Historic Happenings Blog

June 22-November 3 – Mercer County The Immigrant Experience A celebration of 300 years of Trenton history On display June 22 – November 3, 2019 Opening Reception June 22, 2019 6 - 8 pm Sculpture Exhibit on the grounds of The 1719 William Trent House 15 Market St., Trenton, NJ 08611  The Trent House Association presents a sculpture exhibit on the grounds of the William Trent House Museum,  15 Market Street, Trenton, New Jersey.  The Immigrant Experience is on display from June 22 – November 3, 2019, with a reception open to the general public on June 22, 2019, from 6 – 8 pm. Once settlers from across the ocean began to inhabit the lands of the Lenape on the banks of the Delaware, Trenton has been home to immigrants: both to those who came here willingly, seeking jobs and opportunity for a better life, and to those who came here under duress. The William Trent House, its inhabitants, its surroundings and its circumstances represent that history. It is the history of th...

Fred Voss, a professional genealogist, will speak about “Stories from Ellis Island” on Sunday, September 8th at 2:00 pm at the Eatontown Community Center, 72 Broad St, Eatontown.      MORE STORIES FROM Ellis Island. From 1892 to 1954, more than 12.5 million immigrants were processed through Ellis Island. Coming from all corners of the world, these souls—whom nearly 40% of Americans can call "family"—left behind possessions and family to reinvent themselves in America. Most were processed through Ellis Island without incident.  But some immigrants found themselves detained due to mental or physical illness, because their paperwork was not in order, or because those who were due to receive them did not show. What kind of stories could they tell?     Mr. Voss is a professional genealogist and a volunteer tour guide at Ellis Island National Park. His talk will explore the personal, sometimes heartbreaking, stories of those who came thro...