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!