Weekend Historical Happenings: 9/21/13 - 9/22/13

WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS

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Saturday, September 21 - Paterson, Passaic County

Lecture on 1913 Paterson Silk Strike

Visit Lambert Castle on Saturday at 2:00 pm for author and historian Steve Golin's lecture on the Paterson Silk Strike of 1913, entitled "The Solidarity of the Silk Workers, the Solidarity of the Manufacturers, and the People Caught in Between."

The Silk Strike of 1913 in Paterson was one of the largest and longest strikes of its kind in American history. For approximately six months, over 20,000 workers were out of work leaving, not a single household in Greater Paterson untouched. From Steve Golin, author of The Fragile Bridge, learn how the solidarity of the workers and the solidarity of the manufacturers would transform the city of Paterson and its silk industry forever.

The program is free, but regular museum admissions apply. $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children. Lambert Castle is located at 3 Valley Road, Paterson, NJ. For more information, call 973-247-0085 or visit www.lambertcastle.org.

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Saturday, September 21 - Morristown, Morris County

Soldiers of the Wick House

Children Friendly

You are a child growing up through the American Revolution. What role do you have in helping your family survive? Visit the Wick House to learn how the role of children in the 18th century is still a part of childhood today. Programs at 10:00 am, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm at the Wick House at Jockey Hollow, within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. http://nps.gov/morr

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Saturday, September 21 - Madison, Morris County

Cemetery Tour

Children Friendly

The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is excited to announce its Fall Cemetery Tours which will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Madison, NJ. The tours will be presented by Hillside's historian Robert Garman.

At 2:00 pm, join Robert as he gives a tour of Hillside Cemetery with a focus on Famous Figures of Madison. Please meet at the cemetery, 158 Main Street, Madison, NJ. Advance registration recommended. Please call 973-377-2982 x13. Admission $10 for non-members and $5 for members (includes museum admission).

The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is open Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm. The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is located at 9 Main Street in Madison, NJ just two blocks from the Madison train station. For information, please call 973-377-2982 x10 or visit www.metc.org.

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Saturday, September 21 - Mount Laurel, Burlington County

Wine Tasting at Paulsdale

Paulsdale Uncorked, the Alice Paul Institute's sixth annual wine tasting, takes place Saturday from 5:00 - 7:30 pm, at Paulsdale, a national historic landmark. Admission is $60 in advance and $65 at the door. Proceeds support the continued preservation of Paulsdale.

Paulsdale is located at 128 Hooton Road, Mt. Laurel. For more information or to register, contact the Alice Paul Institute at 856-231-1885, e-mail info@alicepaul.org, or visit www.alicepaul.org.

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Saturday, September 21 - Bedminster, Somerset County

Fall Fest
Children Friendly

Celebrate fall at the Jacobus Vanderveer House on Saturday during Bedminster's annual celebration of the season at River Road Park. The house will be open from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm. No admission fee to tour the house. 

Admission this year to the longtime festival will be $5 per person, but that money will be split for donations between seven local volunteer community organizations. Those organizations include the Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department, the Pottersville Volunteer Fire Co., the Far Hills-Bedminster First Aid Squad, the Bedminster Township Parent Teacher Organization, Friends of the Clarence Dillon Public Library, Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House, and the Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster. New games and rides are being planned for this year, including bouncy rides, lots of live music, and new food vendors.

The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located at 955 Route 202/206, Bedminster, NJ, behind River Road Park. The entrance to the house is via River Road Park. For directions and more information, visit www.jvanderveerhouse.com.

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Saturday, September 21 - Jamesburg, Middlesex County

Archaeology and the Delaware Indians: A 12,000-Year Odyssey

The Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission welcomes Richard Veit on Saturday at 2:00 pm at The Lodge in Thompson Park. This heavily illustrated presentation examines New Jersey's rich Native American heritage. It begins with a discussion of the sources archaeologists use to inform their work, including artifacts, archaeological sites, colonial documents, and oral histories. Then, using a series of case studies the cultural history of the region is examined from the earliest Paleoindian pathfinders over 10,000 years ago through to the Lenape of the historic period. We see the changing lifestyles of New Jersey's native inhabitants as the environment they lived in slowly evolved. The experience of the Lenape in the historic period is also examined through a series of case studies. The presence and continuing importance of Native Americans to the region today is also discussed.

Richard Veit is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Monmouth University. He received his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. He has authored or co-authored numerous articles and reviews and five books including Digging New Jersey's Past: Historical Archaeology in the Garden State (Rutgers Press 2002), New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones History in the Landscape (Rutgers Press 2008), and New Jersey: A History of the Garden State (Rutgers Press 2012). He serves on the New Jersey Historical Commission and on the boards of the Society for Historical Archaeology, Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology, Crossroads of the American Revolution, and the Archaeological Society of New Jersey.

The American Indian Center - The Lodge, in Thompson Park is located at 1701 Perrineville Road, Jamesburg/Monroe, NJ. This program is free of charge but registration is required. For more information or to register, call 732-745-4489 or visit http://co.middlesex.nj.us/culturalheritage

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Saturday, September 21 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County

Corn Shocking

Children Friendly

A classic scene from America’s past will be recreated at Howell Living History Farm on Saturday when the fields of ripening corn are cut and shocked against a landscape of early fall colors.

Visitors are invited to help farmers arrange corn stalks into "shocks" of about 100 stalks in the field. Cutting and shocking the corn lets the corn continue to dry down, leaving room to bring wagons into the field at harvest time and making it easier to access the ears, some of which are 8 feet off the ground! Visitors may participate in corn shelling, grinding and even sampling cornbread!

Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information or to register for the program, call 609-737-3299. www.howellfarm.org

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Saturday, September 21 - Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County

Fall Family Fun Day

Children Friendly

On Saturday, attend Fall Family Day at Craftsman Farms in Parsippany-Troy Hills. Enjoy the biggest family program of the year, included hayrides, pumpkin painting, and "Square Dancing with Sue," featuring live music by the Jugtown Mountain String Band. Children of all ages can try old-fashioned cider pressing and handcrafts such as woodworking, pottery, knitting, and embroidery. There will be a scavenger hunt around the grounds, old-fashioned carnival-style games, and races to round out the celebration. Families may also picnic on the grounds. Meet Clifford the Big Red Dog at 1:30 pm, courtesy of Kids Club Thirteen.

Craftsman Farms is the former country estate of noted turn-of-the-century designer Gustav Stickley, a major proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement in decorative arts, home building and furnishing styles. Stickley combined the roles of designer and manufacturer, architect, publisher, philosopher, and social critic. He is best known today for his straightforward furniture, sometimes called “mission” or “Craftsman” furniture. Admission: $7 adults; $7 children; $5 Seniors; $5 member children. Free to adults accompanying children. Craftsman Farms is located at 2352 Route 10, Morris Plains, NJ. For more information, call 973-540-0311 or visit www.stickleymuseum.org.

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Saturday, September 21 - Tuckerton, Ocean County
Antique Car and Truck Show
Children Friendly

Over 100 antique and classic cars and trucks on display at Tuckerton Seaport in conjunction with the Vintage Auto Museum of New Jersey. There will be a judging and awards ceremony. Raindate is September 22. To enter a vehicle contact David at: ddieugenio@comcast.net.  Admission $5, Seaport members free. The Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen's Museum is located at 120 West Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ. For more information, call 609-296-8868 or visit www.tuckertonseaport.org.

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Saturday, September 22 - Cape May Point, Cape May County

Lighthouse Full Moon Climb

Children Friendly

The Friends of the Cape May Lighthouse invite you to the full moon climb. Let the light of the full moon guide you up the 199 stairs to the starry top from 8:00 - 10:00 pm. Tower admission is free for "Friends" members. Non-members, $7 for adults, $3 for children (ages 3-12). Non-members who join the group at the event will get free admission to this program as well as future "Friends" events. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). The Cape May Lighthouse is located within Cape May Point State Park, Lower Township, NJ. For more information, call 609-884-5404, 800-275-4278, or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, September 21 - 22 - Byram Township, Sussex County

Highlands Festival at Waterloo

Children Friendly

The Highlands Festival at Waterloo is a two day long celebration of New Jersey's home-grown music, food, art, crafts, history and entertainment! Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, the Highlands Festival at Waterloo promises to be a weekend of fun for all ages. This zero waste event will feature two stages to showcase New Jersey Performers. It is produced by the New Jersey Highlands Coalition. The hours on Saturday are 10:00 am - 9:00 pm and 10:00 am - 6:00 pm on Sunday.

The main stage will feature non-stop performances from the best of New Jersey’s homegrown bands. At the gazebo stage there will be solo, acoustic, and children’s performers. There will be a local food court  with vendors utilizing local, naturally grown food and a chefs’ showcase with cooking demonstrations and tastings by New Jersey chefs, featuring local food.

Enjoy guided tours of Waterloo Village and the rides on the canal. The New Jersey Canal Museum will be open, in addition to Smith’s Store, Rutan Cabin, the Blacksmith Shop and the Gristmill. Interpretive tours of Waterloo’s recreated Lenape Village will be available. A juried art show featuring spectacular two-dimensional visions of Highlands natural resources by New Jersey artists. A photography workshop where you can learn how to photograph the natural world with renowned nature photographer Dwight Hiscano.

Experts on local, environmental and sustainable issues will hold workshops throughout the weekend in addition to local vendors who offer services, products and solutions for living sustainably. Through interactive displays and demonstrations, non-profit groups will showcase their work and explain how their efforts help to heal and transform the world into a better place.

Tickets pricing: Advance single day pass $15, 2-day passes $25. At the gate, $25 for a single day and $40 for 2-days. Children ages 12 and under are free. There is a $5 parking fee per car at the gate. To purchase advance tickets, click here. Waterloo Village is located at 525 Waterloo Road, Byram, NJ. For more information, visit www.highlandsfestivalatwaterloo.org.

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Sunday, September 22 - Boonton, Morris County

Transportation Heritage Festival

Children Friendly

The United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey will host its Second Annual Transportation Heritage Festival at the Boonton Yard, west of the New Jersey Transit station at 100 Morris Avenue, Boonton, NJ on Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Guests will be welcome to enjoy presentations in the Lackawanna freight house outside the yard, and see informational booths and souvenir tables outside. Inside the yard, the URHS will be selling lunch including hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, and many other snacks and treats for you to enjoy while you spend a few hours enjoying their collection of trains and railroad equipment. The event will also feature Norfolk Southern's Lackawanna Railroad heritage locomotive. Displays, presentations, food, book and souvenir sales. Free parking will be available at 100 Frontage Street, Boonton, NJ. A vintage bus will shuttle visitors between the Plane Street Parking Lot and the festival. Admission to the event is a donation of $5 per person or $10 per family. For more information, visit www.urhs.org.

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Sunday, September 22 - Flemington, Hunterdon County

Early Architecture of Hunterdon County

Learn about the early architecture of Hunterdon County with Dennis Bertland, director of Dennis Bertland Associates and a historic planning consultant, at the Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers Market on Sunday. The presentation begins at 10:00 am in the Dvoor farm house, 111 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ. The talk is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Land Trust at 908-237-4582 or visit www.hunterdonlandtrust.org

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Sunday, September 22 - Trenton, Mercer County

Constitution Day Lecture

The 1719 William Trent House Museum will present "Contesting Slavery and Confronting Freedom in New Jersey: Two Perspectives," a Constitution Day Lecture by Roderick A. McDonald and Brooke Hunter of Rider University on Sunday at 2:00 pm.

In a joint presentation that challenges common misconceptions about enslavement and emancipation in the North, Roderick A. McDonald, Professor of History at Rider University, will examine the origins, development and eventual abolition of slavery in New Jersey, and explore how New Jersey's African American population negotiated the difficult road to freedom. Brooke Hunter, Associate Professor of History at Rider University, will follow up with an in-depth investigation of slavery's local context focusing on Mercer County, where the history of slavery is largely forgotten. Complimentary refreshments. This lecture is free and open to the public. Donations welcome. 

Built in 1719, the magnificent Trent House is the oldest building in our state capital. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is restored and carefully furnished as it would have been in the early 18th century. Located at 15 Market Street in Trenton, adjacent to the Hughes Justice Complex. Ample free parking. This program is wheelchair accessible. For more information and driving directions, call 609-989-0087 or visit www.williamtrenthouse.org.

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Sunday, September 22 - Toms River, Ocean County

The Strong Southern Woman

During the War Between the States, how did twenty-two Southern women face the challenges of patriotism, sick and wounded soldiers, food shortages and starvation, physical danger, refugees, smugglers and spies? Learn the answers at the Ocean County Historical Society at 2:00 pm on Sunday when they host Rhonda Florian, who grew up in North Carolina and received her BA from Welch College in Nashville, Tennessee, and her MFA in acting from Rutgers University. A direct descendant of eight Confederate soldiers, Mrs. Florian is presently a New Jersey resident and a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, and National Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims. 

In her presentation, The Strong Southern Woman: Facing the Challenges of War in Her Own Back Yard, Mrs. Florian hopes to shed light on the lives of Southern women during the Civil War. Portraits or photographs of thirteen women are shown, as well as sketches from Harper's Weekly and other period photographs. A dramatization of a selection from an Alabama woman's diary, a letter from a Virginia farm wife and two period poems will enable the audience to better understand the stresses faced by females in late nineteenth century Southern culture.

Call 732-341-1880 for reservations due to limited seating. Donations will be accepted and refreshments served. Sign language interpreter available for hearing impaired. Lower level is handicapped accessible with chair lift. The Ocean County Historical Society is located at 26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River, NJ. www.oceancountyhistory.org

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Sunday, September 22 - Plainfield, Union County

George Washington Speaks on the Revolution

The Historical Society of Plainfield will host a special presentation: "George Washington speaks on the Revolution in New Jersey" with David Emerson, on Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. David Emerson will appear as George Washington in conjunction with the opening of the new exhibit: "George Washington at the Drake House."  The exhibit will be located in the second floor null ballroom, and will be on display through November 2013.

George Washington used the Drake House as his Headquarters during the Battle of Short Hills in June 1777. All are welcome to learn about the significant role that the Drake House played during the American Revolution. 

David Emerson makes his living by being a character. For over 25 years, David has worked at living history museums and as an independent storyteller, teaching history through the eyes of a "person of the past." He is a veteran of Colonial Williamsburg, Plimoth Plantation, Morristown National Historical Park, and the Old Barracks Museum. David's academic credentials include graduate study at the College of William and Mary, and he studied at Oxford as an undergraduate. David is a much requested speaker with the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

For the past nine years David has been portraying George Washington at festivities throughout the country. He has appeared as the General for many American Revolution 225th Anniversary events including "The Retreat Across the Jerseys"; the reenactments of the battles of Trenton and Princeton, "The Road to Monmouth"; and events commemorating the winter encampments in Morristown, Valley Forge, Middlebrook, and Fredricksburgh (Pawling, N.Y.). His George Washington Press Conferences are an annual component of the "Patriot's Week" historical festival in Trenton, NJ. David may be seen in films and television programs including documentaries for The History Channel, BBC-Granada and PBS. He is featured as General Washington in the recent New Jersey Network production "The Ten Crucial Days."

All are welcome during regular tour hours (2:00 - 4:00 pm on Sundays) or by appointment. For more information, call 908-755-5831. or e-mail drakehouseplainfieldnj@gmail.com. www.drakehousemuseumplainfieldnj.org

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Sunday, September 22 - Westampton, Burlington County

Governor Livingston I Presume?
Children Friendly

On Sunday at 12:00 noon, Peachfield will host Governor William Livingston for a first-person program. William Livingston, prominent revolutionary leader and first governor of New Jersey, was born in Albany, New York on November 30, 1723. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1748, and established a successful legal career.     

He also became known for his political essays, which were published in the Independent Reflector, a weekly newspaper that he founded in 1752. After moving to New Jersey, he served as a member of the Essex County Committee Correspondence. He also served in the First Continental Congress in 1774, as well as in the Second Continental Congress, serving from 1775 to 1776. Livingston, who was an outspoken supporter of American Independence, served during the Revolutionary War as a brigadier general in the New Jersey state militia. In 1776, he resigned from the military and returned to his political career.  

After the ratification of the state's first constitution, Livingston was elected governor. He won reelection to fourteen consecutive one-year terms. During his tenure, war issues were dealt with; the state government was established; and antislavery measures were promoted. Livingston also served as an influential member of the 1787 U.S. Constitutional Convention, and was instrumental in securing New Jersey's speedy ratification. While in office, Governor William Livingston passed away on July 25, 1790. His final resting place was in the Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Peachfield is located at 180 Burrs Road, Westampton, NJ. This program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 609-267-6996.

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Sunday, September 22 - Morristown, Morris County

The Victorian Secret

From tight corsets and massive crinolines, to bustles and bum-rolls, learn about the dangers and delights of some of history’s most controversial and interesting undergarments at Historic Speedwell. Show times are at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 pm. Admission: $7/adult, $6/seniors, and $5/child. Reservations are required. Historic Speedwell is located at 333 Speedwell Ave, Morristown, NJ. For more information and to register, please call 973-285-6550 or visit www.speedwell.org.

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Sunday, September 22 - Raritan, Somerset County

John Basilone Parade
Children Friendly

Join the residents of Raritan Township on Sunday for the annual parade in honor of former resident John Basilone. John Basilone (November 4, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Gunnery Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Guadalcanal, where he and two other men held off 3,000 enemy troops after the rest of their unit was killed or wounded. Although he could have lived on his laurels on war bond tours, he chose to go back to the Pacific, and was killed on the first day of fighting on Iwo Jima. He would have received a second medal of honor for his actions there, destroying a Japanese blockhouse while his unit was pinned down. However, there was no precedent for a double Medal of Honor recipient, so he posthumously received a Navy Cross.

The John Basilone Museum in the Raritan Library will be open on Sunday from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. The parade will begin at 1:00 pm on Somerset Street in Raritan, NJ. Immediately after the parade there will be a ceremony at the Basilone statue on Somerset Street. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.basiloneparade.com or www.basiloneparade.com/schedule-2013.htm.

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Sunday, September 22 - National Park, Gloucester County

Meet a Soldier
Children Friendly

This Sunday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm, the Whitall House at Red Bank Battlefield will be hosting the West Jersey Artillery Company. Ever wonder what it was like to serve in the Revolution? Come find out! The Whitall House will be overtaken with soldiers excited to talk to you! The day will include hearth cooking, artillery demonstrations, and battlefield tours. The Whitall House is located at 100 Hessian Avenue, National Park, NJ. For more information, call 856-853-5120.

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Sunday, September 22 - River Edge, Bergen County

Baron von Steuben and his New Jersey Estate

Stop by Historic New Bridge Landing on Sunday to hear historian historian Kevin Wright speak about Baron von Steuben and his Jersey Estate. He will emphasize Steuben's significant contribution to the training and organization of the American army. There will be talks at 2:00 and 4:00 pm in the Steuben House. Reenactors of the Third NJ Regiment (aka Jersey Blues) will demonstrate military dress and skills of the American Revolution. Displaying Jersey artifacts and furnishings, the Steuben and Demarest Houses will be open to visitors. Refreshments and a gift shop are available in the Campbell-Christie House, a restored tavern house dating back to 1774. A Jersey Dutch outkitchen will demonstrate culinary arts of the period. Historic New Bridge Landing is located at 1201-1209 Main Street, River Edge, NJ. Admission by donation: $7 for adults, $5 for children, and free for Bergen County Historical Society members. For more information, visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.

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Sunday, September 22 - Montclair, Essex County

Book Signing - Creating a World on Paper 

At this month's Sunday Spotlight, author Sue Rainey talks about Harry Fenn, a renowned 19th-century artist and illustrator who settled in Montclair in 1865 and was a member of the Montclair Art Colony established by George Inness. In her book Creating a World on Paper: Harry Fenn's Career in Art, Rainey recounts his career, including his adventurous sketching trips to the western US, Europe, and the Middle East. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Free admission. This discussion will  begin at 3:00 pm and be held at the Montclair Historical Society, 108 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ. For more information, call 973-744-1796 or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.

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Sunday, September 22 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County

Cornbread Contest

Children Friendly

Do you make the best cornbread? Bake two batches of your favorite cornbread recipe and bring it to historic Walnford at 1:00 pm along with a typed copy of the recipe. Judging will be done by your peers and our experts. Visitors may sample and judge the entries from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. Ribbons will be awarded at 3:30 pm. 

While there, visit the large, elegant Walnford home built in 1774, the 19th century gristmill and the farm buildings set in a beautiful landscape. Walnford is located at 62 Walnford Road, Upper Freehold, NJ. For more information, call 609-259-6275 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Sunday, September 22 Through November 30, 2013 - Lakehurst, Ocean County

Pittis - Doctor - Mayor - Postmaster

The Borough of Lakehurst Historical Society announces a special exhibit about an important resident - "PITTIS - Doctor - Mayor - Postmaster". Dr. Pittis was the local physician for Lakehurst and Manchester from the turn of the 19th century until World War II.  He  would make house calls all the way to Whiting in his horse-drawn buggy. Later in life, he became a physician at the Jersey City Medical Center. Dr. Harold Pittis was the son of Thomas Kearn Pittis and Susan  null Henrietta Collins.  Harold was the fourth of ten children; eight brothers and one sister, all from Plainfield, New Jersey.

Dr.  Harold received his MD in 1901 from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, where he met his wife Ruth. He and Ruth were married on January 8, 1900 at St. Mark's Church in Malone, New York. In the 1910 census, Dr. Pittis was living on Union Ave., Lakehurst, with his wife and son Harold, who had received his MD from McGill University in 1937.

Dr. Harold Pittis was not only the town physician, but also Lakehurst's first postmaster, beginning in November 1918. He was reappointed twice and served until August 16, 1929. He financed the construction of the first post office. 

The museum is open Wednesdays and Sundays from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm. The Lakehurst Historical Society Museum is located at 300 Center Street, Lakehurst, NJ. For more information, call 732-657-8864 or click here.

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Saturdays and Sundays Through October 27, 2013 - Ringwood, Passaic County
Grounds and Garden Tour

Did you ever wonder what all that “stuff” is placed around the grounds at Ringwood Manor? What about all those other buildings on the property? What were they used for? If you have ever been curious about the estate at Ringwood Manor, this tour is for you! The 2-1/2 hour guided walking tour will take visitors around the main property at Ringwood Manor, discussing the historic objects, the planned gardens & landscape features, the out-buildings, and the cemetery. Historic photographs of the property will also be shown. These free tours meet at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm in front of Ringwood Manor every Saturday and Sunday from May 25 - October 27, 2013. It is advised that participants wear walking or hiking shoes, dress appropriately for the weather, and bring bug spray and sun block. Steady Rain cancels. No reservations necessary. For more information and to call ahead to confirm a tour, call 973-962-2240. Ringwood Manor is located at 1304 Sloatsburg Road, Ringwood, NJ, within Ringwood State Park.

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Through June 30, 2014 - Piscataway, Middlesex County

Got Work? Exhibit

View the exhibit "Got Work? New Deal/WPA in New Jersey" at the 1741 Cornelius Low House Museum in Piscataway. The museum is open Tuesday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:00 pm and Sunday afternoons from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The exhibit will run through June 30, 2014.

The Cornelius Low House, built in 1741, was the home to its namesake and is only one of two remaining buildings from historic Raritan Landing. This high-style Georgian mansion is listed on the National Register and operated by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission. Admission to the museum is FREE. The museum is located at 1225 River Road, Piscataway, NJ . For more information, visit

http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/culturalheritage/museum1.asp

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Through October 6, 2013 - Paterson, Passaic County

Remembering the Paterson Silk Strike of 1913

Lambert Castle, the Victorian-era mansion located on the Garrett Mountain Reservation on the border between Paterson and Clifton, will be home to an exhibit highlighting the Paterson Silk Strike of 1913 now through October 6, 2013. The exhibit, entitled "We Had to be Rebels: Remembering the Paterson Silk Strike of 1913." This year marks the centennial of the landmark 1913 Paterson Silk Strike, which would forever change the face of labor relations in the Silk City. Thousands of workers walked away from their looms to be herded into court rooms and jail cells in a strike that took months to resolve. The exhibit will be open during regular museum hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Lambert Castle is located at 3 Valley Road, Paterson, NJ. For more information, call 973-247-0085 or visit www.lambertcastle.org.

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Through February 2014 - Madison, Morris County

Ghosts, Ghouls, & Gravestones Exhibit

The Museum of Early Trades and Crafts presents "Ghosts, Ghouls, & Gravestones: The Trades of Burial," which will examine the progression of the burial trade. Passing away from this world was once a family affair, but over time, the process spread through the social and economic ties of the community. By 1900, a robust funeral industry had developed that saw to a family's every need. The exhibit will also explore the strict protocols that dictated mourning and the artistry in gravestones.

Regular Museum admission is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors, students & children (ages 6 and older), and free for members and children under 6. Family maximum admission $13.00. The Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm. The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is located at 9 Main Street in Madison, NJ just two blocks from the Madison train station. For information, please call 973-377-2982 x10 or visit www.metc.org.

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Through Sunday, February 23, 2014 - Trenton, Mercer County

Historic Maps of the Garden State Exhibit

Often overlooked as a decorative art form, maps are ideal artifacts for exploring New Jersey history. Stories of New Jersey’s social, economic, military, environmental and political history – as well as the state’s role in the history of American transportation – can be told through the visual splendor of the Garden State’s historic maps.

Opening on September 7 and running through February 23, 2014, “Where in the World is New Jersey? Historical Maps of the Garden State” is comprised of nearly 100 maps depicting the colony and state of New Jersey from 1635 through 1950 on display at the New Jersey State Museum.

This unprecedented exhibition provides the visitor with an introductory survey of historical maps depicting the colony and state of New Jersey from 1635 until 1950. The nearly 100 maps on display – most of which are original hand-colored copperplate engravings or chromolithographs – come from the collections of four public institutions – the New Jersey State Museum, State Archives, State Library, and Special Collections and University Archives at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. They were selected for their rarity, their ability to convey aspects of New Jersey history, and their artistic merit – underscoring the dual role of maps as both works of art and utilitarian tools essential to the human experience. 

The New Jersey State Museum, located at 205 West State Street in Trenton, NJ is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am - 4:45 pm. The Museum is closed Mondays and all state holidays. The NJ State Museum has a “suggested” admission fee. For more information, visit www.statemuseum.nj.gov or call the recorded information line at (609) 292-6464. On weekends, free parking is available in lots adjacent to and behind the Museum. Please visit www.trentonparking.com for a number of options for parking in downtown Trenton during the week.

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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey