Wednesday, September 6, 2017

3 TALKS ADDED!: HUNTERDON AND 9/11; MEET A 2017 WEST JERSEY PROPRIETOR; REVOLUTIONARY WAR GHOSTS


THE HUNTERDON 300TH IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE ADDITION OF THREE NEW TALKS TO OUR FALL LINEUP!  RESERVATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED AND ARE REQUIRED FOR TWO OF THE ADDED EVENTS.

GET TICKETS VIA OUR WEBSITE WWW.HUNTERDON300TH.ORG OR BY CALLING US AT (908) 788-2030:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH:  AWOSSAGAME GROVE: HUNTERDON COUNTY AND 9/11:  September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten, but few in Hunterdon County are aware of Awossagame Grove and its connection to that terrible day.

This grove is dedicated to the residents of Hunterdon County who were lost on September 11th, 2001. “Awossagame” is the Lenape word that means “heaven” or “a sacred place.” Twenty trees were planted in the grove shortly after the tragedy, but at the time the number of victims had not been confirmed. Later, sixteen of the trees were dedicated, one for each county resident lost. A stone monument reads “To plant a tree is to trust in the future.” Five Arrowwood Viburnum bushes planted in the grove represented the five points of the Pentagon. Four benches along the riverbank symbolize the four planes that were lost that tragic day.

As the United States' War on Terror enters its 17th year, join former Freeholder Marcia Karrow for a walk into the grove to learn about the symbolism and history of the grove as we remember the horrific event of terrorism on American soil and Hunterdon County's outreach to our victims' families.

47 KICENIUK ROAD, ANNANDALE, NJ 08801

Awossame Grove is part of the Sunnyside Picnic Area.  Please note that to get to the grove, you will have to walk approximately 2/10 of a mile and that there are no restroom facilities are available.

3 guided tours with limited space are available:  10 am, noon and 2 pm.  When ordering your tickets at our webside (on Eventbrite), please make sure you select your preferred time.

Free.  RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15TH:  WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A WEST JERSEY PROPRIETOR IN 2017:  Join David Reading, a direct descendant of Governor John Reading (his Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandson to be exact!) for a most interesting talk on the West Jersey Proprietors, the original owners of half of New Jersey, including Hunterdon County.  New Jersey was divided in 1686 (called the Keith Line after the surveyor who drew it) and West and East Jersey were created.  Each side was controlled by a trustDavid was JUST elected to the West Jersey Proprietors!  Yes, they still exist!!  He will give a little history of the early history of the Proprietors and why a council of them formed and what they did in their early history and end with what they are doing now.

Main Branch of the County Library.  2 pm.  Free.  Refreshments follow.  Reservations recommended.

JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24TH:  THE SPIRITS OF 1776:  NEW JERSEY GHOST STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION:  Psychic Jane Doherty has visited many New Jersey Revolutionary War sites including Spy House in Port Monmouth, Proprietary House in Perth Amboy and others.  She will share her personal revelations and psychic connections in these places as well as tell the stories of other haunted 18th century Revolutionary War sites such as the Tennant Church in Manalapan and the Flanders Hookerman Tavern in Flanders.

A fun, educational and creepy pre-Halloween night talk as the Psychic discusses why there are hauntings in these places!

7 pm.  Main Branch of the County Library.  Free.  Refreshments Follow.

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.

RESERVATIONS NOW ALSO BEING ACCEPTED ON THESE FOLLOWING FALL PROGRAMS -- 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH:  The Effect of the American Civil War on an Agricultural Community:  While the Civil War ended in 1865, it affected the country for many decades to follow. This presentation by John Allen demonstrates this, focusing on East Amwell Township,  a typical farming community in the County. It draws examples and conclusions from many available sources, including the 1870 Federal Census, the 1890 Federal Veterans Census, and John Kuhl’s very thorough book “Hunterdon County in the Civil War".  Free.  Route 12 County Library, Flemington.  7pm.  Refreshments follow.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD:  Cemetery Cemener with the Hunterdon Historical Society:   The Evolving Burial Practices for Our Mortally Wounded:  Sponsored by the Hunterdon County Historical Society and the 300th Committee, this year’s seminar and meet and greet, “Hunterdon County at War:  The Home Front” will explore the question fo how our fallen heroes were honored or neglected, handled or mishandled from the Revolutionary War to World War I. 


Morning lecturers include local historians Charles Fisher, John Kuhl, John Allen and Brian Armstrong.  Lunch provide by Jersey Mike’s will follow.  Afternoon
Afternoon activities include:

·         Veteran Cemetery Tour led by the HCHS Cemetery Committee;
·         Civil War Letters Revealed (shared by Ray Simonds and Leslie Leith);
·         WWI Commemoration: the 100th year anniversary of US involvement.

10:30 am to 2 pm.
Flemington Presbyterian Church, 10 East Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. 
$10 Registration fee; includes lunch.

Register by mail or visit www.hunterdon300th.org.  Mail checks made payable to HCHS Cemetery Committee to HCHS Cemetery Committee, 114 Main St, Flemington NJ 08822.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH:  Civil War Weapons and Armaments:  Civil War expert John Kuhl is back.  This time he will be displaying and discussing Civil War weapon and armaments.  More details to follow. 7 pm.  Main Branch of the County Library.  Free.  Reservations recommended.  Refreshments Follow. 



TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH: The French and Indian War in Hunterdon County:  The Old Barracks Museum in Trenton is best known for its Colonial architecture and variety of uses during the Revolutionary War, especially when it housed both British and Hessian soldiers during the Battle of Trenton on January 2, 1777.  But originally the Barracks was built by the British in 1758 during the French and Indian War in direct response to petitions  from residents who were tired of having to host soldiers in their homes.  At the time it was built, it was the second largest public building in New Jersey. 

Richard Patterson, the Executive Director of the Old Barracks, will detail the history of early Trenton, Hunterdon County, where residents were required to quarter soldiers during the French and Indian War and Britain's response.  Free.
7pm, Main Branch of the County Library.  Refreshments follow.


SATURDAY OCTOBER 21ST: A Hunterdon Silver Dog-Head Sword and the Civil War within the American Revolution:   Come hear stories of Hunterdon patriots and loyalists discovered while exploring the history of a Revolutionary War sword. Dr. Lawrence Brasher, a native of Morristown and professor at Birmingham-Southern College, will exhibit his heirloom 1775 silver-hilted dog-head sword--the rarest form of Revolutionary War sword--made in Hunterdon County. Only a handful of such swords exist. Larry's research reveals the sword's connections to Trenton silversmiths, Washington's crossing, Scotch-Irish animosities toward England, and the loyalist raid on the Jones Tavern in Lebanon Township (now Clinton). The sword story uncovers shifting patriot-loyalist commitments within local families and the civil war that divided Revolutionary Hunterdon County. This presentation will intrigue anyone who is interested in the Revolution and also anyone who has a family artifact and wonders how it relates to the history of its time. After his talk, Larry will be available to sign copies of his new book about the sword and the Revolution in Hunterdon County.  Free.  North Branch County Library, 2pm.  Refreshments follow.

FROM OUR HERITAGE AND HISTORY PARTNERS:


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2017:  Solitude House, the Taylor Mansion next to Lake Solitude in High Bridge, will be open Sunday, September 10, 2017, from 1 pm to 4 pm.  This impressive building, dating back to the early 1700s, was expanded and remodeled several times over the years as the needs of its owners changed, bringing it to the impressive Victorian house we see today.  Tours of the second and third floor, where many evidences of these changes can be seen, will be available.
Solitude House was the home of the Taylor family who, for five generations, developed and ran the Taylor-Wharton Iron and Steel Company, which High Bridge was built around.  Exhibits are on High Bridge and the wide range of products produced by this local company over the years, which were shipped to over eighty countries around the world.
Taylor-Wharton produced dredge buckets used to dig the Panama Canal, to mine gold in the West and to mine tin in Southeast Asia.  They made railroad track and pioneered the use of manganese steel for railroad switches called “frogs”.  Seamless high pressure cylinders for industry, the military and the medical field were another important product.    In times of war, the company made items for the military, including shells, tank treads, and doughboy hats.   More recent Taylor-Wharton products include cryogenic tanks for industrial and medical uses and even tanks for beverage carbonization!

On October 14th and 15th, High Bridge will celebrate the 275 year long history of Taylor Wharton in a two-day Foundry Festival, complete with a parade, a street fair, historic house tours, walking tours, historic movie footage and more.   Watch for details as we get closer to the event.

For more information, or if you would like to volunteer to help the High Bridge Cultural and Heritage Committee events and our activities, please contact us at:  heritage@highbridge.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH:  Lambertville Historical Society "The Early Days of Base Ball in Lambertville" by Scott Hengst:
Scott “Snuffy” Hengst, a professional researcher, amateur genealogist, and 19th century base ball enthusiast will speak about the origins and early matches of base ball in Lambertville and vicinity.  Hengst lives in Lambertville and spent nearly seven years working at Major League Baseball.  He’s been an active ballist for the Flemington Neshanock Base Ball Club since 2010.  1pm.  Pittore Justice Center, 25 S. Union Street, Lambertville.
For more information visit the Lambertville Historical Society's Website


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH:  Pickling Demo with Susan Plaisted at Bouman-Stickly Museum.  1pm to 4pm.  $5.00 per person.  For more information visit the Readington Museums Website.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8TH:  19th Century School Visit at Cold Cold Brook School.  1pm to 4pm.  $5.00 per person.  For more information visit the Readington Museums Website.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14TH:  High Bridge Celebrates 275 Years of History of Taylor Wharton:  High Bridge will celebrate the 275 year long history of Taylor Wharton in a two-day Foundry Festival, complete with a parade, a street fair, historic house tours, walking tours, historic movie footage and more.  

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15TH:  LINDY HOP TEA DANCE:  Come for the music or come join the dancing!  Learn how to do the Lindy Hop with live music performed by Terry "A" and the Big Band Sound.  This historic dance was made famous in the 1920s.  Saint Paul Lutheran, Route 31, Flemington.  Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door.  Refreshments included.  To order, call (908) 268-6638, or go to Eventbrite.com or FriendsofHistoricFlemington.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28TH:  Barn Dance at Bouman Stickney Museum.
7pm to 9:30 pm.  $5.00 per person.  For more information visit the Readington Museum Website.