OUR SERIES OF TALKS ABOUT THE COUNTY HISTORIC SOCIETY'S TREASURES, SHOWCASING ITEMS RARELY SEEN FROM THE SOCIETY'S COLLECTION, CONTINUES WITH 3 NEW TALKS ADDED!:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8TH: STORIES OF THE MILFORD HOTEL THRU ITS REGISTRY": with Milford Historian Rob Castagna. A fascinating look at who visited Milford and their stories including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Main Branch, County Library, Route 12. 2 PM. $5 dollar suggested donation to go to the Hunterdon County Historical Society for the preservation of our county's historical treasures. Free refreshments follow. Reservations recommended by going to or cutting and pasting into a new url: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stories-of-the-milford-hotel-thru-its-registry-tickets-621840570887 If you experience trouble using the reservation link, we recommend cutting and pasting the url (address) into a new browser
POSTPONED: "FUN FACT ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION" DATE HAS BEEN MOVED FROM OCTOBER 15TH TO SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2ND AT 1 PM!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22ND: "THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE CONTINENTAL SOLDIER": With military collector and historian John Dwyer. Description forthcoming.
Main Branch, County Library, Route 12. 2 PM. $5 dollar suggested donation to go to the Hunterdon County Historical Society for the preservation of our county's historical treasures. Refreshments follow. Reservations recommended by going to or cutting and pasting into a new url: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-life-and-times-of-the-continental-soldier-tickets-621829728457 If you experience trouble using the reservation link, we recommend cutting and pasting the url (address) into a new browser
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27TH: 7 PM: THE CRIME AND EXECUTION OF THE MURDERER JAMES "LITTLE JIM" GOULD: Join County Historian Emerita Stephanie Stevens as she details a grisly murder and subsequent trial, hanging and rumors of haunting in 19th Century Hunterdon County. James "Little Jim" Gould was the last person executed by hanging in 19th Century Hunterdon. The Historic Society owns the actual murder weapon which will be on display that evening. This talk will be held in the parlor of the Doric House on Main Street, Flemington. Attendance is limited and reservations will be required. Time to be announced. $10 dollar suggested donation to go to the Hunterdon County Historical Society for the preservation of our county's historical treasures. Refreshments follow.
This event is limited to 20 people. Reservations are required. Ticketing opens up no October 1st. Go to or cut and paste into a new url: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/just-in-time-for-halloween-the-tale-of-the-murderer-little-jim-tickets-621834542857 If you experience trouble using the reservation link, we recommend cutting and pasting the url (address) into a new browser
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH: "FACES OF HUNTERDON: OUR HISTORY THRU PORTRAITURE": Historians from the Society will bring along their favorite portraits of some of Hunterdon's most interesting Who's Who. Description forthcoming. Main Branch, County Library, Route 12. 2 PM. $5 dollar suggested donation to go to the Hunterdon County Historical Society for the preservation of our county's historical treasures. Free refreshments follow. Reservations recommended by going to or cutting and pasting into a new url: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/faces-of-hunterdon-our-history-thru-portraiture-tickets-621844974057 If you experience trouble using the reservation link, we recommend cutting and pasting the url (address) into a new browser
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2ND: "FUN FACT ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION": Historian and Trustee of the Hunterdon County Historical Society explores the curious bits, bobs, plaques, and more that fill the collection of the Society but don't fill any of our talks neatly. John is a favorite as he brings his humor and wit to all Fun Fact talks!
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE START TIME IS 1 PM! Main Branch, County Library, Route 12. 1 PM. $5 dollar suggested donation to go to the Hunterdon County Historical Society for the preservation of our county's historical treasures. Refreshments follow. Reservations recommended by going to or cutting and pasting into a new url: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fun-fact-items-from-the-collection-tickets-621826278137 If you experience trouble using the reservation link, we recommend cutting and pasting the url (address) into a new browser
EVENTS FROM OUR HISTORICAL PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTY
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP IS FEATURED IN A NEW HISTORY BOOK WITH BOOKSIGNING SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1ST FROM 2:30 TO 4:30 PM: Hunterdon’s Franklin Township has a new history book: Franklin As We Were. A 235-page anthology, the book offers both fact-based and anecdotal history of the rural township through 42 articles by 24 authors. An index of names includes 661 people who helped make Franklin’s history.
Lora W. Jones, Franklin’s historian since 2001, edited the
work and also contributed some articles. “This is more of a reference book than
one to read straight through,” she says and adds, “There is something of
interest for everyone.”
A signing party with four of the book’s authors will feature
the new historical resource on Sunday, October 1 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Friends
Meetinghouse at the intersection of Rt. 579 and Whitebridge Road, Quakertown,
NJ. The price of the book is $30 cash or
check (made out to Franklin Twp., Hunterdon Co.), $35 if ordering by mail. The event is hosted by Rural Awareness, a
non-profit civic group in Franklin. Light refreshments will be served.
This book provides, for the first time since Franklin
Township was established in 1845, an inventory of its 10 early taverns, 21
mills of 5 various types, and 26 one-room schoolhouses used for a differing
number of years from 1730 to 1936. Three of the mills, all stone, still stand;
two are residences and one houses commercial ventures.
One attention-grabbing article describes the horror and
confusion that resulted from a bolt of lightning that struck the United
Methodist Episcopal Church in Quakertown in 1895. Members of the congregation
were knocked senseless for some 20 minutes, and many were burned. One died four
days later. Amazingly, a photograph taken by Quakertown resident Willis Vail of
the burned clothes of church sexton Asa Bowman accompanies the account.
Other articles record the 1952 fire that destroyed the
Cherryville Inn, which at its start was the 1737 Dogtown Tavern; the
establishment of the Franklin Telephone Company and its many growing pains over
the years; tales of ghosts in eighteenth-century houses; a young boy’s secret
to catching skunks; and a wild turkey who commanded, and stopped, traffic for
weeks on Sidney Road in 2020. The book also details the historic loss in 1978 of
the Fink Through-Truss bridge at Hamden, the oldest metal truss bridge in the
U.S. and the oldest span in Hunterdon County, in place since 1857.
Franklin As We Were will be available for purchase at
the Franklin Municipal Building, 202 Sidney Road. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday with extended hours from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and
Wednesday.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2ND, 7 PM: RINGOES GRANGE will host a wonderful program By Edward Fimbel. Ed is a collector of native American artifacts and one of the of the people who helped the Hunterdon County Historical Society with the new exhibit at the Hiram Deats Room in the Flemington Public Library where some of Mr. Deats' Native American artifacts are on display. Ed will share some of his own collection with us and he asks that participants bring in Native American artifacts & arrowheads so he can examine them and tell you more about them, The program is free and there will be refreshments after the program. Ringoes Grange turns 150 years old this year! No reservations are necessary.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8TH, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: METAL DETECTING DEMO AT THE READINGTON MUSEUMS: The Deep Search Metal Detecting Club (DSMDC) will be giving a public demonstration on responsible metal detecting, along with a special event for children to try their hand at detecting at the Readington Museums’ Bouman-Stickney Farmstead. Displays of local artifacts will highlight many of the previous finds from the Farmstead. Last year the Club (DSMDC) offered to help Readington Museums locate the original barn at the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead and has made two small explorations so far. Based in Edison NJ, DSMDC is a volunteer group of metal detectorists interested in preserving history by locating relics. They have used their skills in places such as the Monmouth and Princeton Battlefields, Valley Forge and West Point, the Schuyler-Hamilton House in Morristown, and James Madison’s Montpelier. On their first visit to the farmstead, they found a 1726 King George II farthing along with a large strap hinge. They have also located many square nails which could be from pre-1800s buildings. The locations of all findings are being recorded by professional survey equipment so that a map can be produced for future reference. The club returned to the farmstead this July to resume the search. The members found pieces of a horse's bridle, long interconnected metal rods, a tiny white fragment of white pottery, and a larger glazed and painted terra cotta piece. The DSMDC is cleaning and preserving all the relics and will be displayed at the metal detecting program. The program is free, but donations are appreciated. Reservations are strongly recommended.
http://www.ReadingtonMuseums.org, contact the Readington Museums at 908-236-2327, or readingtonmuseums@gmail.com.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14TH, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: READINGTON MUSEUMS HOSTS AN OLD FASHIONED BARN DANCE: Put on your dancing shoes for a night of family fun as the Readington Museums hosts its bi-annual Barn Dance. The dance will be held inside the eighteenth-century Wade-Wyckoff Barn at the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead. This family-friendly event is a wonderful way to have fun with the entire family. Caller, Betsy Gotta, will give easy to follow instructions before each dance so even a beginner will be able to dance the night away. There is a suggested donation of $5.00 per adult and $2.00 per child. For groups of six or more, please call for a reservation.
http://www.ReadingtonMuseums.org, contact the Readington Museums at 908-236-2327, or readingtonmuseums@gmail.com.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22ND: 11 AM TO 5 PM: LAMBERTVILLE HOUSE TOUR HOSTED BY THE LAMBERTVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY: You can begin the self-guided tour at any House Tour site you choose. Maps and information about the homes will be available there.
All information about the HT sites and a map of the sites will be available online - once you purchase your ticket. There will be no ticket tables, paper tickets or booklets this year. Everything you need for the tour will be digital.
You will receive a reminder email from EVENTBRITE with instructions on where to start the House Tour a few days before the HT - after you have purchased your online tickets.
Parking is available throughout Lambertville. All ticket sales are online. ONLY. $25 in advance and for Lambertville Historic Society Members. $30 the day of the tour.
Visit Lambertville Historical Society at www.lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH: HISTORIC SOCIETY'S FALL MEETING AND FREE TALK: CEMETERY JOURNEYS: UNDERSTANDING LOCAL CEMETERIES AND GRAVESTONES WITH CHERYL JACKSON: Flemington Presbyterian Church, Main Street, Flemington. No reservation required. Free and open to the public.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: DUTCH SINT NICOLAAS DAY AT READINGTON MUSEUMS: As a way to honor the Dutch heritage of the 1741 Bouman-Stickney Farmstead, the Readington Museums will be hosting Dutch Sint-Nicolaas Day. Sinterklaas will be available for pictures and Colonial musicians, Anne and Ridley Enslow, will perform historic holiday pieces that showcase a hammered dulcimer and a historic violin. Visitors may also make an ornament to take home, as well as enjoy cider and cookies. The program is free, but donations are gladly accepted.
http://www.ReadingtonMuseums.org, contact the Readington Museums at 908-236-2327, or readingtonmuseums@gmail.com.
