Chester Historical Society (NJ)

Chester Historical Society

2005 Programs

January 13^th - "ROCKAWAY VALLEY RAILROAD" - Gerald Oliveto, a longtime local railroad history buff, will present a program on the Rockaway Valley Railroad.  Mr. Oliveto will discuss the short history of the Rockaway Valley Railroad, how it linked to the early transportation networks in New Jersey, how the name "Rock-a-Bye Railroad" originated, and other interesting facts about early railroad development in the area.

February 10^th - The Delaware and Raritan Canal"   - The program will be presented by Linda Barth, a board member of the Canal Society of New Jersey and author of several books and numerous articles on the subject.  The Delaware and Raritan Canal was one of the most successful towpath canals in the United States.  In 1871, the canal carried more cargo than the famous Erie Canal.

March 10^th - "In Search of the Morris Canal" - Continuing the canal theme with a presentation by Phil Jaeger, a member of the Board of Directors of the Passaic County Historical Society and member of the Canal Society of New Jersey.  The Morris Canal was created to provide a water route to transport the newly discovered anthracite coal from the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania to the New Jersey iron industry.  Route surveys for the canal were begun in 1823, with construction starting at Ledgewood in 1825.  In order to overcome the changes in elevation along the route, it was necessary to build a series of 23 water-powered inclined planes and 23 conventional locks.

April 14^th - "Antiques Roadshow" - with Drew and Lynn Magnussen of Personal Property Consultants

May 12^th –

June 9^th –

July 30^th – “Grist Mill Gala”

Aug. 21st – Annual Meeting and Picnic

Sept. 15^th –

Oct. 20^th –  "From Black Crepe to White Marble: Victorian Mourning

Customs"  Presented by the Morris County Heritage Commission and the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders.  Explore the customs and practices of mourning in the nineteenth century.   Enjoy a lecture on Victorian period fashions and the etiquette of mourning, featuring slides and artifacts of the times.  

Nov. 10^th – Slide Show and Book Signing - "Chester - Then and Now" book by Joan S. Case and published by Arcadia Publishing Co.  The book features old photos of Chester with a photograph of what that same spot looks like today.  There is a short written history next to each pair of photographs.

Dec. 4th (Sunday)  2PM - 5PM – Christmas Party   This is a members only party (sorry)  Hey!  Good reason to join CHS!!!