NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/31/16 - 1/1/17

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Saturday, December 31 - Trenton, Mercer County
Hogmanay at the Trent House
Children Friendly Event

Celebrate Hogmanay during Patriots Week at the Trent House Museum on Saturday beginning at 1:00 pm. What is Hogmanay? Hogmanay is a celebration of the new year in Scotland, celebrated at the Trent House because of William Trent's Scottish heritage. Traditionally, friends and neighbors cross the threshold and receive food and drink, and good luck, too. Patty Downey will be playing the bagpipes on the museum grounds. The Justice Singers will be performing carols and other songs inside the Trent House. Hogmanay at the Trent House is held during Trenton’s Patriot’s Week. This year, it is scheduled between the two battle re-enactments, so you can make it an all day affair!

Experience the new Revolutionary War-themed tour of the Trent House Museum (at 1:30 and 2:00 pm) and meet George Washington! Washington is played by locally renowned reenactor, Samuel Davis. Enjoy complimentary hot mulled cider, eggnog, traditional Scottish bridies, and mince pieces. Helping to host will be Trenton Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson. Join the Trent House in bringing in the New Year with this festive celebration! No reservations required - donations accepted.

Ample free parking. The Trent House Museum is located at 15 Market Street in Trenton, NJ adjacent to the Hughes Justice Complex. For more information, call 609-989-0087 or visit www.williamtrenthouse.org.

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Saturday, December 31 - Cape May, Cape May County
Lamplighter Christmas Tour
Family Friendly

Relive the memories of Christmas past on this self-guided evening tour of a selection of Cape May's finest Bed and Breakfast inns and private homes, specially decorated for the holidays, with a unique theme at each location. Innkeepers will share a presentation at each location. The tour also includes a visit to the Carroll Gallery at the Emlen Physick Estate where you can see "An Old-fashioned Christmas" exhibit, receive your souvenir gift and enjoy warm beverages and holiday treats. Adults $20 and children (3-12) $15. Tour runs from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Purchase tickets at the Emlen Physick Estate. located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday, December 31 - Trenton, Mercer County
Saturday's Patriots Week Events
Family Friendly Events

In 1776, the tide turning Battles of the American Revolution were waged on the streets and in the fields of downtown Trenton. Join the salute to Trenton’s past, commemorate the passion of the patriots who fought for American Independence, and honor the spirit of revolution and patriotism that flourishes today. Concerts, tours, performances, presentations, exhibits, hands-on activities, and book signings bring Colonial history into the modern age and draw a dynamic mix of families, history buffs, reenactors and culture seekers to New Jersey’s Capital.

Patriots’ Week is produced by the Trenton Downtown Association, in partnership with the Old Barracks Museum, which has been staging the Battle of Trenton Reenactments for more than 20 years. A collaboration of both city and state cultural and history organizations, Patriots’ Week programming reflects the quality of the Capital’s resources and provides a public showcase and interactive opportunities to experience its many treasures. For information and additional details for all events, visit www.destinationtrenton.com.

The Old Barracks Museum will be open on Saturday and is located at 101 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ. Parking is free, close, and plentiful, available in the small lot next to the museum as well as the lot next to The War Memorial. Entrance onto the museum grounds is $5 per person (children 5 and under are free).

1st Battle of Trenton - 11:00 am
N. Warren St. Battle Monument Park to Mill Hill Park
After the crossing of the Delaware River and marching to Trenton, the American rebel forces-exhausted, dressed in rags, ill from the cold and lack of sleep and decent food had accomplished the impossible by inflicting a crippling blow to the world's greatest British army. Follow the action from the symbolic first cannon shot fired at the Battle Monument to Mill Hill Park. No admission fee.

The Trouble with Trenton Puppet Show - 12:30 - 2:00 pm
Warren Street Plaza, Trenton, North Warren and West Hanover Streets
A "mini" historical look at an amazing piece of our history presented with marionettes & rod puppets - and lots of help from the audience! Watch the battle unfold before your eyes, and see the action as it has never been seen before. Show includes live music, large puppets and props, and plenty of "revolting" action. No admission fee.

Alexander Hamilton and the 24 Cannons at the Battle of Trenton - 12:30 pm
Trenton Freinds Meeting, 142 East Hanover Street
Follow the movements of all 24 of the cannons on the streets of Trenton during the Battle of Trenton in this explosive lecture that will demonstrate why the 18 American cannons - including those commanded by Alexander Hamilton - were decisive in the victory over the Hessians. A four-pounder cannonball will be on display during the talk led by David Bosted, urban planner. The presentation will be repeated on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the Trenton City Museum in Cadwalader Park.

Walking tour of Revolutionary Trenton, 1776 - 2:00 pm
Starts at St. Michael's Church, 140 N. Warren Street
Ends at the Meeting House
A 50-minute guided historical walking tour of original Trenton streets, (King, Queen, Second, and Third) introducing the people who lived and worked here at the time of the Revolution. No admission fee.

Hogmanay Celebration - 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Trent House, 15 Market Street
What is Hogmanay? Hogmanay is a celebration of the new year in Scotland, celebrated at the Trent House because of William Trent's Scottish heritage. Traditionally, friends and neighbors cross the threshold and receive food and drink, and good luck, too. At the Trent House, guests may participate in carol singing, led by a special ensemble of the Trenton Capital Singers. Also featured will be Patty Downey on the bagpipes. Complimentary hot mulled cider and cookies. No reservations required, donations accepted.

2nd Battle of Trenton - 3:00 pm
East State Street to North Warren Street to Mill Hill Park
After a commemorative ceremony at First Presbyterian Church (at 120 East State street), the action commences at 3:00 pm at East State Street and heads to Mill Hill Park for the second Battle, which pits the American forces against General Cornwallis and his numerous attempts to take the Assunpink Creek Bridge. After slipping away, Washington’s troops were able to head north to Princeton, sealing the fate of the 10 Crucial Days. No admission fee.

Peace Vigil - 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Trenton Friends Meeting, 142 E Hanover Street
Annual New Year's silent vigil for world peace.

Jersey Capital Philharmonic Orchestra - 8:00 pm
Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive
Start off the New Year in spectacular fashion with a festive evening of light classics by Suppe, Johann Strauss Jr., Rimsky-Korsakov, Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin. Joining the orchestra for a performance of the iconic Rhapsody in Blue will be world renowned pianist Leon Bates. Tickets $10-$75. Visit www.capitalphilharmonic.org.

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Sunday, January 1 - Tuckerton, Ocean County
Fire and Ice - Food Trucks and Fireworks
Family Friendly Event

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Sundays through January 8, 2017 - Morristown, Morris County
Christmas Through the Centuries

During this holiday season, take a nostalgic look back at how Christmas was celebrated through the centuries by visiting Acorn Hall, headquarters of the Morris County Historical Society. From now through Sunday, January 8, 2017, enjoy sparkling trees, garlands, and wreaths throughout the mansion complemented by dresses, toys, photos, and historic newspapers featured in the current exhibit Race to the Finish: Newspaper Coverage of Presidential Elections, 1789-2008. This year's decorating highlights include a lavish "Lincoln Christmas" display in the Dining Room featuring Acorn Hall's "famous" upside-down Christmas tree, a 1920s celebration in the Front Parlor, and recollections of the WWII era in the Library. A spotlight will be placed on an Epstein's Department Store display in the Music Room, featuring Christmas store-front window items and memorabilia certain to bring back memories of the Morristown landmark. 

The seasonal decorations are on view Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, and by appointment. Closed Christmas and New Year's Day. The regular admission to tour Acorn Hall and the exhibit is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students, and Free for children under age 12 and MCHS members. Acorn Hall is located at 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-267-3465 or visit www.acornhall.org.

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Through December 31, 2016 - Morristown, Morris County

History of NJ Diners
Children Friendly

When was the last time you ate at a diner? If you are like millions in New Jersey, the answer is not too long ago. Dubbed “the land of diners,” New Jersey’s highways and main streets are dotted with silver airstreams and neon signs of the classic American diner. Moreover, New Jersey was and still is the diner manufacturing industry’s hub. This exhibition at the Morris Museum explores the rich history of the Garden State’s favorite casual eatery through classic photographs and historical artifacts, as well as original oil paintings by Wyckoff, NJ based artist Mark Oberndorf. Admission: adults, $10; seniors and children ages 3-18 $7; children under 3, free. The Morris Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-971-3706 or visit www.morrismuseum.org.

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Through December 31, 2016 - Far Hills, Somerset County
More Than a Game Exhibit at the USGA Museum
Children Friendly

Visitors to the USGA Museum in Far Hills will be surprised to learn that there is much to discover about the game of golf. Originally installed in February of 2014, the exhibit "More Than a Game" focuses on how the creation of African-American golf clubs positively impacted the community, despite the pervasive prejudice and racism of the Jim Crow era. They founded institutions that celebrated the game, and their culture, setting a new standard for what a free and open society could be.

Local schools and youth groups are invited to arrange a field trip to the museum to learn about diversity in golf through the exhibit's centerpiece which is the story of William "Bill" Powell and the Clearview Golf Club. Founded in 1946 in East Canton, Ohio, Clearview is the only public golf course in the United States designed, built, owned, and operated by an African American. Celebrating their 70th anniversary this year, its existence is a testimonial to the vision, determination and integrity of Powell, who overcame numerous obstacles in the pursuit of his dream. Lesson plans are available upon request for teachers and group leaders prior to or following their onsite experience.

Powell's Clearview Golf Club was not the only African-American golf institution founded in this era. The exhibit also honors other clubs that made significant contributions to minority golf including Shady Rest Country Club in Scotch Plains, NJ, home course of John Shippen, the first American and the first African American to play in a U.S. Open Championship in 1896. Also featured are significant trophies from the United Golfers Association and many other various artifacts that celebrate the men and women who made sacrifices in an effort to realize their dream of equality on the greens.

The USGA is one of the world's foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game's history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing "For the Good of the Game" grants program. Additionally, the USGA's Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.

For more information about the museum, this exhibit and field trip opportunities, please contact Kim Gianetti at 908-326-1948 or by email at kgianetti@usga.org. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

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Through December 31, 2016 - Tuckerton, Ocean County
Festival of Trees
Children Friendly Site

Roll out the holly and sharing in some holiday cheer at Tuckerton Seaport's Festival of Trees. The Festival of Trees will feature dozens of trees, each one decorated for a local nonprofit organization with a unique theme. Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. General admission: adults $8, seniors $6, ages 5-12 $5, under five free and Seaport members free. The Tuckerton Seaport and 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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Saturdays and Sundays through January 8, 2017 - Princeton, Mercer County
Festival of Trees

Morven Museum and Garden's annual Festival of Trees has become a must-see Princeton holiday tradition. Enjoy the museum’s elegant galleries decorated for the holidays and adorned with trees artfully decorated by local businesses, garden clubs, and non-profit organizations.

This year’s Festival of Trees museum decorators include: Contemporary Garden Club, Dogwood Garden, Garden Club of Princeton, Keris Tree Farm & Christmas Shop, Jazams, McCarter Theater, Princeton Public Library, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Stony Brook Garden Club, VanDerveer Design, West Trenton Garden Club, and Morven Museum & Garden.

No reservations necessary. Morven is open to the public on Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Morven Museum & Garden is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Admission $10, $8 for Seniors, and special pricing for families during Festival of Trees, $15 per group. Friends of Morven, free. Please note that during the Festival of Trees in December and early January, no formal tours are given, but docents are available to answer any questions. Morven Museum and Garden is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ. For more information, call 609-924-8144 or visit www.morven.org.

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Through January 15, 2017 - Trenton, Mercer County

William E. Pedrick (1868-1927), Survey of the Artist Exhibit

View "William E. Pedrick (1868-1927), Survey of the Artist Exhibit" at the Trenton City Museum, Ellarslie in Cadwalader Park, Trenton, NJ through January 15, 2017.

Born in Mount Holly, William Everitte Pedrick's life was cut tragically short at age 59 when he was killed on his way to work in an automobile accident, leaving behind an enormous portfolio of work that celebrated the personalities and events of the City of Trenton. Well-known throughout Trenton in his day, his paintings hung in the State Capitol, City Hall, the Courthouse, and other public buildings as well as regimental armories, colleges, museums, and courtrooms in other cities.

After studying at the National Academy of Design in New York and attending the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, he came back to New Jersey and set up a studio at the Masonic Temple in Trenton. There he created caricatures of notable local politicians and personalities that graced the pages of the Trenton Sunday Advertiser and his own Acme Magazine. While portrait painting was his favorite branch of art, he was also a well accomplished landscape artist, specializing in scenes depicting the role that Trenton played during the American Revolution. An amateur historian, he thoroughly researched his subjects and never shrunk from pointing out the inaccuracies of famous paintings, most notably Emanuel Leutze's epic "Washington Crossing the Delaware."

A founder of the Trenton Arts Society and the Trenton Art Alliance, he strove to make an art museum possible in the City of Trenton. As an organizer of the Trenton Fair Art Club, he helped choose a painting of an outstanding artist each year to be placed in the municipal collection with the goal of making Trenton a place of recognition in the world of art.

The exhibit is being guest-curated by Laura M. Poll, Archivist at the Trentoniana Collection, Trenton Free Public Library. Paintings are being loaned to the exhibit by the Trenton Free Public Library and The Old Barracks Museum, among others.

The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion is located within Cadwalader Park, Trenton, NJ. For more information, call 609-989-3632 or visit www.ellarslie.org.

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Through January 29, 2017 - Morristown, Morris County
Race to the Finish: Newspaper Coverage of Presidential Elections, 1789-2008 Exhibit

In recognition of the 2016 presidential election, the Morris County Historical Society offers the thought-provoking Race to the Finish: Newspaper Coverage of Presidential Elections, 1789-2008 through January 29, 2017 at Acorn Hall in Morristown, NJ.

Featured in the exhibit are rare, original, historic presidential newspapers from the personal collection of local historian, author, and MCHS Board of Trustees member Peter J. Tamburro, Jr. Newspaper headlines and articles illustrate the campaign promises, electoral obstacles, and political gaffes of more than 20 U.S. presidents and their rivals. See early newspaper coverage of George Washington's election through Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, and an authentic copy of the 1948 "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline of the Chicago Daily Tribune.

Complementing the newspapers are period clothing such as an 1876 dress worn to an inauguration party for President Rutherford B. Hayes, political paraphernalia including campaign buttons for Adlai Stevenson and Franklin Roosevelt, and a 1917 telegram sent by President Woodrow Wilson and other cultural artifacts - all from the extensive collections of the MCHS. The exhibit closes on January 29, 2017.

The Morris County Historical Society, founded in 1946, is a member-supported, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Its headquarters, Acorn Hall, is an Italianate Villa mansion open to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays (11:00 am - 4:00 pm) and Sundays (1:00 - 4:00 pm). Acorn Hall is located at 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-267-3465 or visit www.acornhall.org.

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Through Sunday, February 5 - Morristown, Morris County

Fashion for the Far East: Collecting Chinoiserie at Macculloch Hall

Like many collectors at the time, W. Parsons Todd (1877 - 1976) delighted in objects made in China and Japan and those created in Europe inspired by Asian design during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This exhibition traces the popularity among early twentieth century collectors for decorative objects made in or inspired by the East through a selection of carpets and porcelain in the Museum's collection. Objects on display will include the fine antique carpets woven in China, the Rose Medallion china made in China for export to the West, a pair of monumental Satsuma Vases urns made in Japan, and a pair of monumental vases created in an Asian style in Dresden, Germany.

Admission is $8, Adults; $6, Seniors and Students; $4, Children 6-12; and free for Members and children under 5. Macullouch Hall is located at 45 MacCulloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-538-2404 or visit www.maccullochhall.org.

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Through Friday, April 28, 2017 - Trenton, Mercer County
Toy World Exhibit
Children Friendly

Bring the whole family to enjoy this fun new exhibition spotlighting the little-known history of toy manufacturing in New Jersey. Step back to another era and enjoy a bit of nostalgia with more than 100 toys made in New Jersey between 1880 and the late 1960s, during New Jersey's golden era of manufacturing. See how world events helped shape the toys produced here, from tin toys, porcelain dolls, and model trains, through the development of plastics, which ushered in little green army men, Colorforms, Suzy Homemaker ovens and more. Innovations such as the first "talking" doll, created by Thomas Edison, will also be featured.

The exhibition features a play area for children and a spot to share your favorite childhood toy memories. Randomly selected memories will be featured on the Museum's Facebook page throughout the exhibition. "Toy World" will be on view from through April 28, 2017. 

“Toy World” will be on view in the Riverside Gallery on the New Jersey State Museum's second floor. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 am to 4:45 pm and closed on all State holidays. The Museum is located at 205 W State St, Trenton, NJ. For more information, visit www.statemuseum.nj.gov.

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Through Sunday, May 21, 2017 - Princeton, Mercer County
Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey

Like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan before him, Bruce Springsteen is a pillar of American music. Springsteen has turned his guitar into an instrument of change, using it to tap into the American psyche and connect with the blue-collar man and woman through his melodies and lyrics. From his humble beginnings of rehearsing in New Jersey garages to selling out arenas around the world, Springsteen's career has spanned decades and crossed genres-and has never wavered from its upward trajectory.

This fall, Morven Museum & Garden presents Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey. Traveling from the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, this exhibition features forty photographs of the rock legend and video interviews with five of the six noted photographers: Danny Clinch, Ed Gallucci, Eric Meola, Barry Schneier, Pamela Springsteen, and Frank Stefanko. Together they revisit Springsteen's career as a frontman and songwriter, capturing his charisma and off-stage vulnerability.

The exhibition is on view from November 18, 2016 through May 21, 2017 at Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ. Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, call 609-924-8144 or visit www.morven.org.

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Through June 2017 - Ocean Township, Monmouth County
Presidents at the Monmouth County Shore Exhibit

One hundred years ago this September, 25,000 people gathered on the grounds of what is today Monmouth University—then a private estate called Shadow Lawn—to see Woodrow Wilson officially accept the nomination of the Democratic Party for a second Presidential run. Wilson was following a popular tradition among American Presidents to retreat to our slice of the Jersey Shore to escape the heat and hubbub of Washington. At the Eden Woolley House, this major exhibit tells the wide-ranging stories of eleven Presidents who spent time here, at the Monmouth County shore.

Mrs. Lincoln got the ball rolling
There’s a case to be made that it all started with Mary Todd Lincoln. Mrs. Lincoln travelled to Long Branch in the summer of 1861, probably at the invitation of William Newell, family friend and then supervisor of the life-saving services in New Jersey. Long Branch was already a popular resort, and national coverage of the First Lady’s visit added immeasurably to its fame and appeal.

That fame and appeal continued to draw the wealthy and influential—including the seven presidents who vacationed in resort city, starting with Ulysses Grant.

Seven Presidents in Long Branch
In 1870, a group of wealthy businessmen who summered in the Elberon section of Long Branch presented President Grant with an oceanfront cottage where he vacationed for the next 15 years. When Grant died in 1885, city officials feared the resort might lose its cachet. They needn’t have worried. Six of the next ten Presidents--Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, McKinley, and Wilson--chose to spend time in Long Branch.

The most tragic of these Presidential visits was James Garfield’s last. Mrs. Garfield was in Long Branch recuperating from illness, when, on July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot by an assassin in the Washington train station. He was taken to the White House, where his condition worsened. In hope the sea air might help, Garfield was taken to Elberon. Famously, locals worked through the night to build the spur to carry the President’s railroad car from Elberon Station to the ocean side cottage. He died there 12 days later, September 19.

Beyond Long Branch
Long Branch was not the only Monmouth County destination of Presidents. Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, and Richard Nixon visited our area, if only, in some cases, for a political rally. And then, of course, there’s Warren Harding, whose local connection was a bit less public and a good deal more scandalous. Join us June 26 to learn the full story. The new exhibit is on view through June 2017.

The Township of Ocean Historical Museum offers exhibits on the history of coastal Monmouth County and a full calendar of events. The Museum also houses a library and archive of local history. It is open, free of charge, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday, 7:00 - 9:00 pm Thursday evenings, and 1:00 - 4:00 pm the first and second Sundays of each month. The Township of Ocean Historical Museum is located at 703 Deal Road, Ocean, NJ. For more information, visit www.oceanmuseum.org.

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Sundays through June 30, 2017 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
A Revolutionary Legacy: the Cornelius Low House 275 Exhibit

The newest exhibit to open at the Middlesex County Museum exhibit delves into the history of the Low family and the role they played in the shaping of the United States. A Revolutionary Legacy: the Cornelius Low House 275 exhibit is housed inside the County’s Historic Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum. 

This seven-room exhibit contains artifacts that date to the 1700s and includes handcrafted furniture from New Brunswick, paintings by artist Micah Williams, a document signed by Cornelius Low and his wife Johanna, portrait miniatures of several Low family members, and a chair that George Washington used on a visit to the New Brunswick area. These items are on loan from the DAR Jersey Blue Chapter Buccleuch Mansion, the Suffolk County Historical Society and private collections.

The Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum is open on Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm and is located at 1225 River Road, Piscataway, NJ. For more information, call 732-745-4177 or visit www.middlesexcountynj.gov.

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Last Sunday of the month through Fall 2017 - Woodbury, Gloucester County
White Lace and Promises: Two Centuries of Weddings Exhibit

White Lace and Promises: Two Centuries of Weddings, is the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum's most comprehensive wedding exhibit to date! This gorgeous exhibit features over 50 wedding gowns from the museum’s collection, representing the time period from the 1810’s through most of the 20th century. From the hooped dresses and bustles of the 19th century, to the many variations of gowns during the 20th century, nearly every popular wedding gown style is represented. Also showcased are bridal accessories including headpieces, veils, shoes, fans, lingerie, and jewelry. Documentation such as invitations and wedding certificates, along with beautiful photographs from many of these weddings, are also on display. This extensive exhibit will be up until fall of 2017 – do not miss it!

The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, and the last Sunday of the month from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. If interested in scheduling a private tour during non-public hours to see this exhibit, this may be organized for you and/or your group with advance. Adult admission $5; children 6-18 years $1; children under 6 free. The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum is located at 58 N. Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096. For more information, call 856-848-8531 or visit www.rootsweb.com/~njgchs.

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

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NJ Weekend Estate Sales: 12/30/16 - 1/1/2017

NEW JERSEY WEEKEND ESTATE SALES

Click on each link for more information on the estate sale!

Find something neat at an estate sale? Let us know!

Hosting an estate sale? Send me an e-mail to be featured in our weekly post!

Be the first to know about these sales on Facebook!

Antique Asian Furniture

Dunellen, NJ Estate Sale

Dunellen, NJ  08812

10:00 am - 2:00 pm Friday

10:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/17/16 - 12/18/16

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Friday - Saturday, December 16 - 17 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County

Christmas Lantern Tour
Children Friendly Event

The weather is cold, but the scent of Christmas is in the air! Come celebrate the holidays with a stroll through Allaire's lantern lit village, and learn about Christmas in 1836! 

Music, history and a little bit of theater, the Historic Village at Allaire should be your new (or continuing) holiday tradition. Advance purchase recommended. $14.50 per person (not recommended for children under 5 as it is a walking tour and strollers are not permitted in buildings). Group rates are available to parties over 25 individuals, please call the office to book your group tour 732-919-3500.

Spaces are limited, so advanced ticket purchasing is highly recommended! Lantern tours begin at 5:00 pm and leave the visitor center every 15 minutes until 8:00 pm. This year to help keep everything moving smoothly, we are selling timed tickets to access the historic village for the Lantern Tours. Tours will still be on a first come, first serve basis. You should expect to wait only 30 minutes for your tour to begin. The tours take about 90 minutes to complete and are both indoor and outdoor.

Shore Good Eats n’ Treats is going to be our amazing food vendors for this great event. Make sure to check them out! They do all sorts of delicious food!

The Historic Village at Allaire is located in Allaire State Park at 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. Tickets are available at the gate or can be purchased through their web site. For more information, call 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

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NJ Weekend Estate Sales: 12/16/16 - 12/18/16

NEW JERSEY WEEKEND ESTATE SALES

Click on each link for more information on the estate sale!

Find something neat at an estate sale? Let us know!

Hosting an estate sale? Send me an e-mail to be featured in our weekly post!

Be the first to know about these sales on Facebook!

1950s & On!

Maplewood, NJ Estate Sale

Maplewood, NJ 07040

10:00 am - 4:00 pm Friday

11:00 am - 2:00 pm Saturday

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"Black River & Western Railroad" December 2016 Book Giveaway

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/10/16 - 12/11/16

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Friday, December 9 - Pennsauken, Camden County
2nd Annual Holiday Illumination
Children Friendly Event

On Friday from 6:30 - 9:00 pm, the Pennsauken Historical Society will hold its 2nd Annual Holiday Illumination at the Historic Burrough-Dover House. Over 140 luminaries will cast a magical glow on the old stone walls of the 306 year old house. The inside of the house will be decked out for the holidays, and the first floor will be open to visitors who will find Santa Clause perched beside the lit hearth waiting to wish all of our guests a “Merry Christmas.” Be sure to bring your camera for an AMAZING photo-op with Santa! There will be cocoa and candy canes for all. This is a FREE event. The Burrough-Dover House is located at 9201 Burrough Dover Lane, Pennsauken, NJ 08110.

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NJ Weekend Estate Sales: 12/9/16 - 12/11/16

NEW JERSEY WEEKEND ESTATE SALES

Click on each link for more information on the estate sale!

Find something neat at an estate sale? Let us know!

Hosting an estate sale? Send me an e-mail to be featured in our weekly post!

Be the first to know about these sales on Facebook!

Antique Mantel Clocks

Bridgewater, NJ Estate Sale

Bridgewater, NJ 08807

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Friday & Saturday

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Enjoy Candle Light Tours and Music at the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage - December 9, 2016

Enjoy Candle Light Tours and Music at the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage

Friday, December 9, 2016

On Friday, December 9, from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm, there will be hourly group tours by candle-light, featuring costumed interpreters, cooking demonstrations and period music, at the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic sites.

Join Mrs. Mary Wallace when she steps out of her portrait frame on the evening of December 9 to guide groups of visitors around her home, taking them back in time to the memorable winter of 1778. She will talk about the simple ways in which she and her husband, John Wallace, plan to celebrate the upcoming Christmas holiday, the inconveniences she anticipates when General George Washington and his entourage return from Philadelphia to stay at her house, and provide personalized insight into the history of her family, how they live, and the furnishing of her home. Moving on to the Wallace House kitchen wing, visitors will see re-enactor Kathy Ormosi presenting hearthside cooking, and discussing the foods of the season. Finally they will adjourn to the nearby Old Dutch Parsonage, where they can listen to Robert Mouland perform period music on antique instruments, and enjoy light refreshments. 

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Two Chances to Watch George Washington’s Annual Delaware River Crossing

Two Chances to Watch George Washington’s Annual Delaware River Crossing

December 11 and 25, 2016

Each December, thousands gather on the banks of the Delaware River to watch the reenactment of George Washington’s daring Christmas Day 1776 river crossing. During the event, several hundred reenactors in Continental military dress listen to an inspiring speech by Washington and then row across the river in replica Durham boats.

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/3/16 - 12/4/16

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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Saturday, December 3 - Haledon, Passaic County

Book Talk with Tula Connell, author of Conservative Counterrevolution

On Saturday at 2:00 pm, the American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark proudly welcomes the general public to a book reception and signing event with author Tula Connell, Ph.D. Dr. Connell will discuss her recently published book, Conservative Counterrevolution: Challenging Liberalism in 1950s Milwaukee (University of Illinois Press, 2016) and will answer questions. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.  Light refreshments will be served.

In Conservative Counterrevolution, Tula Connell explores how the clash between political conservatives and champions of liberalism in 1950s Milwaukee shaped a city and helped redefine postwar American politics nationwide. Dr. Connell shows how far-right conservatives created a 50-year game plan that was driven by an all-out assault on unions and opposition to civil rights.

Tula Connell is a labor writer and historian. She worked in labor communications for more than 25 years and currently is Senior Communications Officer at the Solidarity Center, an international labor rights organization.

Tours of the Museum will be available and the Museum Store will be open for browsing and shopping. The Botto House National Landmark, home of the American Labor Museum, is located at 83 Norwood Street, Haledon, NJ. It was the meeting place for over 20,000 silk mill workers during the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike. The Museum's hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm or by appointment. For more information, call 973-595-7953, e-mail labormuseum@aol.com, or visit www.labormuseum.net.

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Saturday, December 3 - Cape May, Cape May County
Wassail Day at Historic Cold Spring Village
Children Friendly

Historic Cold Spring Village opens its Homespun Holidays season with Wassail Day on Saturday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. The Village paths come alive with the sounds and smells of wintertime at this free event. Select buildings will also be open where guests can enjoy hot beverages and treats served by historical interpreters in period clothing. Visitors can meet Father Christmas in the Country Store from 12:00 - 2:00 pm and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout the festively decorated Village grounds for a small fee. Guests can also enjoy live holiday music and light refreshments at the Dennisville Inn.

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New Jersey Weekend Estate Sales: 12/2/16 - 12/4/16

NEW JERSEY WEEKEND ESTATE SALES

Click on each link for more information on the estate sale!

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Sports Memorabilia

Edison, NJ Estate Sale

Edison, NJ 08817

10:00 am - 2:00 pm Friday

10:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday & Sunday

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