Friday, January 1, 2016

302nd FUN FACT AND OUR BIG 2016 CALENDAR REVEAL: A REVOLUTIONARY YEAR IN HUNTERDON!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  As Hunterdon County celebrates our 302nd year, here is our 302nd FUN FACT!:

The very first litter of the dog breed "Swedish Vallhund" (Vastagotaspets) born in the United States occurred in Delaware Township in 1989; it was shown in rare dog breed shows under the "Spitz-like" category.  The breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club in 2007 and is shown in the Herding Breed Class.  The winner of last year's Westminister Best of Breed lives in West Milford, NJ.  The breed is still not widely known and only one, to the knowledge of your blogger, resides in Hunterdon County (in Flemington Borough); if you know of any others in Hunterdon, please share!

Fyi, last year's 301st Fun Fact which revealed that Julia and Paul Child were married in Hunterdon County, was further researched by Delaware Township Historian Emerita, Marfy Goodspeed, who confirmed that they were married in Stockon at what was then a private home and is now the Woolverton Inn.

THE 300TH IS PROUD TO PRESENT AN EXCITING CALENDAR OF EVENTS, TOURS AND LECTURES AROUND OUR 2016 THEME "THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN HUNTERDON COUNTY" AS OUR COUNTRY CELEBRATES OUR 240TH ANNIVERSARY!  

For further details on any event, please check our website.  Also, please note that there are still a few additional events in the works that will be added throughout the year.  As a receiver of our blog, you'll be the first to know!  All events, lectures and tours require reservations to be made via our website www.hunterdon300th.org or by calling us at (908) 788-2030.

 THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN HUNTERDON COUNTY

February 16:  "Black Slaves and Soldiers in the American Revolution" with Fred Minus, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm (Snow Date, 2/23).

March 8:  "History Mapping the American Revolution in New Jersey" with John Allen, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm (Snow Date 3/15).

March 12:  Children's Historical Craft Project: Corn Husk Toys, Lenape Medicine Pouch, and More! with Janice Armstrong and Friends, Main Branch of the County Library, 10 am (will be rescheduled if the Library is closed due to snow).

March 29:  "Military Uniforms and Armaments of the Revolutionary War in Hunterdon" with Sal DeSapio, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm (Snow Date 5/10) .

April 9:  Hearth Cooking Demonstration, Luncheon and live Colonial music with Chef Margaret Quinn, Host Roger Byrom, and the Enslows, Headquarters Farm, Delaware Township, 1:30 am, fee to be determined (Snow Date, April 16).

April 19:  "Daily Life in 1776: What was 18th Century’s Charmin? and More Answers to Questions You Never Asked!"  with Lady Ellen, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm.

April 26:  "History Thru Art: 1700s Mural Panel Revolutionary War Icons in Detail­" with Stephanie Stevens, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm.

April 30:  Children’s Chat and Play:  A Child's Life in the Days of George Washington and Games of the 18th Century, with Karen Larsen, Main Branch of the County Library, 10 am.

May 17:  "Pittstown During the American Revolution" with Stephanie Stevens, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm.

May 21:  Tour and Luncheon at Washington Crossing State Parks, with Peter Osborne; details forthcoming.

June 7:  "Washington’s Crossings and Battles in Hunterdon" with Richard Patterson, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm.

June 11:  "Hunterdon Takes Back Trenton" Bus Tour with Stephanie Stevens and Richard Patterson, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, fee and details to be announced.

June 14:  "Flags of the American Revolution" with Richard Pierce, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm.

July 23:  Children’s Colonial Activity Day at the Red Mill for Children Ages 6 to 12, noon to 4 pm, $5 per child.

September 6:  History Mapping:  “Washington Slept Here” with Marilyn Cummings, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm.

September 13:  "The Potterstown Skirmish" with Chip Riddle, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm. 

September 17:  "The Fate of Hunterdon Loyalists" with Todd Braisted, Clinton Township Middle School, 10 am; a tour of the 1759 Vought House follows (donation requested).

October 8:  "The Lowery's Town & Country:  A Talk and Graveyard Tour in the Country" with Sal DeSapio, Details to be announced.

October 16:  "The Lowery’s Town & Country:  A British High Tea in Town" with Susan Peterson and the Enslows, Teaberry's Tea Room, 6 pm, details and fee to be announced.

October 18:  “Layers of History”:  An 18th Century Women’s Fashion Show with Lady Ellen, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm.

October 23:  "Love, Death and Desertion:  Hunterdon’s Revolutionary War Soldiers’ Pension Records Revealed” with Marfy Goodspeed, Main Branch of the County Library, 2 pm.

November 1:  “Signs of the Times:  Hunterdon Taverns & the Placards that Attracted Patrons" with Dan and Marty Campanelli, Main Branch of the County Library, 2 pm.

November 5:  Revolutionary War Cemetery Tour South with Dave Harding, details forthcoming.

November 12:  Revolutionary War Cemetery Tour North with John Allen, details forthcoming.

November 29:  "The Architectural and Industrial History of 18th Century 'Clinton Township'" with Michael Margulies and Paul Muir, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm (tentative).

December 3:  "The Skirmish of Geary’s Ridge" with Chip Riddle, Main Branch of the County Library, 7 pm.

December Date and Details TBA:  Re-Enactment of the Skirmish of Geary's Ridge at Geary's Ridge, Raritan Township.

THE 300TH CORPORATE BOARD AND VOLUNTEERS WISH YOU AND YOURS A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2016 AND A REVOLUTIONARY YEAR!