Historic Happenings Blog

The Historical Society of Plainfield/Drake House Museum announces an online exhibit of “Plainfield During WWI and the Influenza Pandemic.”   The exhibit is dedicated to the memory of the 45 soldiers and their Gold Star Families from Plainfield and the surrounding area who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country during WWI. Some were born in Plainfield and others were immigrants, but all served their country with courage, bravery, and valor. Approximately 23 of the men succumbed to the Influenza Pandemic in 1918 and its related diseases. One of the men, Martin J. Kane, died as a result of pneumonia. He was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, and was stationed at Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook. He was called to duty to help guard Sayreville after the T. A. Gillespie Company Shell Loading Plant explosion or the Morgan explosion, which occurred on October 4, 1918. This explosion leveled over 300 buildings, burned for 3 days, and forced the evacuation and reconstruction of ...

Sunday, May 19 – Union County “Ere the Shadows Fade: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers “    The Historical Society of Plainfield will host a lecture entitled  “Ere the Shadows Fade: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers”  on Sunday, May 19, 2019, starting at 2:00 PM at the Drake House Museum. The lecture will be given by Gary D. Saretzky, Archivist, Educator, and Photographer.     Why were photographers important during the Civil War Era? The then-new ability to capture images at that time resulted in an increase in demand – from soldiers and families – for images of loved ones . More galleries opened and photographers moved to cities and towns. Several notable New Jersey photographers, including George S. Cook and Theodore Gubelman, contributed to the field. Gary Saretzky will guide the conversation about the evolution of the photography industry and the significance of the images captured.     The His...

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PLAINFIELD -- “World War 1 Poppy Program”     The Historical Society of Plainfield is participating in the WW1 Poppy Program created by the WW1 Centennial Commission. The WW1 Poppy program is a fundraising program that will benefit the National WW1 Memorials at Pershing Park in Washington, DC, and the Historical Society of Plainfield. Seed packets of Flanders Poppy are available for purchase at the Drake House Museum for $2 per packet as the supply lasts. The red poppy is an internationally recognized symbol of remembrance for veteran sacrifice.    Each seed packet honors the legacy of the 4.7 million American veterans who served during WW1 and the 116,516 American who never made it home. Plainfield lost 45 residents during WW1. A current exhibit at the Drake House entitled, “Plainfield During WW1 and the Influenza Pandemic,” highlights the biographies of the 45 men.     One former resident ...

I am a historical interpreter specializing in telling the stories of  fascinating forgotten women  and am currently working on a program  Reclaiming Our Voice: New Jersey's Central Role in the Fight for Woman Suffrage  ( click here  for a description),  which I will be premiering at the   Drake House Museum on March 24th  at 2:00 p.m.    It is conceived as a Jersey-centric companion to my program  Pickets & Persistence, War Service & Women’s Suffrage .   I have found fascinating material in the books  Reclaiming Lost Ground: The Struggle for Woman Suffrage in New Jersey ,  After Winning: The Legacy of New Jersey Suffragists ,  Past and Promise: Lives of New Jersey Women  and  Casting Their Vote: Woman Suffrage in New Jersey   but was  wondering if any NJ societies might have clipping files or other materials on the woman suffrage or anti-suffrage movement in NJ...

Sunday, February 24 – Union County “Plainfield’s Hidden Black History”   The Historical Society of Plainfield will host a lecture and discussion entitled  “Plainfield’s Hidden Black History”  on Sunday, February 24, 2019, at 4:00 PM. The lecture and discussion will be led by Nancy Piwowar, president of the Historical Society of Plainfield.  “Plainfield’s Hidden Black History” will include photographs from the Historical Society’s archival collection, a discussion of the “1932 Survey of Negro Life in New Jersey” and the 1947 study of Plainfield.  Plainfield was a part of the “1932 Survey of Negro Life in New Jersey.” This study presented a picture of African-American life in New Jersey and included population, housing, employment, health, and recreation statistics to name a few. The 1947 study was an experimental study that focused on Plainfield, even though Plainfield’s name was not used.  Nancy Piwowar is a graduate of Plainfield High School, att...