This year, 30 historic sites countywide will be open free to the public on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 11, from noon to 4 p.m. We welcome four newly participating historic sites this year: the Hageman Farm in Somerset (Franklin Township), the Texier House Museum in Watchung, Blawenburg Reformed Church in Blawenburg (Montgomery Township) and the Dr. J. Vermeule House in Green Brook.
After a short hiatus, the Amy Garrett House in Rocky Hill, the Bedensville Schoolhouse in Skillman (Montgomery Township), the Brick Academy in Basking Ridge and the Robert Mansion in Somerville also will be on the sites list. This year’s event boasts five early schoolhouses, of particular interest to educators and students.
“This is an opportunity to step into and experience the past,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Patricia Walsh. “This popular family-oriented program is being presented by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission in collaboration with 30 local historical societies.”
This annual autumn weekend features interpreted tours led by guides in period dress, special collections and exhibitions, and a seemingly unending variety of offerings.
Experience the sights and sounds of the 18th century with costumed reenactors, house tours and activities; living-history reenactors; open-hearth cooking; colonial tavern life and games; interactive activities, such as signing an actual enlistment document with quill and ink and being whisked off into Gen. William Alexander’s (aka Lord Stirling) headquarters during the Middlebrook Cantonment of 1778-9; and learning spy techniques and taking sides.
Be amazed by 19th-century firefighting wagons and apparatus and observe traditional blacksmithing. Enjoy antiques sales, actors portraying historical figures, craftspeople demonstrating period decorative crafts, live theatrical productions and several period music performances, including a strolling troubadour singing songs of the American Revolution. Help Lord Stirling strategize Middlebrook defenses; celebrate the French Alliance by learning a colonial dance; discover a wealth of genealogical resources; enjoy an old vaudeville house’s silent movie; discover area military history; see local history videos, including the Millstone Valley Scenic Byway; explore the new Jack Nicklaus Room at the U.S. Golf Association; appreciate interesting architecture; gain access to some sites not generally open to the public; and so much more.
For those who enjoy a challenge, we’re continuing an educational and fun detective investigation activity for kids and the entire family that will test your powers of deduction to solve 30 mysteries. “What in the World is That…?” is intended to encourage a multi-generational outing for parents, children and grandparents. Share stories and experiences about “the old days” with your children and grandchildren as you enjoy traveling from one historic site to the next.
At each historic site, one unique item from the past will be featured, displayed and described. As a rookie detective enlisted to investigate, you are assigned to reveal the true identity and function of each mystery item. Download and print an “Official Investigative Task Booklet” from the event website at www.SCHistoryWeekend.com (the current year’s booklet will be posted by the end of August).
Next to the name and town of each participating historic site you’ll find a small photo of a mystery item you are challenged to identify. After carefully examining the photo, write down in your booklet what you believe the item is. Once you do that for all pictured items, take your booklet and go to as many sites as you can, searching the premises to locate the mystery item (look for the Sherlock Holmes silhouette sticker). When you find it, read the posted information to see if your powers of deduction were correct, and rate yourself as a weekend detective.
Tech-savvy visitors may view each mystery item on a smart phone or tablet at www.SCHistoryWeekend.com (updated at the end of August) prior to visiting each site. Though you may not have a booklet to record your guesses, you and your family or friends will have fun challenging each other before you walk through the door to discover the item’s true identity, or confirm that you guessed it correctly upon arrival. Enjoy your quest!
2015 Weekend Journey through the Past Participating Historic Sites:
- Bedensville Schoolhouse, Montgomery
- Blawenburg Reformed Church, Blawenburg (Montgomery)
- Brick Academy, Basking Ridge
- The Brook Theater/Brook Arts Center, Bound Brook
- Boudinot Southard Ross House, Basking Ridge
- Codington Farmstead, Warren Twp.
- Gen. J. Frelinghuysen House/Raritan Borough Library, Raritan
- Griggstown School House, Franklin Township/Princeton
- Garrett, Amy House, Rocky Hill
- Hageman Farm, Somerset/Franklin Township
- Dr. John Vermeule House, Green Brook
- Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead, Basking Ridge
- Kirch Ford Terrell House, Warren Township
- 1860 Millstone School House/Millstone Borough Hall, Millstone
- Mount Bethel Meeting House, Warren Township
- Old Millstone Forge Blacksmith Shop & Museum, Millstone
- The Presbyterian Church of Bound Brook
- Relief Hose Company No. 2 Firehouse, Raritan
- Robert Mansion, Somerville
- Somerville Fire Museum, Somerville
- South Branch School House, Branchburg
- Abraham Staats House, South Bound Brook
- Andrew Ten Eyck House, Branchburg
- Texier House Museum, Watchung
- United States Golf Association (USGA)/Frothingham Mansion, Far Hills
- Jacobus Vanderveer House, Bedminster
- Van Horne House, Bridgewater
- Van Veghten House, Bridgewater
- Wallace House State Historic Site, Somerville
- Washington Rock State Park, Green Brook
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