Friday, January 25, 2019

2019 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: WE'RE UP TO 54 AND COUNTING!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Our 2019 calendar is still in the works but we are ready to share what our calendar currently looks like -- knowing it will only grow!  We want to make sure you pencil into your own calendars the events, talks, tours that you want to attend so you don't do something silly like make other plans that day!

We are so excited! We currently have 24 out of 26 of our municipalities on the calendar -- and yes, we are hopeful that the other 2 will join in for the fun this year!

We already have 22 walking tours booked, 20 talks, 5 museum open houses, and 7 very special events including a history bowl challenge, a bus tour, a theatre event, and a tour of a historical property that includes a summer kitchen, a mill, a winter kitchen and more!  That's 54 events so far for 2019 and we're still adding more! 


CELEBRATING 305 YEARS OF HUNTERDON’S HISTORIC HOMETOWNS AND HAMLETS


(PLEASE NOTE:  ALL WALKING TOURS REQUIRE RESERVATIONS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.  THE MEETING LOCATIONS FOR WALKING TOURS WILL ONLY BE PROVIDED TO THOSE WITH RESERVATIONS.  WE WILL BE MAINTAINING WAIT LISTS FOR ALL WALKING TOURS.  IF YOU ARE BLOCKED FROM MAKING A RESERVATION, PLEASE CONTACT US AT 300INFO@CO.HUNTERDON.NJ.US OR BY CALLING 908 788-2030.)

NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING EVENTS IN FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL:



SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH:  2019 Opening Talk on the theme "Celebrating 305 Year's Of Hunterdon's Historic Hometowns and Hamlets":  "IT MAKES A VILLAGE":  Or does it make a hamlet?  Or a small town?  Or a borough?  And what exactly is "IT"?  What did it really take to make a settlement a settlement in our 18th and 19th centuries?  Then for it to thrive... and to survive.   A river?  A church?  A road?  A tavern?  Why did some remain viable and grow, while others all but disappeared?  Discover the logical and sometimes surprising ingredients that created our early Hunterdon hamlets and villages when Marilyn Cummings takes us on a nostalgic journey into Hunterdon's past, which remarkably is often our present as well!  Hunterdon County Library Main Branch, 314 Route 12, Flemington.  2 pm.  Free. Refreshments follow.

Snow Date if Library is closed is Saturday, March 2 at 2 pm.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/it-makes-a-village-tickets-55121066594

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH:  BLACK HISTORY MONTH TALK:  "IF THESE STONES COULD TALK":   Join us as we celebrate Black History Month with this wonderful talk and book-signing by local authors Beverly Mills and Elaine Buck as they present "If These Stones Could Talk:  African American Presence in the Hopewell Valley, Sourland Mountain, and Surrounding Region of New Jersey" -- a compelling group of stories about a Black minority  in a predominantly White region.  It provides a unique window to this little known part of history here in rural New Jersey - hamlets and hometowns that were once all part of Hunterdon County and, up until now, missing from the historical record.  Beverly Mills is the first African American woman to be elected to the Council in Pennington Borough and Elaine Buck is Church Clerk for the Second Calvary Baptist Church of Hopewell.  7 pm.  Main Branch of the County Library, 314 Route 12, Flemington.  Free.  Refreshments follow.  
Reservations strongly recommended.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/if-these-stones-could-talk-tickets-55121108720

SUNDAY, MARCH 3RD:  OPEN HOUSE:  BOUMAN-STICKNEY FARMSTEAD, 1-4 PM:  The Bouman-Stickney Farmstead is named for its former owners. Dutch homesteader, Thomas Bouman, originally purchased the property sometime before 1740.  The house was built in 1741 and stayed in the bouman family until about 1855.  The house is a magnificent stone bank house with Dutch and German architectural influences.  The stone for the facade, as well as the timbers for the rame were harvested from nearby Cushetunk Mountain.  Also on the property is a double corn crib wagon house built in the 1820s; it was moved from a nearby property and currently holds the Museums' collection of early farm tools.  Finally, the Wade--Wyckoff Barn, also on the property, is an example of a relatively rare farming structure - a New World Dutch Barn.  This barn was on the Wade Farm and moved to its new location in 2000.  Our talk on Friday night, June 21st on the History of the Hamlet of Readington will be given in this barn.

No registration is required.

For more information on these buildings and other facilities owned by the Readington Museums, please visit their site https://www.readingtontwpnj.gov/bowman-stickney

TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH:  "305 FUN FACTS ABOUT HUNTERDON'S MUNICIPALITIES:  Do you remember the fun we had in 2014 with 300 Fun Facts About Hunterdon County? That fun, one-a-day tear-off calendar.... Well, author and historian John Kuhl has been back at it, authoring "305 Fun Facts About Hunterdon Historic Hometowns and Hamlets" - another fun journey exploring the interesting and often quirky history of one of the oldest counties in the United States.  This talk will expand on some of the most fun of the Fun Facts about our 26 municipalities!
Free. Reservations are recommended. Refreshments follow.
7pm.  Main Branch of the County Library, 314 Route 12, Flemington

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/305-fun-facts-about-hunterdons-municipalities-tickets-55121152852

THURSDAY, MARCH 21ST:  "THE HISTORY OF HAMPTON BOROUGH":
Hampton Borough was part of a land grant dating back to the early 18th century that included about 16,000 acres.  But way before it was settled, it was part of the Pre-Lenape Kingdom.  Because Hampton was point where the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad crossed, it's original name was "Junction".  This talk by Hampton Historian Tom Carpenter includes a powerpoint of interesting, historic photographs and will explore the early native settlers, settlement patterns and development, the importance of rail to the creation of Hampton, and the history of one of the county's oldest fire departments in our county, dating back to 1899.  
Free.  Refreshments follow.
7 pm North Branch of the County Library, 65 Halstead Street, Clinton, NJ.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-history-of-hampton-borough-tickets-55121353452

SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD:  WALKING TOUR OF AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND TOWNSHIP:  The 19th century inhabitants of the Hamlet of Amsterdam in Holland Township built fascinating houses, barns, and outbuildings that will be explored on a walking tour of the hamlet.  Amsterdam is in the northwest corner of Holland Township in Hunterdon County.  Many of the early settlers migrated from Upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania shortly after the turn of the 19th century.  The members of the Rapp family were known for their carpentry and engineering skills; their barn which was built in 1824 and enlarged in 1844 (according to dendrochronology), shows unique construction features; their gravity fed water supply accompanied a Victorian bank house.  Jacob Ulmer was a cobbler whose shop remains over a springhouse in a rare combination outbuilding.  "Sinclair and Snyder" operated a store and John Snyder was a blacksmith. Five bank barns can be seen within the hamlet including one an intricate switchback engineered to access the upper level .  Also illustrated are several house plan types, including an early two-story single room stone dwelling and the John Kooker house with two front doors.


Walk limited to 20 people.  Free, but are Reservations Required.
Walk begins at 10:30 am; meeting location will be disclosed to people with reservations only.
Rain date is Sunday, March 24th at 2 pm.

If you are closed out of this event and wish to be on our Waiting List, please email us a 300info@co.hunterdon.nj.us or call (908) 788-2030 and leave a message.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walking-tour-of-new-amsterdam-tickets-55121533992

FRIDAY, MARCH 29TH:  NORTHLANZ TRAIN MUSEUM PIZZA PARTY AND OPEN HOUSE:   $14 per person, 6-10 pm:  Have YOU been to Northlandz?  Do you know what it is?  Northlandz is a model railroad museum boasting the worlds largest layout by amount of track.  Dozens of model trains run throughout this labyrinth of mountains and landscapes.  It is a true wonder to behold.  Besides trains, the museum also features over 200 dolls from around the world, a 94 room doll house and a 2,000 pipe organ.  But it's really about those trains and landscapes!  Northlandz boasts hundreds of bridges and trains, a forest made of toothpicks, humorous scenes and jokes throughout.  This Raritan Township treasure has hundreds of visitors every week but only 10 % of them are from Hunterdon County!!  It's time you go!  And we are making it very attractive to do so!  First, we have reserved the entire building from 6 to 10 pm; second, we have received a terrific discounted price per person from $20 to $14; finally, if that price wasn't good enough, it includes pizza and soda!  Come straight from work; meet your family there, come as a group.  $14 with dinner and the entire museum for 4 hours can't be beat!  We want to fill this place with Hunterdon County people and change that 10% number!  Pay when you get there; please bring your Eventbrite ticket or use the code "Hunterdon 300th" when you go to pay the cashier to receive the discount.  Reservations Required.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northlanz-train-museum-pizza-party-and-open-house-14-per-person-tickets-55121879024

SUNDAY, MARCH 31ST: HUNTERDON SETTLEMENT PATTERN SERIES LECTURE: "THE DUTCH SETTLEMENT PATTERNS IN HUNTERDON COUNTY":  Our first lecture in our Migration Series: Join County and Readington Township Historian Stephanie Stevens in a talk about the migration of Dutch settlers into Hunterdon County.  This lecture will take us from the Dutch coming to New Amsterdam (New York City), spreading out through New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, and beginning the settlement of Hunterdon County.  Readington Township was the first new township in the new county, finally incorporated in 1798.  Previous Tricentennial lectures have discussed the Proprietors, the Lenape Indians and how the land of Hunterdon was purchased and settled.  This talk will bring more insight and information to those topics.  The Migration Series explores various immigrant groups that settled and influenced early Hunterdon County.   2 pm.  Main Branch of the County Library. Free. Reservations Recommended.  Refreshments follow. 

TUESDAY, APRIL 2ND:  FILM SCREENING:  "STANTON STORIES":  
This 55-minute documentary entails 8 interviews of people that had or have lived in Stanton their entire lives.  The interviews cover a 35-year period of life in Stanton from 1915 to 1950 including stories about schooling in a one-room school house, economics, the area in general, why they stayed, famous people who lived there and more - a kinder and simpler time.  The founding and history of the hamlet is also documented by County Historian Stephanie Stevens.  This film was produced in 2008 and is a gem of preserved history. 
As with any 300th movie screening, there will be appropriate, free movie refreshments! Free.  7 pm.  Main Branch of the County Library, Route 12, Flemington.  Reservations Required.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-stanton-stories-tickets-55121921150


SATURDAY, APRIL 6TH:  WALKING TOUR OF THE TOWN OF CLINTON:  
DETAILS AND RESERVATIONS FOR THIS EVENT WILL BE READY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Walk begins at 10:30 am; meeting location will be disclosed to people with reservations only.
Rain date is Sunday, April 7th at 2 pm.

If you are closed out of this event and wish to be on our Waiting List, please email us a 300info@co.hunterdon.nj.us or call (908) 788-2030 and leave a message.
Walk limited to 20 people.  Free, but Reservations will be required.


SATURDAY, APRIL 13TH: HUNTERDON SETTLEMENT PATTERN SERIES LECTURE:"THE JEWISH SETTLEMENT PATTERNS IN HUNTERDON COUNTY":  Join Hunterdon County Historian Stephanie Stevens for a talk on turn of the 19th Century Hunterdon and how a people caught up in the turmoil of Europe immigrated to America and found peace in Hunterdon County.  The story of egg farms, merchants and faith.  Stephanie will be available to sign her newest book, published by the Hunterdon 300th, following the talk.
Free.  Refreshments follow.  2 pm.  Main Branch of the County Library
314 Route 12, Flemington.  Reservations recommended.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-journey-the-immigration-of-european-jews-in-hunterdon-county-tickets-55122003396

TUESDAY, APRIL 16TH:  "THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF FLEMINGTON BOROUGH":  Join 18th Century patriots, Colonel and Mrs. Thomas Lowery (played by Cynthia and Vann Smith), who will be visiting Flemington. The Lowerys  will entertain attendees with stories of Colonial Flemington with a focus on their early lives here as immigrants from Ireland and their relationship with the Fleming family.  The Colonel will also tell us about his time in Flemington as a merchant.  He also served as Quartermaster to George Washington during the Revolution.  His warehouse in Flemington, containing stores for the Patriots, was the object of a British raiding party from Penny Town.  This raid resulted in the skirmish with the Flemington Militia led by John Schenk at Geary’s Ridge and the death of Cornet Francis Geary who led the British Cavalry.  Esther Fleming Lowery was also active during the Revolution.  She raised large sums of money to purchase food and clothes to supply Washington’s Army.  Following the Revolution, Esther was one of the Ladies of Trenton who funded and planned the reception to welcome George Washington to New Jersey.  Both Esther and Thomas Lowery were dedicated Patriots.   
7 pm.  Main Branch of the County Library.  Free.  Reservations Required.  
Refreshments follow.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH:  WALKING TOURS OF FOUR DELAWARE TOWNSHIP HAMLETS:  Join us to learn about the fascinating, historic Delaware Township villages of Locktown, Raven Rock Rosemont and Sand Brook and explore the beautiful nooks and crannies of rural Hunterdon County in the process! 
On these mini-tours you will discover which one is an ancient mill village,  which one has had a book written about it,  which one had a baby chick hatchery, and which one had church divisions that gave it its name.   
There will be time for you to take a lunch break at the famous Sergeantsville Inn or grab a bite at another area eatery.  Each walk is limited to 20 people.  Reservations are required for the morning walks of Raven Rock & Rosemont and/or the afternoon walks of Sand Brook & Locktown.  Reserve for one or both! 
Morning session runs 9:30 am to 11:45 am.  Afternoon session runs 1:30 pm to 3:45 pm.  Rain date is Sunday, April 28th.

Meeting locations will be disclosed to people with reservations only.

If you are closed out of this event and wish to be on our Waiting List, please email us a 300info@co.hunterdon.nj.us or call (908) 788-2030 and leave a message.

Free but are Reservations Required.
For the morning session:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walking-tour-of-four-delaware-township-hamlets-morning-session-rosemont-raven-rock-tickets-55122169894

For the afternoon session:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walking-tour-of-four-delaware-township-hamlets-afternoon-session-sand-brook-locktown-tickets-55122296272

SUNDAY, APRIL 28TH:  WALKING TOUR OF MOUNTAINVILLE, TEWKSBURY TOWNSHIP:  Come hear the history of what was originally known as Bulls Head, where the confluence of 3 streams allowed Mountainville in Tewksbury Township to take advantage of the power of water and where the Potter family became an influential family.  We’ll see the former one-room school, the local general store and post office, the hotel, the former Kitchen Caboodle cooking school and the site of a former tannery.

Walk limited to 30 people. 
Walk begins at 1:00 pm; meeting location will be disclosed to people with reservations only.
There is no rain date for this event.  Should it rain, the talk will be moved indoors for a Virtual Tour.
If you are closed out of this event and wish to be on our Waiting List, please email us at 300info@co.hunterdon.nj.us or call (908) 788-2030 and leave a message.
Free but are Reservations Required.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30TH:  "THE HISTORY OF HIGH BRIDGE":  The history of High Bridge is intertwined with the development of the iron and steel industry in the United States  As early as the 1700s, the framework of this little hamlet had already been created by English investors who carved up the rich wilderness of the New World, brimming with iron ore that would be essential to the country's development.  High Bridge Borough evolved around the Taylor Wharton Foundry, established in 1742.  With the passage of time, however, High Bridge has lost its farming and foundry roots, evolving into what is often referred to as a bedroom community.  Join author and historian William Honachefesky, Jr. as he details interesting details, historical facts and anecdotes about one of the oldest factory towns in the nation.
Free.  Refreshments follow.  Reservations recommended.

COMING THIS SPRING, SUMMER, FALL AND WINTER:  DOZENS OF CELEBRATIONS OF OUR HOMETOWNS AND HAMLETS OVER THE LAST 305 YEARS!:

Saturday, May 4:  Walking Tour of Ringoes, 10 am/2 pm; Rain Date: May 5, 10 am/2 pm
Tuesday, May 7:  The History of Quakertown, 7 pm, Main Branch of the Library
Saturday, May 18:  Walking Tour of Three Bridges, 10 am; Rain Date:  May 19, 10 am
Sunday, May 19:  The Palantine Settlement Patterns in Hunterdon County, 2 pm, Main Branch of the Library
Wednesday, May 22:  The History of Bethlehem Township’s Hamlets, 7 pm, North Branch of the Library
Saturday, June 1:  Walking Tour of Lebanon Borough, 10 am/2 pm; Rain Date:  June 2, 10 am/2 pm
Saturday, June 8:  Walking Tour of Stockton or Sergeantsville, 10:30 am; Rain Date:  June 9, 10:30 am
Sunday, June 9:  Theatre Event at Music Mountain Theatre:  “The Full Monty” plus the history of St. John Terrill’s Music Circus, (2:15 pm to see exhibits; 3 pm for show; following show, talk on history of Music Circus) w/ the Executive Director of MMT
Saturday, June 15:  Walking Tour of Pottersville; if there is rain, the tour will be inside and Virtual
Friday, June 21:  The History of the Village of Readington, 7 pm, Bouman-Stickney
Saturday, June 22: “The Hub of a Hamlet”: A Tour of an 18th Century Mill, Headquarters Farm, tbd; Rain Date:  June 23, tbd
Wednesday, June 26:  Virtual Tour of Kingwood, 7 pm, North Branch of the Library
Saturday, June 29:  Walking Tour of Frenchtown – Uptown, 10 am; Rain Date:  June 30, 10 am
Tuesday, July 23:  The Irish Settlement in Clinton (talk and walk), 7 pm, North Branch of the Library
Sunday, August 4:  Open House, John Prall House, Stockton, 1-5 pm
Saturday, August 10:  Fleming House and Museum Open House, 1-4 pm
Saturday, August 17: Walking Tour of Frenchtown – Downtown, 10 am; Rain Date:  August 18, 10 am
Saturday, September 7:  Cemetery Cemener, Main Branch of the Library
Saturday, September 14:  Walking Tour of Stockton or Sergeantsville, 10:30 am; Rain Date:  September 15, 10:30 am
Sunday, September 15:  Walking Tour of Cokesbury, 1 pm; if there is rain, the tour will be inside and Virtual
Tuesday, September 17: “The Jutland Massacre”, 7 pm, Main Branch of the Library (tentative date and location)
Saturday, September 21: Walking Tour of Annandale, details tba; Rain date:  September 22, am
Sunday, September 22:  History Bowl, Team Stephanie Stevens vs. Team Jim Davidson, 2pm; location to be determined
Thursday, September 26:  The History of Franklin Township’s Hamlets, 7 pm, North Branch of the Library
Saturday, September 28:  Walking Tour of Mount Airy, am; Rain Date:  September 29 pm  - times to be announced
Saturday, September 28:  Alexandria's Prevost House Museum Open House, 1-4 pm
Saturday, October 5:  Walking Tour of Oldwick, 10 am/2pm; if there is rain, the tour will be inside and Virtual
Sunday, October 6:  Walking Tour of Milford 1:30 pm, rain or shine
Saturday, October, 12:  New Hampton Walking Tour, 11 am; Rain Date:  October 13, 2 pm
Tuesday, October 15: “Glen Gardner/Irishtown”, 7 pm, Main Branch of the Library
Saturday, October 19:  Flemington Walking Tour, 2 pm; Rain Date:  October 20, 2 pm
Saturday, October 26:  Bus Tour of 26 Municipalities with 3 Stops 9 am to 4:30 pm, details tba
Saturday, November 2:  Walking Tour of Reaville, 10 am; Rain Date:  November 3, 2 pm
Saturday, November 9:  Walking Tour of Frenchtown – Cemetery, 2 pm; Rain Date:  November 10, 2 pm
Sunday, November 17:  The History of the Hamlet of Wertsville, 2 pm, Main Branch of the Library
Tuesday, December 3:  Lebanon Township Hamlets, 7pm, North Branch of the Library
Saturday, December 14:  The Hunterdon 300th’s Annual Holiday Children’s Historic Crafts and Sale, 10 am to 2 pm, Main Branch of the County Library

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR COOKIE ANGEL, JANICE GROVER, OWNER OF GROVER GLOBAL FOOD MARKETING IN EAST AMWELL, WHO CONTINUES TO PROVIDE IMPORTED COOKIES FOR OUR TALKS.

HISTORICAL AND HERITAGE EVENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, AND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10:  PHOTOGRAPHY OF JIM AMON AT EAST AMWELL'S CLAWSON HOUSE MUSEUM
Plants and Animals Native to the Sourlands
1-4pm
Clawson House Museum
1053 Old York Road, Ringoes
FREE
Camera in hand, Jim Amon heads to the Sourlands whenever he can. Amon, a resident of Lambertville, has a deep and long  connection with the  Sourlands. For more infomration visit: https://sourland.org