EVENT ROUND-UP: May 2009 [Updated 5/16!]

M'aidez! Mayday! May Day! Exciting Historical & Environmental Event Overload!

CELEBRATE THE GORGEOUS WEATHER! CELEBRATE SPRINGTIME!

May 30 GARDEN WORKSHOP AT HAGEMAN FARM
May 23 BIKE THE TOWPATH TO GRIGGSTOWN--FREE
May 17 LECTURE/LUNCH, BATTLE OF MONMOUTH
May 17 BUCCLEUCH MANSION TALKS & TOUR--FREE
May 16 CANAL AUTHORS EXTRAVAGANZA--FREE
May 16 WHO KILLED THE LINDBERGH BABY?
May 16 BIRDING THE CANAL AT ZAREPHATH--FREE
May 15 MEADOWS MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL--FREE
May 9 SOMERSET COUNTY HISTORY ROUNDTABLE--FREE
May 9 HANDS ALONG THE CANAL--FREE
May 9 BLACKWELLS MILLS CANAL HOUSE MARKET--FREE
May 3 GUIDED NATURE WALKS, BIRDWATCHING--FREE
May 3 SLAVERY IN NJ DURING THE REVOLUTION

Share your personal photos of these events with the RMVE Blog!

• Please email any photos you are willing to have posted on the RMVE blog in .jpg format (no more than 200K each, please) to the blog's Editor/Director, Jan ten Broeke, at tensart@gmail.com.
• Please include any identifying information with your submissions including site location, activities, and names of individuals prominent in the photo(s).
• While no compensation for your photos is available, you will be providing everyone who views them with lasting memories and joy, as well as helping your community document these significant activities for the benefit of many generations to come. In that spirit, we hope you will be generous--and judicious--in your photo submissions!

May 30: GARDEN WORKSHOP AT HAGERMAN FARM

Victory over garden troubles is yours!



Please join the Meadows Foundation for an afternoon of garden talks and planting demonstrations at the Hageman Farm!

DATE: Saturday, May 30, Rain or Shine
TIME: 1:00PM to 4:00
PLACE: The Hageman Farm
209 South Middlebush Rd., Somerset
TKTS: $5.00/Carload
1st 50 cars will get a free packet of seeds!
INFO: (908) 789-2206

Topics to be discussed include butterfly gardens, flowers, shrubs, planting a Victory Garden, herbs and vegetables, and heritage gardening! There will also be tours of the Hageman House and Barns, and a sale of gently-used gardening books and cookbooks!

May 23: BIKE THE TOWPATH TO GRIGGSTOWN!

The D & R Canal Watch is delighted to sponsor this 8.5 mile ride along the historic towpath, guided by canal enthusiast, Bob Barth!

DATE: Saturday, May 23
TIME: 10:00AM
MEET: Blackwells Mills Causeway
Intersection of Canal Rd. & Blackwells Mills Rd., Somerset
BRING: Bicycle, Helmet, & Lunch
INFO: Bob Barth, (201) 401-3121

Enjoy the fresh morning air, the beautiful State Park, burn a few calories, and--best of all--learn more about this historical treasure as Bob explains interesting structures and features of the D & R Canal!

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!

May 17: PRESENTATIONS & HOUSE TOUR OF THE BEAUTIFUL BUCCLEUCH MANSION!

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Jersey Blue Chapter are proud to invite you to a TRIFECTA of local history at the historic Buccleuch Mansion!

DATE: Sunday, May 17
TIME: 1:00 to 3:00 PM
PLACE: The Buccleuch Mansion
Entrance on Easton Ave.
Across from St. Peter's Hosp., New Brunswick
CONTACT: (732) 745-5074

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!!!

The day's events include a presentation by site Curator, Judy Gennaro, on the families who lived in the mansion and the unique furnishing on the second floor and George Dawson will make a presentation about how the families who lived there related to the times in New Brunswick. There will also be an informative tour guided by Marjorie Freeman of the exquisitely preserved mansion.

May 17: Luncheon/Lecture, CELEBRATING GEO. WASHINGTON & THE LONGEST DAY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION!

You are cordially invited to join the Raritan Millstone Heritage Alliance for a delightful luncheon and lecture by James T. Raleigh, President of the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield Association!

DATE: Sunday, May 17
TIME: 1:30 to 3:00PM
PLACE: The "Bride's Room"
The Historic Cranbury Inn
21 South Main St., Cranbury
TKTS: $30/Person, Includes Lunch & Lecture
Make Checks Payable to the Raritan Millstone Heritage Alliance, Inc.
Proceeds Will Benefit the GUIDE TO HISTORIC SITES IN CENTRAL NEW JERSEY
RSVP: Required by May 12, Seating is Limited
Please Specify Entree Choice at Time of Reservation:
Chicken Marsala
Salmon
Cavatelli/Broccoli/Carrots (Vegetarian)
(Salad & ice cream or rice pudding included)
PHONE: Mrs. Elyce Jennings @ 732.463.0767
MAIL: RMHA c/o Mrs. Elyce Jennings
851 River Road
Piscataway, NJ 08864

George Washington and his troops arrived in Cranbury on June 26, 1778, from Hopewell, but due to excessive heat and rain were unable to advance any further. On June 27, Washington and his Continentals crossed 10 more miles of farmland, woods, and marshland into present day Monroe Township enroute to the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778!

May 16: CANAL AUTHORS EXTRAVAGANZA!

The D & R Canal Watch proudly invites you to meet authors of canal-related books and hear them read from their works and enjoy other entertainment throughout the day!

DATE: Saturday, May 16
TIME: 12:00PM to 3:00PM
PLACE: Griggstown Causeway
INFO: Linda Barth, (908) 722-7428 or (908) 204-0488

ADMISSION IS FREE!

Children's stories will be read throughout the day and Roy Justice will entertain you with songs and stories from the old time canallers' day. There will also be video presentations about the D & R Canal, including the delightful NJN production produced by Cliff Crawford and narrated by the beloved Jean Shepherd!

The exciting authors in attendance include:

• William McKelvey, The Delaware & Raritan Canal, Champlain to Chesapeake
• Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon, Moy Sans and Gravel
• Marie Murphy Duess, The Delaware Canal: From Stone Coal Highway to Historic Landmark
• Linda J. Barth, Bridgetender's Boy, The Delaware Raritan Canal
• Walter Choroszewski, Somerset County: A Celebration of Communities
• Jeanette Muser, Rocky Hill, Kingston and Griggstown
• Susann Carroll Agin, Max: A Griggstown Mystery/Un Mystere de Griggstown
• Jessie Havens, Somerset County: Three Centuries of Progress
• Poet Penelope Schott, Canal!

May 16: TALK "WHO KILLED THE LINDBERGH BABY?"

The Meadows Foundation is thrilled to invite you to hear popular New Jersey historian, Tom Ainsworth, exciting presentation about the "Crime of the Century", the 1932 kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's infant son from his home in rural Hopewell, NJ!

DATE: Saturday, May 16
TIME: 2:00PM
PLACE: Hageman Farm
209 South Middlebush Rd., Somerset
TKTS: $10.00 Per Person
RSVP: Reservations Recommended
CONTACT: (732) 560-1977

[From the Meadows Foundation Website]
"The body of the infant son of Charles Lindbergh is discovered in the Sourland Mountains. A national manhunt begins. Was this an “inside” job? How was the perpetrator apprehended? Why did it take so long? What effect did the media blitz have on the trial? Was the evidence manufactured? Did the right man die in the electric chair? Was the lone participant caught the only guilty party? Would modern forensic techniques have made a difference? Come explore the many theories and get the facts about the trial that gripped the nation!"

May 16: BIRDING THE CANAL IN ZAREPHATH

The D & R Canal Watch and accomplished birders, Barbara and George Dawson, invite you to enjoy an early morning walk along the towpath and the delightful sights and sounds of the countless bird species and other wildlife who make their homes along the canal!

DATE: Saturday, May 16 [Weather Permitting]
TIME: 8:00AM
MEET: Parking area at intersection of Weston Canal Road & Weston Causeway
BRING: Binoculars, Water
INFO: Barbara Dawson, (732) 887-6070

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!

May 15: MEADOWS TO HOST MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL!!!

Come meet Meadows Foundation members and prospective members who are as dedicated to preserving the historical and cultural heritage of Central New Jersey as you are, in the fun and relaxed atmosphere of their Membership Social!

DATE: Friday, May 15
TIME: 7:30PM
PLACE: Tulipwood House
1165 Hamilton St., Somerset
RSVP: Reservations Requested
CONTACT: VP Evelyn Maron, (732) 560-1977

Light Refreshments Will Be Served!

[From the Meadows Website]
For years you’ve been hearing what great things the Meadows Foundation does. Preserving historic buildings in Franklin; having wonderful, entertaining talks on topics in American history from colonial times to the present; hosting concerts and poetry readings, and events for children, too. This Membership Social is for the benefit of members and prospective members alike. Find out what we do and how you can help preserve the past for future generations, all while having fun and making new friends!

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!

May 9: COME SHARE YOUR IDEAS ABOUT MEETING THE CULTURAL & HISOTRICAL NEEDS OF SOMERSET COUNTY!!!

The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the Heritage Trail Association invite you to participate in an open forum to exchange ideas, make recommendations, and recommendations, and reexamine how the cultural and heritage needs of Somerset County are currently being met, as well as to explore collaborative efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our common objectives!

DATE: Saturday, May 9
TIME: 9:00AM to Noon
PLACE: Van Horne House
941 East Main, Bridgewater
RSVP: Pre-Registration is Appreciated, Not Required
Register On-Line Here
INFO: (732) 356-8856
info@heritagetrail.org
PARKING: Behind the Target, 200 Promenade Blvd
Patriot Stadium lot, east side of Main St.

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED!

Among the topics that will be included on the agenda are:

• The needs survey conducted by the SCC&HC in 2006
• The Crossroads of the American Revolution Association and what that organization can offer the historic community and what we can offer them
• The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
• Signage for historical sites and historic routes
• Event marketing and communication with the public
• Educational programs

Should you have specific topics, projects, or ideas that pertain to the general history community, please let us know in advance so that they can be included on the agenda. To insure that every active historical group in Somerset County is represented, please consult with other members of your organization and encourage at least one member to join us. If you have materials to share with other participants, a display area will be provided for flyers, newsletters, event calendars, etc.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!

May 9: MARKET DAY AT THE BLACKWELLS MILLS CANAL HOUSE

The Blackwells Mills Canal House Association's Market Day will feature perennials, flowers, baked goods, gifts, and yard sale treasures just in time for last minute Mother's Day gifts (whew!)!

DATE: Saturday, May 9
TIME: 10:00AM to 4:00PM
PLACE: The Blackwells Mills Canal House
598 Canal Rd. (@ Blackwells Mills Rd.)

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!

May 9: HANDS ALONG THE CANAL!

The Kingston Historical Society and the East Coast Greenway invite you and your family to celebrate the 175 anniversary of the Delaware & Raritan Canal and make history with fellow appreciators of the park with a show of interlocking hands!

DATE: Saturday, May 9
TIME: Chain will be held from 10:00AM to 10:15AM
Please arrive by 9-9:30AM to have adequate time to park, walk to the towpath, and take a position on line.
PLACE: Your Favorite Location on the Towpath Between Rocky Hill (Rte 518) & the Millstone Aqueduct
RSVP: Pre-registration appreciated, not necessary
CONTACT: handsalongthecanal2009@yahoo.com
(732) 340-1411

Show your support for this historical treasure by taking part in a human chain stretching from Rocky Hill to Millstone. Hands Along the Canal is an ambitious attempt to rally thousands of park enthusiasts to show their support for this beautiful, historical treasure and to its on-going preservation and care. Be sure to bring friends and family and you can certainly look forward to meeting lots of good folks who love the D & R Canal and State Park--and historical and environmental preservation in general--as much as you do!

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!

May 3: GUIDED NATURE WALKS AND BIRDWATCHING--FREE!

The wonderful Franklin Township Open Space Program invite you and your family to explore the beautiful open spaces it has carefully preserved for future generations with two fun-filled nature walks guided by a NJ Audubon Society Naturalist! FREE!

DATE: Sunday, May 3
CONTACT: John Loos
Phone: (732) 422-4326
Email: saveland@jloos.com
BRING: Good footwear & Binoculars if you have them (some loaners may be available)
FREE! These walks are along easy terrain and are great for kids!

1) MIGRANT & BREEDING BIRDS AT GRIGGSTOWN NATIVE GRASSLAND PRESERVE
TIME: 8:00AM to 10:00AM
MEET: TBA

2) MIGRANT & BREEDING BIRDS OF THE NEGRI-NEPOTE GRASSLAND PRESERVE
TIME: 11:00AM to 1:00PM
MEET: Parking lot at 260 Skillsman Lane

For the fifth year in a row, the Franklin Township Open Space Program is sponsoring free, guided walks on tracts of natural open space, such as these two Native Grassland Preserves that were established for use by threatened and endangered species, for passive recreation, and for forest walks along one of the newest trail systems in Franklin!

Wildlife you can look forward to observing in upcoming guided nature walks include:

• JUNE: Meadowlark, Bobolink, Field & Grasshopper Sparrow
• JULY: Butterflies!
• AUGUST: Forest dwellers

May 3: TALK "SLAVERY IN NJ DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION"

The Friends of the Abraham Staats House are thrilled to invite you to experience a powerful presentation by storyteller and reenactor, Frederic Lawrence Minus, on "Slavery in New Jersey During the American Revolution"!

DATE: Sunday, May 3
TIME: Lecture begins 2:00PM
House opens for tours 1:00PM
PLACE: The Abraham Staats House
17 Von Steuben Lane, South Bound Brook
TKTS: $10/Adult, $5/Under 18
Admission includes house tour & lecture
RSVP: Reservations Strongly Recommended
CONTACT: (732) 469-3198
info@staatshouse.org

[From the Staats House website]
"A native of Delaware, Mr. Minus is a member of the Camp Olden Round Table and active Civil War Museum, where he helped establish a room dedicated to the United Colored Troops. He is also a member of the Sons of the Union Veterans-Anne Ross Post #1, 3rd Regiment USCT of Philadelphia and a founding member of the 6th USCT of Trenton and a Friend of the Revolutionary War Barracks in Trenton, where he serves as a storyteller and reenactor. As a reenactor, Fred has made hundreds of presentations in schools, churches, and community organizations, including Delaware State College, Boy Scout conferences, SUNY Maritime College of New York, the PECO Energy Conference, and the Pennsylvania Underground Railroad Conference. He was a featured speaker at the "Oh Freedom" exhibit at the State Museum in Trenton." This exciting lecture is the sixth and final installment of the enormously popular "Lecture Through Time" series presented at the historic Abraham Staats House (c.1740)!

This program is being hosted by Friends of the Abraham Staats House, Inc. The project has been funded, in part, by a grant from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and Friends of Somerset County Culture & Heritage, Inc.