Monday, December 29, 2014

WE LEAVE THE YEAR WITH AS MUCH FUN AS WE STARTED! TIME CAPSULE BURIAL LUNCH!

We started the year on January 1st with a big production of the founding of Hunterdon County and we're ending the year with a big event on December 31st!  The Hunterdon County Tricentennial Committee will be burying our time capsule in style this Wednesday, December 31, at high noon.   The time capsule will be buried in the park behind the Historic Courthouse.  

Beginning at 11 am, the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band will play Victorian era  brass band music in the Gazebo.  The volunteers of the 300th will be grilling and serving hot dogs, hot chocolate and chips, all courtesy of Shop Rite of Flemington.  Everyone is encouraged to come and party with us!  If you are in the area, stop by for lunch; we would love to see lots of children – especially those 3rd and 4th graders who participated in our Time Line Project this year – at the event.  The County Time Line is one of the many items that are secured in the time capsule.   

The time capsule will be opened in 2114.

At noon, the National Anthem will be sung by 11 year old Hampton Public School student Ava Rose Dressendorfer.  Dignitaries will reflect on the 300th year of Hunterdon.  A full list of the items in the time capsule will be revealed.  

The time capsule, a whopping 26 inches high by 14 inches in diameter, was manufactured by Flemington’s Mechanical Precision, Inc. and donated by Wally Cullen.  A special subcommittee of volunteers worked on deciding what items should go in the time capsule and what should be stored in the County Archives to help future generations of county residents who put on future large scale celebrations.

Following the burial ceremony, food will be served until either the crowd or the food runs out!

Friday, December 19, 2014

HOLIDAY DAY OF EVENTS AND BLOW OUT SALE!! JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

On Saturday, December 20th, the Hunterdon County Tricentennial Committee is offering a whole day of events and activities for all ages at the Main Branch of the County Library on Route 12 in Raritan Township including having people write letters to the future.  And just in time for the last shopping weekend before Christmas, there will be a blow out sale of most of the commemorative items and books that have been offered.

Most merchandise including the Tricentennial Committee’s woven throw, various books, t-shirts, glass mugs, and other items will be reduced to sell; the sale begins at 9:30 am and ends following the last event of the day – around 4 pm.  Some of the items have very limited quantities available.

Two historic children’s craft projects will be offered in the morning, both for children between the ages of 7 and 12.  Each project will make a different shaped Victorian style Christmas tree ornament.  The first project is from 9:30 am to 11 am; the second is from 11:30 am to 1 pm.  Although these events are free, they are limited to 20 children per craft and the Tricentennial Committee requires reservations.  Snacks will be available during these projects. 

For older children and adults who wish to stay at the Library, there will be on-going craft projects making cat and dog toys for sheltered animals.

At 1 pm, students of piano teacher Margaret Sheneman will play holiday music for people looking for a break from shopping.

At 2:30 pm, Anne and Ridley Enslow, historical musicians, will perform a one hour program entitled History Thru Music:  A Revolutionary Christmas.  The Enslows are musicologists who recreate the music of American history.  Dressed in historically accurate clothing, this program includes music that General Washington, his soldiers and their families would have been familiar with in the winter of 1776.  The Enslows perform on historically accurate instruments and in 18th century attire -- a feast for both the eyes and ears.  The program is free but requires reservations.

There will also be a raffle for a basket of 300th goodies, including a one of a kind woven throw and the very popular and long sold out handmade Sunflower Bowl.  Anyone who stops by the 300th’s sales table on Saturday may enter the raffle; no purchase is necessary (must be 18 to enter); the winner does not have to be present at the time of the drawing which will be at the end of the Enslow’s performance.

Father Christmas will be on hand giving out Holiday gifts to everyone who stops by and reading children’s Christmas stories. 

Refreshments will be available all day courtesy of Shop Rite of Flemington.

People will also be invited to sit down for a few minutes and write a letter about their lives in Hunterdon in 2014.  These letters will be placed inside the Tricentennial time capsule to be buried at a free event on December 31st at noon in the park behind the County’s Historic Courthouse; the time capsule will be dug up and opened in one hundred years.

Finally, you still have time to make your reservation for the Victorian Tea with the 300th at Teaberry's in Flemington on December 28th.  Limited space left.  BOOK NOW!  At $25 per adult and $15 per child (under 18) this is a great Holiday gift!

For further information or to make reservations to any of these events, contact the Hunterdon Tricentennial Committee at (908) 788-2030 or visit their website at www.hunterdon300th.org

Friday, December 12, 2014

BE PART OF HISTORY: THE 2114 CHALLENGE

STOP EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING and grab a piece of paper and a pen and quickly write a letter to the future describing your life in Hunterdon County in 2014.

Your letter to the future talking about what your life has been in 2014 living in Hunterdon County will be going into our Time Capsule and be buried for 100 years on December 31, 2014.  Imagine your great grandchild or great great grandchild being present when the Time Capsule is dug up and opened in 2114....

Your letter doesn't have to be long -- you don't even have to have attended one Tricentennnial event!

Simply, we want the future to know what life was like this year: where do you work? what do you do on weekends?  where do you live?  describe your home, your family, your pet.  Do you have a hobby? what is it?  play sports? where and with whom?

Have you been in Hunterdon long? generations? years? did you move here recently? why?  Has your family been here forever? why do you stay?

It's all about the quality of life we all love and enjoy in Hunterdon County.... We have survived for 300 years; we'll be here in another hundred.  So let your individual voice be part of the future and send us a letter.

Please mail your letter to the Tricentennial Committee at 3 Chorister Place, Flemington, NJ  08822 or drop it through our mail slot.  We must receive all letters by Sunday, December 21st to ensure that they will make it into the Time Capsule.

Friday, November 28, 2014

DECEMBER TICKETS AND MORE!

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!!? Our year is almost over!  But we're going to go out in big style!

Start our festive month with a fun talk on the history of Flemington Cut Glass.  Bring in your treasures and show our speaker, glass expert George Muller, will take a look at it and tell all!  At the Main Branch of the County Library at 7 pm on December 9th.

We have a quadruple feature on the Revolutionary War.... why?  well, if you don't know by now that Washington crossed the Delaware from Bucks County, PA into Hunterdon County, NJ, you'll never know!

First, take a walk with South County historians John and Barbara Hencheck on the Road Along the Rocks... we meet at the West Amwell Municipal Building and board a bus for a short ride to the road.  John and Barbara will let you know who's famous footsteps you walk in!  This event is free, but because space is so limited we ask that you don't take tickets unless you know you are going to use them.  The walk is being given twice, once at 11 and once at 1 on December 7th.

Second, we have a lecture on Washington's Crossing State Park by expert Peter Osborne.  Peter is the author of the definitive books on both the PA and NJ sides of the river.  Main Branch of the County Library on December 10 at 7 pm.

Third is Kingwood Historian and Revolutionary War expert and Militiaman Sal DeSapio's talk on the Crossing.  Sal's passion for what our war heroes went through for liberty is legendary.  Main Branch on Saturday December 13 at 2 pm.

Finally, historian Spencer Peck will talk about Hunterdon County in 1776 at the North Branch on December 17 at 7 pm.

On the 20th of December, we have an all day Open House at the Main Branch of the County Library.  Our sales table will be set up at 9:30 am and be open until 4 pm.  We have many treats in store for the day including 2 Childrens' Historical Craft Projects where they can make two different VictoriaStyle Christmas Tree Ornaments, learning decoupage in the process.  You can sign your children ages 7 to 12 up for both and escape for a some local Holiday shopping!  The crafts run 9:30 to 11 and 11:30 to 1 pm.  Later in the afternoon at 2:30 pm, we also have the historical musicians, Anne and Ridley Enslow, returning to play music heard at the time of Washington's Crossing during 1776. The Enslows play period music on period instruments dressed in period attire.  There will be other surprises all day and we'll be blogging about this special day later in the month of December.

On Sunday, December 28th, mothers, grandmothers, nieces, aunts, goddaughters and daughters are invited to a Victorian Holiday Tea at Teaberry's Tea Room.  We're not banning the other gender, but are gentle discouraging them.....  Women, please wear hats and proper tea attire; children under 12, please dress in Victoriana..... there will be a Girls Fashion Show and a judging of both best Lady's Hat and best Girl's Victorian Attire with prizes!  We'll also have special visitors throughout the tea to delight young and old alike!  Make your reservation through our reservation system Eventbrite and please drop off or mail a check within three days of your reservation.  There are 2 seatings, one at 1 pm and one at 4 pm.  The cost for the lovely 3 course tea is $25 for adults (18 and older) and $15 for children.

Finally our finale:  High Noon on December 31 we shall be burying our Time Capsule with a flourish in the county park behind the Historic Courthouse.  Our current plans are to start at 11 am grilling and serving hot dogs to all comers courtesy of our super sponsor Shop Rite; there will be lots of fun along the way and we hope you'll join us to see the history of the 300th be laid to rest..... just like us on January First!

Friday, November 14, 2014

NEW NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS! SKIRMISHETTE, CRYPTIC TRYPTICH; SEARCH THAT ROOM!

LET'S START WITH THE OBVIOUS (AND BAD NEWS):  DECEMBER TICKETS ARE NOT READY YET! 

BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS:

TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 15:  WE HAVE A LITTLE TREAT IF YOU ARE FREE AROUND 2 PM.  Following our nearly sold out lecture at 1 pm (if you want tickets, grab them now at www.hunterdon300th.org!) on the Skirmish of Geary's Ridge at the Main Branch of the County Library, we will all be reconvening around 2 pm at Geary's Ridge for a little Revolutionary War fun.  Our friends from Bergen County, The Outwater's Militia, will be parading and firing a few musket rounds.... can't have too much gun powder on a chilly December day!  There will be a brief recitation from Raritan Township Historian Emeritus Dick Stothoff on the skirmish and the lay of the land, and then a British Loyalist in full red regalia (boo!) will place a wreath on Geary's grave.  Not a full blown skirmish, but it will be entertaining.

WHERE is Geary's Ridge?  well, head south on 202 until you are almost in Ringoes.... there is a jughandle signed "Cornet Way" and across the street on the North bound side is the Geary's Ridge Homeowners Sign.... take that jug handle (if you are heading South) and enter the development.... and bear left up the ridge.... if the 300th is on our best game tomorrow, there should even be signs!

Tickets/reservations are free but required for the lecture; the Geary's Ridge event is free and open to the public.

TRYPTICH?  Maybe we should go with the familiar name, "The Hunterdon Tercentennial Murals" -- that is, the three panels depicting icons of Hunterdon's history from the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s.  On Wednesday, November 19th at 5:30 pm we will be celebrating the three panels coming together for the first time -- even the artist has not seen them finished and joined!  And we're having a nice little party at the Main Branch of the County Library.  This is free and open to the public and following the speeches and shindig will be a lecture on the 1900s by County Historian Stephanie Stevens.

SEARCHING THE SEARCH ROOM AND ENCORE! SEARCHING THE SEARCH ROOM EVENTS WERE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT COUNTY CLERK MARY MELFI decided to open up the Search room one more time..... first one was limited to 40 people; second was limited to 30 people..... this one isn't limited... it would be interesting if a hundred people showed up!!  Here's what Mary says: From Hunterdon County Clerk Mary H. Melfi:  For those who attended the Spring or Fall “Searching the Search Room” workshop, we thank you for your interest.  We hope you found the course educational and enlightening.  By now you understand searching your property requires time.  Therefore we are pleased to announce the Search Room, located in the Hall of Records, 71 Main Street, Flemington, will be open to the public onSaturday, November 22, 2014 from 9am-1pm. We hope this additional time can assist you with the project you started or may encourage you to begin a new one.  Questions, please call (908)788-1214.


FYI, THERE ARE STILL A FEW TICKETS LEFT FOR SUNDAY'S LECTURE AT 2 PM AT THE MAIN BRANCH OF THE COUNTY LIBRARY ON THE CREATION OF HUNTERDON AND COLONEL READING BY DELAWARE TOWNSHIP HISTORIAN EMERITUS MARFY GOODSPEED.  TICKETS ARE FREE BUT REQUIRED!  

STAY TUNED FOR ALL OF DECEMBER EVENTS BY EARLY NEXT WEEK!

Friday, October 31, 2014

THE BIZARRE: JUTLAND MASSACRE; GRAVEYARDS AND BAZAAR!

FAMILY FREE FALL FUN!  Download our cemetery and graveyard activity sheets from our home page at www.hunterdon300th and go scavenge this weekend!  Then come to our talk on Thursday, November 6th at the Main Branch of the County Library at 7 pm and share your experiences crawling around graves..... Sur-PRIZES for all participants!

Do you know the story of the JUTLAND MASSACRE?  Few do!  Some folks call it "Hunterdon's Ruby Ridge" -- 1926 -- Union Township.... the State Police at a stand off after a neighbor complaint.... a shoot out..... a murder.... then a major trial that stayed in the newspapers that took the Lindbergh Kidnapping to knock it out of the press.  We still have seats for this riveting and little told story of Hunterdon's darker history.  Sunday, November 2nd at 3 pm at the Main Branch of the County Library.

On November 8th from 10 am to 2 pm at the Choir School (3 Chorister Place, Flemington), we are holding a HOLIDAY BAZAAR early enough for you to do all of your shopping, wrapping, packing and shipping!  We are fully stocked right now so come and shop til you drop!  There will be door prizes and raffles and we have a full line up of some of our most popular authors who will be signing books for your lucky gift receivers!  Come for a t-shirt (now on sale while supplies last!), a woven throw with our great historic icons (we have all three colors in stock now! -- hunter green, navy blue and cranberry), beautiful glass beer steins with our 300th logo etched on them, or a book: from 10 am to noon Stephanie Stevens will be signing Tillers of the Soil -- a great compilation of the farm families of Hunterdon, Walter Chorozsewski  will autograph his beautiful photography book "Hunterdon in My Heart" and Frank Greenagel will be signing his new 300th special edition book that covers the amazing architecture of Hunterdon's Historic Churches.  John Kuhl will be hanging with us all day from 10 to 2 signing his AWARD WINNING book "Hunterdon in the Civil War.  David Reading, the great, great, great, great, great grandson of Governor Reading, will be signing his book on forefather's diary between 10 and 11 am, and artists/historians Dan and Marty Campanelli will be over between 10 and noon signing their book on Hunterdon's historic samplers as well as discussing Dan's art and the process of painting the fabulous Blue Skies (his painting of the Historic Courthouse done for the 300th).

Don't forget we have an exciting LECTURE SERIES series starting on Wednesday, November 5 with Stephanie Stevens covering significant events, people and dates in Hunterdon's history during the 1700s.  This lecture is unique as Stephanie will be telling our history by using the first panel of the Hunterdon Tercentennial Murals painted by artist Paul Jennis for the 300th.  On Wednesday, November 12, we'll hear about the 1800s through the icons on the second panel.  And on Wednesday, November 19, Stephanie will be detailing the history of our county during the 1900s with the third panel.  All of the lectures are at 7 pm at the Main Branch of the County Library.  This is going to be a unique and interesting way of hearing about the history of our county and we encourage you to bring your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to see the art and hear the history.


Thursday, October 23, 2014

TAVERN TOUR TICKETS! NEW TIME - NEW LOCATION FOR SALE!

TICKETS FOR THE LONG AWAITED FINAL TAVERN TOUR OF THE 300TH CELEBRATION at the Tewksbury Inn go on sale this Saturday, October 25th at the MAIN BRANCH OF THE COUNTY LIBRARY ON ROUTE 12 AT 1 PM.  THE EVENT IS ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH.

We do NOT take payment for these tickets early.  We also only accept cash and checks for Tavern Tours.

Tickets will be available from 1 to 2 pm outside the Lecture Room on the first floor of the Library.  Beginning at 2 pm, we will be having a lecture in the Lecture Room on Governor Reading's life; you will be able to purchase tickets from the volunteers at our sales table inside (please come in quietly while the lecture is in progress).  We will have tickets available until they are sold out or 4 pm at the Library, which ever comes first.

If we do not sell out by 4 pm, remaining tickets will be on sale on October 29th at the North Branch Library beginning at 6 pm before our presentation on Haunted Hunterdon.  Please check our website's home page at www.hunterdon300th.org as to whether we are sold out of Tavern Tour Tickets or not.

ABOUT THE TAVERN TOUR:  Join us at the wonderful Tewksbury Inn for a sumptuous and delicious luncheon at noon.  Following a 3 course meal created just for this tour, Tewksbury Historian Shaun Van Doren will speak with us on the history of Tewksbury Township.  A bonus optional mini talk is planned in honor of the Zion Lutheran Church's 300th anniversary celebration in 2014.  Tickets are $40 per person. Checks and cash only.  No early bird sales.

Friday, October 10, 2014

NOVEMBER TICKETS GOING LIVE!

WE'RE TICKETING NOVEMBER!  ALL lectures are at the Main Branch of the County Library (we don't know HOW that happened! sorry, North County!)

LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE!!! ENCORE! SEARCHING THE SEARCH ROOM:  On November 1st, our County Clerk, Mary Melfi, and her amazing staff will be repeating their seminar on how to search your property's history (November 1).

Did you ever hear of the JUTLAND MASSACRE?  Some people consider it Hunterdon's Ruby Ridge - with a police raid and death!  It was a huge courtroom trial held in the Historic Courthouse and was finally knocked out of the papers with the Lindbergh Kidnapping!  (November 2).

If you played our cemetery scavenger hunt make sure you mark down November 6 to come in and claim your sur-prize!  Results and discussion about everyone's experience crawling around graveyards around Halloween are sure to be fun and fascinating!  HUNTERDON'S BURIED PAST -- LITERALLY. PART II occurs on November 6.

We have a NEW THREE PART SERIES WITH A BONUS!  THE HISTORY OF HUNTERDON THRU ART is sure to please both art lovers and historians alike!  Starting with the unveiling of two of the three panels painted by artist Paul Jennis at 2 pm on November 1st, on the next three consecutive Wednesdays (November 5, 12, 19) County Historian Stephanie Stevens will discuss each panel's unique icons and Hunterdon's history as painted by Paul.  Panel 1, the 1700s, will be on the 5th; the 1800s on the 12th and the 1900s on the 19th.

HUNTERDON'S MILITIAMEN (November 9) turned the Revolutionary War around -- learn how, why, when and where in this great lecture by Author and Historian Larry Kidder who literally wrote the book on the importance of the Revolutionary War's local militias.  Then on November 15th, you can hear about the SKIRMISH OF GEARY'S RIDGE in Raritan Township -- how the British turned tail after the Hunterdon Militiamen stood their ground.  A special site visit to Geary's Ridge follows the talk.

Finally, the postponed talk on JOHN READING AND THE CREATION OF HUNTERDON will be held on November 16th.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR OCTOBER! INCLUDING OUR SPECIAL PARTNERS! 

Saturday, October 4, 2014

TAVERN TOUR AND OTHER OCTOBER TXTS STILL AVAILABLE AND CHECK OUT OUR SPECIAL PARNTER EVENTS!

THAT'S RIGHT!  We did NOT sell out of the October 11th Tavern Tour at the fabulous National Hotel in Frenchtown!  Tickets are available (while supplies last) on October 4 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Flemington Choir School and we'll be toting them along with us on our October 5, 7 and 9 lectures until they are sold out! $40 gets you a special lunch prepared just for us, a beautiful inn and a great lecture on the history of Frenchtown.  Cash bar available for those touristas who like to have a little something with a fine meal.

WE HAVE ROOM AT ALL OF OUR OCTOBER LECTURES!  Check our website www.hunterdon300th for the full monty -- but some highlights (we just can't believe there is any room left!) include this week's lectures on the Vought House Site's archeology (October 5, 1pm, Clinton Middle School) that includes a tour of the inside of the amazing house (suggested donation of $5 is requested by the Vought Trustees; 100% of these funds will go to the restoration of the house), or on the development of Hunterdon's Historic Roads (October 7, 7 pm, North Branch of the County Library), or on what Hunterdon County was like 100 years ago during the beginning of the First World War (October 9, 7 pm, Main Branch of the County Library),  or a special Planetarium Show of the planets and stars on the night of some of Hunterdon's most historic events (FAMILY FRIENDLY AND FREE!) at Raritan Valley Community College that includes a trip to the Observatory there (favorable sky conditions needed) -- this is GREAT FREE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT! (October 10, 7 pm -- NO late admissions permitted), and the all day bus tour visiting some of our most beautiful, historical churches to see their architecture -- a great trip at a great price just to see the gorgeous foliage of Hunterdon!  (October 18, 9 am sharp, Raritan Township Municipal Building, $15 per person).

SPECIAL PARTNER EVENTS include a great display and program put on by the Rug Artisan's Guild on October 10 (daytime -- check our website) at the Assembly Space, Building One at the County's Route 12 Complex, a wonderful morning walking in Mount Airy (October 19), a spooky talk on ghosts in East Amwell (October 24), and a historic house tour in Flemington (October 25).  Plus there is so much more some of which have ticket information and details on our home page so here's the list:

October 5th: Lambertville Walking Tour Lambertville Historical Society
October 5th: Califon Day 
October 10th: Hunterdon Rug Artisans Guild Symposium OPen House Hoook-In and Demonstration 
October 11thWalking tour of Historic Annandale and the Vought House
October 12th: Alexandria Township Self-Guided Barn Tour
October 12th: Saxtonville Tavern Tour - Raven Rock in Delaware Township
October 18th: The Flemington Speedway Day
October 18th: Clinton Town Cemetery and Haunted Mill at the Red Mill 
October 18th: Walking Tour of West Amwell Township
October 19th: Lambertville House Walking Tour Lambertville Historical Society
October 19thWalking Tour of Mount Airy Village 
October 24th: Ghosts of East Amwell - East Amwell Township Historical Society 
October 25th: Stroll Thorutgh Flemington - A Historic House Tour Flemington Historic Preservation Commission

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

TAVERN TOUR TYPO AND UPCOMING SPECIAL PARTNER EVENTS

Some of you noticed that the last blog detailed our October 11th Tavern Tour at the National Hotel in Frenchtown with tickets going on sale 16 days after the event (October 27).... sorry about any confusion -- but of course that was a typo!  Tickets are going on sale this Saturday, September 27, at 9:30 am at the Flemington Choir School, 3 Chorister Place, Flemington Borough.  No credit cards please for this purchase.  FYI, that 9:30 is firm -- we're really not going to be there early!

Weekends in October are extra special with our special municipal partner events!  mark your calendars now -- What better time of the year to do a self guided tour of Alexandria's great barns, stroll the streets of historic Lambertville or Annandale or visit and tour the magnificent indoors of some of Flemington's most historic homes?  Califon is also having a full day celebrating their history!  You can visit a historic tavern in Delaware Township, walk the hamlet of Mount Airy and then relax with a nice cuppa and some refreshments on a lovely porch, check out the interesting graves in the Town of Clinton!  Plus there is Flemington Speedway Days down at South County Park!  go to our October Calendar at our website www.hunterdon300th.org for all of the details!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

OCTOBER TICKETS! OCTOBER TAVERN TOUR! AND MORE!

HERE'S THE "AND MORE" PART FIRST:  Check out the fabulous options we are offering on Saturday, September 20th!  Municipal Partner Glen Gardner is offering an amazing TAVERN TOUR at the Glen Gardner Inn -- TWO SEATINGS -- ONE AT NOON AND ONE AT 1:30 GETS EVERYONE IN FOR FINE DINING AND A LARGE BIT OF GLEN GARDNER HISTORY! then head over to their municipal building for a display on Glen Gardner history.  See our website for ticket information for the Tavern Tour.

PLUS we've got two fabulous  WALKING TOURS:  choose from RINGOES (a small donation is requested -- see our website for information) or QUAKERTOWN (FREE!) (OR SELECT THE AFTERNOON RINGOES TOUR AND DO BOTH)!

FINALLY, for your little ones, we still have a few seats left for our FREE CHILDREN'S HISTORIC CRAFT PROJECT ON PUPPETRY.

OCTOBER TICKETS ARE HERE!  And what an array we have in store for you for October!

VOUGHT HOUSE REDUX! whether or not you joined us in February for our 3-Parter on All Things Vought, you don't want to miss this rare opportunity on Sunday afternoon OCTOBER 5:  The results of this summer's archeological adventure at the Vought House will be revealed and discussed by an historian, an architect and an archeologist!  The lecture is followed by small groups getting that long awaited tour through the inside of the 1759 Vought House!  A small donation to the Vought House is requested to help continue the important work of the house's restoration.

NEW LECTURE!  FIRST TIME PRESENTED IN HUNTERDON COUNTY! The history of Hunterdon's roads will be given by Historian Frank Curcio who has been researching this topic for some time.  His companion book will be coming out later this year through Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission.  We love image of "RIBBONS OF HISTORY" for those roads that include both the King's and Queen's Highways.  Hear it with us first as part of the 300th's celebration of Hunterdon History on OCTOBER 7TH.

The third in our three-part series "YOUR LIFE IN HUNTERDON" takes us to the 200TH CELEBRATION (NOT a typo!) of Hunterdon County with new research and a new lecture by County Historian Stephanie Stevens on life in Hunterdon in 1914 on OCTOBER 9TH.

NEW EVENT!  We've chartered the Raritan Valley Community College's Planetarium for a special star-gazing treat on OCTOBER 10TH when some of the biggest dates in Hunterdon's history will be viewed looking up!  Join us for AN ASTRONOMICAL VIEW OF HUNTERDON'S HISTORY.  If it's a nice night, the 3M Observatory will be open for real looks at real planets and stars following the planetarium show!

OCTOBER 13TH is a wonderful powerpoint presentation by historian and photographer Frank Greenagel who will present some of the best examples of historic Hunterdon churches -- important historically and/or architecturally. T he lecture is the companion to Saturday, OCTOBER 18TH's HUNTERDON HISTORIC CHURCH TOUR.  Join our bus tour in Raritan Township and travel with us throughout the day visiting some of the most splendid architectural examples of church construction in Hunterdon County.  $15 per person, lunch and comfortable coach bus ride included!

It's October and our thought turn to both Autumn colors and.... Halloween!  The 300th is presenting our own twist on spooky graveyards with a most interesting scavenger hunt!  Join Hunterdon cemetery experts Bob and Leslie Leith on OCTOBER 14TH as they unveil the rules for this historical hunt for Hunterdon's history on gravestones -- your pun-loving blogger affectionately named this one HUNTERDON'S BURIED PAST -- LITERALLY.  On NOVEMBER 6TH, those of you who participate in the scavenger hunt will come back together to receive PRIZES and share your "gravest" experiences with the group.

OCTOBER 21ST we get an in-depth look into the life of one of Hunterdon's Hometown Heroes, GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN -- born in Bethlehem Township and, after an illustrious career in the military, went onto becoming a member of the House of Representatives.  Kingwood Township Historian and Daniel Morgan expert Sal DeSapio will be giving this most informative lecture.

A talk on GOVERNOR JOHN READING will be given by his "great times 8" (or maybe 10!  we'll have to check with David) grandson, David Reading on Saturday afternoon, OCTOBER 25TH.  A companion lecture on Governor Reading's father will be held on Sunday afternoon, November 16th (moved from September 28th); more about that lecture next month.

The final official event for the 300th in October is a special Halloween presentation on OCTOBER 29TH by Story Teller Gordon Thomas Ward, author of Ghosts of Central Jersey.  Gordon will tell spooky, creepy and scary tales of HISTORIC HAUNTS OF HUNTERDON  COUNTY.  Gordon cautions that some of the stories may be too scary for children under 13.

NEW COMMEMORATIVE SALES ITEM!:  AND JUST IN TIME TO CELEBRATE YOUR TRICENTENNIAL OCKTOBERFEST, BEGINNING OCTOBER 5TH WE SHALL BE SELLING OUR BEAUTIFUL GLASS BEER STEIN ENGRAVED WITH THE 300TH LOGO FOR ONLY $5 APIECE. WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THEM -- YOU'LL AGREE THEY ARE WUNDERBAR!

TAVERN TOUR -- EVERY THING YOU WANT TO KNOW INCLUDING WHEN THE TICKETS ARE GOING ON SALE!: OCTOBER 11TH at the NATIONAL HOTEL in Frenchtown.  Following a very special menu designed just for the 300th, a special lecture using both audio and video on the History of Frenchtown will be given by Kingwood Township Historian Sal DeSapio.  This is NOT the same lecture that you Tavern Touristas heard at our first Tavern Tour at the Frenchtown Inn.  Tickets are $40, includes lunch and program with a cash bar available.  TICKETS ARE GOING ON SALE, FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, AT THE FLEMINGTON CHOIR SCHOOL, 3 CHORISTER PLACE, FLEMINGTON ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27TH AT 9:00 A.M.  NO ADVANCE RESERVATIONS TAKEN!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

ALL ABOARD FOR THE TRICENTENNIAL TRAIN CHARTER -- AN AMAZING EVENT!

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT IF YOU LOVE TRAINS, IF YOUR KIDS LOVE TRAINS OR IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A GREAT WAY TO SPEND AN AFTERNOON WITH THE ONES YOU LOVE!  
LIVE MUSIC!  FOOD!  MUSEUM TOUR! EXCLUSIVE LECTURE! DESSERT! AND A TRAIN RIDE!!
On Saturday, September 13th, the historic Black River and Western Railroad will take a ride back through Hunterdon’s rail history with a special Tricentennial chartered excursion.  Leaving Flemington from the Liberty Village Platform at 11:30 am, passengers will have a leisurely train ride to Ringoes where they will be greeted by the Red Oak Country Boys playing music from a century ago. 
The Red Oak Country Boys, a four piece country & western band based in Hunterdon County, will be featuring music nearly lost to time  -- mostly songs about railroad building and history.  Songs include The Wreck of the Old 97 and Wabash Cannonball (both from the late 1920s) which were among the first of the genre, and Casey Jones which was first written about 1900 right after the train wreck and was popularized in these 1920's.  The songs reflect the impact of the railroads on the lives of people at the times they were written during the 20th century.  Some railroad songs were interwoven with religious themes such as Glory Train and Life's Railway to Heaven.  Although most trains originated in the South or Midwest, a New Jersey railroad song, "The Jersey Central Special", is set to the tune of Wabash Cannonball and was popularized by Shorty and Smokey Warren, Max Sullivan and Hunterdon's own Burd Boys in the heyday of Country Western music in New Jersey in the 1950s and 60s.  Len Rambo, a resident of Califon, one of the  original Burd Boys and a frequently featured artist on WDVR's live "Heartland Hayride", is one of the Hunterdon-based Red Oak Country Boys.  The band members include Rambo on  bass guitar, Dave Loth on electric guitar, Jim Hebson on banjo and John McKay on acoustic guitar. 
A picnic lunch supplied by Shop Rite will be enjoyed while listening to the music.  Following lunch, time will be allowed to visit the special restored rail cars and the Black River and Western museum – also in a rail car.  Returning to the picnic area, guests will enjoy a special dessert and a lecture with Frank Curcio – Hunterdon County’s foremost expert on the history of rail.  The lecture, on the development and demise of railroads throughout Hunterdon, will be exclusively given as part of this excursion.  Following the lecture, passengers will board the train and head back to Flemington, arriving around 3:30 pm. 

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children between 5 and 17 years old, and free for children under 5.  They may be acquired from the Black River and Western website by credit card www.flemingtontrain.org, or through the Hunterdon Tricentennial by check or cash.  For more information please go to www.hunterdon300th.org or call the Tricentennial Committee at (908) 788-2030.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

FAB FOUR AND FAB TOUR! SEPTEMBER TICKETS ARE HERE!

We've just completed our 100th (WOOHOO) event!  and we're driving hard into the fall with a spectacular line up of 300th events!  Before we get into September, we still have tickets left for many of our great August lectures -- please check out our website at www.hunterdon300th.org.

And don't forget our final concert for the summer on Thursday, August 14th  -- our retrospective of music heard in Hunterdon over the last 300 years ends with a big production -- THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST OF BEATLEMANIA on stage at Deer Path Park at 7 pm.  Not only has the 300th gone all out to bring the Fab Four to Hunterdon, but their performance will be accompanied by a phenomenal light show on stage!  Fifty years ago this year, the Beatles landed in America for the first time, appeared on Ed Sullivan and the rest is history!  Thursday night, Paul McCartney (this blogger's heart-throb at age 4) will be playing the final performance at Candlestick Park before they tear it down; The Beatles last performance together was at Candlestick Park.  But Thursday night Sir Paul won't be alone!  Right here in Hunterdon we will have a special tribute to the Boys From Liverpool!

And Now for Our Fantastic September Line Up!

BIG TOURS!

BY BUS:  NORTH COUNTY FARM TOUR - Saturday, September 6: Take a tour of beautiful Northern Hunterdon with Hunterdon Board of Agriculture Past President George Conard; see Hunterdon's beautiful roads by bus with two morning "off the bus" stops and several afternoon "off the bus" stops that include tours of three North Hunterdon farms including a prestigious horse farm, a Christmas tree farm and an orchard.  There will be additional surprise stops to enjoy amazing vistas of Hunterdon County!

Boxed lunch included supplied by our super sponsor Shop Rite.
ONLY 50 SEATS AVAILABLE!   $15 PER PERSON 

BY RAIL:  TRICENTENNIAL TRAIN RIDE ON THE BLACK RIVER AND WESTERN! -- Saturday, September 13:  Scenic train ride on the BR&WRR from Flemington Borough to Ringoes. At our stop in Ringoes enjoy a live music by the Red Oak Country Boys (featuring historic railroad songs!), a box lunch and lecture on the History of Rail and Train Stations in Hunterdon with County Historian Frank Curcio.  There will also be some special treats and surprises!

Lunch included supplied by our super sponsor Shop Rite.

$15 PER PER ADULT; $10 FOR CHILDREN 17 AND UNDER; CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER FREE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE BLACK RIVER AND WESTERN, SEE THEIR WEBSITE AT http://blackriverrailroad.com

BIG LECTURES:  YOUR LIFE IN HUNTERDON MARCH 22, 1814 (September 9):  In this special lecture researched for Hunterdon's 300th, County Historian Stephanie Stevens details how we would have lived, what we would have eaten, where we would have worked and what life would been like on the 100th anniversary of the day Hunterdon officially incorporated as a county.  This is the second in a three part series.  "Your Life in Hunterdon, March 22, 1914" will be on October 9th.
TRAINS, TRAIN STATIONS AND RAILROADS (September 10):  Join County Historian Frank Curcio for a power point presentation about the fascinating history of the trains, train stations and railroads of Hunterdon.  Not that long ago there were FIVE trains leaving daily for New York City from Flemington -- today, there are none!  This companion lecture to our Black River & Western trip the following Saturday will provide young and old alike with a delightful trip through Hunterdon mass transportation history even if you can't join us on the real train!  
HUNTERDON'S HISTORIC BARNS (September 16):  Complimentary to the historic barn photography show this month at the North Branch of the County Library by local Photographer Anne Freeman, join renowned barn historian and President of the Heritage Conservancy, Jeffrey Marshall, for an informative talk on Hunterdon's barns. Anne Freeman will also be on hand to discuss some of her photographs and her photography.
COLONEL JOHN READING (September 28):  Join us as historian Marfy Goodspeed provides a lecture on Col. John Reading, one of Hunterdon's Founding Fathers. This is the first of a two-part series on the Colonel and his son, the General.
GREEN LIVING THE HISTORIC WAY (September 30):  The agricultural lifestyle of our Hunterdon County ancestors was naturally "green" and, in comparison to our standard American diet, was quite healthy. This talk will focus on the lost details of everyday life in Hunterdon County before World War II -- such as the communal frozen cow -- and will look at what we can adopt from the past to make today's lifestyle more "green" and naturally healthier without reinventing the wheel.  
CHILDREN'S HISTORIC CRAFT PROJECT:  PUPPETRY! (September 21):  Join Kim Cheifer in this Puppet Making Workshop for Children based on historical models of puppets.  Ages 6-14; Maximum 35 children.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

FIREWORKS! MUSIC! AND A NEW FUN LINK ON OUR WEBSITE

HERE'S AN A PREVIEW OF THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF MONTH EIGHT OF OUR YEAR- LONG 300TH  BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! 

HISTORY OF THE FLEMINGTON FAIR:  Wednesday, August 6 at the Assembly Space, Route 12 County Complex, Building One -- Just in time for the Fair -- start thinking about cotton candy, sno cones and candy apples -- the fair is just around the corner.  This powerpoint talk with lots of historical pictures will surely get you in the mood!

CONCERT AND FIREWORKS!  Join us on Thursday, August 7 at Deer Path Park for the fantastic sounds of the JAZZ CELEBRATION BIG BAND straight from the greater Philadelphia area!  This big band is a 17 piece Jazz Orchestra, performing music in the genre of Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, etc., along with the traditional “swing” era music of Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman et al. Jazz Celebration features vocalist Claudia Perry.  Its members have performed with/for Tony Bennett, Joe Piscopo, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin, Manhattan Transfer, Johnny Mathis, Johnny Ray, The Temptations and many, many more.  There is nothing quite like the sound of 5 saxophones, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, Guitar, Piano, Bass, Drums, and a vocalist coming at you all at once!  The concert starts at 7 pm and ends at 9 at which time the 300th along with our special partners FLEMINGTON-RARITAN PARKS AND RECREATION have joined us to put on a FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR!!!  This IS going to be the biggest fireworks display in Hunterdon's history!

The park is going to get full early, so come with your picnic or some cash to patronize Pudgy's food truck!  Make sure you bring a cooler of cold drinks and a sweater in case it gets chilly in the evening.

Or you can leave the driving to us!  The LINK bus will be running for free all evening!  For the schedule check out our website www.hunterdon300th.org or just click on this LINK link:  http://www.hunterdon300th.org/events/Fireworks-August7th.pdf

LINDBERGH HOUSE TOURS: Friday, August 8:  Sorry, sold out!

ELIZABETH GILBERT:  ALMOST SOLD OUT! GET YOUR FREE TICKETS NOW on our website for Saturday, August 9!

The last of our Three Part Series on the historical aspects of the Office of the Surrogate, this one on the PROBATE PROCESS is on Wednesday, August 13 -- tickets still available on our website.

And our last concert of 2014 is on 8/14:  we are ending the concert series with a big bang:  or is that long bangs?  BEATLEMANIA is coming to Deer Path at 7 pm!  More on this next week!

FINAL FUN for this Blog entry:  a new link on our home page!  If you were one of the unlucky ones who did not snag a 300 Fun Facts Calendar this year, you can now access the facts, sans calendar dates, by clicking on the icon on the 300 Fun Facts About Hunterdon County picture -- our great friend, County Historian John Kuhl created the facts for us and we've brought them as a link to you that you can read at your leisure.  If you DO have the calendar, tomorrow, August 4th, is this blogger's favorite entry..... hmmmm..... Some of you may remember this tease during the 300 Fun Facts lectures offered back in the beginning of our celebratory year!  No peaking until tomorrow, August 4th!


Monday, July 28, 2014

FREE!! A NIGHT AT THE OPERA PLUS A PREVIEW OF OUR LAST TWO CONCERTS

JULY 31: 
At one time, Hunterdon County was home to FOUR opera houses -- in Flemington (the last to close in the mid 1940s), Lambertville, High Bridge and Clinton.  As part of the 300th's retrospective of 300 years of music heard in Hunterdon, we are bringing you a special concert at Deer Path Park this Thursday, July 31.  A magical night of OPERA:  Colatura Soprano Susan Whitenack and Tenor Steven Snow will be joined by their friends, pianist Rosetta Bacon, Soprano Madeleine Evarts, and Bass Gabriie Gonzalez for a night of beautiful voices and music.  Their program follows below:

PROGRAM 
Opening Duet and Ensemble: “Libiamo” from La Traviata, Verdi 
Aria: “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi, Puccini 
Aria: “Una furtiva lagrima” from L’Elisir d’Amore, Donizetti 
Duet: “Barcarolle” from The Tales of Hoffmann, Offenbach 
Aria: “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” from The Land of Smiles, Lehar 
Aria: “Musetta’s Waltz” from La Boheme, Puccini 
Duet: “My Heart is So Full of You” from The Most Happy Fella, Loesser 
 
INTERMISSION 

Aria: “Be My Love” from The Toast of New Orleans, Brodszky-Cahn 
Aria: “Think Of Me” from The Phantom of the Opera, Webber 
Duet: “All I Ask of You” from The Phantom of the Opera, Webber 
Aria: “Adele’s Laughing Song” from Die Fledermaus, Strauss 
Aria: “Nessun dorma” from Turandot, Puccini 
Duet: “You Are Love” from Show Boat, Hammerstein, Kern 
Finale Duet and Ensemble: “Champagne” from Die Fledermaus, Strauss 

AUGUST 7:
Join us for a fun night of SWINGING and dancing under the stars with Vince Petinelli's Orchestra.  Following the performance, the FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR that was delayed on July 3rd will go off with all of its sparkling, exploding power and glory!  Please arrive early with your picnic dinner or take our family friendly LINK bus service to avoid the congestion of parking at Deer Path Park on August 7th.  Please see our website for details at www.hunterdon300th.org.

AUGUST 14:
In celebration of the Beatles coming to the United States for their first appearance 50 years ago the 300th presents the original Broadway cast of BEATLEMANIA!  Three costume changes and a spectacular light show will surely enhance the experience and make sure you are right there with the Fab Four in '64!  Please note that this is a program change from the original brochure and program guide put out by the County Division of Parks and Recreation earlier this year.

THESE EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!  

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

TAVERN TOUR TYPO CORRECTION, JERSEY SHADES AND OUR SUMMER SALES SPECIAL!

TTT= TAVERN TOUR TYPO!
JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT OUR LAST BLOG ON TAVERN TOURS WAS TERRIFIC -- WE WERE ALERTED OF A TAVERN TOUR TYPO!  PLEASE NOTE THE GLEN GARDNER FABULOUS TOUR IS NOT SEPTEMBER 21 (SUNDAY) BUT SEPTEMBER 20TH (SATURDAY).... MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW AND WHEN THIS BLOGGER HAS MORE INFO ON TICKET ACQUISITION IT SHALL BE SO NOTED HERE FIRST!

FREE CONCERT UNDER THE STARS:
THURSDAY NIGHT, JULY 24 THE FABULOUS 50S COMES TO DEER PATH PARK IN THE 300TH'S RETROSPECTIVE OF MUSIC HEARD IN HUNTERDON OVER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.... NO BOBBY SOCKS, POODLE SKIRTS OR SADDLE SHOES REQUIRED! JUST BRING YOUR COOLER, BLANKET OR CHAIRS AND A FUN ATTITUDE!  SHOW STARTS AT 7 PM.

SSS = SUMMER SALES SPECIAL!
FYI, OUR NEW HUNTERDON COUNTY FLAG DESK SET HAS ARRIVED!  EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A COUNTY FLAG FOR OUR TRICENTENNIAL..... SO WE ARE RUNNING A SUMMER SPECIAL:  BUY ANY 300TH T-SHIRT AND GET THE FLAG FOR FREE --  THIS FLAG SHOULD BE SELLING FOR $5, BUT WE WILL BE SELLING THEM, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, FOR 300 PENNIES!  WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF T-SHIRTS -- SIZES SMALL THROUGH 3XL AND PLENTY OF FLAGS AT THE CONCERT TOMORROW NIGHT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO GIVE OUT OUR FAMOUS 300TH BUG BANDS TO HELP KEEP THE SKEETOS AWAY WHILE SUPPLIES LAST AND ON THE CONDITION YOU SAY "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HUNTERDON COUNTY!"

TAVERN TOURISTS: THIS BLOG IS FOR YOU!

Because our Tavern Tours have become one of our most popular events we have had this year, this blog is devoted entirely to changes on our Tavern Tour Calendar: notably additions and substitutions.  

For you Tavern Tourists who line up outside the Choir School to make sure you snag your tickets, we are announcing an addition to our calendar with ONE HUNDRED tickets as well as one new tavern addition! 


AUGUST 21:
NEW! AN EVENING AT THE FRENCHTOWN INN: THE HISTORIC TAVERNS OF NJ
A Tavern Tour on steroids!  Join New Jersey tavern historian and expert Dennis Bertland for an evening of fabulous hors d'oeurves from the Frenchtown Inn's kitchen with wine to compliment the fare. 
The Tricentennial Committee takes over the Frenchtown Inn for a wonderful evening of food, drink, fellowship and even a presentation on New Jersey's historic taverns!
Although some seating will be available, consider this event more like a "business casual" cocktail party for the most part -- talk, mingle, eat, drink, wander!
Several wine stations will be available and servers will pass hors d'oeurvres throughout the evening. In the Inn's back "River Room," historian and tavern expert Dennis Bertland will present his video "The Historic Taverns of New Jersey" as well as a discussion on NJ tavern history.
$75 PER PERSON AND INCLUDES WINE.
The Frenchtown Inn, Bridge St, Frenchtown
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
100 tickets available beginning August 2nd at the Choir School on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm, at Tricentennial official events, or by special arrangement by calling (908) 788-2030 while tickets last.

SEPTEMBER 21:
HISTORIC TAVERN MENU, VIDEO AND PERFORMANCE AT THE GLEN GARDNER INN (circa 1760) This Tavern Tour is being HOSTED BY THE BOROUGH OF GLEN GARDNER rather than the Hunterdon Tricentennial Committee as original planned.   We are very happy that this is one of two Special Municipal Partner events on September 21 by Glen Gardner.  Please see our calendar for information on their Municipal Open House.
Enjoy an historic menu and drink (cash bar will be available) in one of Hunterdon's finest historic inns (reported to have the honor of holding the oldest liquor license in the same location in the state of New Jersey).  View a video of historic Glen Gardner photos and be a part of a live 1956 interview with William Banghart, Station Agent for the Glen Gardner railroad station.  
$40 PER PERSON
161 Main Street, Glen Gardner
2 seatings are available: 
12 pm & 1:30 pm
60 people maximum per seating

PLEASE NOTE:  RESERVATION INFORMATION TO BE ANNOUNCED; THE TRICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE WILL NOT BE TICKETING THIS EVENT!!


OCTOBER 11:
NEW!TAVERN TOUR - NATIONAL HOTEL, FRENCHTOWN
Enjoy a wonderful meal in one of Hunterdon's finest historic inns. while a special guest lecturer provides information on the early history of Frenchtown.
Details coming soon! 
12 pm - 3 pm 
$40 PER PERSON
Limited seating.

NOVEMBER 8:
HISTORIC MENU, TAVERN TOUR AND LECTURE AT THE TEWKSBURY INNEnjoy a wonderful meal in one of Hunterdon's fine historic inns while listening to a Special Guest Lecturer.  NEW! The 300th is partnering with Zion Lutheran Church, celebrating it's 300th year, to make this an extra special event!
$40 PER PERSON
55 Old Turnpike Road, Oldwick
Maximum of 40 People
12 pm - 3 pm

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

CONCERT SPECIAL, FAMILY FRIENDLY FREE FARM FUN, AND AUGUST TICKETS!

IT WOULDN'T BE A RETROSPECTIVE OF MUSIC HEARD IN HUNTERDON COUNTY OVER 300 YEARS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF COUNTRY!

TOMORROW NIGHT WE HAVE A SPECIAL TREAT -- TRACY LEE & THE RAVINE ROAD BAND
The Tracy Lee Band is a Lehigh Valley, PA - based top 40 & classic country rock cover band, fronted by popular female country vocalist, Tracy Lee. Tracy Lee and Ravine Road bring a unique mix of current and classic female country music, and has the ability to turn it up a notch, and deliver some energetic classic rock performances to their live show.

And to add a little more fun to the event we are offering a Concert Goers Special at our Sales Table tomorrow night -- what? you ask.... well, you'll have to be at there at the concert to find out!  

TRY SAYING THIS THREE TIMES FAST:  Sunday, July 27th from 10 am to 4 pm, the 300th has partnered up with our friends at the Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead -- the location of not only an amazing museum of our agricultural heritage but also the location of perhaps the oldest structure still standing in Hunterdon County -- for their annual Farm Fest -- we've underwritten the event so the event is  FREE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.... 

FAMILY FRIENDLY FREE FARM FUN! 
FAMILY FRIENDLY FREE FARM FUN! 
FAMILY FRIENDLY FREE FARM FUN! (so much easier to type it than say it! but even easier to ENJOY it!). 

Some of the fun events and demonstrations include crafters demonstrating the everyday existence skills needed to survive in the 1700 and 1800s including:  Blacksmithing • Basket Making • Colonial Outdoor Cooking • Flax Breaking • Rug Hooking • The Lost Art of Lace Making  Old Time Hand Quilting • Wool Spinners at the Wheel • Chair Canning • Bee Keeping • Coopering Buckets •Rope Twisting • Herb Garden Display 

Children's events include: Hoops • Quill Pen Writing and More • Petting Zoo Live • Ice Cream Making 

There will also be a Draft Horse Field Exhibition, weather permitting, from noon to 4 pm with Field Mowing, an open stable area and "Big Pony" Draft Horse Rides for both adults and children!  HOW FUN IS THAT!

AUGUST TICKETS -- Dog Days of Summer won't keep our birthday celebration down!  We have some really cool (like ice cream) and hot (like author Elizabeth Gilbert) events!


Ice Cream Social for Teens and Tweens:  On August 3rd we offer up on a hot, Hot, HOT day a very cool event for our Teens and Tweens -- a good old fashioned Ice Cream Social.  That's right -- in the Victorian Era park in Flemington behind the Historic Courthouse, one hundred 10 to 18 year olds will be treated to ice cream sodas, Make Your Own Sundaes and really fun lawn games. Hosted by the Dairy Princess and 4H Leadership, kids can cool down on a hot day with treats supplied by our Super Sponsor Shop Rite!  

August 6th is Just In Time for August 20th!:  What could be more appropriate in early August than a talk about the History of Hunterdon County's Fair -- not that long ago "The Flemington Fair."  Terry Wright, a member of the Fair Committee, will not only talk about the Fair, but also provide us with a wonderful powerpoint presentation of historic pictures of the Fair.  Some of these pictures have not been seen in decades.  Talk about Hunterdon having the WRIGHT Stuff!

Hunterdon Has the WRITE Stuff!  On August 9th, Hunterdon Resident, best selling author, business owner and world traveler Elizabeth Gilbert has agreed to do a special lecture entitled "Big Magic" and booksigning for the 300th.  She will give a fascinating talk about the process she went through when writing her last book "The Signature of All Things" and discuss how living in Frenchtown and Hunterdon County has inspired her projects. 

On August 13, County Surrogate Susan Hoffman concludes her three part series with an interesting discussion about the history and importance of the probate process. If you haven't been to one of Susan's talks yet, don't miss this one -- she is smart, witty and has incredible knowledge on the historical documents held by her office.

Another Fun Free Family Event falls on Saturday afternoon, August 16th when Gordon Thomas Ward brings us Story Songs of History.  Gordon has researched lost story songs -- many with historic topics about the railroads of Hunterdon and environs, the Lenape Indians and the Revolutionary War -- and brings them back to life.  

We take a break for the Fair (visit us there!) and take our sales table back on the road for our final official event for the Summer is on August 26th for a fascinating lecture by Kingwood Historian Sal DeSapio who will talk about the Lenape Indians who resided in Kingwood.  We have had many requests from lecture goers wanting more information on the Lenapes in Hunterdon and how the land was acquired from them -- here's your chance to find out and learn more!

Tickets for all of the above events are FREE and available on-line through our website www.hunterdon300th.org and Eventbrite or at the home of the Tricetennial, The Flemington Choir School, 3 Chorister Place in Flemington every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm.




Wednesday, July 9, 2014

MUsic and MUseums for Your AMUSEMENT!

Mid July already!!!???! Where has the time gone?  The Tricentennial Committee keeps moving along organizing new events and lectures (we've added several already to the calendar for this fall and winter!).  MUsing over the last 6 months, we realize how busy we have been!  Summer means slow down, take it easy, nice drives, outdoor concerts, picnic..... You can do all of those things with us over the next week!  For your aMUsement we have our own 300th version of slowing down:

MUSIC:  In a salute to turn of the 20th Century music heard in Hunterdon County, the Hunterdon Harmonizers will perform mostly traditional Barbarshop Quartet music on Thursday, July 10th at 7 pm at Deer Path Park.  

Following a brief intermission, at 8 pm, brass band music will be featured. Hunterdon County census data from the early 1900s lists a number of people's occupations as "Brass Band Musician."  

Under the baton of Conductor Dr. Stephan Arthur Allen, the Princeton Brass Band, founded in 2004, will delight concert goers with an hour long performance of music for all generations.  The Princeton Brass Band is the 2013 Champion Band of North America (NABBA) and is one of the leading creative and artistic forces in the growing North American brass band scene.

See their award winning performance at 


Concert Attendees visiting the Hunterdon Tricentennial tent will receive a birthday present in celebration of Hunterdon's 300th while supplies last!
 
MUSEUMS:  Happy Birthday, Hunterdon!  To celebrate our County's history, on Sundays July 13th and July 20th, most of the museums of Hunterdon County will be open and free to the public frOm noon until 4 pm; some wilL be open earlier or be open until 5 pm.  

A brochure listing each museum, their photograph, a description and address will be available at all museums.  Visitors may go to any one as a starting point, receive a brochure and then visit several museums each afternoon.  Your blogger suggests planning a "South County museum crawl" one day and a "North Crawl"  on the other Sunday to maximize this amazing opportunity.  

Some of the museums participating include:

 Alexandria, The Prevost House 
Annandale, 1759 Vought House 
Califon, The Station at Califon 
Clinton, Hunterdon Art Museum 
Clinton, Red Mill Museum Village 
Flemington, Doric House 
Flemington, Samuel Fleming House 
Flemington, Choir School 
Flemington, Historic Courthouse 
High Bridge, Solitude House 
Lebanon Township, Township of Lebanon Museum 
Kingwood, Oak Summit School 
Lambertville, James Wilson Marshall House 
Lambertville, Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead 
Raritan, Case-DVoor Farm 
Readington, Readington Township Museums 
Ringoes, Black River & Western Railroad 
Stockton, Prallsville Mills 
Tewksbury, Tewksbury Historical Society 
Union, Union Forge Heritage Assn, Solitude Heritage Museum 
 
FYI, the Tricentennial's headquarters, The Flemington Choir School, is also participating and you can pick up a brochure there as well on Sunday at noon as your starting point if you are in the area!

Looking for August tickets?  They should be available next week!