Historic Happenings Blog

SUNDAYS Historic Seabrook-Wilson House Tours Sundays, April 28-October 27, 1:00-4:00 PM Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth 719 Port Monmouth Rd, Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 Ever wondered what it looks like inside that mysterious white building by the bay? Now is your chance to find out as the historic Seabrook-Wilson House opens its doors for informal tours. The Seabrook-Wilson House dates back to the early 1700s and is one of the oldest homes along the Jersey shore. The house includes displays on the ecology of the bay and local history.  Enjoy views of New York City and the beauty of Sandy Hook Bay while visiting this celebrated house listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Spirits of Rahway – A Lantern Lit Tour of the Rahway Cemetery WHEN:  October 26, 2019 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm  COST:    20.00 Join us the weekend before Halloween for a lantern-lit, nighttime tour of the historic Rahway Cemetery. Our spirit guides will share eerie and true tales of unsolved murders, tragic deaths, and the rumored hauntings witnessed in both the cemetery and the Museum. Five tours will be given each night at 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, and 9:30. Tours take approximately one hour and end with refreshments in the Museum kitchen. Guests are also welcome to tour the Museum. Tickets are $20.00 and may be purchased through PayPal below, or the night of the tour. (These tours are designed for teen and adult audiences.) These tours sell out fast –  so make your reservation online , or call the Museum at 732-381-0441!

East Brunswick Ghost Walk Series Saturdays in October October 2019 marks the Fifth Annual East Brunswick Ghost Walk series, located in the historic Old Bridge village section of town. This neighborhood was settled in the 1600s but was originally inhabited by the Lenape. Their trails became roads and their village became the site of the South River Bridge Tavern. In 1727, a local Indian Sachem shot and killed the owner of the tavern, marking the first, but not the last, murder to occur here. This year features stories of the deaths and apparitions associated with these ancient village grounds. The Herbert Appleby House on Main Street is a hot-bed of paranormal activity including orbs, spectral visions, and voices. In fact, most of the pre-Civil War homes in the village report paranormal activity, including the site of the Rachel Wright murder of 1906. Newly disclosed stories will be shared, including the 1934 gangland shooting linked to the infamous Hall-Mills murders. The tour lasts ab...

Psychic Ghost Tours of the Strauss Mansion Museum  Friday, October 25, 2019, and Saturday, October 26, 2019 Join the crew of "Ghosts on the Coast" and local psychic Lisa for in-depth 90 minute paranormal investigation tours with a new twist from previous years! Hear stories and see visual evidence of REAL paranormal activity and have experiences of your own as we prowl the 21-room Strauss Mansion with the lights off. Bring your own equipment, or use some of ours. These hands-on tours are the perfect way to celebrate the Halloween season. Who knows who YOU may talk to?! Admission is $20 per person. 100% of all proceeds benefit the AHHS. Tours at 7:00 (SOLD OUT), 8:30 (SOLD OUT), and 10:00 PM. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED and can be emailed to Greg at gcaggiano91@gmail.com. Please specify which night and time you want.

Lantern Tour of the Historic Seabrook-Wilson House Bayshore Waterfront Park 719 Port Monmouth Road, Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 Sun, Oct 27, 2019, 7:00-8:00 PM (adults) Curious about what’s inside that old white wooden house sitting out-of-the-way along Sandy Hook Bay? Tour the historic Seabrook-Wilson House, one of the oldest buildings along the Jersey Shore, dating back to 1720, and the oldest house along Sandy Hook Bay. We will walk by lantern light and peek into the lives of how people lived many years ago. We will discover the role the house played from before the American Revolution through the early twentieth century. We will also discover some of the legends and lore of the house as well as uncover some facts often overlooked about the early history of Monmouth County. Reserve your spot today on a lantern-lit journey though time. The house inside can get dark at night, feel free to bring your own flashlight or use a cell phone to light the way. One Session $10.00 Per Person

Saturday, October 26 -- Union County Paranormal Investigations Tour of The Reeve House  - Saturday, October 26; 2 sessions at 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm. Hosted by the Westfield Historical Society, Saturday, October 26, 314 Mountain Avenue, 6:30 PM / 8:30 PM, Ticket Price: $15.00 (members) & $20.00 (non-members).  Guests must be 14 and older to participate. Maximum of 20 guests per event. Limit of two tickets per purchase. (Arrive 15 minutes before the start for check-in). Are there ghosts in Westfield? The 1872 Historic Reeve House was occupied for more than 100 years before the Reeve brothers gave the house to the Town of Westfield with the intention for it to become the Westfield Historical Society's home and museum.  Many of the former inhabitants are known to have passed away inside the Reeve House. Are any of their spirits still residing there?  Come to AddamsFest to find out! New Jersey Paranormal researches and investigates the existence of energy an...

Fall Campfire at Wickatunk Wickatunk Rec Area Spring Valley Patio 97 Harbor Road, Marlboro, NJ 07746 Sat, Oct 26, 2019, 6:00-7:00 PM (approx.). (ages 8 and up, under 18 with adult) Bring a picnic basket and a blanket or lawn chairs. Enjoy a family meal together at the Spring Valley section of the 98-acre Wickatunk Recreation Area, which offers an area of vast fields and forests. We will gather ‘round the campfire for an evening of marshmallows and a wildlife sing-along. Enjoy quality time with family and friends, and share a tale or song connected to the forests and local wildlife. A perfect way to end the day. Don’t forget to bring a lantern or flashlight to light the way. The program will be canceled due to wet or windy conditions. One Session $8.00 Per Person

Saturday, October 26 – Atlantic County Absecon Lighthouse hosts haunted tours on Saturday night, October 26       Do you want to discover if Absecon Lighthouse is home to ghostly keepers that still watch over the shore in Atlantic City? Did the Jersey Devil pay a visit in 1909? Come visit the Absecon Lighthouse to hear the true ghost stories that prompted a visit from SyFy's Ghost Hunters!  The New Jersey Researchers of Paranormal Evidence (NJ ROPE) will be on property to help you hunt for ghosts. Plus, hear and see their eerie recordings & video taken during previous paranormal investigations. Guided tours of our grounds and tower will let you explore our rich history and experience some spooky tales.  Reservations are required; call 609-449-1360 . Tour times are 6pm and 7pm and include a tower climb.  But wait – there’s more!  At 8pm, NJROPE invites you to join them on an actual paranormal investigation with gho...

Friday - Saturday, October 18,  19, 25 & 26 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County Haunted Hayride at Allaire Village Historic Allaire Village, presents Halloween Hayrides on Friday, and Saturday from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. With a NEW and spooktacular route along the winding paths of time, nearly 20 different "scenes" greet visitors of all ages. Your ticket includes not only the haunted hayride but admission to the village grounds and historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Visit with our ghosts, ghouls, and monsters. Storytelling at the Chapel; a special night out at the Blacksmith Shop; the Manager's House with fortune-telling for your entertainment; Mr. Allaire's House with a haunted house theme; the Carriage House with legendary spirits; the towering four-story shadows of the General Store stocked with seasonal goods; and don't forget treats at the Bakery plus our very own Haunted Food Truck! In the dark of the night, from woods to historic homes, the His...

Friday - Saturday, October 25 - 26 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County Haunted Hayride at Allaire Village H istoric Allaire Village, presents Halloween Hayrides on Friday, and Saturday from 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm. With a NEW and spook-tacular route along the winding paths of time, nearly 20 different "scenes" greet visitors of all ages. Your ticket includes not only the haunted hayride, but admission to the village grounds and historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Visit with our ghosts, ghouls, and monsters. Storytelling at the Chapel; a special night out at the Blacksmith Shop; the Manager's House with fortune-telling for your entertainment; Mr. Allaire's House with a haunted house theme; the Carriage House with legendary spirits; the towering four story shadows of the General Store stocked with seasonal goods; and don't forget treats at the Bakery plus our very own Haunted Food Truck! In the dark of the night, from woods to historic homes, the Historic Vill...

Saturday, October 26 – Ocean County 5pm— Travel back in time with us, to an era of sailing ships, pirates, and the Revolution!  This special event is a candlelight walk through Waretown’s Victorian Cemeteries at dusk.   The tour begins at the museum, with light refreshments. Then we move on to Old Presbyterian and Cedar Grove Cemeteries. It’s spooky fun, with a history lesson thrown in!      The cost is $10 per person. All proceeds go to the Waretown Historical Society Scholarship for Southern Regional High School seniors. The tour is  limited to 75 guests , and it fills up quickly. Please text me at 609-661-1733 to reserve a spot.      As always, thanks for your continued support of the Waretown Historical Society.  The tour begins at the Little Red Schoolhouse Museum, 182 Wells Mills Road, Waretown, NJ. We meet for light refreshments and to purchase tickets, then drive to the cemeteries...

Saturday, October 26, 2019 Huber Woods Environmental Center, Middletown 25 Brown's Dock Road, Locust (Middletown Twp.), NJ 07760     (all ages, under 18 with adult) Celebrate the fall season with an interactive, family-friendly hayride that is educational, safe, and NON-SCARY FUN! Our talented staff and volunteers perform skits on stages in the fields of Huber Woods as you ride in one of our hay wagons. Be thoroughly entertained as we put on this year’s show themed “Forest Fables and Fairy Tails”! Snacks will be provided. Lap children under the age of 3 accompanied by a paying adult rides free. Please Note: Preregistration is required. Cost: $10.00 Per Person 4:30-5:30 PM 5:00-6:00 PM 5:30-6:30 PM 5:55-6:55 PM 6:20-7:20 PM 6:45-7:45 PM 7:10-8:10 PM 7:35-8:35 PM 8:00-9:00 PM

Saturday, October 26  - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County Secret Places of Sandy Hook: Rapid Fire Gun Batteries Join the park historian at Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area to learn about the rapid fire gun batteries at Fort Hancock. Explore Batteries Peck, Engle, Urmston, and Morris that date from 1898 through 1909. Bring flash-light/head lamps, insect repellant and wear comfortable walking shoes. This program is free and will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Call the Sandy Hook Visitor Center at 732-872-5970 to make a reservation. The tour will meet in  Lot M on Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area.   For more information, call 732-872-5970 or visit  www.nps.gov/gate .

Saturday, October 26 - West Orange, Essex  County Book Launch Reception at Edison National Historical Park To celebrate the publication of  Edison , the new biography of Thomas A. Edison by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edmund Morris, Random House will host a book launch reception from 2:00 - 4:00 pm on Saturday at the park’s laboratory complex. The event is free and open to the general public. Random House editor Andrew Ward will offer brief remarks at the reception and Thomas Edison National Historical Park will announce the details of “One Book, One Town: West Orange Reads Edison,” a community-wide reading experience to encourage all to read and discuss the biography together. Copies of  Edison  will be available for purchase, and on display in the park archives will be rarely-seen historic documents accessed by Edmund Morris while he researched the biography. Edison  is the first major biography of Thomas Edison to be published in the last twenty years. Edmu...

Saturday, October 26 -- Union County 1:30 to 4:00 "Halloween Hocus Pocus"  at Miller-Cory House Museum, 614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield   Visit the museum for an afternoon of Halloween family fun! Activities include decorating your own Halloween cupcake, scavenger hunt, crafts, storytelling, and festive refreshments.  The program is appropriate for young children. Be sure to come in costume! Admission is $5 per child; accompanying adults are free. Reservations are required.   Telephone calls and emails are being accepted through noon, 10/23. 908-232-1777 and  millercorymuseum@gmail.com

Saturday, October 26 – Mercer County Harvest Festival: Celebrating Apples, Richard “the Duke” Stockton’s Cider, and Morven’s Heritage Cooks Saturday, October 26 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Free and Open to the Public More info:   https://morvenmuseum.squarespace.com/harvest-festival     Richard “The Duke” Stockton, (1790-1837) wrote proudly of his “cider as fine as wine.” This October, Morven celebrates its second generation of Stocktons with a free family day highlighting Morven’s apple orchards, heritage cooks, and harvest time activities popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.      The day’s activities include costumed reenactors and hands-on demonstrations, including cider making, distilling, and cooking. There will be pickling, preserving and sweetmeats demos. Foodways to America and the important role of enslaved people in bringing new foods to this country will be recognized. Families will enjoy live period music and try the ...

Luncheon Commemorating the Township of Ocean Historical Museum Saturday, October 26, 2019, at 1:00 pm  Deal Golf and Country Club, 1 Golf Lane, Deal, NJ 07723 Sign-Up Now Honoring: Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Berry,    Recipient of the Museum's "History Champion" Award and The Volunteers who created the Museum 170th Birthday of the Township of Ocean 35th Anniversary of the Museum Formation 10th Anniversary of the Opening of the Eden Woolley House Let’s do lunch—and celebrate Museum milestones Mark your calendars! On Saturday, October 26 at 1:00, we are hosting a sit-down luncheon at the historic and elegant Deal Golf and Country Club to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Township of Ocean Historical Museum and the 10th year in our new home, the Eden Woolley House. We would love for you to join us in the celebration. The thirty-five years of our history are filled with milestones, successful events, and award-winning recognition. Ours is an American success story...

Saturday, October 26 - Chester, Morris County A Miller's Halloween On Saturday, enjoy spooky storytelling at 1:00 and 3:00 pm at the Cooper Grist Mill in Chester. Come in costume, and create corn husk dolls, and play old-time games. Tour the gristmill and look for surprises around every corner. Suggested Donation: $3 per adult, $2 per senior, and $1 per child. The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit  www.morrisparks.net .

Saturday, October 26  -  Morris Township, Morris County Meet the Servants at the Willows On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, during a special hands-on guided tour, learn about the domestic help at the Foster home,  The Willows , during the WWI era. Assist the maid with household chores and see what the cook has prepared using the wood-burning stove. Two tour times available: 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 2:00 - 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 .

19th Century Woodworking Demo Historic Longstreet Farm 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel 07733 Sunday, October 26, 12:00-3:00 PM Enjoy learning how the carpenter uses 19th-century woodworking and carving tools during this demonstration.

Family Halloween Camping Turkey Swamp Park 200 Georgia Road, Freehold, NJ 07728 Sat, Oct 26-27, 2019, 12:00 PM-12:00 PM. (ages 5 and up, families, with adult) Spend a spooktacular weekend camping with your family at the Nomoco Activity Area of Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold. Decorate your tent, carve a pumpkin, play Halloween games, go trick-or-treating, hike in the woods at night, and even see a live animal presentation! Each family will be provided with a platform tent, dinner for Saturday night and breakfast for Sunday morning. Additional camping equipment can be provided upon request. $200.00 Per Family (3-6 Persons Per Family)

Saturday, October 26   -  Morris Township, Morris County Historic Haunting On Saturday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm, listen to spooky ghost stories and have a blast with Halloween fun and games at Historic Speedwell. Wear your favorite costume and join in an old-fashioned costume contest. Prizes for all winners. Admission: $5 per adult, $4 per senior, $3 per child age 4 - 16, FREE per child under age 4. Historic Speedwell is located at 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit  www.morrisparks.net .

Saturday, October 26 -  Pennsauken, Camden County "Halloween for the Kids"  in Pennsauken On Saturday the Griffith Morgan House will host its traditional “Halloween for the Kids” event from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm!  The olde house will be haunted by crafts, games and activities of the spooky season, appropriate for the whole family. Ye Olde Pumpkin patch promises to start full of plump pumpkins ready to be made into jack-o-lanterns of all kinds just in time for Halloween! Get one for yourself and the kids and bring them inside to decorate with macabre flair! Treats, games, crafts and local Halloween lore await! Admission and most activities are free, but a nominal fee is charged for some crafts to recover the costs of materials. Griffith Morgan House is located at 243 Griffith Morgan Lane off River Road between Delair and Route 73 in Pennsauken.  Visit the Griffith Morgan House or Pennsauken Historical Society pages or the group “Pennsauken History Forum” on Facebook fo...

Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration WHEN: October 26, 2019 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm WHERE: High Point State Park 1480 NJ-23 Sussex, NJ 07461 USA COST: $5 donation or more per family appreciated CONTACT: Friends of High Point State Park 973-875-1471 Join the Friends of High Point State Park for a demonstration of open-hearth cooking on the Interpretive Center fireplace. Autumn is a beautiful season to be at High Point State Park.  Enjoy a walk on your favorite trail and then come sample some delicious soups, and sweet desserts all cooked on the fire.

Keyport's Halloween Parade The Town of Keyport Assemble at Fireman's Lot Parade to Central School Keyport  New Jersey  07735 10/26/2019 11:00 am - 1:00 pm REGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED AGE RANGE:  All Ages FREE CALL:  (732) 739-5145 WEBSITE MORE DETAILS:   Join us for the Borough of Keyport's Not So Scary Halloween Parade. Assemble at Fireman's Park and the parade will march to Central School. Refreshments, goody bags & prizes. Join us for the Borough of Keyport's Not So Scary Halloween Parade. Assemble at Fireman's Park and the parade will march to Central School. Refreshments, goody bags & prizes.