Meet American Heroine Harriet Tubman at Jefferson School, Maplewood - March 5, 2017

Meet American Heroine Harriet Tubman at Jefferson School, Maplewood 
Sunday, March 5, 2017

“I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can't say — I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger,” said Harriet Tubman in 1896. Ms. Tubman’s story – as an enslaved person who escaped and became an abolitionist, humanitarian, and armed Union scout and spy during the Civil War – is an American legend. But what was this American icon really like? In honor of Women’s History Month, the Durand-Hedden House presents inspiring actress and educator Dr. Daisy Century of the American Historical Theater who will bring this remarkable woman to life through her vivid historical interpretation.

Harriet Tubman is a role model for Dr. Century, someone who encouraged her to put others first and to lead by example. Like her inspiration, Dr. Century grew up on a farm, has a wonderful singing voice, and is a determined woman of conviction. A naturally talented teacher and actor with a PhD in Science Education, she couples scientific methods with creative imagination to make her historical portrayals thoroughly researched and dramatically intense.

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NPS Announces Public Meetings for Historic Properties Management Plan for Delaware Water Gap NRA

NPS Announces Public Meetings for Historic Properties Management Plan
Thursday, February 23 to Friday, March 31, 2017

National Park Service (NPS) Superintendent John J. Donahue announced that public scoping for the Historic Properties Management Plan (HPMP) for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area will take place from Thursday, February 23 to Friday, March 31. “This plan will provide guidance for park employees and managers when making strategic maintenance and preservation decisions about our historic structures in the future,” said Donahue. “It will be a very important and useful tool and public input is essential. At this time, we want to share what we’ve accomplished and solicit public comment on the proposed actions that we have developed.”

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 2/25/17 - 2/26/17

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, February 25 - Franklin Township, Somerset County
George Washington's Birthday

Come celebrate George Washington's 285th birthday at Rockingham on Saturday. While Washington will be present only in spirit (and in the form of a wonderful life-sized mannequin in an exactingly recreated uniform), visitors who tour his last wartime headquarters will learn about his life and times, before, during and after his careers as commander of the Continental Army and first president of the United States.

Find out more about this iconic symbol of our country; learn why he is more important than just a means to sell cars on Presidents' Day! After the tour, enjoy cake and punch in Rockingham's kitchen.

Tours will be offered from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm on the hour and, possibly, half-hour if needed. (The last tour will be at 3:00 or 3:30 pm, accordingly). Because the size of tours will be limited, reservations will be necessary to guarantee admittance. Please call 609-683-7132 for reservations. A donation of $5 is suggested.

Please note that the regular history of the house will not be emphasized during these special tours, but visitors are always welcome to visit the house on another day for a normal tour. Washington, commander in chief for the Continental Army during the American Revolution, stayed at Rockingham from late August to early November in 1783. It became his final wartime headquarters when the Treaty of Paris was formally signed while he resided there.

Rockingham is located on Rte. 603 (Laurel Ave./Kingston-Rocky Hill Rd.), one mile north of Route 27 in Kingston and one mile south of Route 518 in Rocky Hill.  For more information, call 609-683-7132 or visit www.rockingham.net.

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NJ Weekend Estate Sales: 2/24/17 - 2/26/17

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!

A Mega-Mega Warren Estate Sale

Warren, NJ Estate Sale

Warren, NJ 07059

10:00 am - 2:00 pm Friday

10:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday

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Discover “The Hidden History of Slavery in New Jersey” - February 26, 2017

Discover “The Hidden History of Slavery in New Jersey”
Sunday, February 26, 2017

On Sunday, February 26, at 1:30 pm, at the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic sites, historian Timothy Hack will uncover the lost and forgotten stories of the slaves who once lived in colonial New Jersey.

From its days of earliest settlement, African American slavery existed in colonial New Jersey. Sometimes slaves succeeded in running away; sometimes they were freed; most often they remained in life-long bondage. Decades before the onset of the American Revolution, slaves at different times and places across the colony planned revolts against their masters, seeking their own freedom. In bondage, slaves raised families, built communities, learned trades, established their own churches and forged connections across race and class barriers. Join historian Timothy Hack as he unfolds their forgotten histories.

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 2/18/17 - 2/19/17

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, February 18 - Franklin Township, Somerset County
Rutgers Preparatory School History Lecture

The Meadows Foundation invites you to hear Tim Cohen, teacher and school historian at Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, discuss the book he has just completed chronicling that school's 250-year story. His talk will pay particular attention to Rutgers Prep's history of ethnic and cultural diversity, and to the ways in which the school's story has mirrored changes in the larger local community over the years.

This lecture, part of our Fireside Chat series, will be held on Saturday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the historic Wyckoff-Garretson house, 215 South Middlebush Road, Franklin Township, NJ. The fee for attending is $10 and includes light refreshments. Meadows members in good standing will receive a coupon for $5 off any future Meadows event. You may pay dues or attain membership when you arrive.  For more information, contact Christine Retz at chrisflp@aol.com.

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Saturday, February 18 - Haddonfield, Camden County
Colonial Chocolate Demonstration

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Saturday, February 18 - Ho-Ho-Kus, Bergen County
Maple Sugaring at The Hermitage
Children Friendly

Kids got cabin fever? Take them outside over President’s Day Weekend to start making their own maple syrup from trees.

The Hermitage Museum and the Hermitage Master Gardeners are holding a maple-tapping event on Saturday. About fifteen trees will be tapped on the grounds of the National Historic Landmark at 335 North Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus. Kids over 12 and adults will get hands-on practice from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

Rose Anne Weissel, who leads maple sugaring classes for the Girl Scouts, will tell stories about how the Lenni-Lenape tribe and early Dutch and English settlers in North Jersey got their sweeteners from sugar maples and other sap-producing trees. Guests will be sent home with the equipment to tap the trees in their own yards and instructions on boiling the sap into syrup.

Admission is $25 per family or $15 per individual and includes a tour of the Hermitage, where Aaron Burr and Theodosia Prevost were married in 1782. The rain or heavy-snow date is Sunday, Feb. 19. For more information and to make reservations, call 201-445-8311 or visit www.thehermitage.org.

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Saturday, February 18 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Maple Sugaring
Children Friendly

Sugaring time arrives in late winter at Howell Farm and operations are in full swing. Visitors are invited to join the work and fun with sap collection, firewood cutting, syrup making, butter making, flour milling and pancake eating.

The trees are tapped beginning in early February. School groups, visitors and farm staff collect and boil down sap for several weeks. The sugar maple tree stores starch in their trunks and roots before the winter; the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap in the spring. Freezing nights and thawing days make for heavy sap flow. The trees are tapped by boring holes into their trunks and collecting the exuded sap beginning in early February. The sap is then processed by heating to evaporate much of the water, leaving the concentrated syrup.

Sap gathering will take place at 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm. Tree tapping demonstrations will be held at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. The sugarhouse will be open from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Pancakes will be available from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm.

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, February 18 - 19 - Cape May, Cape May County
Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour
Family Friendly

Take this spine-tingling, 45-minute evening trolley ride through the streets of Cape May with a guide who relates the paranormal findings of Ghost Writer Craig McManus. Ride past the flickering gas street lamps, the haunted properties of Cape May, and experience the spine-tingling tales. The tour is offered Saturday at 7:30 and 8:30 pm and Sunday at 7:00 and 8:00 pm. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ or the Washington Street Mall Information Booth. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Monday, February 18 - 20 - Lower Township, Cape May County
Cape May Lighthouse Reopens for the Season
Children Friendly

On Saturday, the Cape May Lighthouse, Oil House and Museum Shop reopens for the season.The lighthouse is an 1859 structure with 199 steps to the watch gallery for a panoramic view of the Jersey Cape and Atlantic Ocean. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible Visitors' Orientation Center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and lighthouse memorabilia. Open 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Cape May Point State Park is located in Lower Township, NJ. Admission to the Visitors' Orientation Center and the ground floor of the lighthouse is free. Tower admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12). 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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Sunday, February 19 - River Edge, Bergen County
Washington's Birthday at Historic New Bridge Landing
Children Friendly

A Country Ball upon the Anniversary of Washington’s Birthday will be held at Historic New Bridge Landing. Dance mistress Denise Piccino and the Tricorne Dancers will give two one-hour public performances in the Steuben House at 1:30 and 3:00 pm. Ridley & Anne Enslow will provide musical accompaniment on fiddle and hammered dulcimer. Throughout the afternoon, Rodger Yaden will portray General George Washington. Hot cider and crullers will be served in the restored 18th-century tavern in the Campbell-Christie House, where our gift shop is also located. Visitors may also see open-hearth cooking demonstrated in the Out-Kitchen, featuring meal items that General Washington might have eaten during his stay at New Bridge in 1780 and recipes from Martha's cookbook. Re-enactors from the 3rd New Jersey Regiment will demonstrate military life. Activities for children include: soldier drills, paper dolls, and a scavenger hunt.

So celebrate the 285th anniversary of Washington’s Birthday at Historic New Bridge Landing, where General George Washington made his headquarters in September 1780, when Continental troops encamped between Van Saun Park in River Edge and Soldier Hill Road in Oradell. A tiger-stripe maple bedstead, reputedly used in a local home where George Washington stayed during the 1780 Steenrapie Encampment, is displayed in the Demarest House. The room in the Steuben House where Washington stayed for ten days during the Steenrapie Encampment is also open for viewing.

Historic New Bridge Landing is located at 1201-1209 Main Street, River Edge, NJ. Admission by donation: $10 for adults, $7 for children, and free for Bergen County Historical Society members. For more information, call 201-343-9492 or visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.

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Sunday, February 19 - Princeton, Mercer County

Historic Princeton Walking Tour
Children Friendly Tour

Enjoy a 1.9 mile, two-hour walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Bainbridge House, Nassau Hall, the University Chapel, and Palmer Square. The early history of Princeton, the founding of the University, and the American Revolution are just some of the stories from Princeton’s history that you will learn on your tour.

Admission: $7 per adult; $4 children ages 6 to 12; free for children age 5 and under. Tours begin in front of the Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Tour begins at 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. Walk up ticket sales are cash only; guides cannot provide change. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Sunday, February 19 - Westampton, Burlington County
Gunston Hall

In celebration of the Colonial Dames' 125th anniversary, we are highlighting some of the historic properties maintained by the Dames. Gunston Hall was the home of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776. Our own Bill of Rights closely follows the ideals of Virginia's Declaration.

Hear the story of this remarkable statesman and see his beautiful mansion during this presentation on Sunday at 1:00 pm.

Tours of the Peachfield are available at 12:00 and 2:00 pm. Admission is free. A free will donation is welcome in support of the museum. Reservations are recommended. Peachfield is located at 180 Burrs Road Westampton, NJ. For more information and to reserve a seat, call 609-267-6996 or e-mail colonialdamesnj@comcast.net.

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Sunday, February 19 - Morristown, Morris County
Author Jeff Finegan to Discuss His Two Books

In honor of both Black History Month and President's Day, Morristown National Historical Park welcomes author Jeff Finegan to its Washington’s Headquarters Museum for a presentation on his books Colonel Washington and Me; and ‘Tis Well … The Life and Death of George Washington.

A Washington enthusiast for 25 years, Finegan published Colonel Washington and Me in 2012. The story follows Washington and his interactions with his enslaved valet, William Lee, who was mentioned and granted freedom in Washington's will. While most biographies of the first president mention the bond between Washington and Lee, this is the first book told through the eyes of Lee. William Lee accompanied Washington during the war, and spent the winter of 1779-80 with George and Martha Washington at the Ford Mansion in Morristown.

Finegan’s second book, ‘Tis Well … The Life and Death of George Washington, also explores the life and legacy of our nation’s founding father, but it offers a distinctly different perspective. ‘Tis Well takes a deeper look into Washington’s family history and early development, and also concentrates on the last two days of the general’s life and funeral. This story is told through the eyes of surgeon James Craik, with whom Washington maintained a lifelong friendship, having met during the French and Indian War in the 1750s. It was Craik who was summoned to attend to Washington in his last hours.

While both books are intended for young readers, they have been meticulously researched and enthusiastically received by both the historic and literary communities. Pennsylvania artist Preston Keith Hindmarch brings the stories to life with his attractive illustrations.

Jeff Finegan is a New Jersey native and graduate of Seton Hall University. He has a wide-ranging interest in history with a concentration in George Washington. His family has a collection of Washington and early American documents, some of which appear in the books and serve to further illustrate the narrative. Jeff has appeared and spoken at many local book events as well as at Mount Vernon and Valley Forge.

Books will be available at the Washington's Headquarters Museum Shop and will be inscribed by the author. Free and open to the public. No reservations required. The program will be held in the Washington's Headquarters Museum auditorium, 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-539-2016 x210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Sunday, February 19 through Sunday, June 25, 2017 - Morristown, Morris County
1917: World War, Women’s Rights, and Weaponry Sciences Exhibit Opening

In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I, Morris County Historical Society offers a provocative exhibit highlighting The Great War’s impact on Morris County. The new exhibit 1917: World War, Women’s Rights, and Weaponry Sciences, displayed throughout Acorn Hall, will be available from Sunday, February 19 through Sunday, June 25, 2017. Stories of Morris County’s brave men and women during the WWI era will be complimented by authentic WWI uniforms, weaponry and militaria, period clothing, and ephemera.

Focusing on sacrifices of Morris County residents, the exhibit honors the men and women who gave their lives during the war, highlights the culture clash of women seeking recognition as equals and the right to vote, and features the tremendous advances in weaponry science credited to the work of men and women at Picatinny Arsenal and throughout Morris County.

The Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, and on Sundays from 1:00- 4:00 pm. For a tour of Acorn Hall and to see the exhibit is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students, and Free for children under age 12 and MCHS members. To see the exhibit, only, is one half of the price of admission.

The Morris County Historical Society, founded in 1946, is a member-supported, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Acorn Hall, an Italianate Villa, is located at 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-267-3465 or visit www.acornhall.org.

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Sunday, February 19 - Bridgewater, Somerset County
Five Generals Bus Tour of Washington's Middlebrook Cantonment

Visit and discover all five existing houses where George Washington, Henry Knox, Baron Von Steuben, Nathaniel Greene, and Lord Alexander were headquartered during the Middlebrook Cantonment of 1778-1779. 

The tour will begin at the Van Horne House where guests will enjoy an overview of Middlebrook presented by living historian, dance master, and tutor to the Van Horne children Master William Turner (aka David Lang). Once guests are properly 'schooled' in the importance of the Middlebrook Cantonment of 1778-79, we will board the buses and head off to: The Abraham Staats House, The Jacobus Vanderveer House, The Wallace House and the Van Veghten House, ending at the Van Horne House for refreshments in the tavern.

The Heritage Trail will have TWO DOOR PRIZE drawings at the 10:00 am and 2:00 pm tours and ONE drawing at the 11:00 am, 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm tours. Tours are limited to 20 people each tour.

Tours at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 noon,  1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm. Tours may be consolidated to fill available seating. Bottled water will be provided upon check in. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students ($5 for children 7- 12 years old but call Cindy direct at 310-691-9388). For tickets, click here. Please indicate which tour time you have chosen.  

The Van Horne House is located at 941 East Main Street, Bridgewater, NJ. Parking availabble in the Target parking lot directly behind the house. For more information or to register, call 732-356-8856 or visit www.heritagetrail.org.

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Sunday, February 19 - Montclair, Essex County
Eyewitness to History: The African American Experience
Family Friendly Event

Explore 200 years of Black history in Montclair and New Jersey through rare first-hand accounts, primary and secondary source documents at the Crane House/Historic YWCA at 110 Orange Road. Artifacts include a bill of sale for an enslaved person in the household, an 1800s newspaper, an 1840s New York Knickerbocker magazine, census data, personal letters, oral histories, and mid-century Jet and Ebony magazines. These artifacts provide a springboard for discussion about race both in the past and in the present-day.

The site is open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Tours are on the hour, last tour at 3 pm. Admission is $6/adult; $5/student/senior with ID; $4/child; under 2 free. Members get in free! For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistory.org.

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Sunday, February 19 - Montclair, Essex County
Eyewitness to History: The African American Experience
Family Friendly Event

On Sunday from 2:00 - 3:00 pm, local architect and historian Mark Wright will speak about the oldest surviving house designed by Charles Follen McKim—founder of the famous 19th century architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White and the American Academy in Rome—and about a few significant houses by his followers, extant and lost. This lecture will be held at the Crane House/Historic YWCA at 110 Orange Road. Suggested donation $5. For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistory.org.

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Through March 12, 2017- Trenton, Mercer County
Furniture as Art at Ellarslie, the Trenton City Museum

The Trenton City Museum hosts "Furniture as Art," four exhibits-in-one that highlight the items that bring comfort and beauty to our lives - furniture. How many of us take our daily surroundings for granted? This exhibit helps us to see the everyday with fresh eyes.

On the museum's second floor, Furniture from the Permanent Collection features furniture from the collection of the Trenton Museum Society - antique furniture made in and associated with Trenton. Many of these reminders of Trenton's past manufacturing heyday have never before been seen by the public. Rustic Regional Windsor Chairs includes a collection of early Windsor chairs loaned by private collectors. According to TMS trustee and curator of the exhibit David Bosted, "The first American Windsor chair is believed to have been made here in the Delaware Valley in 1730. About a dozen pre-1850 Windsor Chairs will be on view along with a half-dozen colonial-revival reproductions, to illustrate the various forms and artistic features of rustic regional Windsor chairs."

On Sunday, February 26, 2017, Robert Whitley talks about furniture restoration during his 50+ year career. 

The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie is located in the middle of the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Cadwalader Park, with an entrance on Parkside Avenue, in Trenton, New Jersey. There is no fee for admission although donations are accepted. There is abundant free parking including handicap accessible parking.  The museum is handicapped accessible. 
For more information, call 609-989-3632 or visit www.ellarslie.org.

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Through March 31, 2017 - Plainfield, Union County
Funky Turns 40: Black Character Revolution Firsts Opening Reception and Curators' Talk

The Plainfield Public Library announces a new guest exhibit from the Museum of Uncut Funk, Funky Turns 40: Black Character Revolution Firsts. The exhibit commemorates the 40th anniversary of 1970s Saturday morning cartoons that featured positive Black animation characters for the first time in television history.

The pioneering cartoon characters featured in this exhibition present an unheralded legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and several animation, American, and Black History firsts. This flat-panel exhibit has traveled to the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, and the Purdue University Black Cultural Center. Plainfield Public Library is pleased and honored to be able to present this one-of-a-kind, traveling exhibit to the residents of Plainfield and Union County. Visitors are encouraged to join exhibit curators Loreen Williamson and Pamela Thomas for a special talk about the importance of the materials found in this exhibition. Free commemorative buttons will be given to program attendees on February 11 (as long as supplies last). All Ages Welcome! The exhibit opens at 10:30 am in the ALD Room (lower level) of the Plainfield Public Library, 800 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ. For more information, call 908-757-1111 or visit www.plainfieldlibrary.info.

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Through Sunday, April 9 - Cape May, Cape May County

Moore History: The Story of William J. Moore of Cape May

The Center for Community Arts (CCA) once again presents an exhibit in association with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) that highlights and illuminates African-American life and history in Cape May and the surrounding region. This year's exhibit, in the Carroll Gallery of the Emlen Physick Estate, is entitled "Moore History: The Life and Works of William J. Moore."

The CCA History Committee has selected important original documents, objects, and photographs of Mr. Moore's long and honored life. William J. Moore was principal of the segregated West Cape May Elementary Annex school for 52 years, inspiring many of his students to go on to college and careers. He served as the executive of Cape May Golf Club and then the pro at Cape May Tennis Club, which was named in his honor at his 100th birthday. He raised nine children with his wife, Susie (Smothers) Moore, and founded the William J. Moore Scholarship Fund.

Many of his students and friends remember him to this day. Their testimonies and recollections accompany Mr. Moore's own words and those of his children. The exhibit will be open to the public on Saturday, January 14 with an official opening ceremony on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 16 at 4:00 pm at the Carroll Gallery in the Carriage House at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street. The exhibit opening is free and open to the public; light refreshments will be served.

The exhibit is open to the public as follows: Saturdays, January 14 - February 4, 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm; Saturday, February 18, 11:00 am - 3:30 pm, Sunday, Feb. 19, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, Monday, February 20, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Saturday, February 25, 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm, Saturday, March 4, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, Saturday, March 11, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm. The exhibit is open daily, March 18 - April 19. Hours vary.

The Emlen Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Admission is free. Sponsored by the Center for Community Arts (CCA) in association with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For information on the exhibit, call 609-884-7525 or see www.CenterforCommunityArts.org. For gallery hours call 609-884-5404 or visit www.capemaymac.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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Through September 3, 2017
Garden State: Living Off the Land in Early New Jersey Exhibit
Family Friendly

How far is the distance from farm to table? For families in early New Jersey it was measured in inches. These families did not make their living “by bread alone.” They relied not only on wheat and corn, but also on bees, cows, apples, and vegetables to support themselves and their communities. The Garden State: Living off the Land in Early New Jersey explores the technology and tools, from bee smokers to cradle scythes, that farmers in 18th and 19th century New Jersey utilized in order to survive. The exhibit also features a new generation of Garden State farmers who are working to make the distance from farm to table a little bit shorter for today’s families.

This exhibit is on display through September 3, 20017 at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts located at 9 Main Street, Madison, NJ. Admission: Adults – $5; Students, children and adults 65+ – $3; METC members and children under 6 – FREE; Family maximum rate – $15.00. For more information, call 973-377-2982 or visit www.metc.org.

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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: 2/17/17 - 2/19/17

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!

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Collection of over 50 Years

Watchung, NJ Estate Sale

Watchung, NJ 07069

9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday

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Author Andrea Wulf to Appear at Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA) - April 9, 2017

Author Andrea Wulf to Appear at Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA)

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA) will host New York Times best-selling author Andrea Wulf on Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the park’s visitor center.

Wulf will discuss her book, Founding Gardeners, which tells the story of how gardening and farming shaped the thinking of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other Founding Fathers. The book looks at the revolutionary generation from the unique and intimate perspective of their lives as gardeners, plantsmen and farmers.

Ticket options are:
• $15 per person for admittance to the lecture only
• $35 per person for the lecture, entry into a wine and cheese reception with the author and a signed, soft-cover copy of Founding Gardeners

Tickets are limited and are for sale at www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/events.

Wulf trained as a design historian at the Royal College of Art in London and is now a full-time, award-winning writer. She is the author of five books and has written for the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, the Sunday Times and the Guardian among many others. She frequently lectures around the world and is a three-time fellow of the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello and the Eccles British Library Writer in Residence 2013.

Washington Crossing Park is located at the intersection of Routes 32 and 532 in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. This event is sponsored by the Friends of Washington Crossing Park in partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Individuals with disabilities who need special assistance or accommodations to participate in this event should call 215-493-4076.

To stay up-to-date on what is happening in Washington Crossing Historic Park, visit www.washingtoncrossingpark.org. While there, sign up for the park’s free monthly e-newsletter.

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Funds Available for Students to Visit Lambert Castle Museum

Funds Available for Students to Visit Lambert Castle Museum

The Passaic County Historical Society school trip grant program, begun in 2015, is now accepting applications from local schools. Out of the classroom enrichment activities are such an important part of a child’s education. This program allows schools to be reimbursed for the cost of transportation and admission to Lambert Castle museum for their students. All schools are eligible and funds will be dispersed on a first come basis.

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"1917: World War, Women’s Rights, and Weaponry Sciences" Exhibit Opening at the Morris County Historical Society - February 19, 2017

1917: World War, Women’s Rights, and Weaponry Sciences 
New Exhibit Opening at the Morris County Historical Society

Sunday, February 19 through Sunday, June 25, 2017

In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I, Morris County Historical Society offers a provocative exhibit highlighting The Great War’s impact on Morris County. The new exhibit 1917: World War, Women’s Rights, and Weaponry Sciences, displayed throughout Acorn Hall, will be available from Sunday, February 19 through Sunday, June 25, 2017. Stories of Morris County’s brave men and women during the WWI era will be complimented by authentic WWI uniforms, weaponry and militaria, period clothing, and ephemera.

Detail from WWI United War Work Campaign poster. Courtesy of Peter J. Tamburro

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 2/11/17 - 2/12/17

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, February 11 - South Bound Brook, Somerset County
Tory Jack Day 2017

The Friends of Abraham Staats House, Inc., in conjunction with the South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, and in partnership with the Women's Guild of South Bound Brook, is proud to present its 15th edition of the award winning "Tory Jack Day" program.

The annual event in honor of Black History Month celebrates the contribution and sacrifices of Afro-Americans in the foundation of our nation. This year’s feature presenter is Mr. Joseph Becton. Mr. Becton, a retired National Park Service Interpretive Park Ranger, has been recognized with the Community Service award for setting a standard of excellence in interpretation and for his role in connecting Americans to our national parks through wonderful stories and varied media. Mr. Becton now directs Joe Becton Tours and Historical Services and most recently has been proclaimed a Certified Master Guide by the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides.

Presenting the “Evolution of the Blues,” Joe will walk us through 300 years in the development of this truly American art form. Joe is fluent in guitar, harmonica, and singing on this journey. Joe will visit spirituals, minstrel, ragtime, blues, gospel and jazz. Audience participation is encouraged as musical styles, historic moments, and social movements are brought together. Mr. Becton will present at 11:00 am on Saturday at the historic Abraham Staats House located at 17 Von Steuben Lane, South Bound Brook, NJ. Seating begins at 10:30 am. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

Following the presentation, the public is invited to tour the historic Abraham Staats House and view an exhibit entitled “The History of Jazz in Black and White” presented by local historian and Women's Guild member, Mrs. Joyce Smith with the building closing at 3:00 p.m.

For more information, call 732-469-3198, e-mail info@staatshouse.org, or visit www.staatshouse.org.

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NJ Weekend Estate Sales: 2/10/17 - 2/12/17

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!

Unique Antiques

Bedminster, NJ Estate Sale

Bedminster, NJ  07921

10:00 am - 2:00 pm Friday

 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday & Sunday

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A Personal Journey to Document Greystone Psychiatric Hospital

A Personal Journey to Document Greystone Psychiatric Hospital
By Rusty Tagliareni and Christina Mathews

The history of the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital began in 1876 on a Parsippany hilltop and ended 139 years later, plowed under by the state of New Jersey. The rationale behind the destruction of a historic psychiatric hospital of inarguable national significance? To create open space. A tragic tale, but sometimes those are the ones which most need telling.

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7th Annual Washington Crossing Brewfest Tickets Now on Sale - May 6, 2017

7th Annual Washington Crossing Brewfest Tickets Now on Sale
Saturday, May 6, 2017

Tickets for the 7th annual Washington Crossing Brewfest are now on sale at a special, two-week-only price of $40. After February 14, 2017 the price increases to $45.

The brewfest – which sells out every year – will be held on Saturday, May 6 from 12:30 to 4:30 pm in a wooded, riverside section of Washington Crossing Historic Park. The event features sampling of at least 130 beers from more than 60 regional and national breweries, live music, and multiple food vendors.

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"Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital" February 2017 Book Giveaway

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 2/4/17 - 2/5/17

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

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

Saturday, February 4 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Sugar Maple Tapping
Children Friendly Event

Sugaring season is upon us. Join Howell Living History Farm's crew working the 150-tree sugar bush operation. Enjoy the work, fun, and rewards of helping tap maple trees, hang sap buckets, and cut firewood for the use in syrup making.

The sugar maple is first choice for making maple syrup as there is more sugar in the sap compared to other species, meaning it will take less sap to produce a gallon of syrup. Those of you interested in making syrup at home can get pointers and hands-on experience during our tree tapping workshops. How to identify the sugar maple, and when to tap will be discussed. Taps and buckets needed for backyard sugaring operations will be available for sale in the farm's Visitors Center.

Farmers Jim and Bobby will demonstrate the tools and equipment used in both traditional and modern production systems in the sugarhouse where sap is made into syrup. Visitors to the sugarhouse can sample maple syrup and try their hand at making a homemade tap. A tree tapping workshop will be held at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.

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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