Tuesday, August 11, 2015

SIZZLING SEPTEMBER HERITAGE EVENTS AND AUGUST OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE!

FIRST, A PLUG TO SOME FABULOUS EVENTS IN AUGUST WITH SEATING/SPACE STILL AVAILABLE!

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12TH -- WE HAVE SEATS AVAILABLE!!  :  300TH LECTURE:  HUNTERDON'S AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES AND INNOVATIONS.  If you followed our 2014 "300 Fun Facts About Hunterdon County", you'll remember that the first artificial insemination of a cow happened in Hunterdon and the first live shipment of chicks came from Hunterdon. And let's not forget about the Deats Plow and all of the great work that is being done in Pittstown at the Snyder Research Farm. Join county historian John Kuhl for a brand new lecture and power point presentation on these topics and so much more. This lecture is free but reservations are strongly recommended from our website www.hunterdon300th.org.  John is a favorite of our lectures' attendees!

This is a companion lecture to a special event we are planning at the Snyder Research Farm on August 26th. See below for details.

WENDESDAY, AUGUST 19TH THRU SUNDAY, AUGUST 22ND:  HUNTERDON AGRICULTURAL AND 4-H FAIR -- 10 am to 10 pm Wednesday thru Saturday; 10 am to 5 pm Sunday. Opening Ceremonies Wednesday afternoon. Tractor pulls, animals galore, rides, games, attractions, live entertainment, amusements, racing piglets, funnel cake, cotton candy, and enough food to make Templeton the Rat happy. Need we say more?

WE ALSO HAVE A FEW TICKETS LEFT (WHAT A SURPRISE!!) FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26TH: THE GREAT TOMATO TASTING EARLY BIRD SPECIAL!   The Hunterdon 300th has made special arrangements with Rutgers. 40 lucky people who grab our Early Bird tickets will be able to enter the annual Great Tomato Tasting at the Clifford E. and Melda C. Snyder Research Farm early and receive a special lecture prior to the tasting event! We meet at 1:45 pm at the Research Farm in Pittstown and promptly board 2 hay wagons at 2 pm which will take our group for a private tour of the Research Farm where you will hear the history of the 390 acre farm, the Snyders' amazing contributions to agriculture and their community, and Mrs. Snyder's amazing and generous donation to Rutgers University's Cook College.

Following the tour and talk, you are on your own to taste all of the fabulous tomatoes that are grown at the Research Farm as well as the other fruit and produce selections available.

Starting with the actual tomato tasting, this year there will be more than 60 heirloom and hybrid varieties of beefsteak, plum, cherry, and grape tomatoes to sample. Other produce, as well as varieties of basil and honey, will be available.

Activities will include a chef’s cooking demonstration and tasting, guided educational wagon tours of the farm’s research plots, visits to the farm’s gardens with opportunities to ask questions and get answers, insect displays, information booths on various foods grown in the Garden State, and much more.

One highlight will be the Melda C. Snyder Teaching Garden which showcases demonstration plots of deer tolerant ornamentals; ethnic greens; blueberries, hazelnuts, dogwoods, and hollies from the Rutgers breeding programs; a turf labyrinth; an “apple wall” featuring the Experiment Station Tree Fruit Breeding Program for home orchards; and fun family farm photo opportunities. New this year will be a “sunflower pyramid,” a display of various varieties of sunflowers of different heights and sizes that form a living pyramid.

Rutgers faculty and staff and Rutgers Master Gardeners, whose hard work preparing for this popular event makes it possible, will be on hand to answer gardening questions.

The Great Tomato Tasting opens to the general public at 3 pm, so our early-bird arrival guarantees us the best parking and an early spot in the lines at the tables. Stay for the entire event or leave at your leisure!

Limited to 40 people. 

PLEASE NOTE:  THERE IS A $7 RESERVATION FEE FOR THE EVENT DUE IMMEDIATELY UPON MAKING YOUR TICKET ORDER; THE 300TH WILL PAY CONFIRMED TICKET HOLDERS' FEE INTO THE EVENT AT THE SNYDER RESEARCH FARM. PLEASE MAIL TO OR DROP YOUR CHECK OFF THRU OUR MAIL SLOT AT THE HUNTERDON 300TH, C/O THE FLEMINGTON CHOIR SCHOOL, 3 CHORISTER PLACE, FLEMINGTON, NJ 08822. CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO THE HUNTERDON 300TH. YOUR TICKET ORDER WILL BE CONFIRMED UPON RECEIPT OF PAYMENT.

Tickets Required and may be gotten from our website 
www.hunterdon300th.org.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH: LENAPE PROGRAM. As part of Readington Museums' summer lecture series, Susan Plaisted, proprietress of Heart to Hearth Cookery, a food history business based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, conducts a program about our local Native American tribe, the Lenni Lenape. Plaisted holds a B.S. in food and nutrition and an M.S. in health education. Her specialty is American and Native American food during the Colonial Period. Refreshments Served; Donations appreciated and accepted.

Call 908-236-2327 or email the museum at readingtonmuseums@gmail.com

NOW FOR SEPTEMBER'S GREAT HERITAGE EVENTS!

IF YOU WERE ONE OF THE HUNTERDON TRICENTENNIAL TAVERN TOURISTAS, ONE OF THE COMMENTS WE HEARD A LOT WAS "WHAT ABOUT PERIOD FOOD"? WE PROVIDED A BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC TAVERN WITH A SPECIAL LECTURE, BUT THE FOOD WAS PURE 21ST CENTURY.  WELL, HAVE WE GOT A FOODIE SERIES FOR THOSE OF YOU WANTING AUTHENTIC PERIOD GOODIES....

EVERY THURSDAY IN SEPTEMBER, OUR SPECIAL PARTNER, TEABERRY'S TEA ROOM WILL BE OFFERING:  HUNTERDON DINING THROUGH THE AGES.  SEPTEMBER 3RD:  THE 18TH CENTURY; SEPTEMBER 10TH:  THE 19TH CENTURY; SEPTEMBER 17TH, THE 20TH CENTURY; SEPTEMBER 26TH, THE 21ST CENTURY.  IN CELEBRATION OF HUNTERDON'S AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE, TEABERRY'S IS PREPARING SPECIAL FARM TO TABLE DINNERS!
What better way to celebrate Hunterdon's Agricultural Heritage than with a wonderful four part culinary series created by the 300th's special partner Teaberry's Tea Room in Flemington?!  Chef Susan Peterson creates authentic historically accurate dinners highlighting local produce.  Each week, guests will be delighted with a full, three course dinner from a different century in Hunterdon's history.  Come to one or come to all!  For further information or reservations, contact Teaberry's at  (908) 788-1010 or visit theTeaberry's Website

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH:  HISTORIC HOUSE TOUR Presented by the Flemington Historic Preservation Commission runs from 12 noon to 5pm.  The tour begins at the Doric House, Main Street, Flemington.  This year's tour will consist of five distinctive private residences and three iconic public buildings, all providing a view into the various and eclectic architecture which abounds in our charming borough.  All will offer features that are of historical significance to Flemington.  In addition to the homeowners and their friends, several docents and a lead docent will be placed in each of the homes to provide information and directions to the visitors.  For further information, contact the Flemington Historic Preservation Commission.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH:  2ND ANNUAL CEMETERY "CEMENER": Early Burial Grounds in Hunterdon County will be held from 11 am to 4:30 pm at the Flemington Presbyterian Church, 10 East Main Street in Flemington.  The Hunterdon County Historical Society in partnership with the 300th presents a fascinating day talking about this grave topic. Delaware Townships Historian Emerita, Marfy Goodspeed, will deliver the keynote on those disappearing burial grounds that every old farm in Hunterdon had once upon a "pre-development" time.  

Authors of "New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones History in the Landscape", Dr. Richard Veit and Mark Nonestied will be the afternoon's featured speakers followed by a panel discussion on how to protect and preserve ancient farm burial grounds. The panel discussion will include the following people: Former State Senator Marcia Karrow, JoAnne Byrnes, Esq, Planner Frank Banisch, Mt. Amwell Project founder Dave Reading & a yet to be named cemetery owner. 

Afterwards, there will be a number of break-out sessions in the cemetery on various topics including both Revolutionary and Civil War veterans' graves, how to clean and restore headstones, how to properly light headstones for photographing, and the State DEP will demonstrate the use of Ground Penetrating Radar. Breakout session leaders include historians John Kuhl, Leslie & Bob Leith, John Allen, John O'Brien and from the State DEP Michelle Kuhn & Mike Gagliano. 

The day will be moderated and hosted by Hunterdon County Historical Society President Charlie Fisher -- it's only a coincidence that he is also the director of a funeral parlor.... or is it?
 
Come and go as you please; come for the lectures, the panel discussion, the Cemetery Tours or just to come to meet and greet like-minded people; or stay for the day.

PLEASE NOTE:  THERE IS A $10 REGISTRATION FEE WHICH COVERS ALL SNACKS AND A SANDWICH LUNCH. PLEASE MAIL TO OR DROP YOUR CHECK OFF THROUGH OUR MAIL SLOT AT THE HUNTERDON 300TH, C/O THE FLEMINGTON CHOIR SCHOOL, 3 CHORISTER PLACE, FLEMINGTON, NJ 08822.  CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO THE HUNTERDON HISTORIC SOCIETY.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH:  A TOUR OF HUNTERDON'S RURAL HERITAGE THROUGH THE ART OF DAN CAMPANELLI download flyer -- Join us for a unique powerpoint "tour" of some of Hunterdon's most special landmarks as we travel through our rural roads via artist Dan Campanelli's beautiful watercolor paintings.  Narrated by Dan and his wife, Marty, we will hear the history behind some of Hunterdon's most beloved architecture including barns, mills and farmhouses.  Dan and Marty Campanelli are highly regarded historians, having published several books on various aspects of Hunterdon's history.  Most recently, the Campanellis curated an exhibition on New Jersey's most historic samplers at Morven Museum where their companion tome on the subject sold out.  The event is at the Main Branch of the County Library at 3pm.  The event is free, but reservations are strongly recommended by visiting our website at www.hunterdon300th.org.  Refreshments will be available. 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH:  WHAT THE HECK IS LINSEY-WOOLSEY?!  A TRULY FASCINATING TOPIC ABOUT AN IMPORTANT HERITAGE CROP THAT CLOTHED OUR HUNTERDON ANCESTORS.  
Flax Spinning Demonstration and Talk on the History of Flax by Expert Spinner, Betty Oldenburg at the Holcombe Jimison Farmstead in Lambertville at 1pm.   The event is free but reservations are required by visiting our website at www.hunterdon300th.org.  

IF YOU ARE PART OF A HUNTERDON HISTORIC OR HERITAGE ORGANIZATION AND WOULD LIKE YOUR EVENTS PUBLISHED ON OUR CALENDAR AND BLOGGED, PLEASE EMAIL US AT 300INFO@CO.HUNTERDON.NJ.US