Home | Departments and Services | Cultural and Heritage Commission | Museums of Hunterdon County
Updated 06/08/2010
|
|
DORIC HOUSE Terry A. McNealy, Executive Director Built in 1846, this three-story Greek Revival structure was the home of Flemington's architect/builder, Mahlon Fisher. Maintained as a museum by the Hunterdon County Historical Society, this house is furnished in authentic New Jersey antiques of the period; tours by appointment. The Hiram E. Deats Reference Library, containing census, church and business records; wills; deeds; photographs; maps; family bibles; and prime source genealogical documents on over 1,200 County families; 1,100 microfilm rolls of Hunterdon newspapers since 1825; and well over 5,000 books, is open Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m., the second and fourth Saturday of every month, excluding Holidays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and by appointment.
|
|
|
SAMUEL FLEMING HOUSE Edna Pedrick, Pres., Board of Trustees Snail Mail: c/o Friends of Fleming Castle The town of Flemington grew up around--and took its name--from this building, then known as "Fleming's Tavern." Built by Samuel Fleming in 1756, it is Flemington's oldest remaining house. It is maintained by the Col. Lowrey Chapter (named after Samuel Fleming's son-in-law) of the DAR. Hours: Second Sunday every month from 1-4 p.m.; tours are by appointment.
|
|
|
Flemington Children's Choir School
3 Chorister Place Former museum of the musical history of Flemington's young people. The Flemington Children’s Choir School was a landmark for more than 100 years. After much discussion and concern, in October 2009 the elderly Chorus of the Alumni of the Flemington Children’s Choir School unanimously agreed to release the Freeholders from the restrictions placed on them in the deed dated January 1981 for the Choir School building. The 1890 Chickering piano, originally donated by Louella Alleger, was re-gifted to a local church and the major portion of the Choir School’s historical collection was relocated to the Hunterdon County Historical Society. The final meeting of the Alumni was held in May 2010. The building remains the headquarters of the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission.
|
|
|
HOLCOMBE-JIMISON FARMSTEAD Mary Lou Crabtree , President 1605 Daniel Bray Highway, Route 29 Phone: 609-397-2752 Located on approximately 10 acres of land originally purchased by John Holcombe in 1733 and gifted to the Hunterdon County Historical Society in 1968 by Milo and Rachel Jimison. In 1984 the Society placed the property in the hands of Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead, Inc. for the purpose of operating a museum dedicated to "preserving knowledge of Hunterdon County's rural heritage." The Museum is an educational, nonprofit institution, restored, maintained and staffed solely by volun-teers. The Farmstead " Plantation" features the oldest remaining stone house in Hunterdon County, believed built by John Wey in 1711. Volunteers have restored the property and added outbuildings for the Post Office, Blacksmith Shop, Carriage Shed and 19th century Print Shop. Museum-barn displays include early farming and homemaking devices, and a 1910 Doctor's Office. Open 1-4 p.m. Sundays, from the first weekend in May to the last weekend in October, and Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. A Celebration of Farms is held the second weekend in September. A donation of $5.00 per adult and $3.00 for Seniors and Children is suggested. Memberships welcome.
|
|
 |
HUNTERDON ART MUSEUM Marjorie Frankel Nathanson, Executive Director 7 Lower Center Street Phone: 908-735-8415, Fax: 908-735-8416 The Hunterdon Museum of Art is housed in an 1836 stone grist mill on the bank of the South Branch of the Raritan River. Established in 1952, the Museum is on the National and State Registers. The Museum features temporary exhibitions of modern art and extensive art education programs including studio classes for all ages, docent-led tours for selected exhibitions and outreach programs. The Museum's Anne Steele Marsh Print Collection contains more than 300 prints made since the 1930's. Large membership; annual events: National Juried Print Exhibition, Members' Exhibition. Gallery Hours: Tues- Sun, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Office Hours: Tues. - Fri., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Museum shop, Wed. - Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission by donation. Barrier-free.
|
|
|
JAMES WILSON MARSHALL HOUSE Phone: 609-397-0770 The Marshall House, on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places, was the boyhood home of James Wilson Marshall, discoverer of gold in California in 1848, and is now the headquarters of the Lambertville Historical Society. The Federal brick structure was built in 1816 by his father, Philip Marshall, a member of one of the oldest families in New Jersey and by marriage to John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Four rooms are open to the public; furnished with donated local furniture; costumes and shad fishing displays. Open 1-4 pm weekends, last weekend in April through October; and by appointment throughout the year. The house originally sat on "44 perches of land" (about 5 acres), and included a brick kitchen, two-story back addition with first and second floor porches, a wheelwright and wagon shop, barn and smokehouse. The family sold the property at Philip's death in 1834 and in 1882 Hugh Ely sold the property to St. John's Roman Catholic Church for a convent. In 1964, Mrs. Alice Narducci enlisted the help of local residents and persuaded the church to deed the Marshall House to the N.J. Dept. of Conservation & Economic Development for preservation purposes in 1967 rather than tear it down. The State leased the Marshall House, unrestored, to the newly born Lambertville Historical Society.
|
|
|
OAK SUMMIT SCHOOL Irene Leon, Treasurer Oak Summit School Historical Society Phone: 908-996-4633 Call for schedule of demonstrations and tours.
|
|
|
PRALLSVILLE MILLS Delaware River Mill Society at Stockton Phone: (609) 397-3586 Bordering the Delaware and Raritan canal and Wickecheoke Creek off of Route 29 North in Stockton, Prallsville remained an important commercial center throughout the 19 th century. This nine-building complex, including a large 4-story grist mill and grain silo, linseed oil mill and saw mill, is the largest and most important state-owned property along the entire 67-mile length of the Delaware and Raritan Canal Park. The Prallsville Mills were included on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and the entire property became part of the D & R Canal State Park in 1974. U nder lease terms, the Delaware River Mill Society at Stockton has the responsibility to "restore, preserve, operate, maintain and interpret" these historic buildings. Membership is open to the public. Cultural, educational and social events. 2010 Daily Docent tours begin Monday, June 7, 1 - 4 p.m. Mill complex tours Monday through Thursdays, 1 - 4 p.m. through September 9, 2010. Group tours can be scheduled year round by emailing drms@netcarrier.com.
|
|
|
READINGTON TOWNSHIP MUSEUMS Mailing Address: Phone: (908) 236-2327 The Readington Museums (Bouman-Stickney Farmstead, Cold Brook School, Eversole-Hall House, and Taylor's Mill) were established to promote an understanding and appreciation of Readington's history and culture through education, research, preservation, collection, and interpretation. The properties constituting the Museums are intended to be utilized as educational living history experiences for the community; to provide an appropriate setting for interpreting and preserving collections of artifacts relating to the history of the Township; and to offer an historic venue for a broad range of activities for Readington residents, such as educational programs, community cultural events and meetings of groups interested in local history. The Museum organization is governed by a Museum Committee, created by ordinance and appointed by the Township Committee to oversee programs and restoration projects that take place on the properties. Museum Committee: Historic Preservation Comittee:
|
|
|
BOUMAN-STICKNEY FARMSTEAD Location Address:
|
|
|
COLD BROOK SCHOOL Location Address: website: www.township.readington.nj.us
|
|
|
Eversole-Hall House Location Address: website: www.township.readington.nj.us
|
|
|
TAYLOR ’S MILL Location Address: website: www.township.readington.nj.us
|
|
|
READINGTON TRAIN STATION Route 523
|
|
 |
RED MILL MUSEUM VILLAGE Amy Hollander, Executive Director 56 Main Street Phone: (908) 735-4101
|
|
|
SOLITUDE HOUSE MUSEUM Mike Gronsky , President 7 River Road, PO Box 174 Phone: (908) 638-3200 Solitude House, built in 1710, is the center piece of the Taylor Iron and Steel Company. It was the homestead of five generations of company presidents and the birthplace of Civil War General George W. Taylor. The Colonial Room or “Penn Room” contains many 18 th and 19 th century artifacts relating to the John Penn, the last Royal Governor of Pennsylvania, as well his Attorney General, Benjamin Chew, who was imprisoned by order of Washington's Board of War under the watch of patriot Robert Taylor. George and Martha Washington, Col. Charles Stewart, Aaron Burr, and many notable others were visitors to Solitude. The sundial on the grounds is an exact replica of George Washington’s in Mount Vernon. Solitude House and its outbuildings are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to exhibits, the Union Forge Heritage Association has scheduled Open House days, oral histories, and other events at Solitude House Museum.
|
|
|
THE STATION AT CALIFON Donald E. Freibergs, Curator The 1875 railroad station is the headquarters and museum of the Califon Historical Society. Located in the heart of Califon's National Register Historic Site District, the station was constructed of locally quarried stone by town volunteers. Hours: First and third Sundays of each month, 1 - 3 p.m., May through December. Free admission.
|
|
|
TOWNSHIP OF LEBANON MUSEUM AT NEW HAMPTON Joan Lucas, Curator 57 Musconetcong River Road Phone: (908) 537-6464
|
|
|
VOLENDAM WINDMILL MUSEUM
231 Adamic Hill Road This authentic model of a wind-driven mill used for grinding raw grain into flour, was designed and built by the late Paul Jorgenson and his wife in Holland Township. The sixty-foot grist mill is a seven-story structure with sail arms that measure 68 feet from end-to-end. It is a smock mill type of windmill that consists of a sloping, horizontally weatherboarded tower with six or eight sides topped with a rotating roof or cap that brings the sails into the wind. Although the sail arms on this windmill could turn, the windmill was not used for this purpose. Old milling tools, ancient millstones and wooden shoes were displayed when the mill was operational, and Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree Farm was open during the month of December.
|
