2003 Programs
January 9th – “Applejack” Bill Wilkie will do a slide presentation of the apple brandy “Jersey Lightning” industry in and around Chester. Mr. Wilkie will discuss the cultural history of applejack and its importance in Chester’s rural economy.
February 13th - "The Civil War” Debra Westmoreland, Morris County Historical Society’s curator, will talk about the conflict, the county and the citizens and how the war impacted Morris County’s men and woman.
March 9th – “Reminiscing – The Historians’ Tales of Chester” This program will feature a panel of longtime Chester residents and notable historians who will share anecdotes, local yarns, and old-time lore. Photos and slides will accompany this documented and spirited Chester story session. Audience participation will be encouraged and the program will be video taped.
April 10th - “Historic Milltown and the Black River Corridor" Joe Macasek, who is associated with the Society for Industrial Archaeology, relates that for 200 years Black River Gorge was a center of industrial activity in the Chester area. In his talk, he will examine the village of Milltown and the historic industries that flourished along the Black River.
April 27th – Bus trip to Brooklyn to the Wyckoff House Museum. Public invited to attend this trip to the Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House, which is New York City’s oldest structure and one of the oldest wooden frame houses in the country, c. 1652.
May 8th – “Rock-a-Bye Baby Railroad” Bill Wilkie, historian and railroad enthusiast, is widely respected for his extensive knowledge of the former Rockaway Valley Railroad, often called the “Rock-A-Bye Baby,” a rural railway that provided a commercial link for Mendham, Brookside and Morris Township from 180 through 1913. Wilkie’s presentation will focus on the railroad’s role in the local agricultural-based economy.
May 25th – “Gristmill Weavers” Board member Carmen Smith has been mentoring a group of children in the fine art of spinning and weaving and the group of 19 has become known as the Gristmill Weavers. They will be demonstrating their craft, plus a textile and coverlet display will be on view at the Rockefeller Building on Main Street from 1-4 PM.
June 22nd - Vintage Baseball Game in Borough Park on Main Street. Come out and view an actual baseball game played the old fashioned way using original rules and custom. A family program – bring lawn chairs and a picnic!
July 10th – “Gilded Age of Morristown” Debra Westmoreland, Morris County Historical Society’s curator, will discuss the Grand Estates of several prominent and wealthy families – why they chose Morristown and the surrounding countryside for their splendid homes and the grandeur or the lives they led during 1880-1929.
Aug 9th – Annual Meeting and Picnic. Meeting will be held at the Abram Cooper house at the Morris County Cooper Mill site. The Architecture Preservation Merit Awards will be presented and a report of all we have accomplished this year will be presented.
Sept 11th – “Preserving Memories” A panel of three experts will talk about artifacts, articles, and family histories and how to best preserve them.
Oct. 9th - “Ghost Tales” The man who did the ghost walks through Chester, will present his tales in front of the Boy Scout Cabin on Main Street at 7:30pm. Cider and donuts will be the refreshments for the evening.
Nov. 9th – “Show and Tell” Bring your old or unique items with you to be identified or try and stump the audience with what you have!!
Dec.14th – Holiday Party at 265 Old Chester Road from 2-4pm. (last house on the left)
|
2004 Programs
January 8th – a slide program by Joan Case titled, “Chester, Then and Now” which will show the buildings and streetscapes as they used to appear and how that same area looks today. A history of each building will be told also.
February 12th - a program by John Kraft titled, "The Lenape Indians." The presentation will include a slide-illustrated lecture about the Lenape Indians and their way of life before and after contact with the European Americans
March 11th – “Washington Township – Then and Now” by Eileen Stokes, President of the Washington Township Historical Society presents a slide show of sites around the Township in juxtaposition to how the sites look today.
April 8th - “First Ladies -- Weaving a Tapestry of Fact and Fiction" Feather Schwartz Foster dispelled some myths about early First Ladies, and highlighted their achievements. Presented insights into their personalities and how they participated in the events of their days.
May 13th – “The History of Morristown” John Viola, Morristown's Historian, also known as "Mr. Morristown," presented a slide show and narration of anecdotes and facts related to Morristown’s early history beginning in the 1700's through the late 1800's.
June 13th - Vintage Baseball Game in Borough Park on Main Street. Come out and view an actual baseball game played the old fashioned way using original rules and custom. A family program – bring lawn chairs and a picnic!
July 10th – “The Raritan Inn - Victorian Farmstead Renovation” Bill Asdal will provide a walking tour and slide show history of a 1740's home that was enveloped by an 1898 main farmstead house, then recently renovated using state of the art "Zero Energy" technology and materials located on Rt. 513 in Middle Valley.
Aug 8th – Annual Meeting and Picnic. The Architecture Preservation Merit Awards will be presented and longtime Board member Ross Smyth will be honored.
Sept 9th – “NJ Churchscapes” Frank Greenagel presents a program on the Churchscapes of NJ, with a focus on the churches of Chester and Morris County.
Oct. 14th - “Graveyards – Silent Cities” Peter Osborne from the Minisink Valley Historical Society will present a program titled “Silent Cities.” The program will discuss how and why older graveyards were set up the way they were and Peter will talk a little about the artwork on stones.
Nov. 11th – “Show and Tell” Bring your old or unique items with you to be identified or try and stump the audience with what you have!!
Dec. 12th – Holiday Party at the Virginia & John Butkus’ residence on State Park Road.
|
|