The 300th is announcing that we will be holding a high quality annual lecture/event series based around a single theme. This year's theme -- our kickoff year -- is a no brainer for Hunterdon's heritage: AGRICULTURE.
OUR KICKOFF LECTURE IS ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH at the Main Branch of the County Library at 7 pm. County Historian Stephanie Stevens starts us off right with a lecture on her newest book "Tillers of the Soil." This book celebrates the families who have worked the farms of Hunterdon County for two to ten generations. We have not been able to keep the book in stock and hope to have plenty to sell at the lecture. Reservations are required through our website www.hunterdon300th.org or by calling us at (908) 788-2030.
We'll be announcing additional lectures and events in the near future which may include a countywide barn tour with nationally recognized barn expert Jeffrey Marshall from the Heritage Conservancy, a vineyard tour with historical musicians, the Enslows, playing 18th century drinking songs (how fun!), a lecture on Hunterdon's agricultural innovations, an old-fashioned 4-H historical children's craft project and bringing back some of our over subscribed and "sold out" lectures from last year, just to mention a few ideas we're working on.
We hope to also offer the countywide Museum Open House as we did last year. The date or dates are to be determined, but our Project Managers have generously offered to coordinate that wonderful event again.
Finally, the 300th's website is up and running and we hope you will use it to find countywide heritage events provided by the County's municipal Historical Commissions as well as the many museums and historical sites here. The website is a wonderful shared service provided by the Board of Chosen Freeholders and the 300th's partnership. In fact, we're happy to announce the following events:
- East Amwell Historical Society will be holding a discussion on the African-American presence in the Sourland Mountains in honor of Black History Month on February 22nd at the East Amwell Municipal Building; the event is $5 per person and does not require reservations.
- Tewksbury Township Historical Society is doing an Encore of the 300th's Tavern Tour at the Tewksbury Inn on February 28th at noon. This event was sold out last year with a waiting list. There are only 40 tickets available at a cost of $45 per person for a three course meal and a fabulous lecture by Society President Shaun Van Doren on the history of Smithfield, New Germantown, Oldwick. Additional information including how to make a reservation is on our website (www.hunterdon300th.org).
- Our great friend and 300th Board Secretary, County Clerk Mary Melfi, will be hosting another round of Searching the Search Room on March 21st from 9 am to 1 pm in the Search Room at 71 Main Street, Flemington (the Hall of Records building). The event is free but requires reservations through the 300th's website or by calling us (908 788-2030) as it is limited to 30 people. As we hear of additional heritage events throughout the county we shall be adding them to our calendar.
We hope you miss us as much as we miss you and we're excited that we will be seeing you soon!
