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Unless stated otherwise, the Chester Historical Society Program Meetings, which are open to the public, are held at the Chester Public Library, 250 W. Main St., Chester on the second Thursday
of each month at 7pm.
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CHILDHOOD REMEMBERED
Our Thursday, November 12th program features returning speaker Gordon Ward who in the past entertained, educated and amused us with his ghost hunting adventures and a personal bicycle trip along the Lewis and Clark Trail. Mr. Ward's presentation "A Bit of Earth in the Somerset Hills" will focus on his recollections growing up on the former Lloyd estate in the Lloyd Road area of Bernardsville, once known as Logtown. We'll hear about the activities he enjoyed as a child exploring the woods, fields, streams, and ponds that provided boundless play ideas and a wealth of learning experiences. An emphasis on the importance of honoring and preserving one's past through sharing is demonstrated. Please join us for another delightful evening, and bring a friend.
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HOLIDAY CELEBRATION AT TRANQUILLITY FARM
Sunday, December 6th marks this year's Chester Historical Society Holiday Celebration which, we are delighted to announce, will be held at "Tranquillity Farm", the original circa 1769 Hardin Estate in Chester, spelled with two L's by the Hardins.
Our hosts, Ricci and Stephanie Desiderio, bought the 60-acre historical estate in 2005 and transformed the farmland protected property into an exceptional state-of-the-art equestrian facility. Weather permitting, we are invited to tour the exquisite barn, grooming facilities, and indoor riding ring during the party.
The main house, once an inn, has sixteen rooms, six fireplaces, six baths, tall windows, and a dining room which was originally a tavern in the late 18th century. Outdoors there's a caretaker's house, corn crib, pump house, swimming pool, and 60 acres of beautifully fenced green grass paddocks.
CHS members will receive an invitation with all of the particulars, in the mail, in the next week or so. Members are asked to RSVP and bring an appetizer or dessert -- traditional holiday punch and good cheer will be provided. See you there! Watch for your invitation!
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DIG IT! JANUARY 14th!
Uncovery of the encampment site of General Henry Knox and the Continental Artillery on the slope of the Second Watchung Mountain near Pluckemin is an archaeological project and the subject of our January 14, 2010 program to be held at the Chester Library at 7 o'clock p.m.
Matt Koppinger, past President and current Architectural Merit Award Committee chairperson of the CHS will present an exciting overview of the exhaustive amount of painstaking research that has taken place just down the road in Bedminster.
By way of introduction from a brochure about the French Alliance Ball, "During the winter of 1778-79 the main body of General George Washington's Continental Army was quartered at Bound Brook. The Corps of Artillery, commanded by Genreal Henry Knox, was encamped on the slope of the 2nd Watchung Mountain north of Pluckemin in the Township of Bedminster."
"General Knox and the officers of the Artillery invited all the principal officers of the Army and their ladies to an elegant ball on the 18th of February 1779 to celebrate the first anniversary of the alliance of the French government with the American Colonies. The ball was held in the Academy...more than 350 persons attended, including General and Mrs. Washington and the major military military figures of the day...it was a major social event of the Revolutionary years, and the pre-eminent historical occurrence within the Township of Bedminster."
Join us and make the CHS January 14th program your pre-eminent historical occurrence to start the new year off historically. See you there! January 14th. Seven o'clock. Bring a compatriot.
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