drank alcoholic beverages. Popular, too, were punches or "flowing bowls" mixing strong drink with sugar and other ingredients. Alcoholic beverages were believed to have curative powers, curing everything from lung diseases to wormwood. Thomas Jefferson stated, "Beer, if drunk in moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, promotes health." Come and learn about the many alcoholic beverages the colonist consumed on a daily basis. Visitors will be able to sample a non-alcoholic punch. Tours of the fully furnished, c1740 museum an...

Tuesday, October 29 – Mercer County    At 7 PM  Hal Taylor will present a lecture on his book  Before Penn: An Illustrated History of The Delaware River Colonies 1609-1682 .  The book provides the little known but fascinating history of the European settlement of the Delaware River Valley prior to the founding of Philadelphia by William Penn. The background tells of a legendary visit to North America by Irish monk St. Brendan in the seventh century and continues with a litany of European explorers searching for a short cut through the North American continent that will lead to the treasures of the Far East. During the process, abundant natural resources are discovered, leading to competition among major powers.     All lectures are free of charge. Books can be pre-ordered online at:  www.barracks.org . Old Barracks, Barrack Street, Trenton

Friday, September 13 – Mercer County Old Barracks Transformed into Tavern for an Evening of Colonial Festivities and Fundraising      Leave your 21st-century  troubles behind and spend an evening in a colonial tavern at the Old Barracks Museum’s Tavern Night Fundraiser on the evening of September 13, 2019. Live music, food, and drink set the scene of an evening in 18 th  century Trenton, when King George II still ruled and the tavern was the center of town.     The Old Barracks Museum will transform into a colonial tavern filled with music, drinks, games, and candlelight. Dance Master Sue Dupre will provide dance instruction for those who wish to dance but do not yet know the steps. John Burkhalter, of The Practitioners of Musick, accompanied by Russell Hoffman, will perform the music of the 18 th  century on period instruments. Period dress is neither required nor discouraged and you will find many people from the past and present ...

Sunday, May 5  - Pennsauken, Camden County Colonial Earth Day The pre-industrial world had a different relationship with nature and this was especially true in colonial America.  In those crucial days of early settlement, without a worldwide web or electronic communications of any kind, without internal combustion or even steam engines, one’s environment was the farmyard and the wider world was a rumor.  Adapting natural resources, reusing and recycling were as natural as the raising of crops and hunting of game. Burrough-Dover House off Haddonfield Road with its several acres of cleared and wooded ground, its trail down to the South Branch of Pennsauken Creek and its wetlands, will host our annual Colonial Earth Day event on Sunday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm, with the live educational animals from Freedom Center for Wildlife, crafts and activities for the whole family using natural materials, colonial and native lifestyle lessons with open-fire cookery, and the beauty of ...

Sunday, April 14 – Cumberland County SPEAKER SERIES IN APRIL will be on Sunday, April 14, 2019—2 to 4 p.m.  to be held at the Warren and Reba Lummis Genealogical & Historical Library, located at 981 Ye Greate Street, Greenwich. The guest speaker is  Andrew Ingersoll and his topic will be “Colonial Economy.” Light refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 856-455-8580.

Friday, December 28 – Mercer County Colonial Ball     Trenton, NJ—  Have you ever watched the ball dancing in Pride and Prejudice and imagined yourself dancing in such a romantic setting? Dance like our founding fathers along with reenactors in Revolutionary War dress, to live music of the time. You needn’t know the dances – we’ll teach you! Enjoy light refreshments as you mingle with people from the past and the present. This is a one-of-a-kind experience not to be missed!     The ball will be held the evening of Friday, December 28, at 7 pm. It will take place at the Historic Trenton Masonic Temple, located at 100 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ. Parking for the event is free, close, and plentiful, available in the lot across from The War Memorial and the small lot next to The Old Barracks Museum. Advanced ticket pricing: $25-General Public; $20-Old Barracks Association Members. Tickets available at  www.barracks.org  or 609-396-...

Colonial Christmas Tea with Annis Boudinot Stockton Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 2 PM – 4 PM Morven Museum & Garden 55 Stockton St, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 A private visit to the Festival of Trees and newly reimagined  first floor galleries starting at 2:00 p.m. is followed by costumed reenactor Alisa Dupuy’s portrayal of Annis Boudinot Stockton’s Christmas stories, poetry, and a three-course holiday sweets tea in Morven’s festive Stockton Education Center. Tickets

16th Annual Colonial Christmas Features Holiday Shopping, Santa Visits, Pony Rides, and Festive Activities for all Ages 8:06:00 PM    Bedminster ,  New Jersey ,  press release ,  Somerset County    No comments 16th Annual Colonial Christmas Features Holiday Shopping, Santa Visits, Pony Rides, and Festive Activities for all Ages The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House invite visitors of all ages to experience Christmas past and present when the circa 1772 Dutch Colonial museum opens its wreath-clad doors for the 16th Annual Colonial Christmas, Saturday and Sunday, November 24 - 25 and Saturday and Sunday, December 1 - 2.  Hours are from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm daily. $10 admission per adult. $5 children 6-12. Free to Museum members and children 5 and under. The museum is located at 3055 River Road, River Road Park, Bedminster, NJ. Visitors will enjoy tours of the museum, which will be decorated for the holidays by Gail Whiting of Design Consultants,...

Tuesday, November 13 and 20 – Mercer County Light & Life in the Colonies Tour      Tour the Old Barracks Museum in the evening twilight to discover first-hand how light and darkness affected daily activities, work, and entertainment in the 18th century.  The museum will open at 6:45 PM and tours will begin at 7 PM on Tuesday, November 13 & Tuesday, November 20.      Availability of light varied among social class and rank. This 45-minute tour is not simply "Barracks-by-night," but instead focuses on life after sunset before electricity.  See how access to light was dictated by social standing and rank by comparing the candles available in the soldiers’ quarters and the officers’ house. The tailor’s shop in the museum will show how the work day was impacted by sunlight. Admission is $10; $5 for members of the Old Barracks Association. Tours are limited to 15 people per tour. For more information, visit  www.barracks...