Osage Orange-themed Decorations Remain Up At Caldwell Parsonage
The Caldwell Parsonage, still decorated for an 18th century-style Christmas, will host open houses on January 10 and January 17 from 2 pm to 5 pm. The house is located at 909 Caldwell Avenue, Union.
The decorations include Osage oranges (a round, green fruit) from an old female Osage orange tree on the Parsonage grounds. (See third picture above.) Osage oranges have a citrus fragrance, are a natural insect repellent, and last for about six months.
Osage orange trees are not native to New Jersey. Immature Osage trees, planted close to together to form a thicket, were used as windbreaks on the prairies; their wood was used by Native Americans to make bows because it’s strong but flexible. Settlers used the Osage orange wood to make wagon wheels for the same reason.
The Osage oranges will be available to visitors while supplies last. For more info, please visit the Union Township Historical Society’s website www.uniontwphistoricalsociety.webs.com or call 908-687-0048.
