WEEKEND HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS
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Saturday, March 15 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County
Irish Folk Music
Three Pints Shy makes its eighth appearance at The Historic Village at Allaire on Saturday. Performances will be held at 7:30 pm in the Allaire Chapel. Advance ticket purchase is required as seats are limited. Tickets are $15 per person, and are available by calling the Allaire Village office, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, 732-919-3500. Please have your credit card information ready. Tickets can also be purchased online via PayPal at www.allairevillage.org/tickets.
With a collection of the traditional and new Irish folk music, Three Pints Shy has gathered fans across the country. For their first concert style event, they have brought out some new material and a cozy format that hearkens back to the storyteller bards of the past.
Founded in 2003, Three Pints Shy has become a raucous pub band, updating and reinvigorating the Celtic music so beloved all around the world. The group members are David Anthony, Chant MacIeod, Tim Ott, Rob Pedini, Jonathan Siregar, and Robert Lee Taylor. Their regular drummer is the Crimson Pirates' Don Kilcoyne. Preferring the enjoyment of music and tavern songs, the group is influenced by all Irish pub songs. Three Pints Shy perform with a high-energy style creating an appeal to a younger audience, creating a fanatical audience reaction that grows with every song. However, they are not beyond the touching ballads of the Emerald Isle, enamoring their fans with their gentle harmonies.
The Historic Village at Allaire is located at 4263 Atlantic Avenue in Farmingdale, NJ. For more information, call the Historic Village at Allaire office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, at 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.
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Saturday, March 15 - Morristown, Morris County
Officers vs. Washington: A Military Coup?
Children Friendly
231 years ago, General Washington faced a group of rebellious officers on the verge of revolt against the government in Philadelphia. Join a Park Ranger on a Ford Mansion tour to find out about the outcome of this confrontation and its importance to the future of government. Programs at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 pm at the Ford Mansion, within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: $4 per adult. For more information, call 973-539-2016 ext. 210 or visit http://www.nps.gov/morr.
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Irish Folk Music
Three Pints Shy makes its eighth appearance at The Historic Village at Allaire on Saturday. Performances will be held at 7:30 pm in the Allaire Chapel. Advance ticket purchase is required as seats are limited. Tickets are $15 per person, and are available by calling the Allaire Village office, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, 732-919-3500. Please have your credit card information ready. Tickets can also be purchased online via PayPal at www.allairevillage.org/tickets.
With a collection of the traditional and new Irish folk music, Three Pints Shy has gathered fans across the country. For their first concert style event, they have brought out some new material and a cozy format that hearkens back to the storyteller bards of the past.
Founded in 2003, Three Pints Shy has become a raucous pub band, updating and reinvigorating the Celtic music so beloved all around the world. The group members are David Anthony, Chant MacIeod, Tim Ott, Rob Pedini, Jonathan Siregar, and Robert Lee Taylor. Their regular drummer is the Crimson Pirates' Don Kilcoyne. Preferring the enjoyment of music and tavern songs, the group is influenced by all Irish pub songs. Three Pints Shy perform with a high-energy style creating an appeal to a younger audience, creating a fanatical audience reaction that grows with every song. However, they are not beyond the touching ballads of the Emerald Isle, enamoring their fans with their gentle harmonies.
The Historic Village at Allaire is located at 4263 Atlantic Avenue in Farmingdale, NJ. For more information, call the Historic Village at Allaire office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, at 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.
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Saturday, March 15 - Morristown, Morris County
Officers vs. Washington: A Military Coup?
Children Friendly
231 years ago, General Washington faced a group of rebellious officers on the verge of revolt against the government in Philadelphia. Join a Park Ranger on a Ford Mansion tour to find out about the outcome of this confrontation and its importance to the future of government. Programs at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 pm at the Ford Mansion, within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: $4 per adult. For more information, call 973-539-2016 ext. 210 or visit http://www.nps.gov/morr.
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Saturday, March 15 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Workhorse Rides
Children Friendly
Children will be riding high at Howell Farm when the Farm's big workhorses will be drafted to "pony ride" duty.
Riders will not sit on saddles, nor will they ride bareback, but will sit atop fully harnessed, three quarter ton workhorses. The horses won't mind, according to the farmers, since giving rides is easier than pulling the plows and wagons used to run the 130-acre living history farm.
The program is intended to give children a taste of early 20th century farm life. So, in order to get a ride, children must first do their farm chores, which include shelling and grinding corn, pumping water, and making fence rails. Riders must be between the ages of 5 and 12 years old, without exception.
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. call 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org.
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This is your annual opportunity to pull up a chair and peruse the news - from long ago. Newspapers and magazines from the 1800s saved by the Walns, will be brought out for your reading pleasure from 1:00 - 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. This is a wonderful way to see how much and how little our world has changed.
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Sunday, March 16 - Morristown, Morris County
Soldiers Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Children Friendly
Discover the life of a common soldier during the winter encampment and how they would have celebrated St. Patrick's Day in 1780 as you visit the replica soldier huts of the Pennsylvania Line. Programs at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 pm at the Soldier Huts at Jockey Hollow, within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit http://www.nps.gov/morr.
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On Sunday at 2:30 pm, Katherine Craig will present a program on the relationship between Elias Boudinot and the Reverend James Caldwell at the Caldwell Parsonage. Their relationship grew beyond that of congregant and pastor to one of genuine friendship - so much so, that after James and his wife, Hannah, were both killed, Elias adopted one of their children.
Elias Boudinot was a prominent figure in New Jersey during the American Revolution. He served under General George Washington in the Continental Army beginning in May 1777. In November 1777, Boudinot was appointed a New Jersey delegate to the Second Continental Congress. However, because of his military obligations, he only began attending sessions in July of the following year. But his term ended that December. Boudinot returned to the Continental Congress three years later, was elected its President in November 1782, served through 1783, and signed the treaty with Britain that ended the war.
Katherine Craig grew up in New Jersey and has served for many years as the caretaker of Boxwood Hall, a state historic site, in Elizabeth. She originally majored in natural history, then switched to history, and firmly believes that one subject cannot be taught without the other. Her goal in managing Boxwood Hall is to humanize the historic residents of the home to its visitors, so that names like Boudinot and Alexander Hamilton come alive.
The program will be part of the meeting of the Union Township Historical Society, which will begin at 2:00 pm. Non-members are cordially invited to attend. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free; donations are greatly appreciated. Caldwell Parsonage is located at 909 Caldwell Avenue, Union, NJ. For more information, call Barbara La Mort at 908-687-0048 or visit www.uniontwphistoricalsociety.webs.com.
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Riders will not sit on saddles, nor will they ride bareback, but will sit atop fully harnessed, three quarter ton workhorses. The horses won't mind, according to the farmers, since giving rides is easier than pulling the plows and wagons used to run the 130-acre living history farm.
The program is intended to give children a taste of early 20th century farm life. So, in order to get a ride, children must first do their farm chores, which include shelling and grinding corn, pumping water, and making fence rails. Riders must be between the ages of 5 and 12 years old, without exception.
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. call 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org.
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Saturday - Sunday, March 15 - 16 - Upper Freehold, Monmouth County
Read All About It
Children Friendly
Children Friendly
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, 08501. www.monmouthcountyparks.com
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Sunday, March 16 - Morristown, Morris County
Soldiers Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Children Friendly
Discover the life of a common soldier during the winter encampment and how they would have celebrated St. Patrick's Day in 1780 as you visit the replica soldier huts of the Pennsylvania Line. Programs at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 pm at the Soldier Huts at Jockey Hollow, within Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ. Cost: Free. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit http://www.nps.gov/morr.
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Sunday, March 16 - Union Township, Union County
Caldwell and Boudinot: Historic Friendship
Elias Boudinot was a prominent figure in New Jersey during the American Revolution. He served under General George Washington in the Continental Army beginning in May 1777. In November 1777, Boudinot was appointed a New Jersey delegate to the Second Continental Congress. However, because of his military obligations, he only began attending sessions in July of the following year. But his term ended that December. Boudinot returned to the Continental Congress three years later, was elected its President in November 1782, served through 1783, and signed the treaty with Britain that ended the war.
Katherine Craig grew up in New Jersey and has served for many years as the caretaker of Boxwood Hall, a state historic site, in Elizabeth. She originally majored in natural history, then switched to history, and firmly believes that one subject cannot be taught without the other. Her goal in managing Boxwood Hall is to humanize the historic residents of the home to its visitors, so that names like Boudinot and Alexander Hamilton come alive.
The program will be part of the meeting of the Union Township Historical Society, which will begin at 2:00 pm. Non-members are cordially invited to attend. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free; donations are greatly appreciated. Caldwell Parsonage is located at 909 Caldwell Avenue, Union, NJ. For more information, call Barbara La Mort at 908-687-0048 or visit www.uniontwphistoricalsociety.webs.com.
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Sunday, March 16 - West Orange, Essex County
Harry's Magical Invention Bag
Children Friendly
Children Friendly
The program runs from 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 3:00 - 4:00 pm and is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $7.00, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x11 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.
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Sunday, March 16 - Bedminster, Somerset County
Vanderveer House Open House
The circa 1772 Dutch Colonial home was once the headquarters of General Henry Knox while he presided over the nearby Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment established by the Continental Army during 1778-79.
Visitors to the house will have an opportunity to view a new 3D visualization of the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment recently commissioned by the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House, as well as authentic artifacts from the Vanderveer House, period rooms, the Prich Matthews History Center, paintings by John Phillip Osborne and John Ward Dunsmore, maps and other objects representative of Colonial life.
The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located at 3055 River Road (in Bedminster's River Road Park), Bedminster, NJ. For more information, call 908-396-6053 or visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org.
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Sunday, March 16 - Tewksbury, Hunterdon County
Potterstown Skirmish - A Talk by Chip Riddle
The Tewksbury Historical Society will host a talk by Charles "Chip" Riddle on the Potterstown Skirmish on Sunday at 1:00 pm at the society's headquarters, Mountainville Meeting Hall, 60 Water Street, Lebanon (Mountainville section of Tewksbury). The talk is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. There is no snow date. This talk is a continuation in the series of talks and lectures the society is holding in conjunction with the 300th anniversary of Hunterdon County.
The Potterstown skirmish took place in September of 1777. Three groups of Tories, one from Pennsylvania, one from Sussex County, and one from Hunterdon County, were trying to reach Staten Island and the British to join the New Jersey Volunteers. They were discovered and chased to Piscataway where they were captured. Thirty-five were sentenced to hang but only two suffered that fate.
Chip Riddle was a 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies teacher for 38 years and a historian with special interests in Revolutionary Hunterdon County, the Alamo and the Civil War.
The Tewksbury Historical Society is a NJ not-for-profit corporation and was organized for the purpose of furthering research into and the preservation and dissemination of the history of the Township of Tewksbury. For more information, call 908-832-6734, e-mail tewksburyhistory@earthlink.net, or visit www.tewksburyhistory.net.
The Potterstown skirmish took place in September of 1777. Three groups of Tories, one from Pennsylvania, one from Sussex County, and one from Hunterdon County, were trying to reach Staten Island and the British to join the New Jersey Volunteers. They were discovered and chased to Piscataway where they were captured. Thirty-five were sentenced to hang but only two suffered that fate.
Chip Riddle was a 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies teacher for 38 years and a historian with special interests in Revolutionary Hunterdon County, the Alamo and the Civil War.
The Tewksbury Historical Society is a NJ not-for-profit corporation and was organized for the purpose of furthering research into and the preservation and dissemination of the history of the Township of Tewksbury. For more information, call 908-832-6734, e-mail tewksburyhistory@earthlink.net, or visit www.tewksburyhistory.net.
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Sunday, March 16 - Madison, Morris County
The Witch of Wall Street
On Sunday at 3:00 pm, the Friends of Florham will sponsor a talk by Janet Wallach, noted author and commentator, about Hetty Green, the notorious "Witch of Wall Street," and the first female tycoon. The program will be held in Lenfell Hall at Fairleigh Dickinson University, College at Florham, 285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ. Ms. Wallach's recent biography, The Richest Woman in America: Hetty Green in the Gilded Age, will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Presented by Friends of Florham, this lecture is a "must" for anyone interested in the Gilded Age, Morristown's Millionaire Mile, and the early years of Wall Street. Tickets are $20 at the door and include a reception. All proceeds will go toward the restoration of "Florham," former estate of Florence and Hamilton Twombly. For more information, call 201 692 7008 or e-mail mcconvil@fdu.edu.
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The Witch of Wall Street
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Lucky Leprechaun Day
Children Friendly
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 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm and Sunday from 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 more information, please call 973-377-2982 x10 or visit www.metc.org.
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Sunday, March 16 - Flemington, Hunterdon County
Delaware and Raritan Canal Talk
Construction of the 70-mile canal began in 1830 and was completed in 1834. The D&R, as is it known, was one of our nation’s most successful towpath canals, carrying more tonnage in 1866 than the more famous Erie Canal. The D&R was permanently closed to commercial navigation in 1933. The waterway is now the centerpiece of a popular state park.
An author and historian, Linda J. Barth will highlight the people, the bridges, the locks, and the aqueducts that made the canal work and tell how it transported men and supplies between New York and Philadelphia during three wars. Inventor John Holland used the canal to deliver his Holland VI submarine to the Navy in Washington, DC, and luxury yachts, like J .P. Morgan’s Tarantula, cruised the waterway. Numerous companies, like Johnson & Johnson, Roebling, and Fleischmann’s Distillery had their start along the canal.
Linda Barth grew up in the canal town of South Bound Brook. She served as the curator of the Mule Tenders Barracks Museum on the banks of the D&R Canal in Griggstown and for over two decades was on the board of the Canal Society of New Jersey. With her husband Robert, she has led canal tours throughout the Northeast.
The author of many canal and travel articles, she has written two books on the D&R Canal for Arcadia Publishing, a picture book for children called Bridgetender’s Boy for the National Canal Museum, Hidden New Jersey for Charlesbridge, and her newest, A History of Inventing in New Jersey: From Thomas Edison to the Ice Cream Cone for the History Press. For more information, visit www.hunterdonhistory.org.
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Sunday, March 16 - Canton, Salem County
Open House and Open Hearth Cooking
Children Friendly
Children Friendly
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Sunday, March 16, 2014 - Cranford, Union County
American Quilts and Their History
This quilting program will be presented during three different times in American history. Hear about the first designs used in patchwork blocks. Learn why the colonial women loved quilting bees and what they talked about during the Migration Westward from 1830 to 1860. During the American Civil War, hear how women on both sides raised money for the war. In addition, find out when the first sewing machine was patented and the availability of the first mail-order catalogs. And finally, find out why the 1920s was an exciting time for women but how things changed during the depression of the 1930s. Hear how the sewing machine was modernized and the first publication of quilt patterns in the newspapers.
Gail Small is a member of the State Quilt Guild of New Jersey, professional speaker, quilter, and historian. She will show several of her most unique quilts and explain the various techniques. Gail has taught classes in her home, sold quilts, and demonstrated quilting at the Middlesex County Fair for several years. She is very passionate about sewing and quilting and wants to share this wonderful art form with others.
Admission is free. Space is limited so reservations are required. To reserve your seat, please call 908-276-0082 or e-mail cranfordhistoricalsociety@verizon.net. Established in 1928, the Cranford Historical Society, a non-profit organization, has been dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of Cranford's history. The Crane-Phillips House Museum is located at 124 North Union Avenue, Cranford, NJ. For more information, visit www.cranfordhistoricalsociety.com.
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Sunday, March 16 - Mahwah, Bergen County
Fardale Gallery Talk
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Through March 23, 2014 - Princeton, Mercer County
The Age of Sail: A New Jersey Collection
Morven Museum & Garden is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ. The museum is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Tours are given on the hour. Final tour is at 2:00 pm. On Saturday and Sunday, the museum is open from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Final tour is at 3:00 pm. For more information, call 609-924-8144 or visit www.morven.org.
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Through Sunday, April 6, 2014 - Cranbury, Middlesex County
The Shimer Cookie Jar Exhibit
The Shimer Cookie Jar Exhibit at the Cranbury Museum features an extensive assortment of whimsical and delightful cookie jars assembled by long-time Cranbury resident and artist, Wilma Shimer. It also includes vintage kitchen accessories such as tablecloths, aprons, cookie cutters, rolling pins, cookbooks and recipes. One special item on display is the "Betty Crocker's Cook Book for Boys and Girls" which was published in 1957 and featured a test panel of twelve Cranbury boys and girls. The exhibit will be on display through April 6, 2014.
The Cranbury Museum is located within a lovely 1800s house that is furnished with period antiques. The museum is open Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm and located at 4 Park Place East, Cranbury, NJ. For more information, call 609-655-2611 or visit www.cranburyhistory.org.
The Cranbury Museum is located within a lovely 1800s house that is furnished with period antiques. The museum is open Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm and located at 4 Park Place East, Cranbury, NJ. For more information, call 609-655-2611 or visit www.cranburyhistory.org.
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Through Sunday, April 13 - Cape May, Cape May County
African American Heritage Exhibit
This 15th annual Center for Community Arts (CCA) exhibit - "The Way We Were...Cape May County's Once Thriving Black Business Communities" will highlight African Americans' contributions to the local community. The exhibit will be on display at the Carriage House Gallery on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Admission is free. Exhibit will be on display through Sunday, April 13. Open Saturdays in January, 11:30 am - 2:00 pm. Sponsored by the Center for Community Arts (CCA) in association with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For information, call 609-884-7525 or visit www.centerforcommunityarts.org. For gallery hours call 609-884-5404 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
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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, call 732-745-4177 or visit http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/culturalheritage.
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Saturdays and Sundays Through May 18 - Harrison Township, Gloucester County
Originals: 50 Years of Artistic Expressions
Creativity is the theme of the Harrison Township Historical Society’s newest exhibition at the Old Town Hall Museum entitled "Originals: 150 Years of Artistic Expression." The first floor gallery is filled with paintings, drawings, and folk art from the 19th and 20th centuries, all drawn from the Society’s rich holdings. The exhibition celebrates New Jersey’s 350th anniversary by focusing on the theme of innovation. Many of these works will be on view for the first time.
Folk art dominates the work from the 19th century. An album quilt from Richwood and a remarkable portfolio of sketches by Josiah B. Chester of Ewan, on exhibit for the first time, are highlights.
Twentieth century work includes paintings by Mullica Hill’s Paul Avis Colson, including a tri-partite screen that was recently restored and on exhibit for the first time. Also premiering is a landscape painted by Otto Rick, a German prisoner of war who worked on a farm in Richwood during World War II.
The exhibition is open Saturdays and Sundays, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, March 8 - May 18, 2014 (closed Easter Sunday and Mother's Day). Admission is free. Old Town Hall is located at the intersection of South Main Street and Woodstown Road in the heart of Mullica Hill’s Historic District. For more information, call 856-478-4949; or visit www.harrisonhistorical.com.
Folk art dominates the work from the 19th century. An album quilt from Richwood and a remarkable portfolio of sketches by Josiah B. Chester of Ewan, on exhibit for the first time, are highlights.
Twentieth century work includes paintings by Mullica Hill’s Paul Avis Colson, including a tri-partite screen that was recently restored and on exhibit for the first time. Also premiering is a landscape painted by Otto Rick, a German prisoner of war who worked on a farm in Richwood during World War II.
The exhibition is open Saturdays and Sundays, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, March 8 - May 18, 2014 (closed Easter Sunday and Mother's Day). Admission is free. Old Town Hall is located at the intersection of South Main Street and Woodstown Road in the heart of Mullica Hill’s Historic District. For more information, call 856-478-4949; or visit www.harrisonhistorical.com.
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Through June 30, 2014 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
Got Work? Exhibit
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, call 732-745-4177 or visit http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/culturalheritage.
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Through June 2014 - Morristown, Morris County
"Controversies: The More Things Change..." Exhibit
Currently on display at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is an exhibition about topics that helped shape our world. "Controversies: The More Things Change..." opens new territory for the Museum, presenting challenging subject matter that may not be suitable for casual dinner conversation. This new exhibit explores topics that helped shape our world through local history events which had national significance: medical experimentation, immigration, and the right to die.
"Controversies: The More Things Change..." inspires people to consider, even reconsider, the ways in which they think about these important, frequently debated issues. The exhibit explores local history events which had national significance: the 1833 Antoine LeBlanc murder trial and public execution; the immigration issues of the late nineteenth century as depicted by political cartoonist Thomas Nast, a Morristown resident, and the 1976 Karen Ann Quinlan "right to die" case.
The museum is making a major departure in exhibit presentations with "Controversies." Where most exhibits typically provide detailed information about the objects on view, "Controversies" offers limited information about the objects, essentially forcing personal thought, and inspiring discussion, about the areas represented. Each object and concept in the exhibit represents a part of New Jersey's history - specifically Morris County's history. The ideas expressed through the historical objects in the exhibit, however, are not confined to New Jersey boundaries- the significant concerns raised by the important and controversial issues showcased in this exhibit continue to be debated throughout the United States and the world.
"We wanted to give our visitors a chance to participate in an exhibit in a new way - to have a reaction without being guided by the institution's interpretation of what the objects represent, which labels typically provide," said Executive Director Carrie Fellows. Instead, curator's books of supplementary information will be available within the exhibit, should the visitor want to learn more, drawn from primary sources like news articles, contemporary commentary, and images. Visitors are encouraged to leave comments about the themes presented.
The exhibition was inspired when Fellows and Ryan C. Hyman, the Museum's curator, heard Burt Logan, Executive Director of the Ohio Historical Society speak at a conference about the organization's groundbreaking "Controversy: Pieces You Don't Normally See" exhibit, and its sequel, "Controversy 2: Pieces We Don't Normally Talk About". During his talk, Mr. Logan strongly encouraged other museums to adapt the concept and develop similar exhibits. Inspired by the presentation, Hyman and Fellows began discussing how they might create an exhibit using themes from the Morris area's rich history.
"Controversies: The More Things Change..." will be on view during Museum touring hours through June 2014. Please note the subject matter may not be suitable for all audiences. Visitor discretion advised. Recommended for visitors 12 years of age and older.
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. The Museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The last tour leaves at 3:00 pm. Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 - 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. For more information, call 973-538-2404 ext. 10 or visit www.maccullochhall.org. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is located at 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ.
"Controversies: The More Things Change..." Exhibit
"Controversies: The More Things Change..." inspires people to consider, even reconsider, the ways in which they think about these important, frequently debated issues. The exhibit explores local history events which had national significance: the 1833 Antoine LeBlanc murder trial and public execution; the immigration issues of the late nineteenth century as depicted by political cartoonist Thomas Nast, a Morristown resident, and the 1976 Karen Ann Quinlan "right to die" case.
The museum is making a major departure in exhibit presentations with "Controversies." Where most exhibits typically provide detailed information about the objects on view, "Controversies" offers limited information about the objects, essentially forcing personal thought, and inspiring discussion, about the areas represented. Each object and concept in the exhibit represents a part of New Jersey's history - specifically Morris County's history. The ideas expressed through the historical objects in the exhibit, however, are not confined to New Jersey boundaries- the significant concerns raised by the important and controversial issues showcased in this exhibit continue to be debated throughout the United States and the world.
"We wanted to give our visitors a chance to participate in an exhibit in a new way - to have a reaction without being guided by the institution's interpretation of what the objects represent, which labels typically provide," said Executive Director Carrie Fellows. Instead, curator's books of supplementary information will be available within the exhibit, should the visitor want to learn more, drawn from primary sources like news articles, contemporary commentary, and images. Visitors are encouraged to leave comments about the themes presented.
The exhibition was inspired when Fellows and Ryan C. Hyman, the Museum's curator, heard Burt Logan, Executive Director of the Ohio Historical Society speak at a conference about the organization's groundbreaking "Controversy: Pieces You Don't Normally See" exhibit, and its sequel, "Controversy 2: Pieces We Don't Normally Talk About". During his talk, Mr. Logan strongly encouraged other museums to adapt the concept and develop similar exhibits. Inspired by the presentation, Hyman and Fellows began discussing how they might create an exhibit using themes from the Morris area's rich history.
"Controversies: The More Things Change..." will be on view during Museum touring hours through June 2014. Please note the subject matter may not be suitable for all audiences. Visitor discretion advised. Recommended for visitors 12 years of age and older.
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. The Museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The last tour leaves at 3:00 pm. Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 - 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. For more information, call 973-538-2404 ext. 10 or visit www.maccullochhall.org. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is located at 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ.
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Saturdays and Sundays through July 27, 2014 - Ridgewood, Bergen County
A Community's Journey: Our Place in New Jersey History
The Liberty collection highlights uniforms and other war-time memorabilia while the Innovation collection chronicles the history of performing arts in the village including items from the Ridgewood Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, such as a silk wedding kimono worn by Yum Yum in the "Mikado." Also on display are items owned by Ridgewood magician Harry Rouclere. Especially noteworthy is the Diversity collection which tells the story of the African American, Jewish, Irish, and Korean communities through personal artifacts.
The museum is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 1:00 - 3:00 and Sundays 2:00 - 4:00. The Schoolhouse Museum is located at 650 East Glen Avenue in Ridgewood, NJ. For more information, call 201-447-3242 or visit www.ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.org.
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Through August, 2014 - Lyndhurst, Bergen County
Let's Play! An Exhibit of Beloved Toys
Children Friendly
The exhibit is free and open to the public, though a small donation to the Society would be appreciated. The Little Red Schoolhouse Museum is open on the second and fourth Sundays of every month from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. The Lyndhurst Historical Society was established in 1984 in an effort to preserve the 1893 schoolhouse, located at 400 Riverside Avenue, Lyndhurst, NJ. For more information, call 201-804-2513 (leave a message) or visit www.lyndhursthistoricalsociety.org.
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Through February 13, 2015 - Madison, Morris County
The American Revolution in New Jersey
Children Friendly
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 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm and Sunday from 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 more information, please call 973-377-2982 x10 or visit www.metc.org.
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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey
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