May in Montgomery – A Day on the Farm: Single Ticket: $40
May in Montgomery – A Day on the Farm: Family(2 Adults, 2 children under 18): $100 May in Montgomery – A Day on the Farm: Child under 12: $20
Note: Click “Add to Cart” for each ticket desired(additional quantities can be adjusted on checkout page). Please direct questions to library@vanharlingen.org or call 908-359-8304
We were not the first and how we know … Long before the days of central heating and cell phones, humans occupied what is known as New Jersey. And, even prior to the arrival of European settlers in the 17th century, New Jersey (and portions of the neighboring states) was the homeland of the Lenape Indians and their ancestors for more than 10,000 years. We know this because of archeological and ethnological studies. According to the Internet, archeology is the study of the ancient and recent human past through material remains while ethnology is the study of humans as cultural beings. To learn more about who came before us, please join co-sponsors Van Harlingen Historical Society and Montgomery Library on Thursday, January 23 at 6 pm for an informative lecture about the indigenous people of the New Jersey area dating back to when Homo sapiens first entered North America, traveling south between two ice sheets. The presenter is Dr. Greg Lattanzi, New Jersey State Archaeologist and Curator for the Bureau of Archeology and Ethnology at the New Jersey State Museum. According to the museum website, the archeology and ethnology collection he oversees at the State Museum “encompasses over 2 million prehistoric and historic specimens from nearly 100 years of excavation and over 2,000 ethnographic objects. Archaeology specimens are recognized as the definitive systematic research collection for the study of New Jersey prehistory and one of the most important collections for regional study of northeastern North America.” The program, suitable for both adults and young adults, is free and open to the public. Please register at sclsnj.org On Saturday, January 25 at 10 am, the Society will host a free book folding event (books will be provided) for adults. Contact library@vanharlingen.org
Announcing the first annual Images of Historic Montgomery Township Photo Contest
The history of Montgomery is hiding in plain sight all over town! Everywhere you look, you see a visual reminder of what was here 50, 100, even 200 years ago. It may be as simple as rocks, once part of a mill, that have tumbled into the Millstone River to a dwelling house still standing after a few centuries to macadam from an abandoned roadway to an Osage orange hedgerow planted to delineate property boundaries. Even in housing developments and store complexes where the earth has been plowed and moved six ways to Sunday, the astute observer might discern a right of way from a long-abandoned railroad track or an old barn that has been converted into a residence to a small old stone foundation in the backyard.
Van Harlingen Historical Society and The Montgomery News want you, the residents, to take photos of historic sights around town. The photos will be displayed publicly (place TBD) during the first two weeks of September and professional photographers will select the winners. Top three winners will receive a cash prize. Top twelve winners will receive a local history book and the opportunity to have their photo included in a 2025 calendar.
The Rules: limit of two photos per person, email entries to president@vanharlingen.org by August 26, include photographer’s name, where the photo was taken (Montgomery/ Rocky Hill) & what historic sight it is, when the photo was taken (must be within last three months). Contest is open to amateur photographers of all ages. Please email questions to library@vanharlingen.org.
The Delaware & Raritan Canal Commission is celebrating its 50th birthday and the Society will give them a tip of the hat with an exhibit of 1970s newspaper clippings, correspondence between the State of New Jersey and property lessees, maps and photographs (all from a private collection) of the Griggstown bridgetender’s house titled Griggstown and Blackwell’s Mills Ephemera from the 1970s.
Book folding craft event at 1 pm will be led by Candy. Bring own book or buy one for $1. The event is free and open to the public (bring a friend) but, because of space limitations, we ask that you register at library@vanharlingen.org.
The Society’s library at the Gulick House reopens after a winter recess on March 23 from 10-12. This month, we will be featuring books on barns and farmhouse. We will be open on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10-12 through November.
