Morris County Historical Society Winter Newsletter 2010

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The Morris County His-

torical Society will holdboth its annual member-ship drive tea and itsannual meeting on Sun-day, February 14, atAcorn Hall. The tea willrun from 1 to 4 p.m.,with the annual meetingtaking place at 2 p.m.

The business meeting,which is open to thepublic, will include elec-tions and a brief presen-tation on the Societysactivities and growthduring the past year. Upfor reelection to the po-sition of President isDavid G. Holdsworth of

Green Village, and forreelection as Secretary,Barbara M. Benedict ofMadison. All Societymembers whose mem-bership is current as ofJanuary 14 may vote.

During the tea, pro-spective members canlearn about the Soci-etys many benefits andresources while enjoy-ing the Victorian ritualof afternoon tea. Thedays $6 admission fee($5 for seniors, $3 forstudents, and of course,free to MCHS mem-

bers) includes a tour ofthe Acorn Hall, the ex-hibit Life AfterGeorge: MorristownAfter the Revolution,and a delicious after-noon tea buffet. Thefee is applicable to-wards an annual mem-

bership in the MCHS. Cur-rent MCHS members arealso encouraged to attendand bring a guest at nocharge. No advance reser-vation is required for thetea.

A portion of the tea re-freshments is being under-written by the Cosy Cup-board Tea Room, a tradi-tional afternoon tea roomopening in March at 4 OldTurnpike Road in ConventStation. The tea is also co-sponsored by the Metro-politan Ladies Society,whose members will be on

hand to model nineteenthand early twentieth centuryfashions. The tri-state-area-based group is in-volved in living historydemonstrations and a vari-ety of philanthropic pro-jects.

WINTER 2010

Spend Va l ent ines Day w it h Us! and our membershipcont inues to grow

Please welcome the

following new members:

Suzanne Andrews

Craig Berr y

Matthew Connahan

Cosy Cupboard Tea

Room

Kathryn DeMarco

David & Diane Fish

Mary Flintosh

Wayne Frey

Mary Harr igan

Uma Rathore

Lauren Swern

Historical Happenings 2

From the Director 3

Home Garden Club 3

Spinning Demonstration 4

Revolutionary Weekend 4

In the Oakleaf Gallery 5

Thank you! 5

At the Ball 6

2009 Annual Campaign 6

Membership 7

I nside this issue:

Morr is County H istor ical SocietyAt Acorn Hal l

Save the Date!

The MCHS Annual Yard Sale will be held on

Saturday, May 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at

Acorn Hall. You may find a new treasure, and all

proceeds benefit MCHS programs.

Alice Castleman Hone listens inon the conversation between

Jennifer Ochman and HelenClear.


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Boonton Historical Society

Wednesday, February 17 Lincoln: Man of Sorrow givesinsights into the personal and po-litical struggles of one of ourgreatest presidents. A programsponsored by the New JerseyCouncil for the Humanities. 2p.m., Senior Center, 126 NorthMain Street. Free.

Wednesday, March 17 TheBoonton Police Department:1867-1999, with former policeChief Steven Stross. 7 p.m., Sen-ior Center, 126 North Main Street.

Free.

For additional information:

(973) 316-0976

www.boonton.org/Community/

HistoricalSociety.htm.

Madison Historical Society

Wednesday, March 24 Historyof the Madison Fire Department.7 p.m., Chase Room, MadisonPublic Library, 39 Keep Street.Free.


(973) 377-0722 ext. 8

Mt. Tabor Historical Society

Thursday, February 11

Victorianism, presented byBonnie-Lynn Nadzeika of theMorris County Historical Society.

7 p.m., The Bethel in Mt. Tabor

Thursday , March 11 Traditional Celtic Tales withDavid Emerson. A program spon-sored by the New Jersey Council

for the Humanities. 7 p.m., The

Bethel in Mt. Tabor.For additional information:

(973) 586-1564

www.mounttabornj.org

Roxbury Historic Trust &

Roxbury Township

Historical Society

Sunday, February 14 OpenHouse at the King Store, KingHomestead Museum and SilasRiggs Saltbox House. 1 4 p.m.

Sunday, March 14 OpenHouse at the King Store, KingHomestead Museum and Silas

Riggs Saltbox House. 1 4 p.m.


(973) 927-7603

www.roxburynewjersey.com

Washington Township

Historical Society

Wednesday, March 3 Practical Tips for the Care ofHistorical Documents, pre-sented by Joseph M. Ciccone,J.D., C.A.; co-sponsored by theMorris County Heritage Com-mission. Networking and re-freshments at 5:30 p.m.; pro-gram 6:30 8:30 p.m. Morris

County Cultural Center, 300Mendham Road, Morris Twp.

Free, but advance registration byFebruary 26 is required. Contactthe Washington Township His-torical Society by e-mail [email protected], by telephoneat 908-876-9696, or by mail atWTHS, P.O. Box 189, Long

Valley, NJ 07853. If you haveadditional questions about thisworkshop, contact Shelly Here-tyk at the WTHS at 908-876-9696 or by e-mai l a [email protected].

Hist or ic al Ha ppenings

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MCHS

WINTER 2010

Is your business fashion-oriented? Contact the MCHS

office to learn about sponsor-ship opportunities for the nextSociety exhibit, Gowns: FromBirth to Bedroom to Ballroom.Your company name can beincluded in exhibit signage,press releases, the MCHSnewsletter and website, thecatalogue, and other exhibit-related materials. Featuring aWorth gown, an elaborate

three-dimensional lace courtgown, and other stunningdresses, thisexhibit prom-ises to be ashow-stopper anda crowd-pleaser and oneworth

beingapartof.


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Its a new year, and in keeping with that, we are going to try some new activities this year at the Morris

County Historical Society. Many of these events will tie in with our upcoming exhibit, Gowns: FromBirth to Bedroom to Ballroom. We are working to assemble a talented group of artisans to demonstratetraditional arts and crafts at Acorn Hall on Sunday afternoons. Among these will be a spinning demon-stration by Elizabeth Cherry and a lace-making demonstration by the Lost Art Lacers. Fall workshopswill include a program for those interested in making period-correct costumes for their own enjoymentor for use by volunteers at historic sites. We will retire Holly Walk, but are planning extended holidayhours and brand-new events throughout December and into January, allowing more people to experi-ence the Victorian splendor of an Acorn Hall Christmas. We are also looking ahead to 2011, as we de-velop an exhibition on Morris Countys contributions to World War II and the Korean War.

Like every other historic organization, we are dealing with a loss of income, particularly from grants so

we are trying new things to bring in new members. Few people realize that MCHS is not an officialgovernment entity and we receive less than x% of funds from the County. We are currently looking fornew members to fill positions in our Board of Trustees, which raises funds and directs Society policy.If you are interested and have some new ideas, please contact me.

I look forward to seeing our many members and friends in the months to come!

-- Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika

What makes the Great Swampgreat?

Sally Rubin, Executive Directorof the Great Swamp WatershedAssociation, willdiscuss the won-ders of the Swamp

and explain how toprotect the water-shed where welive, play, andwork. Her talk willtake place at theFrelinghuysen Ar-boretums

MCHS

WINTER 2010

Haggerty Education Center at 1p.m. on Wednesday, March 17.The talk is free and open to thepublic.

Please remember the

Morris County

Historical Societyin your will.

Home Gar den Cl ub

Fr om t he D ir ec t or


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in the Morris County HistoricalSocietys exhibitLife AfterGeorge: Morristown After the

Revolution. This will be the finalopportunity to view the exhibit,which examines the history

technological,social, and cul-tural that con-tinued to bemade after that

date through theearly 20th centuryin Morristownand the surround-ing area.Life Af-ter George is inAcorn Halls sec-ond-floor exhibitrooms. It will be

open during that weekend from10 to 4 on Friday, April 16, and1 to 4 on Sunday, April 18(closed Saturday).

The exhibit recounts significantevents that occurred in Morris-town in the 19th and early 20thcenturies. Those years saw theinvention of the telegraph, thedevelopment of the Morris Ca-

nal, and the growth of the townfrom a sleepy farming commu-nity to a major population andcommercial center to the townof millionaires in the GildedAge. Also spotlighted are his-toric sites including MaccullochHall, Historic Speedwell, Foster-fields, and Acorn Hall itself.

Visitors in Morristown for theRevolutionary Weekend April16 through 18 may be interestedin finding out what happenednext afterWashington lefttown. They can find the answer

New York fiber artist ElizabethCherry will be demonstratinghow fibers are spun into yarn at

Acorn Hall on Sunday, March21, from 1 to 4 p.m. Ms. Cherrywill produce knitter-friendlyyarns from animal and vegetablematerials using her Kromski Ma-zurka spinning wheel. Visitorscan try their hands at spinningusing drop spindles. Drop spin-dle kits will also be available forpurchase.

Spinning was an essential skillprior to the Industrial Revolu-tion. Prior to the AmericanRevolution, wearing clothingmade out of homespun fabricwas a sign of rebellion againstGreat Britains tax on imported

goods. In the Victorian era, spin-ning demonstrations recalleddays of yore and were often fea-

tured during patriotic celebra-tions like the Fourth of July. Inrecent years it has regainedpopularity and even has itsown magazine, Spin Off.

Elizabeth Cherry is a vo-cal musician who alsoholds a millinery certifi-cate from the Fashion In-stitute of Technology in

New York. She worked atWaterloo Village whereshe conducted demonstra-tions in pottery. She hasbeen a popular attractionat Acorn Halls VictorianWeekend in past years,

both spinning and sharing hermillinery skills.

The demonstration is free withregular admission to Acorn Hall.

Revol ut ionar y W eekend

Spinn ing Demonst r at ion

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MCHS

WINTER 2010


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In t h e Oa k l ea f Ga l l er y Gif t Shop

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MCHS

WINTER 2010

Its cold outside, but spring hasarrived at the Oakleaf Gallery.

Our shop is filled to the brimwith new merchandise. Paperflowers are featured in a newline of gift items ranging fromboxes in the shape of rose bou-quets to pins featuring peoniesand rose clusters. They areavailable in a wide variety ofcolors and range in price from$3 to $5, making them an af-

fordable luxury! Fans of Muranoglass will appreciate our newperfume bottles and necklaces

available in a variety of styles.For crafters we have expandedour line of Victorian scrap art.Each $3 set is acid-free and canbe used for shadow boxes, scrapbooking, or decoupage.

Not looking for Victoriana?How about a gift for someonewho appreciates history? Ex-clusive to MCHS is a new line

of linen items featuring vin-tage postcard images of Mor-ristown. Tea towels are $5 andpillows are $10. They makegreat gifts for friends, family,and colleagues. They aregenuine linen and made justfor us!

We always carry an extensive

line of local history publica-tions and Acorn Hall souve-nirs. These items are available

at the Oakleaf Gallery or on-line at www.acornhall.org. Weaccept all major credit cardsand members always save10%.

We may be prejudiced, but we think Acorn Halllooked better than ever during this years holidayseason. Thanks to all the volunteers who assistedwith decorations.

Lucia BoreckiHelen ClearBetsy CooperLucille Eckerson

Diane FreedmanVivi KleschMeg ImbrialeMo KhawajaThe students of Montgomery AcademyElizabeth PierceBob SchultzLynne TaylorTom Thornton

Special thanks toThe Home Garden Club of MorristownMCD Print and Document SolutionsThe Metropolitan Ladies SocietyThe young ladies of the Villa Walsh Academy

History Club

Thank You!


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At 20 09 Ar mist ice Ba l l

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Thank you to everyone who contrib-uted to our 2009 Annual Campaign.With funding cut from both the Stateof New Jersey and Morris County, werely more than ever on the support ofour members. We are grateful to eachof these donors for their generosity. Ifyoud still like to contribute, pleasecontact our office at 973-267-3464.(List complete as of February 3,2010.)

Salem Vincent AhtoMarianne ArnoldBarbara BenedictCraig BerryBarbara & Ron BromirskiLearned T. BulmanRoy & Michele BumillerGerald T. CaprioLois E. Collins (in memory of TomCollins)

Betsy CooperNancy A. CooperEleanor & Glenn K. CouttsRobert DonaldsonFrank DruetzlerMarion Percell FishSarah FlahertyDiane L. FreedmanPeter H.B. FrelinghuysenHonorable Rodney P. FrelinghuysenLauren & Robert GarciaVirginia Gebauer

Jeffrey German, German, Vreeland &Assoc.Bennett & Nance GreenbergEvelyn HammarenBetty HardyDavid & Elizabeth HoldsworthAngela HomaNancy Lee & Donald B. KiddooCaroline KnottRichard Thomas Irwin

Jean M. JohnsonCaroline KnottGregory C. KurlanderYvonne & Lousi LanzerottiCecilia LaureysMichelle LiggettDonna MargettsHenry & Carol MauermeyerDonna McNamaraMichele NewhouseElaine ObenhuberJohn & Jennifer Ochman

Ruth Rene PhelanBette RegazziPreston B. Root IIIWilma L. SagurtonLinda StansfieldSusan WilderChristine WilliamsWilliam & Carolee WineburghSam & Mary Jane Yaksich

2 0 0 9 Annual Campaign

MCHS

WINTER 2010

MCHS members Wade & HeatherSpeas take a turn on the dance

floor.

Want to come next year but

dont know how to dance?A free workshop is includedwith the price of admission!

Thanks to students fromFelician College whohelped with decorationsand refreshments.


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MCHS

WINTER 2010

Account#_______________________________________________________

Expiration_______________ Signature_______________________________

Make checks out to: Morris County Historical Society

68 Morris Avenue

Morristown, NJ 07960

NAME_______________________________________________________

ADDRESS____________________________________________________

CITY_____________________________________________STATE_____

ZIP___________PHONE(___)_____________EMAIL________________

I have enclosed a matching gift form. I would like to volunteer.

www.acornhall.org

Where did you get this newsletter?_________________________________

MasterCard Visa Discover American Express

Student $15 Family/Institution $50 Sponsor $500

Senior $20 Contributor $100 Patron $1000

Individual $30 Sustaining $250 Life $2500

Member ship


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MCHS

Board of Trustees

Barbara BenedictLearned T. BulmanNancy CooperRobert H. DonaldsonHeather EmelanderDavid G. HoldsworthDiane KafelGregory C. Kurlander

HoursAcorn Hall: Mon. and Thurs.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. 1 p.m.-4 p.m.Office: Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

This newsletter is published quarterly bythe Morris County Historical Society, headquartered at

Acorn Hall, 68 Morris Avenue,Morristown, NJ 07960-4315

Phone: 973-267-3465 Fax: 973-267-8773www.acornhall.org

The mission of MCHS is to discover, preserve,and make known the history of Morris County

through exhibits, programs, publications,and preservation advocacy.

MCHS receives operating funds fromthe Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders,

the F.M. Kirby Foundation,and the New Jersey Historical Commission.

President of the Board David G. HoldsworthDirector Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika

Curator Debra Westmoreland

Outreach Coordinator Karen Ann KurlanderEducation Coordinator Carie Levin

MORRISCOUNTY

HISTORICALSOCIETY

AtAcornHall

68MorrisAvenue

Morristown,NJ07960-4315