Historic Happenings Blog

Opening Day at Allaire 2020! Celebrate the Historic Village at Allaire - What is it all About, What do we Offer, How can you Help! About this Event As New Jersey's premier outdoor living history museum, come and celebrate Allaire's history with special house tours, craft demonstrations (Carpentry, Tinsmith, Blacksmith, Hearth-Cooking, Fibre Arts), children's games, story-telling, quilting, and more! With winter behind and signs of spring, the village comes to life this day to kick off the 2020 season. Over 12 of our unique craft guilds will be demonstrating their 19th century craft! Guided tours of the historic buildings, including two of our newly developed interpretive sites for 2020! A special history scavenger hunt for children and adults. Music in the village, hands-on activities, and interactive programs to experience life in this early 19th-century industrial village. Visit our RESTORED Enameling Building! Learn about what Allaire has to offer via group tours, facili...

Sundays, starting June 30 -- Sussex County Historic Montague Houses Reopening for Summer Tours  The Montague Association for the Restoration of Community History (M.A.R.C.H.) of Montague, NJ, is pleased to announce that our two historic houses, the Foster Armstrong House and Nelden-Roberts Stonehouse, will both be reopened for the summer for tours beginning on Sunday, June 30th from 1 to 4 p.m.  They will be open Sundays from 1 to 4 pm until August 25, 2019 The first of our featured seminars this summer includes a  special presentation during the reopening called “The Dutch, the Indians, and the Quest for Copper – Pahaquarry and the Old Mine  Road” by Frank Salvati.  For over 100 years it has been asserted that Dutch miners operated a copper mine in the upper Delaware Valley about 1650, then built a 104-mile-long road to what is now Kingston, NY to transport the ore to the Hudson River. Or did they?  Hear the true story of the old copper mine, the roa...

Saturday, May 25   -  Hardwick, Warren County Millbrook Village Spring Fling The Millbrook Village Society is happy to announce their Spring opening for Millbrook Village on Saturday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.  Some of the volunteers will be demonstrating their crafts, but the focus will be on the leisure activities of a bygone era in a rural community. All work and no play isn’t fun every day!  Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a day in the country. We’ll be looking forward to seeing you. The activities are sponsored by the Millbrook Village Society in cooperation with the National Park Service. All activities are free of charge and family oriented. Rain or Shine. Restroom facilities and picnic area are available. There are no food vendors or vending machines. Bring your own refreshments. Millbrook Village is part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Millbrook Village is located in Hardwick Township, NJ at the intersection of Old Mine Road and Millbrook Ro...

S aturday, April 13  - Brick Township, Ocean County Havens Homestead Opening The Brick Township Historical Society will re-open its Havens Homestead Museum at 521 Herbertsville Road, Brick, NJ for the 2019 season on Saturday from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon.  On that day will be a special exhibit of coins from the collection of Russell Martone. This collection consists of one penny from each year, a numerical collection from 1850 to 2019. As Martone observed, "Cents are made each year from different mints, Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco." But, he has been fortunate to collect 169 pennies from those successive years. The museum will be open for tours on Saturdays from April 13 through October from  10:00 am - 12:00 noon  except for major holiday weekends. Admission is free, and donations are gratefully accepted for the upkeep of the buildings.  For more information,   call 732-785-2500 or visit  www.bricktownshiphistoricalsociety.com .

Saturday - Sunday, April 6 - 7  - Morristown, Morris County Opening Weekend at Historic Speedwell Discover what’s new this year at Historic Speedwell. Experience a variety of traditional fun and games for the entire family. Save 10% off purchases in the Friends of Historic Speedwell Gift Shop. Hours : Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm.  Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior (65+), $3/child (ages 4 -16). FREE for children under age 4 and Friends members, with a current membership card.  Historic Speedwell is located at 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ.  For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit  www.morrisparks.net .

Saturday - Sunday, April 6 - 7   - Piscataway, Middlesex County 2019 Season Opening & British Occupation

Saturday, April 6 – Cumberland County TWO EXCITING EXHIBITS AT THE RE-OPENING OF THE GIBBON HOUSE will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019—1 to 4 p.m. at the Gibbon House, located at 960 Ye Greate Street, Greenwich, NJ. Exhibit #1: “A Rare and Remarkable Find” With the help of benefactors, the Cumberland County Historical Society recently acquired a group of six antique samplers worked by four generations of the same Shiloh, New Jersey family. No other museum or historical society can boast of such a find! Exhibit #2: “18 th  Century Charcoal Drawing of Philip Vickers Fithian” Home from the Conservation Center for Arts and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia, the 18 th century charcoal drawing of Philip Vickers Fithian will be on display at the re-opening!     There will be tours of the Gibbon House, hearthside cooking demonstrations, and light refreshments! For additional information, call 856-455-8580.

As New Jersey’s premier outdoor living history museum, come and celebrate Allaire’s history with special house tours, craft demonstrations (carpentry, blacksmith, woodcarving), children’s games, story-telling, historic quilt “airing,” and more! With winter behind and signs of spring, the village comes to life this day to kick off the 2019 season. Highlights include: * Furnace interpretation at 12:30 and 2:30 pm. * Miniature Wooden Animal Craft * Carriage House Display * OPEN HOUSE at the Allaire Residence * Historic Chapel Open to Tour * Information Tables A special history and science scavenger hunt for children and adults. Music in the village, hands-on activities, and interactive programs to experience life in this early 19th-century industrial village.  Learn about what Allaire has to offer via group tours, facility rentals (the Chapel), benefits of museum membership, special events, volunteer/intern opportunities, sponsorships, and much more! An “Opening Da...

Saturday, April 6  - Chester, Morris County Opening Day at Cooper Gristmill On Saturday, experience the powerful energy of the Black River as it runs the 1826 Cooper Gristmill’s huge waterwheel and four floors of machinery to grind grain seeds into flour. How much flour do you think is produced daily? History and technology fans and families can find out the answers, and much more! The gristmill is open from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. The last guided tour of the gristmill begins at 3:30 pm. The suggested donation to tour the Gristmill is $3 per adult, $2 per senior (65+), and $1 per child age 4 - 16.  FREE per child under age 4, and Friends of Fosterfields and Cooper Mill members with a current membership card.  The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit  www.morrisparks.net .

Saturday, April 6   -  Morris Township, Morris County Fosterfields Opening Day On Saturday  at Fosterfield's Living Historical Farm, celebrate the first Saturday of the season with farm to table cooking demos, planting in the garden, wagon rides, and crafts - a perfect spring day filled with activities for the entire family! Wagon rides  10:15 am - 12:00 noon; planting at 11:30 am followed by a cooking demo at 1:00 pm in the farmhouse. Crafts from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2 for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit  www.morrisparks.net .

Opening Day of Liberty Hall Museum Tuesday, April 2 Public tours of Liberty Hall Museum will resume!  Program Time: Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tours leave every hour; the last tour leaves at 3 p.m. Program Fee: $12.00 for Adults; $10.00 for Kean Alumni; $8.00 for Seniors & Children (3-17 years old). Children Under 3, Kean Students/Faculty & LHM Members are free. Reservations are not required unless you are a group of 10 or more  Call before visiting to ensure tour availability

Saturday, March  2  - Lower Township, Cape May County Cape May Lighthouse Open On Saturday, the Cape May Lighthouse, Oil House and Museum Shop reopens for the season. The lighthouse is an 1859 structure with 199 steps to the watch gallery for a panoramic view of the Jersey Cape and the Atlantic Ocean. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible Visitors' Orientation Center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and lighthouse memorabilia. Open 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm on Saturday. Cape May Point State Park is located in Lower Township, NJ. Admission to the Visitors' Orientation Center and the ground floor of the lighthouse is free. Tower admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit  www.capemaymac.org .

Saturday, February  23  - Lower Township, Cape May County Cape May Lighthouse Open On Saturday, the Cape May Lighthouse, Oil House and Museum Shop reopens for the season. The lighthouse is an 1859 structure with 199 steps to the watch gallery for a panoramic view of the Jersey Cape and Atlantic Ocean. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible Visitors' Orientation Center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and lighthouse memorabilia. Open 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm on Saturday. Cape May Point State Park is located in Lower Township, NJ. Admission to the Visitors' Orientation Center and the ground floor of the lighthouse is free. Tower admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit  www.capemaymac.org .