A few weeks ago we hosted a fascinating talk given by preservationist Pat Fisher-Olsen about Readington Township's Taylor's Mill -- the only remaining Revolutionary War mill building left in NJ. This mill fed Washington's army and it has been recently highlighted in the PBS show "Drive By History" where host Ken Magos traces Revolutionary War foods, starting with flour from Taylor's Mill in NJ. To see the entire episode visit .https://www.pbs.org/video/the-american-revolution-following-the-flour-xkazqk/
If you missed our amazing bus tour last week of Hunterdon County Revolutionary War sites, the Hunterdon 300th and our county history partners have many upcoming lectures and events that highlight and provide details of sites and issues discussed on the trip:
Thursday, September 3rd: John Allen will give a talk at the Route 12 County Library on “Robert Erskine, Washington’s Mapmaker” at 7pm;;
Sunday, September 6th: Union Forge Heritage Association with the High
Bridge Historical Committee will give timed tours of The Union Ironworks Historic
Properties between 10 am 3 pm including Reynolds Tavern, Joseph Turner House,
Solitude House, and TISCO among others;
Thursday, September 10th: Charles
Riddle will speak at the North Branch of the County Library at 7 pm on the “Potterstown
Skirmish”;
Thursday, September 24th:
Hank Bonnell will speak at the North Branch of the County Library at 7pm on his
ancestral home and future brewery “Bonnell’s Tavern”;
Saturday, September 26th we will have an encore walking tour of the Grandin Revolutionary War Graves
Tour lead by David Smisak at 10 am with a rain date the following day at 2 pm;
Saturday, October 10th: Don
Sherblom will be giving a lecture of the events leading up to and including the
Skirmish at Geary’s Ridge followed by a re-enactment of the Skirmish at our
major living History Day at the South County Park in the afternoon, time TBA;
Thursday, October 15th: “Spies and Traitors of the American Revolution”
will be discussed by Dominick Mazzagetti at the Route 12 Library at 7 pm;
Saturday, October 17th: Shaun Van Doren will lead a Walking Tour of Potterstown at 10 am;
Sunday, October 18th: Dr. Gary Grover will
talk to us about “Revolutionary War Medicine and Surgery” at the Route 12
Library at 2 pm;
Thursday, October 22nd: William Honachefsky will lecture on “The Union
Forge: Making George Washington’s Cannon
Balls” at the North Branch of the Library in Clinton at 7pm;
Sunday, October 25th: There is a talk by Roger Byrom on “The
Loyalists’ Perspective” at the Route 12 Library at 2pm;
Thursday, November 5th: Betty DeSapio will do her final talk for us
this year on “Revolutionary Era Currency in a Time of Uncertainty” at the Main
Branch on Route 12 at 7pm;
Saturday, December 5th: Charles Riddle will be speaking on the Life of Charles Stewart at the Main Branch of the County Library on Rotue 12 at 2 pm;
Thursday, December 10th: Don Sherblom will give a talk “All Roads Lead to Pittstown” at 7 pm at the North Branch of the County Library;
And finally, on December 17th at the County’s Historical Courthouse, Larry Kidder will be back for our year’s grand finale with a talk, among other festivities, on The Ten Crucial Days, which of course covers the Crossing and the Battles of Trenton and Assunpink, time to be announced as we have a big night in the panning stage.
Besides these talks, our calendar has many additional talks and events thru the end of the year; the above are just the topics mentioned on this tour which have upcoming talks.
LATE SUMMER EVENTS FROM THE HUNTERDON 300TH CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15TH: RAISING OF LIBERTY POLE IN LEBANON TOWNSHIP: In 1776, Lebanon Township was comprised of a territory that included our modern Lebanon Township, Lebanon Borough, High Bridge Borough, Clinton Township, a portion of the Town of Clinton, a portion of Hampton Borough, a portion of Califon Borough, and a portion of Glen Gardner Borough. In 2026, we will be raising a Liberty Pole -- a secret marker known to Patriots as a safe place to talk about the Revolution -- at the Lebanon Township Memorial Park, where we will be joined by the elected officials (invited) of those municipalities. Join us and some of our Colonial re-enactors for an event full of patriotism, merriment, music, and cake for this family friendly, fun and educational outdoor celebration of America's 250th. HUZZAH!
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19TH THRU SUNDAY, AUGUST 23RD: HUNTERDON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND 4-H FAIR: Look for us in the Community Tent. We'll have a terrific fair special on our merchandise as well as some new items for sale.
SOLD OUT! SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH: WALKING TOUR OF MOUNTAINVILLE (POSTPONED FROM MAY 9 AND 23): Mountainville in the summer is like a postcard! 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. Tour led by Tewksbury Township Historian Shaun Van Doren.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Tour limited to 20 guests.
Meet at the Tewksbury Historical Society, 60 Water Street (use Lebanon, NJ 08833 for GPS). 9 am to 11 am.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walking-tour-of-mountainville-tickets-1996059587960?aff=oddtdtcreator
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD: “ROBERT ERSKINE, WASHINGTON'S MAPMAKER": An expatriate Scot who emigrated to Ringwood in 1771 to serve as ironmaster at the ironworks there, Robert Erskine came to George Washington’s attention in 1777 through Erskine’s work on Hudson River defenses protecting West Point. Ultimately appointed as the Surveyor General to the Continental Army, Erskine surveyed many of the significant routes used by the Army. His maps match many of the today’s roads and help us envision the county in which we reside. Join historian and map enthusiast John Allen as he explores this fascinating subject.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH: “THE POTTERSTOWN SKIRMSH”: Join Bethlehem Township Historian and retired history teacher Charles Riddle as he tells the story of loyalists vs patriots, neighbors vs neighbors, friends turned enemies, during the American Revolution. During the first civil war in our country, the American Revolution, raids, skirmishes, and ambushes took place all over the colonies and Hunterdon was not immune. In the busy hamlet of Potterstown in 1777, such an event unfolded right leaving a community shaken. The skirmish that started in Potterstown would end in Piscataway with 75 Loyalists captured and eventually put on trial for treason. The struggle between loyalists and patriots became the War With No Mercy.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH: “COLONIAL HERALDRY”: In this informative presentation, Hunterdon 300th’s own David Smisek guides audiences through the fascinating world of heraldry, the historic discipline concerned with the design, display, interpretation, and inheritance of armorial bearings. The talk opens with a clear introduction to the essential elements of heraldic practice, giving attendees the tools to understand how coats of arms function as both art and identity.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH: RAISING OF THE LIBERTY POLE IN AMWELL TOWNSHIP: In 1776, Amwell Township was comprised of a territory that included our modern East Amwell Township, West Amwell Township, Delaware Township, Raritan Township, City of Lambertville, Stockton Borough, and Flemington Borough. In 2026, we will be raising a Liberty Pole -- a secret marker known to Patriots as a safe place to talk about the Revolution -- at the Marion F. Clawson Memorial Park in East Amwell, where we will be joined by the elected officials (invited) of those municipalities. Join us and some of our Colonial re-enactors for an event full of patriotism, merriment, music, and cake for this family friendly, fun and educational outdoor celebration of America's 250th. HUZZAH!
FROM OUR PARTNERS
THE HUNTERDON COUNTY CULTURE & HERITAGE COMMISSION: HUNTERDON 250TH BUILDING BLOCKS WORKSHOP: FREE FAMILY FUN!! To celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States, the county's Culture & Heritage Commission will be hosting a special HUNTERDON CELEBRATES AMERICA'S 250TH BUILDING BLOCKS WORKSHOP! Registration now open. Join us for a 2-hour, fast paced, hands-on, model building experience using over 100,000 Lego® building blocks to recreate history! Teams will use Legos to construct detailed models of historic and cultural landmarks in Hunterdon County, which will then be placed on a 16 x 20 foot map of the county. Participants will work in teams of 4 to create their models. A great event for families and people of all ages! This program is in partnership with Building Blocks Workshops, which conducts programs using Lego® building blocks as a fun event for residents to learn about the architectural heritage of their community. This program is FREE and open to all Hunterdon County residents! OCTOBER 24, 2026, 2 PM - 4 PM. DOORS OPEN AT 1:30 PM. 314 NJ-12, Flemington, NJ 08822. SPACE IS LIMITED! There is a maximum of 50 teams. For information and to register visit https://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/2938/Hunterdon-250th-Building-Blocks-Workshop
THE EAST AMWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS "RINGOES: CROSSROAD OF THE REVOLUTION": Learn about the hidden history of Old Amwell — a township that once stretched nearly 200 square miles, covering today’s East Amwell, West Amwell, Delaware Township, Flemington, Mt. Airy, parts of Kingwood and Hopewell, Lambertville, Ringoes, and more. In the 1700s, all of this was simply Amwell, with Ringoes at its center, where Old York Road carried riders, soldiers, couriers, and intelligence through one of the busiest Revolutionary crossroads in New Jersey.
FROM OUR PARTNERS
THE HUNTERDON COUNTY CULTURE & HERITAGE COMMISSION: HUNTERDON 250TH BUILDING BLOCKS WORKSHOP: FREE FAMILY FUN!! To celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States, the county's Culture & Heritage Commission will be hosting a special HUNTERDON CELEBRATES AMERICA'S 250TH BUILDING BLOCKS WORKSHOP! Registration now open. Join us for a 2-hour, fast paced, hands-on, model building experience using over 100,000 Lego® building blocks to recreate history! Teams will use Legos to construct detailed models of historic and cultural landmarks in Hunterdon County, which will then be placed on a 16 x 20 foot map of the county. Participants will work in teams of 4 to create their models. A great event for families and people of all ages! This program is in partnership with Building Blocks Workshops, which conducts programs using Lego® building blocks as a fun event for residents to learn about the architectural heritage of their community. This program is FREE and open to all Hunterdon County residents! OCTOBER 24, 2026, 2 PM - 4 PM. DOORS OPEN AT 1:30 PM. 314 NJ-12, Flemington, NJ 08822. SPACE IS LIMITED! There is a maximum of 50 teams. For information and to register visit https://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/2938/Hunterdon-250th-Building-Blocks-Workshop
THE EAST AMWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS "RINGOES: CROSSROAD OF THE REVOLUTION": Learn about the hidden history of Old Amwell — a township that once stretched nearly 200 square miles, covering today’s East Amwell, West Amwell, Delaware Township, Flemington, Mt. Airy, parts of Kingwood and Hopewell, Lambertville, Ringoes, and more. In the 1700s, all of this was simply Amwell, with Ringoes at its center, where Old York Road carried riders, soldiers, couriers, and intelligence through one of the busiest Revolutionary crossroads in New Jersey.
This exhibit uncovers stories almost lost through time:
• Washington’s rides through Amwell and his stops to rest and meet local patriots
• Lafayette’s recovery in our region
• Espionage networks and quiet intelligence work along Old York Road
• Taverns and mills where news, strategy, and resistance took shape
• Local patriots, women, and Black residents whose contributions deserve recognition
• The Sons of Liberty and early sparks of rebellion
• The Amwell Skirmish and the everyday courage of families living on a warfront
The museum is open the 2nd and 4th weekends of each month (except holiday weekends), and will also be open on July 4 with a renewed, enlightening look at the hidden history of the Revolution. Bring a friend, bring family, and come rediscover the Revolutionary world that once unfolded right here in the Revolutionary crossroad we call home.
For more information contact Eastamwellhistoricalsociety1@gmail.com or Text: 609-591-4661
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH: LEBANON TOWNSHIP HISTORIANS COMMITTEE PRESENTS A BARN DANCE: Live 18th century music. With Sue DuPre, Dance Master. No experience necessary. Lebanon Township Memorial Park. 7:15 pm. Dress in hostorical attire if so moved. Light refreshments served. Wear comfortable shoes. Email historians@lebtwp.net to reserve your spot.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19TH THRU SUNDAY, AUGUST 23RD: HUNTERDON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND 4-H FAIR: Please visit the American Revolutionary War themed hooked rugs in the Ramsburg Building #5
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26TH: READINGTON MUSEUMS PRESENTS " SPY RING SECRETS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION': Join the Readington Museums at the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead for a compelling talk on the Mersereau Spy Ring, whose intelligence helped set the stage for George Washington’s surprise attack on Trenton.This exhibit uncovers stories almost lost through time:
• Washington’s rides through Amwell and his stops to rest and meet local patriots
• Lafayette’s recovery in our region
• Espionage networks and quiet intelligence work along Old York Road
• Taverns and mills where news, strategy, and resistance took shape
• Local patriots, women, and Black residents whose contributions deserve recognition
• The Sons of Liberty and early sparks of rebellion
• The Amwell Skirmish and the everyday courage of families living on a warfront
The museum is open the 2nd and 4th weekends of each month (except holiday weekends), and will also be open on July 4 with a renewed, enlightening look at the hidden history of the Revolution. Bring a friend, bring family, and come rediscover the Revolutionary world that once unfolded right here in the Revolutionary crossroad we call home.
For more information contact Eastamwellhistoricalsociety1@gmail.com or Text: 609-591-4661
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH: LEBANON TOWNSHIP HISTORIANS COMMITTEE PRESENTS A BARN DANCE: Live 18th century music. With Sue DuPre, Dance Master. No experience necessary. Lebanon Township Memorial Park. 7:15 pm. Dress in hostorical attire if so moved. Light refreshments served. Wear comfortable shoes. Email historians@lebtwp.net to reserve your spot.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19TH THRU SUNDAY, AUGUST 23RD: HUNTERDON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND 4-H FAIR: Please visit the American Revolutionary War themed hooked rugs in the Ramsburg Building #5
Operating from Long Island, the Mersereau network gathered critical information on British plans to pursue the Continental Army across the Delaware River. The brothers not only reported these movements but also sabotaged British boats along the New Jersey shore, buying valuable time for Washington’s forces. The program will also explore the ring’s role in exposing Benedict Arnold’s plot to surrender West Point, leading to the capture of British officer John André.
A $5 suggested donation is appreciated, and refreshments will be served.
For further information contact Museums@readington.gov or call 908-236-2327
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND: AMERICAN REVOLUTION THEMED HOOKED RUGS DISPLAY thru September 29th/ Hunterdon County North Branch, Clinton, NJ.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH: JOSEPH TURNER HOUSE AND HGH BRIDGE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE JOINT EVENT: "THE UNION IRONWORKS HISTORIC PROPERTIES TOUR:
Starts 10AM at Turner House
10:00AM - 12:00PM Joseph Turner House/grounds
12:15PM - 1:15PM Van Syckel's Tavern
1:30PM - 2:15PM The TISCO Complex
2:15PM - 2:45PM TSGH walk over bridge, by Forge, to Solitude
2:45PM - 5:00PM Solitude/Annex
Note: tour times may include Union Furnace pending visibility
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH: SAMUEL FLEMING HOUSE: House Museum Tours 1-3pm. 5 Bonnell Street, Flemington, NJ. Free. No reservations required.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH: READINGTON MUSEUMS PRESENTS: HUNTERDON RUG GUILD DISPLAY OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION RUGS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH: THE FRIENDS OF HUNTERDON COUNTY LIBRARY PRESENTS: "BETSY ROSS AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COME TO HUNTERDON” as portrayed by Alissa Dupuy. 2 pm. Free.
