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Somerset County is very proud of its heritage and culture. The county’s Cultural and Heritage Commission administers the Mini-Grant Program as well as the Somerset County Historic Preservation Trust Grant Program. In addition, many of our historic sites have received grants from the New Jersey Historical Commission, and from their own municipalities.
We are grateful to the many passionate people who give of themselves and their resources to preserve our heritage. Some of these groups are listed below:
Blackwell Mills Canal House
598 Canal Road (corner of Blackwells Mills Road), Somerset, NJ 08873 732-873-2133
Franklin Inn & Used Bookstore 2371 Amwell Road, East Millstone, NJ 08873 732-873-5244; Contact: Jan ten Broeke, 732-873-2999
Friends of the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage
P.O. Box 225, Somerville, NJ 08876
908-725-1015
In 1775, the Reverend John Hardenbergh, minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, sold a farmstead near his Parsonage to John Wallace of Philadelphia. Mr. Wallace soon built a fine new home on the property. Neither man could have foreseen that citizens would one day preserve their homes as memorials to the great events soon to unfold. But that is exactly what happened. Thanks to the efforts of private citizens, the Wallace House became a museum in 1897 and the Parsonage was saved from demolition in 1913. Eventually, both homes were listed on the National Historic Register and became State Historic Sites (1947). Today, the Friends of the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage carry on this tradition of citizen involvement.
Established in 1974, the Friends of the Wallace House and the Old Parsonage is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation recognized by the New Jersey State Park Service. The Friends group is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Washington Place sites and to supplementing the heritage and education programs offered at the sites. The Friends raise funds for furnishing, restoring, and improving the sites, as well as funding heritage programming. The Friends also serve as site advocates and network with other local historic groups on multi-site events and programs.
Griggstown Historical Society
One Room Schoolhouse
1065 Canal Road, Griggstown
908-359-3489
The society works to preserve the history of this historic section of Franklin Township. Its holdings include photographs of the Delaware & Raritan Canal, farms, citizens, and events from the past.
Public Events: Greens and Goodies Sale in early December. Guest speaker at the October meeting.
Hagemann Farm 209 South Middlebush Road, Somerset, NJ 08873
Contact: Maryanne McMillan
908-789-2206
Heritage Trail Association, The Van Horne House
941 East Main Street, Bridgewater
732-356-8856
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Basking Ridge Chapter
9 Fairmount Road West, Califon, NJ 07830
908-832-2485; Fax: 908-832-2485
A national society, founded by women, for historical, educational, and patriotic purposes; a private, nonprofit; membership requirement: ancestors who assisted in the Revolutionary War effort. Public Events: Participation in the annual Festival of Trees & Lord Stirling 1770s Festival; occasional displays at the Basking Ridge and Bernardsville libraries. This chapter undertook the creation of a monument, at the English Farm, to celebrate the encampment of French troops in August 29, 1781.
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Camp Middlebrook Chapter
305 Park Place, Bound Brook, NJ 08805 732-469-7624
Public Events: Participation in Memorial Day Parade; sponsorship of four high school students from Bound Brook, Middlesex, Bridgewater-Raritan, and Manville High Schools as “Good Citizens” at statewide DAR Awards Day; Sponsorship of DAR Fashion Design Contest. Participation in historical events as they occur.
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Elizabeth Snyder Chapter
11 Glenn Avenue, Green Brook, NJ 08812-2431 732-968-0831 evenings
Public Events: Constitution Week exhibits; sponsorship of state and national DAR scholarships and contests; American History Month Essay Contest; DAR Good Citizens; Young Homemakers Sewing Contest; presentation of Community Service Awards; sponsorship of the Junior American Citizens Division at the Somerset County 4-H Fair (open to all children pre-K through high school).
Old Millstone Forge Association, Inc. (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)
8 North River Street, Millstone, NJ 908-448-6624
The Old Millstone Forge Blacksmith Shop is open by appointment and on Sundays, September-November, April-June, 1-4 pm. Blacksmiths offer tours, demonstrations and lessons. Site supervisors: Ben Suhaka and RJ Robinson. The Old Millstone Forge Association, a private foundation, exists to maintain and support the Old Millstone Forge building and collection.The Old Millstone Forge is the longest-running blacksmith shop in the country, with tools dating to 1693. The building likely dates from the 1830s.
Raritan-Millstone Heritage Alliance
P.O. Box 5583, Somerset NJ 08873-5583
732-329-9159; fax: 732-329-2103
The Raritan-Millstone Heritage Alliance supports historic sites in Middlesex, Somerset and Mercer County, along the Raritan and Millstone rivers. The Alliance includes adjacent corridors that support these sites. It links Perth Amboy on the Raritan with Princeton on the Millstone. The rivers run through a valley rich in the unique heritage and culture of central New Jersey, an area that has continually contributed to the strength of our United States.
Public Events: Self-guided theme tours; a detailed guide to the most interesting small and large cemeteries within two miles of either river, and The Raritan-Millstone Heritage Alliance Guide to Historic Sites in Central Jersey. All are available upon request (phone or email).
Rocky Hill Community Group Amy Garrett House, 62 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ 609-688-1225; Heritage Project, 609-924-1802;
Public Events: Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting; walking tours; cemetery tours; historical lectures and exhibits; newsletter, Rocky Hill Remembers
Somerset County Historical Society
The Van Veghten House, 9 Van Veghten Drive, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
908-218-1281
Open the 2nd Sat of the month, 12-4, and Tuesdays, noon-3, from mid-March to mid-December.
The society’s mission is to keep alive the history of Somerset County. It provides a library for historical and genealogical research. The Van Veghten House is open on the 2nd Saturday of the month, noon-4, and every Tuesdays noon-3, from mid-March to mid-December.
Public Events: Holiday Open House held on the 1st Sunday in December each year.
Symen Van Wickle House
1289 Easton Avenue, Somerset, NJ 08873 732-828-7418
Contacts: Carol Sas, House Secretary for house rentals, 732-846-1465
Dr. Bruce A. Hamilton, Program Director, 732-249-6770
Johanna Hnedak, House Tours Coordinator, 732-469-0433
Ellen Hamilton, Sinterklass Festival, 732-249-6770
The Rockingham Association
County Route 603 (Laurel Avenue/Rocky Hill-Kingston Road), Franklin Township, near Kingston (mailing address: P.O. Box 496, Kingston, NJ 08528)
609-683-7132
The Rockingham Association was formed to work in partnership with the state of New Jersey to help restore, furnish and interpret Rockingham and to promote quality programming by supporting and working with the Stony Brook Garden Club and the Montgomery High School's Live Historians Club.
Rockingham,owned at thetime by Mrs. MargaretBerrien, served as General George Washington's last war-time headquarters from August-November 1783while the Continental Congress met in Princeton. It was here that Washington wrote the Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States. Rockingham is a living history museum with afine collection of antiques and artifacts.
Public Events: Holidaycandlelight open house in December features music, local greens, interpreters in period dress and uniform, Colonial life demonstrations and light refreshments; Children’s Day, in May, offers games, dress-up and Colonial activities for children in the Children's Museumandartillery reenactments. Small group programswith various themes are held throughout the year.
Tulipwood
1165 Hamilton Street, Somerset, NJ 08873 Contact: John Mullen, 908-890-0110
The Van Liew Suydam House
280 South Middlebush Road, Somerset, NJ 08873 Contact: Gary Randolph
732-310-7383
USGA Museum and Archives
77 Liberty Corner Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931 908-234-2300, 800-223-0041; fax: (908) 234-0319
Public Events: The Library and photographic archives are open to researchers by appointment only. Golf House is open every day except New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Group tours may be arranged by advance reservation. The museum will be closed for renovation until 2008.
The Van Harlingen Historical Society of Montgomery, Inc. 908-359-3498
The Van Harlingen Historical Society was founded in 1965 to help preserve the heritage of the Montgomery Township area and to interpret the area’s history through educational programs, publications, and exhibits. The Society finds many ways to preserve, educate, and to strengthen our community life:
Preservation
• Restoring the 1752 Dirck Gulick House to become our headquarters, library, and archives.
• Managing the one-room Bedensville Schoolhouse at Orchard Hill Elementary School.
• Creating the Montgomery Farm Museum behind the 1860 House.
• Establishing a select library of books, family records, manuscripts, and photographs to support research & genealogy.
• Publishing a multi-volume series of oral histories based on memories of long-time citizens.
• Advocating the preservation of scenic byways, villages, and buildings before governing bodies.
Education
• Supplementing the third-grade history curriculum with a one-room schoolhouse program.
• Hosting regular programs on local history topics.
• Organizing walks and hikes in the local villages, along the canal, and up the Sourland Mountain.
• Publishing the Van Harlingen Historian newsletter.
Public Events: “May in Montgomery”, an annual fundraising festival with house tours, arts, crafts, food, etc.; tours, both in the local community and to other historic areas; the Bedensville Schoolhouse, a restored 1853 one-room schoolhouse is open to the public by appointment, and on the day chosen by Montgomery Township to celebrate July 4th. The schoolhouse is in close proximity to the events of the day.
Warren Township Historical Society
124 Mountainview Road, Warren, NJ 07059 908-580-9801
The Warren Township Historical Society was founded in 1971; membership is open to all interested persons. The society meetsfour times a year and publishes an award-winning newsletter twice a year. For Society publications write to Alan Siegel, 5 Wychwood Way, Warren, New Jersey 07059; 732-469-2318. To join the Warren Township Historical Society, send $10 dues with your name and address to the Treasurer, 88 Round Top Road, Warren, New Jersey 07059.
The Warren Township Historic Sites Committee is appointed by the governing body to administer municipally-owned historic landmarks (Rory Britt, chairman of Warren Township Sites Committee, 732-271-1596). Currently these include the Mt. Bethel Meeting House, which dates from the 1760s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the Kirch-Ford house, a typical nineteenth century farmstead donated by Bell Laboratories,and two cemeteries. Events held at the Kirch-Ford House and the Mt. Bethel Meeting House are usually run by theWarrenTownship Historical Society.
Public Events: All programs are open to the public. Members serve as docents at local historic sites and provide historical displays.
Washington Campground Association
P.O. Box 111, Bound Brook, NJ 08805; 732-563-0063
The association maintains and preserves the historic site on Middlebrook Road and sponsors the July 4th program that includes the reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Public Events: Annual July 4th Flag Ceremony and reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Washington Park Association 40 Willow Avenue, North Plainfield, NJ 07060 908-757-6353
Purpose: Protection, preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of the Washington Park Historic District in North Plainfield. Public event: House tour, Architectural Treasures of North Plainfield, Dec 9, 2006 4:30-8:30; tickets $15 at door, $12 purchased ahead.
Wyckoff-Garretson House
215 South Middlebush Road, Somerset, NJ 08873 Contact: Mark Else
732-846-3345
Bedminster Township Historic Commission
2361 Larger Cross Road, Gladstone, NJ 07934
908-234-2459
Bernards Township Historian
45 Warwick Lane, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
908-647-6029
Bound Brook Cultural Arts & Heritage Committee
732-560-0138
Branchburg Historic Preservation Commission
1077 Rte. 202, Branchburg, NJ 08876
908-526-1300
Historic Preservation Commission of Franklin Township
Franklin Township Municipal Building, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873
732-873-9708;
Fax: 732-873-5452
rlacorte@patmedia.net
Green Brook Cultural Heritage & Historic Preservation Committee
Green Brook Town Hall, 111 Green Brook Road, Green Brook, NJ 08812
732-968-1023
Millstone Borough Historic District Commission
1353 Main Street, Millstone, NJ 08844
908-874-5478
erorton@aol.com
Montgomery Township Landmarks Commission
Montgomery Township Municipal Building, 2261 Van Horne Road, Route 206, Belle Mead, NJ 08502
908-466-3023
pmraw@pwp.montgomery.nj.us
North Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission
North Plainfield Municipal Building, 263 Somerset Street, North Plainfield, NJ 07060
908-757-6353 (H); 732-302-8369 (Pager)
Fax: 908-561-5155
frankdsr@att.net
Peapack-Gladstone Historic Preservation Commission
908-234-0568; 908-234-1121
Raritan Cultural, Heritage & Historical Committee
4 West Somerset Street, Raritan, NJ 08869
908-725-7653
Somerville Historic Advisory Committee
Borough Hall, 25 West End Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876
908-685-0939 (H); 800-500-8061 x4222 (W) philip.decker@libertymutual.com; redreph@aol.com
Public Events: Sponsorship or co-sponsorship of educational programs on state and local history. The committee’s mission is to promote, protect and preserve the historic heritage, character and architecture of the Borough of Somerville, while increasing public awareness of that heritage on local, regional, state, and national levels, creating for its citizens and their descendants a living resource that will accentuate and emphasize the value of the town’s history. The committee will provide informed and consensus-based recommendations regarding the conservation of historical artifacts, structures, and other property, with focus on enhancing the quality of life for the residents, and preserving the historic character of the Borough while allowing for appropriate growth and change.
South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission
12 Main Street, South Bound Brook, NJ 08880
732-356-7215
Fax: (732) 764-0111
djquinlan@aol.com or sbbhistory@aol.com
Warren Township Historic Sites Commission
6 Skyline Drive, Warren, NJ 07059
908-607-0060
Watchung Historical Committee
168 Valley Road, Watchung, NJ 07069
908-756-0451
Fax: (908) 277-0360
Public Events: Ongoing management and care of the Watchung Bicentennial Room, a collection of historical photographs, information, and a wide variety of memorabilia relating to the history and heritage of Watchung Borough located on the second floor of the Watchung Public Library, located behind the Watchung Art Center on the Watchung Circle; for further information, or Library hours, please call the Watchung Library at (908) 561-0117; several historical programs scheduled each year at various locations throughout the Borough;
For further information please call Watchung Borough Hall at (908) 756-0080.
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