Historic Happenings Blog

Saturday, June 27 -- Union County Westfield Historical Society Walking Tour: What Makes a Neighborhood? – Tremont Avenue     On Saturday, June 27, 2020, from 9:00 – 11:00 am, the sixth in a very popular series of architectural walking tours will take place on Tremont Avenue. Scale, proportions, and materiality will be discussed.      The intent of this tour is to honor the beautiful streetscapes and the diverse architectural styles that remain centuries later. Gregory Blasi, R.A. local architect and principal of Vincentsen & Blasi Architects and Westfield Historical Society President, will lead the tour and answer questions.     The tour will accommodate 20 attendees, but additional tours will be scheduled if interest warrants. It will take place rain or shine. Participants are encouraged to wear face masks, bring hand sanitizer, and practice appropriate social distancing. The tour meet-up location ...

Sunday, March 22 – Union County  2:00 to 4:00 “Maple Sugar Sunday” Miller-Cory House Museum, 614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield The production of syrup and sugar from the sap of the maple tree was known in America long before the first European colonists arrived. The Native Americans taught the settlers how to collect the sap, and sugar making became one of the most important seasonal tasks of farm life. The museum’s presenter will talk about the technique of maple sugaring, explaining how the maple sap rises and flows, how it is collected using wooden buckets and handmade spiles, and how sugar and syrup are made from the sap. (Please note that no tree will actually be tapped.) Two presentations are scheduled, one at 2:30 and one at 3:30, each lasting about one-half hour.      The museum will be open from 2:00 to 4:00 and will also offer tours of the restored, 1740 farmhouse and authentic open-hearth cooking demonstrations. Members of the cooking committee...

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...

Wednesday, March 4 – Union County Westfield Historical Society’s March First Wednesday Luncheon: “100 Years of the Women’s Vote” with Dr. Susan Lederman Westfield, NJ  -- As part of The Westfield Historical Society’s First Wednesday Luncheon series for March, which is Women’s History Month and is the 100 th  anniversary year of the 19th amendment (granting women the vote), Dr. Susan Lederman will talk on the subject of  "100 Years of the Women’s Vote”  on March 4, 2020.  Dr. Lederman will take us through significant events that have occurred since 1920 while women have had the right to vote.  The event will begin with check-in at 11:45 am at Ferraro’s Restaurant (2 nd  Floor), 14 Elm Street, Westfield.     Susan Lederman is Professor Emerita of Public Administration at Kean University. She had served as Director of Kean’s Master of Public Administration Program and had been on the faculty at the University since 1977. Dr. Lederman i...

Sunday, February 23 – Union County Celebrate Westfield 300 with “Colonial” Meal and Drink Tasting Event   As part of the celebration of Westfield’s 300 th  Anniversary, the Westfield 300 Committee,  the Westfield Historical Society and the Miller-Cory House Museum have planned a “Colonial” dinner and drink tasting event to be held at 16 Prospect Wine Bar Bistro on Sunday, February 23, 2020, from 2-4pm. Eat, drink and be merry (the way George Washington did!).      During this event, guests will enjoy  special Colonial food samplings as well as Colonial-inspired tavern drinks. Guests should be 21 years of age in order to attend. Special recipes, provided by the Miller-Cory House Museum, will be prepared for sampling; and Colonial history-inspired drinks will be sampled during a presentation of “Wet Westfield – A Virtual Pub Crawl” by the Westfield Historical Society’s, Meg Wastie (pictured).      Space is limited and reservation...

Thursday, February 13 – Union County The Genealogical Society of the West Fields Meeting Thursday, February 13, 2020      The Genealogical Society of the West Fields invites you to join Jacquelyn Oshman of the New Brunswick Free Public Library on Thursday, February 13, 2020.  The meeting will be held at 1:00 pm in the Westfield Memorial Library, 550 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ.      Jacquelyn Oshman has been a reference librarian at the New Brunswick Free Public Library for 15 years. She specializes in local history and genealogy and has given genealogy presentations to numerous organizations around New Jersey. Her presentation will focus on  the collections held at the New Brunswick Free Public Library that are most widely used by researchers and how they can help genealogists in the area.

Sunday,  February 9   - Westfield, Union County Sweet and Spicy Pomanders Studding fruits with whole cloves to make a “pomander ball” to freshen the air or linens was a tradition in 18th century America. Children may make their own simple pomander ball and learn a few facts about their history. Suggested ages: 4-8. Docents will be available to guide visitors through the restored, fully furnished circa 1740 farmhouse.  Admission is $5 ages 13 and older; $3 ages 3-12 and free age 2 and younger. No reservations are necessary. The Miller-Cory House Museum is located at  614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield, NJ. F or more information ,  call 908-232-1776, e-mail  millercorymuseum@gmail.com , or visit  www.millercoryhouse.com .

Wednesday, February 5 – Union County Westfield Historical Society’s February Luncheon Event – An Edwardian Tea at the Reeve House       On Wednesday, February 5, 2020, the historic Reeve House, home to the Westfield Historical Society, will be transformed into an Edwardian Tea House. Enjoy a British afternoon tea luncheon as the Edwardians would have in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Experience the “Downton Abbey” way of life as you sip your tea while eating scrumptious scones with clotted cream and jam; accompanied by a variety of delicious finger sandwiches with decadent desserts to follow.     Be entertained by the sweet tone of the music in the beautifully restored 1875 Italianate Reeve House. Sit by the fireplace ablaze in the parlor, surrounded by elegant furniture and paintings; or contemplate in the Library with lovely artifacts from the Reeve family; or dine as the Reeve family in the sumptuous dining room. Admire the ambi...

Thursday, January 9 – Union County The Genealogical Society of the West Fields Meeting Thursday, January 9, 2020      The Genealogical Society of the West Fields invites you to join Randi Koenig, Principal of Legacy Genealogy Services on Thursday, January 9, 2020.  The meeting will be held at 1:00 pm in the Westfield Memorial Library located at 550 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ.      A professional genealogist with over 15 years' experience, Randi not only provides comprehensive family research (international and domestic) but also specializes in forensic genealogy for kinship proceedings. Based in the New York City area, Randi is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and National Genealogical Society and many other genealogical organizations. She is a registered researcher at the Florence, Italy Archives and the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland. A longtime presenter of genealogical work...

Register before January 3 – Union County Westfield Historical Society’s January First Wednesday Luncheon: “Victorian Death & Mourning Traditions” with Joan Schaible Westfield, NJ  -- As part of The Westfield Historical Society’s First Wednesday Luncheon series, Joan Schaible will talk on the subject  "Victorian Death & Mourning Traditions” for January 8, 2020. Much of the 19 th  century was known as the Victorian period as was so named during the 60-year reign of England’s Queen Victoria. Indeed, her influence was evidenced in American death and mourning practices that may appear morbid or strange today.  During this presentation, explore the preparation of the home and deceased, taphophobia, post-mortem photography, the wake, funeral service, internment, park cemeteries, and gravestone symbolism. Even after the loved one had passed away, mourning could continue for years. The event will begin with check-in at 11:45 am at Ferraro’s Restaurant (2 nd ...

Sunday, December 8 – Union County 1:30 to 4:00   “Gingerbread Sunday” Miller-Cory House Museum  614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield Spicy sweet gingerbread is a special part of the holiday season. The museum's program will celebrate this treat! Children will make a decorative, nonedible gingerbread house and one additional craft to take home and will hear "gingery" stories .  Light refreshments will be served. Members of the Cooking Committee will also prepare early American recipes using ginger over the open hearth.  Suggested age: 3 (with assistance for crafts) through elementary school. $5 per child; accompanying adults free. Advance reservations are required and are being accepted through December 4; call 908-232-1776 or email  millercorymuseum@gmail.com . Please include your phone number in emails.

Wednesday, December 4 – Union County Westfield Historical Society’s December First Wednesday Luncheon: “ Stoned in History…Lore from Cemetery Stonework ” with David Rogers  As part of "The Westfield Historical Society’s First Wednesday Luncheon" series,  David Rogers' talk is on the subject "Stoned in History…Lore from Cemetery Stonework” for December 4, 2019. Mr. Rogers takes a look at stonework as it records little-known facts about wars, conflicts, and families through the centuries . The event will begin with check-in at 11:45 am at Ferraro’s Restaurant (2 nd  Floor), 14 Elm Street, Westfield.     Mr. Rogers has accumulated much information from local cemeteries. This information provides facts, through the centuries, about life in those times. He will present his findings which are organized in a time-line fashion.      Some of his research is based on the Presbyterian Church in Westfield’s cemetery, the Burial Grounds of the P...

Sunday, November 24 – Union County 2:00 to 4:00     “Thanksgiving Dinner Demonstration & 18th-Century Table Customs” Miller-Cory House Museum, 614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield       A special day of thanks has been part of the American tradition since 1621. The Miller-Cory House Museum cooks will demonstrate the preparation of an early American Thanksgiving feast over the museum’s open-hearth fire, using colonial recipes and seasonal ingredients.  (Please note that this is a demonstration only; dinner is not being served.) Proper colonial dining also requires proper table customs.  The program includes a presentation on authentic early American manners, place settings, and other interesting “table-top traditions.”  Docents will be available to guide visitors through the restored, fully furnished colonial-era farmhouse. Admission is $5 ages 13 and older; $3 ages 3-12, and free age 2 and younger. 908-23...

Sunday, November 10 – Union County 2:00 to 4:00 “Final Respects - 18th-Century Funeral Customs” at the Miller-Cory House Museum, 614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield Death was ever-present in early America. Disease, epidemics, accidents, childbirth – all took their endless toll. Then, as now, burial and funeral rituals served to honor the dead and comfort the living. The museum’s program will take a look at 18th-century  funeral practices; included are a presentation and an artifact display.  Visitors may also tour the fully furnished c1740 farmhouse and watch demonstrations of open-hearth cooking. Admission is $5 for ages 13 and older, $3 for ages 3 to 13, and free age 2 and under. 908-232-1776  and  millercorymuseum@gmail.com . The museum’s website is  www.millercoryhouse.com .

Wednesday, November 6 – Union County Westfield Historical Society’s November First Wednesday Luncheon: “The Statue of Liberty – Meant for Egypt, Ends in America” with Gary Lee Mahmoud     As part of the Westfield Historical Society’s  First Wednesday Luncheon  series, Actor and Westfield Native, Gary Lee Mahmoud, will talk about the story of “The Statue of Liberty – Meant for Egypt, Ends in America” for November 6, 2019.   Please be advised that, due to an unforeseen circumstance at Echo Lake Country Club involving the construction, we are unable to hold our luncheon there on November 6th. It will be held, instead, at Ferraro's (2nd floor), 14 Elm Street, Westfield. Elevator access is available to the second floor. During the eighteenth and the nineteenth century, the United States hadn’t attained its power and the world leadership that she currently enjoys. So, when the Suez Canal was constructed during the period from 1859 to 1869, it was the most im...