IN CELEBRATION OF 310 YEARS AND COUNTING OF RICH HISTORY, THE HUNTERDON 300TH IS PROUD TO PRESENT A YEAR OF "MINI SERIES", MOST OF WHICH YOU WILL SEE BELOW. WE ARE STILL WORKING ON A SMALL SERIES OF CHURCH TOURS AND TAVERN TOURS WHICH WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN AN UPCOMING BLOG.
ALL OF THE EVENTS, MEET UPS, WALKS AND TALKS BELOW ARE FREE AND NO RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. HOWEVER, RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE TWO MEET UPS (SO WE CAN INFORM OUR HOSTS) AND THE TWO WALKING TOURS (AS THEY HAVE LIMITED CAPACITY).
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE MINI SERIES CONTINUES:
THURSDAY, MAY 16TH: THE BEST FRENCHTOWN WATER STORIES AS ONLY RICK EPSTEIN CAN TELL THEM: Frenchtown historian Rick Epstein will talk about the floods of 1903 and 1955 and explain the difference between river floods and creek floods. He will tell about Durham boats and timber rafts; Frenchtown’s dozen drownings; its water power and the mill race; and the advent of “city water” for fighting fires, drinking, and washing. He also might try to sell you his book, "Frenchtown; Fires, Floods, Fads, and Felonies." Lower Level Meeting Room, Hunterdon County Library Main Branch. 7 pm. Free refreshments follow. No reservations required.
JUNE 1ST, 10 AM: MINI WALKING TOUR OF THE D&R CANAL: Join D&R Canal historians Bob and Linda Barth on this morning walk of a section of the canal. The walk starts at the area of the canal behind historic Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead (the oldest farm in Hunterdon County) to see the canal aqueduct. From there we will walk approximately three quarters of a mile to Lambertville to see the lift lock and the outlet. About 1.5 miles round trip taking approximately 2 hours, which includes stops and interpretation. Reservations thru Humantix is required for the walk to Lambertville only and limited to 25 people. If you are only planning on seeing the aqueduct at the Farmstead, you do not require a reservation. Free.
We are trying a new reservation system. Please cut and paste the following URL or try clicking on the link below. https://events.humanitix.com/mini-walking-tour-of-the-d-and-r-canal?_gl=1*he1qsp*_ga*MTkxNjQxMTgxMi4xNzExMTM0NzMw*_ga_LHKW5FR9N6*MTcxMTE1NzUxMS4yLjEuMTcxMTE1NzgyMi42MC4wLjA.
THURSDAY, JUNE 6TH: A FIELD OF BLUE AND GRAY? That would be the History of the Civil War in Hunterdon lecture given by County Historian and Author of the book by the same title, John Kuhl on June 3rd. John's stories are haunting, like the faces of those battle weary or battle lost. Lower Level Meeting Room, Hunterdon County Library Main Branch. 7 pm. Free refreshments follow. No reservations required.
THURSDAY, JUNE 13TH: CAMP FAIR OAKS: Hunterdon Civil War expert John Kuhl continues with a back to back talk on Camp Fair Oaks, now the location of Lowes, WalMart and Pet Smart on Route 31 in Raritan Township and once the home of the Flemington Fair and Speedway. This location was the recruitment center of the area where our soldiers were trained for combat before shipping off to the South. Lower Level Meeting Room, Hunterdon County Library Main Branch. 7 pm. Free refreshments follow. No reservations required.
SATURDAY, JULY 6TH: MEET UP! CIVIL WAR FLAG UNVEILING AT THE STATE MUSEUM, TRENTON: In the American Civil War, flags guided troops into battle and served as patriotic emblems of honor and pride. Join flag historian Dr. David Martin and Curator of Cultural History Nicholas Ciotola for a gallery walk about the history of five new flags to be unveiled in the State Museum’s exhibition, The Civil War Flag Collection of New Jersey. One-hour tour followed by a reception hosted by Hunterdon 300th in the museum’s Riverview Court. Attendees can also visit Discovering Grant Castner, a new exhibit consisting of more than 200 historical images taken by a long-forgotten, turn-of-the-20th-century photographer from Belvidere, NJ, who later lived and worked in Trenton. 10 a.m, New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State Street (FREE weekend parking behind the museum), Trenton, NJ. Reservations requested but not required.
We are trying a new reservation system. Please cut and paste the following URL or try clicking on the link below even though it says it is for the D&R.
https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-mini-walking-tour-of-the-d-and-r-canal?_gl=1*1xsgi1u*_ga*MTkxNjQxMTgxMi4xNzExMTM0NzMw*_ga_LHKW5FR9N6*MTcxMTU4NjEzNy4zLjEuMTcxMTU4NjQ3MS4xNS4wLjA.
https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-mini-walking-tour-of-the-d-and-r-canal
LINDBERGH MINI SERIES:
A SPECIAL LINDBERGH LECTURE SERIES: In 2014, the Hunterdon Tricentennial Committee, now the Hunterdon 300th, produced a series of 8 lectures by Jim Davidson on Lindbergh at the Historic Courthouse over 8 weeks. We are proud to bring a new series of 6 lectures to the Historic Courthouse over 2 weekends!
James Davidson has lived the Lindbergh Kidnapping for over 30 years. A former history teacher and a popular speaker on the Lindbergh case, this is the third book he had written on the Lindbergh Kidnapping. Along with co-author Mark Falzini his first book was “New Jersey's Lindbergh Kidnapping and Trial”. This was followed up in 2022 with “When the Circus Came to Town – Flemington New Jersey and the Lindbergh Kidnapping Trial”.James Davidson grew up in Flemington, New Jersey where from an early age he heard stories of the Lindbergh Kidnapping and Hauptmann Trial. His parents had lived in Trenton, NJ and attended a Hauptmann Execution Party at a local hotel, where they listen to Gabriel Heater broadcast the execution live from outside the State Prison. His father said all the lights in the hotel dimmed when they electrocuted Hauptmann! As a young boy Davidson met William Allen, who worked for his grandfather and who was one of the people who found the Lindbergh baby. In Flemington he knew Lloyd Fisher, who was his father’s attorney and who was also Bruno Hauptmann’s attorney, while Davidson’s neighbor was one of the jurors at the trial. A local historian and former history teacher, Davidson, over a 30 year period, has amassed one of the largest collections of Lindbergh Flight and Trial memorabilia. With Mark Falzini, archivist of the New State Police Museum, he co-authored “New Jersey’s Lindbergh Kidnapping and Trial.” Davidson is an avid and much sought after speaker on the Lindbergh’s, the Kidnapping and the Trial.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH: MEET UP! VISIT TO THE STATE POLICE MUSEUM WITH A SPECIAL MEET UP AT THE LINDBERGH KIDNAPPING EXHIBIT: We've arranged a very special visit to the State Police Museum to tour the State Police Museum and meet up at the Lindbergh Exhibit where there will be a special talk. Come on your own as early as 9 am when the Museum opens. Spend time before or after our Meet Up at 11 am at the Lindbergh Exhibit. The Museum closes at 3 pm so you can tour at your leisure no matter what time you arrive. Please have photo identification for every member of your party. The State Police are graciously allowing us to provide some refreshments as well. This tour is free but we will be requiring reservations as we get closer to the event to provide a head count to the State Police.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (RAIN DATE SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22): LINDBERGH'S FLEMINGTON WALKING TOUR: Join historical architect and Flemington architecture expert Chris Pickell for a new walking tour on and around Main Street to explore Main Street as Lindbergh saw it. Chris will also outline and show some of the special places in town including where Defense Attorney Lloyd Fisher's office was, where Anna Hauptmann and her son stayed, and where the reporters ate. Reservations will be required as we get closer to the event. Limited to 20 guests. 10 am.
A SPECIAL LINDBERGH LECTURE SERIES CONTINUES: