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- Aug 26: Bernards Genealogy Roundtable Bernards Genealogy Roundtable - Aug 26 Bernards Genealogy group brings back popular roundtable The Aug. 26 meeting of the Bernards Township Library's Family History Interest Group will offer the popular roundtable format in which participants discuss the place or places their genealogy research has taken them, whether it be in the form of an actual trip or a journey of the mind's eye. Speakers are asked to limit their remarks to three minutes so all can contribute. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Program Room on the lower level at in the library. Coffee will be served at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend this free meeting. Because of the open discussion format, show-and-tell items are especially encouraged. Items can be in the form of a document, photograph or something of sentimental value and meaning to the family. FHIG meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month except December. The group aims to create a forum for sharing information on family history and genealogy topics and support for research problems and for recounting experiences. For more information or to be added to the e-mail announcement lists, please call the library at (908) 204-3031, ext. 4 or email rlufkin@bernards.org. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= /20080806/COMMUNITIES/808060324/1005/NEWS01 Copyright © 2007 Daily Record. All rights reserved.Top Randolph Historic Displays Show What Life Was Like The Randolph Museum, located in the historic Brundage House at the entrance of Freedom Park, is open to the public every Sunday afternoon, April through November from 1 to 4 p.m. The museum has two new hands-on children's activities designed to promote creativity and imagination in a historical context, including a dress-up box with historically-themed clothing. The museum also features displays of the Jewish hotel/bungalow time during the '40s; a mock schoolroom; a room showcasing items found in a house before the days of electricity and plumbing; and a room devoted to the industries of yesteryear such as the apple industry, ice industry, farming, iron mining and blacksmithing. Admission to the museum is $1 for adults and children over age 10. Members of the Historical Society of Old Randolph and children under 10 are admitted free. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= /20080728/COMMUNITIES/807280303/1005/NEWS01 Copyright © 2007 Daily Record. All rights reserved.Top Mt Olive OKs $25K for Seward Mansion Money for stabilization of 150-year-old house comes from open space fund By Meghan Van Dyk • Daily Record • July 28, 2008 Mount Olive - The township council has authorized additional funding for structural stabilization of the historic Seward Mansion that will prepare it for a new roof. The council voted unanimously last week to spend $24,725 from the township's open space trust fund on the improvements needed before a new roof can be placed atop the more than 150-year old, Italianate-style house on Flanders Road in Turkey Brook Park. The two resolutions specify that project's contractor, David Bogert, and his helper would be paid $24,725, and another $10,500 would cover materials. Bogert estimated it would take nine weeks until the house will be considered stable enough for a roof. Township officials are preparing to solicit bids for the roofing project, which may cost another $30,000, so work can begin before cold weather sets in, according to township administrator Bill Sohl. Officials said they had hoped the roof could have been in place by now, but complications and a windy winter prevented that from happening, according to Kathy Murphy, the township grants coordinator. Last August, the council allocated $55,100 for structural work that was meant to ready the house for a roof. The total amount that has gone toward the Seward Mansion was not immediately available. Councilman Steve Rattner said the total renovation of the house, which is years off, may cost upward of $1 million, though the township hopes much of that could be funded through grants and sponsorships. "We have to get the house buttoned up to show others that it is worth saving," Rattner said Tuesday night. Murphy said the Seward House is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and that the township is preparing a Historic Structures Report. The Seward House and its barn were listed on the state Register of Historic Places in 2003. The vision for the Seward House is to allow local recreation and other groups to use it as a meeting space or that rooms could be rented to outside parties. Meghan Van Dyk can be reached at (973) 428-6633 or mvandyk@gannett.com. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= /20080728/COMMUNITIES34/807280338/1005/NEWS01 Copyright © 2007 Daily Record. All rights reserved.Top Rockaway Information Sought for Veteran's Honor Roll The Borough of Rockaway Historical Committee has received information that the following individuals served during a time of war and entered the service directly from Rockaway Borough. The committee would like to obtain additional information on these individuals before placing their names on the soon-to-be displayed Honor Roll. The individuals for whom more information is required are: George Fletcher, Warren Fletcher, Herman Locket, Heum Locket and Robert Hamerstein. All information can be sent to Edward L. Miller, 11 Birchwood Rd, Rockaway, NJ 07866. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= /20080730/COMMUNITIES/807300331/1005/NEWS01 Copyright © 2007 Daily Record. All rights reserved.Top Canal Heritage Day At Waterloo - Aug 30 The Canal Society of New Jersey invites the public to Waterloo Village to celebrate the heritage of the Morris Canal and Waterloo's Canal Town on Saturday, August 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This event is held in conjunction with the NJ DEP Division of Parks and Forestry. Admission is free, and the event will take place rain or shine. There will be boat rides on the peaceful Morris Canal. There is no better way to enjoy the beauty of Waterloo than when gliding silently on the still waters of the original canal. In addition, guided tours of Morris Canal sites will be offered. An experienced Waterloo Village historical interpreter will give tours of the beautiful homes and historic buildings located on the ancient stagecoach road. Only the Canal Museum will be open for visits. These activities are available at no cost. In addition, the newly refurbished Indian Island will be open for only the second time this year. Anthropologist John Kraft, a nationally-known expert on the Lenape Indians of New Jersey, will give tours and talk about the life ways of the Native Americans. He designed and built the original Indian Village decades ago, and the DEP contracted with him recently to upgrade and renovate the site. Waterloo Village is located at 525 Waterloo Road in Stanhope. It is easily accessible from Routes 80, 46, and 206. The village will be open on the Canal Heritage Day only. The next Canal Heritage Day will be September 13. For more information, call (908) 722-9556. Joyce Hussa (973) 886-8393 joycehussa@yahoo.comTop Schuyler-Hamilton a Historic House Named to state register, it is where pair courted By Minhaj Hassan, Daily Record, August 2, 2008 Morristown - The house where Alexander Hamilton courted his future wife during the American Revolution has entered the state Historic Register, giving it a layer of protection from future development. The Dr. Jabez Campfield House, more commonly known as the Schuyler- Hamilton House, was reviewed by the State Review Board of Historic Sites earlier this summer. As a result of that office's analysis, the home at 5 Olyphant Place has been included in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. The state's Historic Preservation Office, which is part of the Department of Environmental Protection, had informed town officials of the house's inclusion in a letter to Mayor Donald Cresitello. The letter, written by acting administrator Terry Karschner, says that listing a site on the state register "prevents the state, a county, municipality or any of their agencies or instrumentalities from undertaking any project that will encroach upon, damage or destroy the property listed." Historian Marion Harris said the designation helps protect properties from publicly funded projects but not private development. Still, it helps give one a legitimate claim in protecting property from developers. "It gives one something to stand on, since someone has blessed the building," Harris said. "Someone can make a useful argument in that it's not just another old building." Once a project makes it onto a state historic register, "it is almost sure to make it onto a National Register," Harris said. During the American Revolution, the house served as the residence of Campfield. He had moved to the house with his wife, Sarah, in 1765. Frequently visited One of the people who stayed at the house during the war was Betsy Schuyler, the sister of Gen. Philip Schuyler. While Betsy Schuyler stayed there, she was frequently visited by Col. Alexander Hamilton, who later married her. The house had been purchased by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1923 to prevent it from demolition. It later was renamed the Schuyler-Hamilton House and opened as a museum, containing furniture and artifacts from the Colonial and Federal periods, from 1720 to 1820. There are at least 15 buildings in Morristown that have made it onto the National Historic Register. Among them are Washington Headquarters, Ford Mansion, Glanville's Blacksmith Shop and the Morris County Courthouse. Minhaj Hassan can be reached at (973) 267-9038 or mhassan@gannett.com. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= /20080802/COMMUNITIES32/808020317/1005/NEWS01 Copyright © 2007 Daily Record. All rights reserved.Top Bill in Congress on Historic Battle Sites Bill in Congress on historic battle sites would aid Princeton Battlefield By Katie Wagner, Staff Writer, Princeton Packet, July 29, 2008 A bill awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives would establish a federal grant program for preserving and protecting battle sites associated with the Revolutionary War, including Princeton Battlefield State Park. The legislation, which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) last year, was approved by the House Committee on Natural Resources on July 16. The bill, H.R. 160, would also establish funding for sites associated with the War of 1812. According to a 2007 National Parks Service report, 170 of 677 nationally significant sites associated with the two wars are in danger of being destroyed in the next 10 years, including the Princeton Battlefield State Park. "Places like Trenton and Princeton were truly at the crossroads of the American Revolution, with thousands of troops fighting on our soil," Rep. Holt said in a July 16 statement. "With these lands deteriorating, we owe it to future generations to protect these battle sites and safeguard an important part of our nation's history." Enactment of Rep. Holt's legislation would set aside funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the preservation and protection of battlefields and related historical sites from these wars, as is currently done for Civil War sites. In addition to the 170 sites in danger of being destroyed within the next 10 years, the National Parks Service Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States found that 99 have already been lost forever and 234 are in poor condition. Ann Webber, a trustee of the Princeton Battlefield Society - the friends organization for the Princeton Battlefield State Park - said state-owned sites in Princeton associated with the Revolutionary War, including the Princeton Battlefield State Park are in desperate need of funding. She added that if the bill is passed, the society will likely seek funding for renovations to the Thomas Clarke House, which is located in thestate park and for further archaeological study related to the Battle of Princeton. Ms. Webber said the 1777 Battle of Princeton occurred in several parts of Princeton ranging from south of the Princeton Friends-Quaker Meeting House to Nassau Hall to the area of the Springdale Golf Course. Princeton Battlefield State Park and surrounding areas was probably the primary Revolutionary War site in Princeton, but the National Historic Landmarks, Morven and Nassau Hall, are examples of other areas associated with the Revolutionary War that would probably be eligible for funding, Ms. Webber said. "Some of these areas may already be identified and protected, some may or may not be on the National Register of Historic Places and still need to be protected and some require additional research to identify where they are and what their significance is," Ms. Webber said. The Princeton Battlefield Society has said the National Park Service report's labeling of the Princeton Battlefield National Historic Landmark as threatened has provided further evidence that no development should take place on land it considers part of the battlefield owned by the Institute for Advanced Study. The society has claimed that archaeological findings on the institute's property adjacent to the Princeton Battlefield State Park indicate it was a significant part of the Battle of Princeton. Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton), who previously stated his opposition to the institute's construction plans for the land, announced his support of archaeologists' call for a new study on the site's historical significance in a press release this spring. Institute representatives have said the archaeological findings, which are detailed in a report commissioned by the institute, are not evidence of significant activity on the proposed site. Cate Litvack, Executive Director Crossroads of the American Revolution Association POB 1364 Princeton NJ 08542 T: 609-633-2060 C: 609-418-3939 E: clitvack@revolutionarynj.org Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top H-NET Book Review: Philip Vickers Fithian Published by H-New-Jersey@h-net.msu.edu (July 2008) John Fea. _The Way of Improvement Leads Home: Philip Vickers Fithian and the Rural Enlightenment in Early America_. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008. 269 pp. Illustrations, maps, appendix, notes, index. $39.95 (cloth), ISBN 0-8122-4109-6. Reviewed for H-New-Jersey by Maxine N. Lurie, Department of History, Seton Hall University. The Short Life of Diarist Philip Vickers Fithian: From South Jersey Farmer to Presbyterian Minister and Patriot Chaplain Philip Vickers Fithian is best known for the diary he kept while spending one year as a tutor on the plantation of Robert Carter III in the northern neck of Virginia. Numerous books on colonial history quote his comments on southern life and culture, particularly the practice of slavery. By his own count, Fithian filled seven diaries over the course of ten years, including his final diary recording his experiences as a military chaplain. He also wrote numerous letters to friends and Betsy Beatty, the young woman with whom he fell in love and eventually married. While the original diaries do not appear to have survived, transcriptions (most undertaken but not completed by his brother shortly after Fithian's death) and his other papers are housed at Princeton University Library. John R. Williams published a partial collection in 1900. John Fea has mined all of these materials to write a brief but detailed and nuanced biography, describing how this middle-class farmer's son, from one of the middle colonies, was caught up in the momentous events of his times--the Great Awakening, Enlightenment, and Revolution. At each step of the story, Fea carefully puts Fithian in the context of his places and times, offering insights into his changing eighteenth-century colonial American world. The title of the book indicates what Fea finds most interesting about Fithian, his attempt at "improvement"--his ambition to move beyond the local agricultural world in which he was born by obtaining an education first and then a position as a Presbyterian minister. In the process, Fithian participated in the intellectual life of the Enlightenment, while maintaining his Christian beliefs. He joined an increasingly "cosmopolitan" community of like-minded colonists, while always yearning to return "home" to his south Jersey friends and family. Fithian worked, sometimes with difficulty, to balance conflicting ideas, expectations, reason, and passion, but had the Revolution and death not intervened he most likely would have succeeded in working out a solution. In tracing Fithian's life, Fea covers his family's origins, farming in the lower Delaware valley, the Great Awakening (in particular, how it first tore apart the Presbyterians and then reunited them), the rise of education (especially at the College of New Jersey), John Witherspoon and his ideas, colonial courtship, and the Revolutionary tide in the Cohansey River area. Using Fithian's travels, Fea also looks at life among the planters of Virginia, as well as the backcountry frontier regions of Pennsylvania and Virginia, places Fithian visited as a tutor and itinerant minister. This book is simultaneously both broadly and narrowly focused, offering readers information on a wide range of topics. Of greatest interest in this biography are its discussions of the Enlightenment, a pursuit of knowledge, and reading of essays, books, and novels; and its examination of how these ideas spread into such rural areas as southern New Jersey in the years before the Revolution. Fithian was born and grew up in the area around Greenwich, New Jersey, along the southern reaches of the Delaware River. His was the third generation of the family to farm in the area, and if he had arrived a few years earlier, he probably would have been content with the annual harvests. In 1766, he had a conversion experience and thought about becoming a minister. At age twenty, he asked his father to provide him with an education. He spent two years at Reverend Enoch Green's new academy in the area, and then another two at the College of New Jersey (today's Princeton University), graduating in September 1772. His return home to study for the ministry was cut short by the deaths of both parents in his senior year; rejection of his proposal of marriage by Beatty; and a push from Witherspoon, the president of the college, who urged him to accept a position in Virginia. After one year as a tutor, he again returned home and to his studies. Once licensed as a Presbyterian minister, he preached in area churches and accepted an appointment to tour the Pennsylvania and Virginia backcountry and later the Shenandoah Valley. In the course of two long trips, he covered much ground holding services in unfinished buildings and the open air, wherever he could attract enough Presbyterians. In between the two tours, he married Beatty. Some of the most interesting, dramatic, and even humorous parts of the book deal with Fithian's courtship of Beatty. First, he apparently was too forward and was rejected. Then, he persisted, even when she was close to marrying another man and several south Jersey elders warned him off. The whole business lasted several years. It provides a lesson in colonial courtship, or, at the very least, in how it was not supposed to happen, excused perhaps by the fact that both Fithian and Beatty were orphans without parental guidance. Fea notes that the last few months of the courtship "contain all the drama of a modern day soap opera" (p. 131). Beatty eventually agreed to marry Fithian; sadly he died a little less than one year later. While Fithian courted Beatty and became a minister, he also participated in the region's growing intellectual life. He helped form the Bridge- Town Admonishing Society (an informal group whose members tried to improve each others morals and knowledge), wrote letters, attended discussion groups, and socialized with friends and neighbors. During the same period, he was caught up in the protests of British policies. On December 22, 1774, when a group of locals decided to dispose of a shipment of tea headed for Philadelphia (temporarily stored in Greenwich), Philip was "probably" among the twenty-three "burners." On his role in this event the journal is silent, but local tradition maintains his presence. His early support for the patriot cause is clear in his journal entries, and it grew from an intellectual commitment to what Fea characterizes as a second "conversion"--this one to the Revolutionary cause with the willingness "to even sacrifice his life to this cause" (p. 186). Just when he enlisted as a chaplain is unclear, but on July 2, 1776, he wrote a will, and then went off to join the local New Jersey militia forces in the campaign for New York City. Caught up in the Battle for Long Island, Fithian tasted defeat (and barely made the last of the evacuation boats). Stationed outside of Fort Washington, he came down with dysentery and missed the disaster that followed. He died as he lived, surrounded by relatives and friends from the Cohansey region. In death as in life he carried "home" with him. While Fea is generally surefooted in this book, and there are only few minor errors, at times the positive becomes negative. Throughout the book, Fea does a wonderful job of tracing family and friends in the Cohansey area and making clear connections among them. He also skillfully develops colonial intellectual life. However, he is so focused on Fithian's "circle" that he does not compare south Jersey Presbyterians even with those in north Jersey, or the College of New Jersey with other colonial colleges (the college turned out the largest percentage of patriots). He mentions several Tories in the Greenwich area and also notes the existence of many Quakers, but he says little of their impact. He portrays Fithian and his circle as "cosmopolitan," but while increasingly widely read, none traveled very far, nor did they correspond (as did Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others) with European intellectuals. As the title notes, this was a "rural Enlightenment." For the context this book provides, in the end it, at times, leaves the reader wanting even more. Finally, and this is undoubtedly a decision made by the series of which this book is part, there is no bibliography or discussion of sources (aside from the appendix on Fithian's papers). One would be useful for other scholars and students. That said, this is a good book, well worth reading. It offers a new perspective on rural America in the colonial period. It should be read by historians of New Jersey and elsewhere. With its clear thesis and chapter ending summaries, it will be accessible for undergraduates and a more general audience as well. Copyright (c) 2007 by H-Net, all rights reserved. H-Net permits the redistribution and reprinting of this work for nonprofit, educational purposes, with full and accurate attribution to the author, web location, date of publication, originating list, and H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online. For other uses contact the Reviews editorial staff: hbooks@mail.h-net.msu.edu. Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Cross Estate Mansion Becomes Center Of Attention Dedication of wayside exhibit is result of effort by Bedminster historian By Vanessa Vera, Daily Record, August 3, 2008 Bernardsville - Locals gathered on Saturday for the dedication of a new wayside exhibit at Morristown National Historical Park's Cross Estate in Bernardsville. The wayside exhibit -- a sign with historical information about the Cross Estate's mansion posted outside of the building - is the result of a grass-roots effort started by Bedminster resident and historical author Gordon Ward, 49. His goal? To bring more attention to the estate's mansion. The Cross Estate is most notably known for the mansion's adjacent gardens. It's located near the New Jersey Brigade Unit, part of the Morristown National Historical Park system Ward, who grew up in the area, approached the park service about creating the sign and wrote the verbiage for the new exhibit. "I just thought that visitors who went up there might like to know more about the area other than (about) the gardens themselves," Ward said. This information, he said, "wasn't readily available to visitors before now." According to Ward, the entire exhibit cost about $2,000, most of which was raised through donations by supporters of the estate. According to the historical information on the new exhibit - titled "A Haven from Everyday Life" - the Cross Estate's mansion was built in 1905 by John A. and Ella Bensel and then purchased in 1929 by William R. and Julia Newbold Cross. Jude Pfister, chief of cultural resources for Morristown National Historical Park, said of the estate: "This is kind of the forgotten part of our park...it tends to get less attention." 'Focal point' Pfister said the new wayside exhibit was "something of a focal point people can see on their own." Lifelong Bernardsville resident Edith Smith, 83, grew up visiting the Cross Estate Gardens. She said the dedication of the wayside exhibit "means a lot to me." Edith Cavaluzzo, 81, has been a resident of Bernardsville for 60 years. 'Can't find it' Cavaluzzo said the new exhibit was important "because I think that this is a wonderful thing that we have in Bernardsville that people don't take advantage of, and one of the reasons they don't take advantage of it is because they can't find it." Charli Nicholson of Bernardsville is new to the area and attended the dedication. "We're trying to find the treasures of Bernardsville," she said. "I plan to picnic here. It's very beautiful." Nicholson said it was important to keep up with restoration of historical places, as it "adds to the area." During the dedication, Ward said he had seen the estate "transform from a private residence to a national park." He also said it has been a "sanctuary" for him, and that working on the exhibit was "a labor of love." Ward said during the dedication that he hoped people found the place to be "a haven." "Many visitors come to discover this special location," he said. Vanessa Vera can be reached at (973) 428-6574 or vvera@gannett.com. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= /20080803/COMMUNITIES03/808030356/1005/NEWS01&template=printart Copyright © 2007 Daily Record. All rights reserved.Top Taylor Steelworkers Historical Greenway - OPEN High Bridge, New Jersey SITE DESCRIPTION: The seven-mile Columbia trail is formed from the roadbed of the old High Bridge Railroad, which for almost 100 years carried iron ore from the mines of Morris County to local forges; it ceased operation in 1976. The Columbia Trail parallels the South Branch of the Raritan River, passes above Ken Lockwood Gorge and continues through mostly-upland deciduous forests north to the Morris County line. Designated as part of the Highlands Trail (HT), it is now theoretically possible to hike north from High Bridge on the Columbia Trail, connect via the HT to the Appalachian Trail (AT) in North Jersey and hike north to the trail's terminus on Mt.Katahdin in northern Maine, or for that matter, south to the AT's southern end at Springer Mountain in Georgia. The Taylor SteelWorkers Historical Greenway is a 6.5 mile trail that winds its way through High Bridge criss-crossing a number of historical sites and beautiful scenery. This is the perfect trail for wildlife watchers and history buffs alike. Follow the Columbia Trail for approximately 1/4 mile looking on the Right for the trailhead gate that includes a sign and entrance for the famous Lake Solitude Dam. Heading in a southeasterly direction from the Columbia Trail, this trail proceeds to the historic structures of the TISCO Complex and then onto a 100 year old truss bridge. This bridge is impassable at the moment but is due to be refurbished the summer of 2008. After crossing the bridge, the trail proceeds north along the South Branch of the Raritan towards the Lake Solitude and Lake Solitude Dam (circa 1858), Solitude House Museum and the Union Iron Works ruins (circa 1742). From there the trail continues on to the entrance of the Nassau Trail, works its way to Springside Farm (Springside Lane, High Bridge) and its adjoining woods and proceeds from there to its end at Lord Amesbury's Furnace, circa 1752 , located in Clinton Township. For more information about this trail contact Union Forge Heritage Association at 908-638-3200 WILDLIFE: Bald Eagles are a familiar sight in the region. They often are easier to spot in winter when trees are bare of leaves. Check the trees along the trails; seasonal sightings include Brown Creeper, Eastern Phoebe, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Palm, Pine and Yellow-rumped Warblers and Yellow-throated Vireo. Look a little deeper into the woods for Hermit and Wood Thrushes, Veery, Ovenbird and Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos and Pileated Woodpecker. DON'T MISS: Several miles north of High Bridge, the Columbia Trail passes over Ken Lockwood Gorge Bridge, built 80 feet above the gorge floor. This steel span was built in 1930 to replace the original wooden trestle bridge, which was the site of a memorable 1886 train wreck. SITE ICONS: Bike Trails Butterflies/Dragonflies Handicap Accessible Hiking Trails Ideal for beginning birders Parking Picnic Restrooms Wildflowers DIRECTIONS: Exit park by turning Right onto CR 513 South and after 2.0 miles turn Right onto Church Street following signs for CR 513 South. Turn Left onto CR 513/Main Street and take immediate Right turn into the Municipal Parking Lot. Walk out of parking area and cross the street where trailhead begins. For further information, please contact the Union Forge Heritage Association at 908 638 3200 or 908 638 8650. ACCESS AND PARKING: Open daily from dawn to dusk. There is good parking at the High Bridge Municipal Parking Lot at the southern end of trail. There is no parking at junctions of trail with area roads. Created by Union Forge Heritage Association in 2007, the Taylor Steelworkers Historical Greenway can be accessed approximately 1/4 mile from the start of the Columbia Trail. The trail can also be accessed from Solitude House Museum (circa 1717), the historical Taylor Ironworker and Steel Company Complex, the oldest standing example of ironworks administrative structure (TISCO)(circa 1742) and Springside Farm (circa 1803). During inclement weather the trails may not be accessible. No motorized vehicles of any kind. Parking is available at the TISCO Complex, Solitude House Museum and Springside Farm. For more information : http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=4901 William Honachefsky Jr Union Forge Heritage Association william.honachefsky@sprintmail.com August 2, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Garden State Legacy to Debut September '08 If you're not proud to be from New Jersey, you probably haven't been paying attention for the last 300 some odd years! I am pleased to announce that I will be launching a FREE online magazine dedicated to New Jersey history this coming September. Called Garden State Legacy, it will share the rich heritage of our state with the world. GSL is intended for a general audience, not only academics. Further, because GSL is founded on the idea that history should be accessible to everyone, subscriptions are completely, 100% free! Ultimately, I hope to finance it through advertising but I will never sell or give away email addresses! GSL will be issued quarterly in March, June, September and December and include such material as: At least two feature articles Reviews Historic group/site spotlights Coverage from Trenton about history-impacting legislation Schedule of events Content for the debut issue already includes three diverse features which talk about New Jersey's darkest hours during the American Revolution, how two NJ women inspired generations of astronomers and the "fringe history" world of urban explorers! I am now accepting advance subscriptions for the September debut issue. Please visit http://www.GardenStateLegacy.com/ for more information and how to get your free subscription. I'm also looking for contributors for future issues and reciprocal website links. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly at: gordon@gardenstatelegacy.com - - Gordon Bond ePublisher gordon@gardenstatelegacy.com http://www.GardenStateLegacy.com/ Aug 3, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top NJ Historical Commission Seeks Part-Time Employee The New Jersey Historical Commission seeks to hire a part-time, hourly employee for approximately 20 hours per week to work on grant programs. To that end, the employee will maintain grant records and databases; develop and analyze statistics; prepare reports, contracts, memoranda, informational material, meeting notes, and other documents; and perform other duties designed to make the program more effective and responsive. Experience in Microsoft Office software required. Background in history is a plus. The job is located at the Commission's office in Trenton, near the State House, State Museum, and State Archives. If you are interested, please send a copy of your resume to me via email at: marc.mappen@sos.state.nj.us. You can also call me at 609-984-0902 if you have any questions. -- Marc Mappen, Ph.D. Executive Director New Jersey Historical Commission 609-984-0902 marc.mappen@sos.state.nj.us http://www.newjerseyhistory.org August 4, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Checkout Time for Historic Flemington Hotel By Jeanette Rundquist, Star-Ledger Staff, August 05, 2008 The Union Hotel in Flemington, a Main Street landmark that housed both journalists and jurors during the historic Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial, is preparing to close its doors. The hotel's liquor license is expected to be transferred to a new Bensi restaurant next month, according to the hotel's co-owner, and after that the historic hotel will shut. The building was offered for sale -- asking price $2 million -- about six months ago. "It's impossible to operate, with rising costs. It's just too much," said co-owner John Blanos. Built in 1814, the Union Hotel stands across the street from the Hunterdon County Courthouse. A restaurant and bar make up its first floor, with a front porch a few steps above Main Street. The second floor has not been used as lodging for years, but the current owners proposed converting it to condominiums. Blanos said they have not yet received the necessary approvals and are in negotiations now to sell the building. The hotel became famous in 1935 when Flemington was home to the trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, the man convicted of killing Charles A. Lindbergh Jr., son of the famous aviator. The case, known as the "Trial of the Century," drew thousands of spectators and international press attention. The hotel served as living quarters for the sequestered jury for 32 days and was used by journalists to send dispatches out about the trial. Some 200 wires for telephones and teletypes stretched across Main Street from the courthouse to the hotel, said Harry Kazman, producer of a play that recreates the Lindbergh trial each year in Flemington. The play mentions the hotel's role in the spectacle, he said. "We point out that the jury is over there, and they have to cross the street back and forth through the crowds," Kazman said. "There were times when the jury would be eating their dinner or lunch there, and all they had separating them from the press on the other side of the dining room were some screens." A famous radio program, the "Make Believe Ballroom," was also first broadcast from the attic of the hotel, he said. The hotel's liquor license is expected to sell for more than $200,000 to Bensi, an Italian restaurant that will open in a mall now under construction behind McDonald's, near Route 31, Blanos said. Blanos will go there as well, to become general manager of the restaurant. The Union Hotel has been through tough times before. Blanos said it was closed for a time in the 1970s. Kazman said the hotel is a "great building that shared the moment of fame with the courthouse." It also played a role in the modern-day trial production; for the past few years, packages were available that included tickets to the play, and dinner at the hotel, he said. "I'm very hopeful that whoever buys it keeps it going. It's really one of the mainstays of the town," he said. --- Karen Reeds karen.reeds@verizon.net August 5, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Where Gasoline Has Gone Members of the New Jersey History listserv: Staff members at the State Archives recently discovered the following article on microfilm of the Monmouth Inquirer, July 16, 1916, before the U.S. entered World War I. It's an interesting read, 92 years later, in view of current international fuel costs. -KJN == Where Gasoline Has Gone Europe's Enormous Demand for Motor Fuel Explains Scarcity and High Prices. At the present rate of consumption the market demand for gasoline can hardly be supplied for another twenty years. We are literally facing a motor car fuel famine, Waldemar Kaempffert writes in McClure's. Is it any wonder that gasoline costs more than 35 cents in Canada? That we are paying nearly as much? That gasoline may soon be worth 40 cents a gallon? At once you ask "Why not lift more oil from the earth and distill off the gasoline? Oil refiners would if they could. The truth is that our oil fields are rapidly nearing exhaustion. New fields may be discovered, it is true, but the United States geological survey regards the most likely regions with no very optimistic eye. It may be that oil may be found in pockets still to be tapped in undeveloped parts of the globe-in Africa and the far east, for example. But who would build industrial hopes on a mere chance? Besides, Europe looks to us for much of its oil, especially in this war of motor cars, aeroplanes and Zeppelins. Before the war we produced more than 65 per cent of the world's output. We must be delivering more than our normal share to Europe now. In 1915 we sent enough gasoline abroad to supply 350,00[0] cars, and nearly all of it was shipped to France and England. Russia has her own pools into which she can dip with a generous hand. And Germany-what of Germany? We read of Von Hindenburg shifting whole army corps by means of motor cars in a bleak Russian country threaded by railroads too few in number for his strategic purpose. Where did he obtain the gasoline? Partly from Roumania (with pronounced Russian political affiliations) and partly from Galicia. -- Karl J. Niederer, Director Division of Archives and Records Management New Jersey State Archives 225 West State Street, P.O. Box 307 Trenton, NJ 08625-0307 USA Tel. (609) 984-3299 - Fax (609) 292-9105 E-mail: Karl.Niederer@sos.state.nj.us Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amer, consectetur, adipsci velit. Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Morristown Park Activities Show Off Nature, History, Birds The Morristown National Historical Park will repeat several programs through late summer. For general park information, call (973) 539-2016, ext. 210 for Washington's Headquarters or (973) 543-4030 for Jockey Hollow. "Monthly Trail Work Days" will be held again on Saturdays, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at Jockey Hollow Visitor Center. Volunteers help maintain the hiking trails. Tools will be provided. Wear work clothes including gloves and boots and bring drinking water. For more information, call Ranger Christopher Sullivan at (908) 766-6841. "Tuesdays in the Wick Garden" are offered on Tuesdays now through Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Wick Garden in Jockey Hollow. Meet volunteers from the Herb Society of America, Northern New Jersey Unit, who maintain the reproduction 18th-century garden, and learn about 18th- centry gardening and the use of herbs as food and medicine. "Saturdays at the Huts" runs on Saturdays through Aug. 16 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Line Soldier Huts in Jockey Hollow. Meet a park ranger at the reconstructed soldier huts to learn about soldier life during the Continental Army's 1779-1780 winter encampment in Jockey Hollow. Another "Colonial Nature Hike" is planned for Sunday, Aug. 10 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The hike starts off from the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center. During this two-mile hike, learn how people viewed natural history in the 1700s. "Was it Really Nonsense?" will take place on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fort Nonsense. Why would General Washington order his soldiers to build a fort high atop Mount Kemble? Visitors will learn about this important site, see displays about the fort and discover the meaning of its unusual name. "Hike to the Huts" will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays, Aug. 23 and 24, Aug. 30 and 31, Sept. 6 and 7, Sept. 13 and 14, and Sept. 20 and 21 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Meet at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center. Bird Spotting will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays, Aug. 23 and 24, Aug. 30 and 31, Sept. 6 and 7, Sept. 13 and 14 and Sept. 20 and 21 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Wick Orchard in Jockey Hollow. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= /20080808/COMMUNITIES/808080308/1005/NEWS01 Copyright © 2007 Daily Record. All rights reserved.Top The Iron Connection - Sep 11 September 11, 7:30pm Wharton Public Library 15 South Main St, Wharton The Iron Connection - The Mt. Hope, Teabo, Allen and Richard Mines and Port Oram A Special Presentation of the Wharton Historical Society and The Historical Society of the Rockaways' noted historian, Dick Kehoe. Dick, whose primary research method is the study of original land deeds and maps, will discuss the relationship of Port Oram on the Morris Canal, in what now is known as Wharton, and the several iron mines located in the extreme southwest corner of Rockaway Township. For more information, you can contact Dick at r.kehoe@historyguild.org Historical Society of the Rockaways POB 100 Hibernia NJ 07842 973-366-6730 hsr-info@historyguild.org http://historyguild.org/histrock/Top Historic Preservation Courses At Drew University Don't miss out on taking one (or more) of the five great historic preservation courses this fall at Drew University! Classes are held on Drew University's campus in Madison, New Jersey (except where noted) starting the week of September 8, 2008. For a registration form, visit: http://www.drew.edu/cue.aspx?id=14201 Space is limited in all courses so register now to avoid disappointment! Call Drew’s Office of Continuing Education at 973/408-3400 for a brochure and registration information or visit our web site at http://www.drew.edu/cue/preservation.aspx Ten-week courses this fall: INTRODUCTION TO HISTORIS PRESERVATION provides a foundation for understanding preservation issues, terminology, and public policy. (Tuesday evenings 7 - 9 p.m.) NEW! INNOVATIVE & COST-EFFECTIVE TOOLS FOR HISTORIC INTERPRETATION provides museum professionals, educators, and volunteers with creative interpretation tools which can be easily implemented at any museum or historic site and which will help revitalize existing collections without additional expense. (Monday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.) PRESERVATION LAW is designed to acquaint professionals, local commission members, and others with the legal framework of historic preservation beginning with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. No prior legal experience is necessary. (Tuesday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.) One day workshops: NEW! Interpreting and Preserving New Jersey’s Historic Cemeteries This one day workshop will explore New Jersey’s historic cemeteries from the 17th through 20th centuries and includes visits to historically and culturally significant cemeteries in Elizabeth, Linden and Newark. (Saturday, November 1, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) NEW! Archaeology and Historic Buildings This workshop, presented by a historic preservation architect and professional archaeologist, will provide detailed guidance on archaeology and its importance for buildings and includes an afternoon visit the Jacobus Vanderveer House, Bedminster, as a case study. (Saturday, October 4, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) Patricia Laprey Director of Continuing Education and Special Programs Drew University Madison, NJ 07940 973/408-3400 plaprey@drew.edu August 8, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Old Barracks Offers Bus Tour - Sep 12-14 Ft. William Henry - Lake George Ft. Ticonderoga - Lake Champlain Crown Point - Ft. St. Frederic Saratoga Battlefield On September 12-14 join Director Richard Patterson and the staff of the Old Barracks Museum as we explore the rich tapestry of French and Indian War and Revolutionary War sites to be found in the beautiful Adirondacks of New York State. Our fully appointed and air-conditioned coach will take us to Lake George. When we arrive, you have a choice of a one hour boat cruise on the lake, or a tour of Ft. William Henry - made famous as the ill-fated garrison in "The Last of the Mohicans". Your choice of Cruise or Fort Tour is included in the cost of the tour. Accommodations in Lake George have been reserved, and you will be given free evening time on Friday and Saturday to stroll the lakeside and visit the many shops and attractions in the area. On Saturday we will visit Ft. Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain - a pivotal site in 18th century military history. Later we tour the somber ruins of Ft. St. Frederic at Crown Point. On Sunday we will motor to Saratoga. There Director Richard Patterson, a former employee of the park, will lead our exploration of this Historic Battlefield. $300 per person double occupancy for Old Barracks Members $350 for non-members Not a member? Buy a Family Membership today for $60 to secure the discounted price. You will save $40.00 on the tour AND get all the great benefits of membership in the Old Barracks Association. Includes - Deluxe Motor Coach Transportation, Two nights at the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel Lake George with free hot breakfast, admission to Ft. William Henry or Lake Cruise, Ft. Ticonderoga, Crown Point and the Saratoga Battlefield. For information and Reservations Call 609-396-1776 or 609-777-3599 Rich Patterson 3rd NY Regt. Executive Director, Old Barracks Museum, Trenton barracks@voicenet.com June 7, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Love Lived At Morristown Historic Site Tale of budding romance at Schuyler-Hamilton hasn't gotten home acclaim other spots enjoy By Michael Daigle, Daily Record, August 11, 2008 Morristown -- The story attached to the Schuyler-Hamilton House is one of the many Revolutionary War tales attached to Morristown, but the historic home is one of the town's lesser-known landmarks. The story -- the wartime courtship in 1780 between Gen. George Washington's young aide Alexander Hamilton and the young, beautiful daughter of wealthy Gen. Philip Schuyler of New York, also a member of the Continental Congress -- brought together all the romance, intrigue and danger that a good war yarn needs. The house, a solid Colonial built in 1760, has never achieved the acclaim or the number of visitors enjoyed by its neighbor, the Ford mansion, also known as Washington's Headquarters, even though the two homes were intricately linked by the presence of Washington and the budding romance. Pat Sanftner, past regent of the Morristown chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which has owned the home since 1923, said the Schuyler-Hamilton house lacks the connection with the Morristown National Historic Park, which is centered on the Ford mansion and Jockey Hollow, the winter camp of the American army, even though the two homes in 1780 would have been only separated by fields. The house is also known as the Jabez Campfield House, named for the Morristown doctor who lived in it from 1765 to 1821. The DAR chose to name the house after the Schuyler-Hamilton connection, even though, Sanftner said, Campfield himself is a worthy honoree. Campfield practiced medicine in Morristown and was a surgeon in the Revolutionary War. He became a prominent Morristown leader, was Morris County's first surrogate and was a founder of the town's first lending library. He also took part in the inoculation of the army against smallpox, she said. Sixty of Morristown's 200 residents died from the disease. Campfield also played a role in the Schuyler-Hamilton romance, Sanftner said. Campfield offered his home for use as quarters for Washington's officers, and for a time it was the residence of Dr. John Cochran, the chief surgeon of the army. Cochran was married to the sister of Gen. Philip Schuyler, whose wife invited the general's daughter Elizabeth to visit Morristown during the cold winter of 1779-80. Washington was in town with his staff, including young Hamilton, who had been introduced to Elizabeth during one of his visits to her hometown of Albany. In April 1780 Gen. Schuyler also arrived in Morristown. He had been dispatched by the Continental Congress to inspect the condition of the army, which was described in Washington's dispatches as wretched. Sanftner said it seems more than a coincidence that Philip Schuyler was selected to inspect the army that winter. Either way, the army's need for food and supplies was given more attention as Philip Schuyler reorganized the supply system, and his daughter was given permission to marry Hamilton. The house which shared this tale is now located on the stub of Olyphant Place, a street cut off by Route 287 and commercial development along Morris Street and Ridgedale Avenue. Its intersection with Morris Street is near a gas station and under the shadow of the Morristown train station. With a series of traffic lights, it is not the easiest place in Morristown to enter. There is no direct signage in Morris to indicate the presence of the historic home. The irony, Sanftner said, is that the house in 1780 was on Morris Street, then known as King's Highway. It was moved to a lot further up Olyphant Place to make room for a commercial development. The house, which now fronts Olyphant, was realigned to fit on the lot; its classic Colonial front would have faced Morris Street. In its day, the house was surrounded by gardens and fields. It would have been a short jaunt back and forth from the Ford Mansion to the Schuyler-Hamilton House, a trip that likely was taken often by Hamilton as he courted his future wife. Sanftner said the house will soon get a new shake shingle roof, replacing the asphalt shingles that have added to the bowing of an interior wall. The wall runs along a center staircase built during the Victorian era. She said the site of the original stairs has not been found. The installation of the staircase resulted in the removal of one of four crossbeams that supported the roof, she said, which resulted in the sagging of the interior wall. The roof work will lighten the load and add some interior supports to support the weight, she said. The house contains many period antiques, paintings of its famous residents and floors with polished board of various widths. Sanftner said much of the furniture came from the Ford Mansion, purchased during auctions there. Stories attached to the furniture identify pieces probably used by Washington and his staff, she said, While some of the stories are obviously wishful thinking, she said, many are not. Morristown's DAR chapter was founded in 1880. The grandfathers of the founding members would have been in Morristown at the time Washington had his army here, and they would have been told the stories of the general's visit, or witnessed the visits themselves, given how small a village Morristown was at the time. The rooms also feature fireplaces and original, low door frames, except for one that apparently was made taller by the same person who added the center staircase, said Sanftner, who wondered how low George Washington had to stoop to enter the rooms. Sanftner said there are about 20 active DAR members, but opening the house for tours is left to her and her mother. The home has been host to many scouting events, including dress-up dances with girls of all ages decked out in wide-hooped Colonial dresses, she said. A key to getting the house open on more than its usual Sundays requires more volunteers and the affiliation with an auxiliary organization which could supply some help, Sanftner said. More important, she said, is a greater general recognition of the remaining Colonial homes in Morristown. "There are 100 Victorian homes in Morristown, but just 10 Revolutionary War sites," she said. Michael Daigle can be reached at (973) 267-7947 or at mdaigle@gannett.com. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= /20080811/COMMUNITIES/808110329/1005/NEWS01&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL Copyright © 2007 Daily Record. All rights reserved.Top Stewards Of Park History – Graphic Contest Deadline For Submission: Must be received by Thurs 6 November 2008 We are a new, grassroots, not for profit organization. We wish to have a design which visually represents our mission and goals. The mission of Stewards of Park History is to assist the National Park Service [NPS] preserve cultural and historic resources in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area [DWGNRA]. Our primary goals are education, historic preservation, community building, and culture. Design Specifications: -Black and white -Printer and computer ready -May be adapted by Stewards of Park History without altering the original concept, i.e. size, orientation may be changed to suit a particular use -Components of the design may be selectively colored in order to bring attention to various purposes or projects -Design may be reproduced in other media, e.g. fabric banners, patches, T-shirts, greeting cards, calendars, etc. Criteria: -Original design, DO NOT INCLUDE NPS or DWGNRA logos -Clearly represents our mission and goals -Components are interesting on their own and form an integrated whole -Components readily recognizable, easily understood -Evokes a positive response in the viewer -Multiple submissions are permitted. -Group submissions are permitted, however, acknowledgement will be for the group rather than individual members. -DO NOT SIGN YOUR WORK – this will disqualify your submission. All work will be judged anonymously. Application information (typed or legibly hand written): -NAME (individual artist or group title and contact person) -DATE SUBMITTED -MAILING ADDRESS -E-MAIL ADDRESS -PHONE (Day and/or Evening, please specify) -SCHOOL or ORGANIZATION (if applicable) -AGE (as of 6 November 2008) -Group; give age of youngest and oldest members. -Submission must be received no later than midnight, Eastern US, Thursday the 6th of November 2008. E-mail application information (above) to stewardsofparkhistory@hotmail.com stewardsofparkhistory@yahoo.com Put "GRAPHIC" in the subject line and attach your digital image file. Or Mail your application information (above) to: Stewards of Park History – GRAPHIC 187 Willows Road, Newton NJ 07860-5354 Include your digital image on a CD. File may be zipped. The following formats are acceptable: BMP, DOC, GIF, JPG, LWP,PPS, PUB, RTF, VSD This contest is open to the public. The winning design may be used on Stewards of Park History letterhead, brochures, etc. In addition to a $500 grand prize, the winning artist will be acknowledged on the website and on printed materials for at least one year. Stewards of Park History will own the copyright outright. In addition to the recipient of the grand prize, winners in various categories will be recognized on our website. Winners will be announced on or before 1 January 2009. Local media will be invited to publish all winning entries. Suggestions: -Delaware Water Gap -Hill House (Upper Delaware Valley vernacular architecture) -Talking stick (Community, Native American culture) -Eagle (nature, vision) or Owl (wisdom) Please feel free to include an explanation of your choice of symbols. Our website http://www.stewardsofparkhistory.org/ is currently under construction. If you have color or design suggestions, please contact us. If you would like to serve as a judge, contact Helen Dannatt at 973.534-2845 (please leave a message) or stewardsofparkhistory@hotmail.com Judges must not be personally associated with any of the applicants. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Jeffrey Butz at 973.383-1406 (please leave a message) or stewardsofparkhistory@hotmail.com. Thank you for your interest in Stewards of Park History. Regards, Helen E. Dannatt Stewards of Park History E-mail stewardsofparkhistory @ yahoo.com Cell: 973.534-2845 Aug 7, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Read the New Jersey Historic Trust's New Annual Report The Historic Trust's 2007 Annual Report is available for viewing or download. Read about the Trust's 40th anniversary celebration and award winning historic preservation projects in New Jersey, learn about outreach initiatives and events, and view pictures of funded projects. The annual report to the Legislature also includes a welcome from DCA Commissioner Doria and profiles of the Trust's citizen board members. Visit: http://www.njht.org/dca/njht/hot_topics.html to view the report and find more new and information. Catherine Goulet Principal Historic Preservation Specialist New Jersey Historic Trust 609 984 7071 cgoulet@dca.state.nj.us August 12, 2008 The mission of the New Jersey Historic Trust is to advance historic preservation in New Jersey for the benefit of future generations through education, stewardship and financial investment programs that save our heritage and strengthen our communities. Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Atlantic Highlands Historical Society Flea Market: Sep 13 Come join us for a sunny day filled with bargains and fun. The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society will hold its 30th annual Outdoor Flea Market at the Atlantic Highlands Marina (off First Ave.) on Saturday, September 13th from 10 AM to 4 PM. The Rain Date is September 20th. More than 100 vendors will be selling something for everyone. A variety of antiques and collectables, crafts, and new items will be offered. Furnishings, household wares, toys, clothing, tools, books, turn of the century postcards, jewelry, and fishing tackle are among some of the varieties of merchandise to be found. A few spaces remain. The cost remains at $25 a space. An eclectic array of bargains can always be found at the Society’s Treasures’ Or Table. Refreshments and a variety of food and baked goods will be available by the Society. Members will also be on hand to answer questions about the Society and its museum, the Strauss Mansion. One can also inquire about how to apply for a century plaque if your Atlantic Highlands home is 100 years or older. So come join us for a day of browsing and searching for that something you just can’t do without. For more information contact the Society by e-mail at bee4jay@aol.com, online at http://www.atlantichighlandshistory.org, or phone at 732-291-4313 / 732-291-9337. Laura M. Poll laurampoll@verizon.net August 21, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Heritage Trail to Tour Buck and Cross Estate Gardens - Sep 13 Go Green and see the Green of the Somerset Hills! Save gas and let someone else take you on a tour of two of Somerset County's public gardens and possibly view a private garden on one of the Heritage Trail Association's September 13th bus tours. One tour starts at 10 a.m. and the other at 2 p.m. from the historic Van Horne House, headquarters of the Heritage Trail, 941 East Main Street, Bridgewater. A guide will note the history of Somerset Hills gardens on the way to Buck Gardens in Far Hills and the Cross Estate Gardens in Bernardsville. If time permits, a private garden in the area may be visited. Cost of the tour is $25 per person with registrations required. Register and pay on the Heritage Trail's website - http://www.heritagetrail.org - or mail your check to the Heritage Trail Association, P.O. Box 590, Bound Brook, NJ. For more information, contact Sidna Mitchell (609) 409-7837. monique@heritagetrail.org August 19, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Canal Days at the Abraham Staats House - Sep 13-14 Public Invited Sat. & Sun., Sept. 13 - 14, 2008 to "Canal Days at the Abraham Staats House" in South Bound Brook Enjoy a Civil War-era weekend at the historic Abraham Staats House, located on the scenic D&R Canal. Learn about the Canal and experience a variety of programs, exhibits, living history demonstrations and special guest speakers during this family friendly event. South Bound Brook, NJ - Join us at the historic Abraham Staats House, located at 17 Von Steuben Lane, South Bound Brook, NJ, 08880, for a great weekend program on Sept. 13 - 14, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. "Canal Days at the Abraham Staats House" celebrates the history of the Delaware & Raritan Canal and features a Civil War-era theme. Activities during the two-day event include: * Civil War-era activities, clothing, weapon and artifact collections, music, living history and demonstrations: Hosted by 9th Virginia, Co. K, Old Dominion Guard, Southern Legion. These Civil War re-enactors portray the era and are dressed in period clothing. Visitors can view a fascinating collection of Civil War-era items on display in the Abraham Staats House throughout the weekend. Activities featured include period music, large relic and artifacts exhibit, soldiers' drill, artillery, medical display, civilian life in the Civil-War era, cooking, sewing and spinning. * Special programs: Learn about the D&R Canal * (Saturday 1 p.m.): Join Vicki Chirco, Historic Preservation Specialist of the D & R Canal State Park, as she talks about this fascinating waterway's past and present life, during a PowerPoint presentation featuring historic and modern photographs that illustrate the history of the canal. * Meet President Lincoln (Saturday only): Throughout the day, President Abraham Lincoln will be available to answer questions from the public and press. Historic interpreter Christian Johnson, who portrays the former president as well as other historic figures for a variety of events, captures the essence of our 16th American president. * Artillery demonstrations: First New Jersey Light Artillery Battery C will be firing the cannon! * "Sutlers"- Civil War merchants selling a variety of goods. * Quilting and spinning demonstrations. Admission to "Canal Days" Abraham Staats House tours/collections/program: $2 (free for children under age 10.) Grounds admission and parking is free. The event is hosted by the South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission and the Friends of Abraham Staats House, Inc. Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 13 and Sept. 14, 2008. For information: http://www.staatshouse.com Contacts (Friends of the Abraham Staats House): Tom Harabin, President 732-469-3198 Kathy Ormosi 908-356-4789 Kathy and Brian Faulks: 732-469-5836 About the Abraham Staats House: The Abraham Staats House is one of the finest surviving buildings from the Dutch settlement of the Raritan Valley in the 18th century. The original core of the home, c. 1740, was built by the Staats family. They occupied the house for nearly 200 years, expanding the home several times. During the American Revolution, Abraham Staats' home served as headquarters for General von Steuben in the Second Middlebrook Encampment of 1778-1779. In the early 19th century, the launching of the D&R Canal coincided with the addition of a fine late Federal/Greek Revival section, built c. 1825 and updated in 1840. Today the home is owned by the Borough of South Bound Brook. It is located beside the D&R Canal, which was an integral part of the Staats' family home and work life during the commercial life of the canal, from 1830-1932. Tours are given during special event days but otherwise are by appointment only. The house is listed on both the New Jersey State and the National Registers of Historic Places. It is at 17 Von Steuben Lane, located off Main Street (Easton Ave. /Route 527), South Bound Brook, which can be accessed via Interstate Route 287, Exit 10. For information or directions: E-mail: staatshouseSBB@aol.com Web site: http://www.staatshouse.cm/ * * * About the Delaware and Raritan Canal: Construction of the D&R Canal began in 1830. Laborers - the majority of whom are believed to have been migratory Irish immigrants - were hired to dig, mostly by hand, the main canal and its feeder. The main canal was 44 miles long, 75 feet wide and 7 feet deep. The feeder was 22 miles long, 50 feet wide and 6 feet deep. The canal system was completed in 1834 at an estimated cost of $2,830,000. For nearly a century after it opened, the D&R Canal was one of America's busiest navigation canals. Its peak years were the 1860s and 1870s when Pennsylvania coal was transported through the D&R Canal to feed the city of New York's industrial boom. During this period, 80% of the total cargo carried on the canal was coal. By the end of the 19th century, canal use was declining throughout the country. The speed and power of the railroad overtook the romance of the canal era. The D&R Canal's last year of operation at a profit was 1892, but is stayed open through the 1932 shipping season. [Source: Delaware and Raritan Canal State Parks web site: http://www.dandrcanal.com/history.html ] Tom and Carol harabin@verizon.net August 21, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Alice Paul Institute Paulsdale Tours - Sep 6,17 Open house tours of Paulsdale, the Mt. Laurel birthplace of Quaker suffragist Alice Paul, 128 Hooton Rd., Mt. Laurel, take place Saturday, Sept. 6, and Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 1 and 2 p.m. Guided tours of the house and property focus on the life of Alice Paul, the Paul family, Quaker history and women’s history costs $5 for adults ($1 discount for members of the Alice Paul Institute) and $4 for children. For information about group tours or future open tour dates, contact the Alice Paul Institute at 856-231-1885 or info@alicepaul.org. The Alice Paul Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the life and work of New Jersey’s most famous suffragist, Alice Stokes Paul (1885-1977), author of the Equal Rights Amendment, founder of the National Woman’s Party and a lifelong activist for women’s equality. API’s mission is to educate the public about her life, preserve historic Paulsdale, develop future leaders and work towards achieving women’s equality. Paulsdale, Alice Paul’s Mt. Laurel birthplace and family home, is a National Historic Landmark and serves as a center for celebrating women’s history and leadership. API was founded in 1985 and today has a membership of over 400 individuals and organizations Murray and Enid Rosenblatt murrayandenid@comcast.net August 16, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Industrial Heritage Tours: Sterling Iron District - Sep 20 10th Anniversary September 20: NEW Sterling Iron District 10 am Led by Joe Macasek and Bierce Riley. The Sterling Iron and Railway Company traces it history back the 1730s. During the American Revolution the iron works produced the famed Hudson River Chain that helped keep the British from capturing West Point. On this walk we will visit the Sterling Furnace and some of the nearby mine sites. We will also see maps and displays in the Sterling Forest Visitors Center and look for remains of the Sterling Mountain Railroad. This moderate hike will involve some off-trail exploration. Pre-registration is required. Fee: $3. To register, call 973-285-6542. Morris County Park Commission East Hanover Ave POB 1295 Morristown NJ 07962-1295 Phone: 973-326-7600 Fax: 973-644-2726 Website: http://www.morrisparks.netTop New Appointments in the Historic Preservation Office DEP Assistant Commissioner Amy Cradic has recently announced that Dan Saunders has agreed to serve as Acting Administrator of the Historic Preservation Office (HPO) and as Deputy SHPO for New Jersey, effective immediately. Saunders succeeds Terry Karschner, the former Acting Administrator, who retired August 1st. In addition to appointing Dan as Acting Administrator, Cradic also appointed Kate Marcopul to serve as an Acting Supervisor in the HPO. Bob Craig Registration Coordinator NJ Historic Preservation Office bob.craig@dep.state.nj.us August 21, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Governor's Vounteerism Award H-NJ Friends, Do you have outstanding volunteers at your history organization you would like to recognize? If so, please consider nominating an individual volunteer or a group for a Governor's Vounteerism Award. Applications are due at the Governor's Office of Volunteerism on September 10, 2008. You can get an application packet by visiting the following website: http://www.state.nj.us/state/volunteer. You can also call the Governor's Office of Volunteerism at 609-984-3470 or e-mail a request to Sabrina.nelson@sos.state.nj.us. Below is additional information on the award program: WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE GOVERNOR'S VOLUNTEER AWARDS? Any individual resident of NJ, or group or volunteer organization located in New Jersey whose volunteer activities benefit the community or the State in a substantial, important or unique way. This restriction does not apply to the National/International Category. Individuals who receive a stipend for serving in national service programs, but this must be clearly indicated in the nomination statement Students receiving course credits are eligible, but this must be clearly indicated in the nomination statement WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE? Previous winners Individuals involved in "court mandated community service" or those serving as "loaned executives" Persons nominating themselves, spouses or family members GENERAL INFORMATION FOR SUBMITTING A NOMINATION Nomination forms may be duplicated. Please submit a separate nomination form for each individual, group or organization being nominated. Check only one category listed on the application form. All nomination materials must be clearly printed or typewritten. Pertinent supplementary material must accompany the nomination. (Do NOT exceed ten pages.) Nomination materials must be mailed, hand delivered or sent overnight. Please submit one original and 2 copies. Faxed materials will NOT be accepted. Compose and send a narrative (Do NOT exceed 500 words.) This is a crucial piece of the nomination package. It is suggested that you include: A discussion on the scope of the volunteer activity as it relates to the category of nomination The need(s) that the volunteer activity addressed Any noteworthy achievements or unusual challenges overcome Any innovations utilized The length of service Receipt of a nomination is acknowledged only if it is accompanied with a self- addressed, stamped postcard. All nominations must be complete when submitted. Incomplete nomination packages and self-nominations will be disqualified without notification. Separate letters, materials and other documents received later under separate cover will not be considered. All entries and supplementary materials become the property of the Governor's Office of Volunteerism and will not be returned. Please do not call to check on the status of a nomination form. Winners will be notified by phone on October 10th. All nominators will be notified of the status of their nominations by a letter which will be mailed by October 17th. All decisions of the independent screeners and judges are final. Awards may not be given in every category. Only applicants deserving of the prestige of the Governor's Award will receive such recognition. The Governor's Office of Volunteerism reserves the right to reproduce information from the nomination form for publication. ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF VOLUNTEERISM… The Governor's Office of Volunteerism is a program of the New Jersey Department of State. Its mission is to support the development and growth of volunteerism throughout the state through the enhancement, promotion, coordination and recognition of citizen participation. ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S VOLUNTEER AWARDS… The Governor's Volunteer Awards were established to recognize the outstanding work of an individual, group, or volunteer organization dedicated to making New Jersey a better state to live, work and raise families. The Governor's Volunteer Awards are presented in fourteen categories. THE CATEGORIES ARE: - Adult Volunteer (Age 19-54) - Any individual or duo aged 19 - 54 that performs a volunteer activity to address the needs and well-being of people and communities in New Jersey. - Against All Odds - An individual or group that overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to successfully complete a volunteer activity. - Board Member Award - Volunteer trustee or board member who demonstrates their commitment to the organization by going above and beyond the required duties of the board or who has played a key leadership role during a pivotal or crisis time of an organization. - Corporate Citizen - An outstanding New Jersey business or business volunteer program that demonstrates leadership in anticipating and responding to the changing needs of New Jersey's communities. Exemplary models of corporate volunteer programs of all sizes will be considered. Successful applicants will demonstrate an effective partnership that leveraged corporate resources to meet community needs. - ECO-Friendly Award - An outstanding volunteer activity by an individual or group that focuses on developing and implementing practices and measures that preserve and protect the environment. - Most Innovative Award - An individual or group applying non- traditional and innovative approaches that significantly enhance volunteerism and that can be replicated and adapted by other agencies. - Most Valuable Volunteer Manager - Individual who manages volunteers, plans and channels their activities and coordinates their work to deliver impactful service to a community. This person fulfills these duties as a volunteer and does not receive compensation of any kind. - National/International Volunteer Award - Volunteer activity by a New Jersey resident that meets a significant need either in the US or other countries. Including but not limited to: responding to an emergency need, natural disaster, conflict or other crisis or assist with civic development. - Long Term Service - Significant on-going volunteer service to one or multiple organizations that has taken place over the course of a long period of time and has had great impact on those receiving services. - Senior Volunteer (Age 55 and over) - Any individual or couple ages 55 and over who perform a volunteer activity that addresses the needs, and well-being of people and communities in New Jersey. - Statewide Volunteer Program - Any volunteer program serving and operating in at least 10 counties in New Jersey that has had a tremendous impact on each of the communities in which they serve. - Volunteer Program or Group - Outstanding volunteer group or program consisting of 3 or more individuals, ages 19 and over, who coordinate and participate in various volunteer activities to benefit their communities. - Youth Volunteer - An individual or duo, aged 18 or under, demonstrating outstanding experience participating in and/or coordinating volunteer activities that enrich the community and inspire others to do the same. - Youth Volunteer Program or Group - Outstanding volunteer group or program consisting of 3 or more individuals, all ages 18 and under, who coordinate and participate in various volunteer activities to benefit their communities. - - Marc Mappen Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top NJ's Archives and History Day - Oct 11 Table space for history-related non-profit organizations and agencies is still available for New Jersey's annual Archives and History Day, to be held at the Monmouth County Library in Manalapan on October 11. Each year, close to 70 organizations have table exhibits at this event, which is attended by approximately 300 people. Registration of $15 includes the table and two box lunches. Attendees will enjoy networking and this year's keynote address by Professor Maxine Lurie of Seton Hall University, who will speak on Monmouth in the 17th century; a tour of the Monmouth County Archives; and an exhibit on the history of sports in Monmouth County which will be on view for the entire month of October. Attendees will also have a chance to win prizes by playing the New Jersey History Game. For a registration packet, including information about the seminar on sports archives and the workshop on 19th century photographs to be held on October 8, contact Shelagh Reilly at sreilly@co.monmouth.nj.us A partial list of exhibitors is below. Please forward this message to others you think might be interested in exhibiting or attending. There is no cost to attend the October 11 event. Hope to see you there! 1.. Brick Township Historical Society 2.. Squan Village Historical Society 3.. Fort Monmouth Historical Office 4.. Genealogical Society of New Jersey 5.. Morris County Park Commission 6.. Monmouth County Genealogy Society 7.. Belmar Historical Preservation Advisory Council 8.. New Jersey Historical Commission 9.. Eatontown Historical Association 10.. New Jersey State Archives 11.. David Sarnoff Library 12.. Captain Joshua Huddy Chapter DAR 13.. Monmouth County Park System Historic Services Division 14.. New Jersey Scout Museum 15.. Marlboro Township Historic Commission 16.. Keyport Historical Society 17.. Borough of Rumson 18.. Battleground Historical Society 19.. National Guard Militia Museum of NJ 20.. Keansburg Historical Society 21.. New Jersey Historic Trust Gary D. Saretzky Archivist, County of Monmouth gsaretzk@co.monmouth.nj.us July 24, 2008 Reposted with permission from http://www.nj.com/ and the NJ Historical Commission's H-New Jersey listserver http://www.h-net.org/~njersey/.Top Earlier Postings Are Archived HERE Disclaimer |