Historic Happenings Blog

Through December 1 -- Passaic County 'Tis the Season for the Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique!     This year the Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique will be open for four weeks! From November 2 nd  through December 1 st  at Lambert Castle (home of the Passaic County Historical Society) at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ, the Passaic County Historical Society will be presenting the 32 nd  annual Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique.  Open Wednesday through Friday from 10am to 8pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm, enjoy shopping for this year’s assortment of festive holiday gifts, jewelry, seasonal decorations, crafts, collectibles, and gourmet food in the historic atmosphere and ambiance of Lambert Castle.    Admission to the Boutique is $7 for opening weekend, November 2 nd  -3 rd  and $6 for the duration of the show. All admission fees include two return visits. Children under 12 years are admitted free of charge. No child strollers o...

Wednesday, November 13 – Passaic County     On Wednesday, November 13th at 7:00 p.m. at the Louis Bay II Library, 345 Lafayette Ave, Hawthorne NJ, the Passaic County Historical Society is hosting  Mario Medici as he presents the Civil Rights Movement. The civil rights movement was a struggle by African Americans in the mid-1950s to late 1960s to achieve civil rights equal to those of whites. No social or political movement of the twentieth century has had as profound an effect on the legal and political institutions of the United States. Learn how this movement sought to restore to African Americans the rights of citizenship guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, which had been eroded by segregationist Jim Crow Laws in the South.    Mario Medici is a retired Information Technology executive with 50 years of business experience, 30 of which were with the airline industry. Having traveled the world extensively, and with a love for am...

Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique Wine and Cheese Preview Night tickets are on sale now! On Friday, November 1st from 5pm to 9 pm in Lambert Castle, the Passaic Co unty Historical Society will be presenting its annual Wine and Cheese Preview of the Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique. Be the first to enjoy this year’s assortment of festive holiday gifts, jewelry, seasonal decorations, crafts, collectibles, and gourmet food in the historic atmosphere and ambiance of Lambert Castle. Admission to Preview Night is $15, which includes two return visits. Free wine and snacks provided while supplies last. To purchase tickets in advance, call (973)247-0085 x201. Tickets will also be available at the door. Children under 12 years are admitted free of charge. No child strollers or carriages are permitted inside the Castle. Visa and Mastercard are accepted for purchases. All proceeds from this fundraiser benefit the Passaic County Historical Society.

Saturday, October 19 – Passaic County Kids Harvest and History Day at Lambert Castle      Join us on Saturday, October 19 th  between 3pm and 6pm on the North Lawn of Lambert Castle (home of the Passaic County Historical Society) at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ, as the  Passaic County Historical Society ushers in the autumn season with history, food, and fun fall children's activities. Children can participate in fall crafts and games, learn about our local historic sites, drill with some Revolutionary war soldiers and much more. The day concludes at 5:30 pm as we read a version of Washington Irving’s classic story. You might even have a chance to meet the Headless Horseman in person!  Bring your own blankets or lawn chairs. Recommended for children age 3-12 years. Free admission, donations requested. No Rain Date.    The Passaic County Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was founded to cultivate interest among individuals and...

Tuesday, September 10-Passaic County Tickets Now on Sale      Please join the Passaic County Historical Society for a night of good food and great company. On Tuesday, September 10 th  at 6:30pm at the Brownstone restaurant located at 351 West Broadway in Paterson.  The Passaic County Historical Society will host its  Annual Beefsteak Dinner Fundraiser .    Enjoy the Brownstone’s famous “all you can eat beefsteak dinner.” Attendees also have the opportunity to participate in a 50/50 drawing and a cocktail raffle. Dinners are $60 per person, reservations required. For those who do not eat beef, chicken and fish options are available. All proceeds will benefit the Passaic County Historical Society. To book a reservation, please call 973-247-0085 ext. 201 or download an application from lambertcastle.org.    The Passaic County Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was founded to cultivate interest among individuals and ...

Thursday, August 29 – Passaic County Children's Book Reading at Lambert Castle     Calling all families. Come to Lambert Castle on Thursday, August 29 th  for a very special visit from local children's author Kathleen Kellaigh. Come early and explore the museum for an hour with our family-friendly scavenger hunt or stay after the presentation. Kathleen will read from her book,  The Griftamouse and the Stardragon  in Lambert Castle's atrium at 1pm .  This first book in the Slamto Carracas series, features YOUR art as the co-star!  The fantastical characters, landscapes and epic battles are different in each person's mind. Nurture your creative talent as you enjoy the heartwarming tale. Copies will be available at the event and Kathleen would be happy to sign them!     A resident of Clifton, Kathleen Kellaigh directs, acts, teaches and writes. She is also the co-founder for ATC Studios. She was on the soap opera GUIDING...

Sunday, August 11 – Passaic County Back Due to Popular Demand!     On Sunday, August 11 th  at 5pm in Lambert Castle (at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ), Gerard and Diane Barros will return to the summer concert series to   present  One Fine Tapestry: A Carole King Tribute .  Join this husband-and-wife duo as they celebrate the career of Carole King.     This tribute performance will not only include many of King's own hits but also a selection of chart-toppers she composed for other musical performers including the Drifters, Beatles, Monkees, James Taylor, and Passaic New Jersey's the Shirelles. Visit barrosmusic.com for more information. Admission to the concert is $15. Seating is limited, no reservations will be taken. The doors open at 4:15pm.     This performance is a part of the 2019 Lambert Castle Concert Series. Featuring local musicians and a variety of musical genres, all concerts are performed in the ...

Wednesday, August 7 – Passaic County     On Wednesday, August 7th at 7pm in Lambert Castle (3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ) the Passaic County Historical Society welcomes  local author Jennifer Ranu as she presents on her newly released book  Italians of Greater Paterson . In the early 1900s, the Little Italy, Riverside, Stony Road, and Sandy Hill sections in Paterson were neighborhoods that offered Italian immigrants the opportunity to be near employment and to have a better life for themselves and their families. Learn how Paterson’s Italians contributed to make Paterson a great city and a great place to live. Ranu, a Paterson native of Italian heritage, will also have copies of her book available to sell after the presentation. The program is free admission and open to the public.     For more information on special events such as this one, visit the Passaic County Historical Society’s website at lambertcastle.org or call 973-247-0085. Be...

Sunday, July 28 – Passaic County   On Sunday, July 28 th  at 5pm in Lambert Castle (at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ)  Annamaria Stefanelli and Rory Angelicola return to the Lambert Castle Concert Series and present  An Afternoon of Italian Opera Plus.     The program is filled with beautiful Italian arias and duets as well as other operatic favorites. The performance will also include favorites from the classical American Musical repertoire. Join us for an afternoon of moving music!  Admission to the concert is $15. Seating is limited, no reservations will be taken.    This performance is a part of the 2019 Lambert Castle Concert Series. Featuring local musicians and a variety of musical genres, all concerts are performed in the beautiful atmosphere that is Lambert Castle. Check our website for a complete listing of performances and dates.

Friday-Saturday, July 26-27 – Passaic County      Shakespeare is back at Lambert Castle (at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ) this summer! On July 26 th  and 27 th visitors may find themselves transported to Elizabethan times. The Passaic County Historical Society will host ATC Studios’ Summer Shakespeare Conservatory for three performances of a  (Mini) Taming of the Shrew  at Lambert Castle on July 26 th  at 7pm in the Gallery and July 27 th  at 3pm and 5pm on the Castle lawn.      All are welcome to join us on the Castle lawn  for this great introduction to Shakespeare. The performance, which will last less than an hour and a half, is definitely user-friendly: a great way to introduce someone to the Bard, and a wonderful treat for those who know the works well.      For the Gallery performance on July 26 th , tickets are $10, general admission. There is limited seating. Call 862-243-ATCS (282...

Sunday, June 23 – Passaic County     On Sunday, June 23 rd  at 5pm in Lambert Castle (at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ), the Passaic County Historical Society welcomes back  internationally acclaimed soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and educator, Sophia Agranovich .  Sophia  is “ a bold, daring pianist in the tradition of the Golden Age Romantics…A tigress of the keyboard”  - Fanfare. Her performances are captivating audiences by the “ orison of uncommon beauty” - Audiophile, “ the ideal balance she achieves between the intellectual and the emotional”  - Fanfare, “interpretation that dares to be different”, “magnificent shading and superior musicianship” - American Record Guide.     In the program are some of the most profound and challenging pieces in the piano repertoire. Beethoven’s Sonata op. 27 No.2 ‘Sonata quasi una fantasia’, popularly known as ‘Moonlight Sonata’, is beloved for its mysterious, hypnotic fir...

Saturday, June 8 – Passaic County    On Saturday, June 8 th  at 6pm on the lawn of Lambert Castle (at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ)  the Clifton Community Band will return to the Lambert Castle Concert Series and present  Music at the Castle: A Welcome to Summer.   Founded in 2002 and directed by Robert D. Morgan, the Clifton Community Band is a traditional concert band (brass, woodwinds and percussion). The band appears in the area and around the state performing a variety of music including classical, pop, big bands and marches. Admission to the concert is free but donations are requested. The suggested donation is $15. Please bring your own seating. Rain date is Sunday June 9 th .   This performance is a part of the 2019 Lambert Castle Concert Series. Featuring local musicians and a variety of musical genres, all concerts are performed in the beautiful atmosphere that is Lambert Castle. Check our website for a complete listing of performance...

Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19 – Passaic County March into History at Lambert Castle Civil War weekend May 18-19, 2019     Come one! Come All!  March into history with the Passaic County Historical Society and the Second New Jersey Brigade at Lambert Castle (3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ) on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, from 10am-4pm. Experience Civil War camp life and a full day of demonstrations including infantry, signal corps, civilians, cavalry, artillery, 22nd US Colored Troops, and medical. Lambert Castle Museum will also be open with free admission all day! Come for a few hours or stay for the day. Parking available in the lot at Lambert Castle. Overflow parking is also available at Rifle Camp Park (387 Rifle Camp Rd, Woodland Park) with shuttle transport to Lambert Castle.  Visit  www.2dnjbrigade.org  or  www.lambertcastle.org  for more information.     For more information on special events such as thi...

Wednesday, May 8 – Passaic County     On Wednesday, May 8 th  at 7 p.m. at Lambert Castle (3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ), the Passaic County Historical Society will host  Linda Barth as she presents  New Jersey Originals: Technological Marvels, Odd Inventions, Trailblazing Characters, and More.   Based on her book by the same title, in this program Linda will teach us about the inventions of Bell Labs and Edison, in addition to other valuable, brilliant, and quirky creations. The work of our soldiers at Fort Monmouth and Camp Evans—including radar and night vision goggles—helped the United States win World War II. Cook College at Rutgers has produced important, often disease-resistant, vegetables and flowers. Among the edible inventions are pork roll, M&M’s, and the famous Campbell’s green bean casserole. Quirky firsts include Lucy the Elephant and the Francis life car. And just for fun, some famous and not-so-famous New Jerseyans. The prog...

Sunday, May 5 – Passaic County   On Sunday, May 5 th  at 5pm in Lambert Castle (at 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ)  Gerard and Diane Barros will return to the summer concert series to present  One Fine Tapestry: A Carole King Tribute.  Join this husband and wife duo as they celebrate the career of Carole King.  This tribute performance will not only include many of King's own hits but also a selection of chart-toppers she composed for other musical performers including the Drifters, Beatles, Monkees, and James Taylor. Visit barrosmusic.com for more information. Admission to the concert is $15. Seating is limited, no reservations will be taken. The doors open at 4:15pm.     This performance is a part of the 2019 Lambert Castle Concert Series. Featuring local musicians and a variety of musical genres, all concerts are performed in the beautiful atmosphere that is Lambert Castle. Check our website (www.lambertcastle.org) for a complete lis...