Programs & Events
Union School as venue for a public auction, early 1900s
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
A Walk Through Middle Valley
Saturday 7 October 2023 2-4pm
Washington Township Public Library
34 East Springtown Road
Washington Township, NJ 07853
Eileen Stokes holds a degree in history from Trinity College. A resident of Washington Township since 1982, EIleen was first appointed to the Washington Township Historic Preservation Commission in 1991 and currently serves as its Chairman.
Join us as EIleen guides us through a slideshow walking tour of the historic architecture and landscapes of Middle Valley.
Evening Cemetery Walk- Join Our Evening Tours and Hear “Former” Long Valley Residents Tell Their Tale!
Saturday, 28 October, 2023, 6-8 pm. Please arrive between 6 and 7:15 pm.
Raindate 29 October, 2023, 6-8 pm. Please arrive between 6 and 7:15 pm.
Old Union Church Cemetery
6 Fairview Avenue, Long Valley NJ 07853
Step back in time and experience the captivating stories of the past with the Washington Township Historical Society (WTHS) as they conduct live tours of the historic Old Union Church Cemetery. Tours will be about 50 to 60 minutes in length and will be conducted in small groups moving from one gravesite to the next.
As you embark on this unique adventure, you will be guided by lantern light through the historic cemetery, meeting costumed re-enactors who will bring to life the stories of former residents interred at the gravesite. From farmers to blacksmiths, stone carvers to suffragettes, and even soldiers and victims of the Revolutionary War, the cemetery holds tales of Washington Township’s rich history waiting to be discovered.
With each step, you will be transported to a time long past, as the stories etched in the gravesites come alive through the vivid portrayals of the re-enactors. Listen in awe as they share the struggles, triumphs, and secrets of the past, shedding light on the lives of those who once called Washington Township home.
The cemetery tours are open to the public, although please note they may not be suitable for individuals needing wheelchairs or children in strollers, due to the terrain. You may bring your own flashlights, just don’t wave them around a lot.
FREE PARKING will be available at Zion Lutheran Church, rear parking lot, at 11 Schooleys Mountain Road, Long Valley, a three minute walk to the Union Church Cemetery. SINCE THIS IS AN EVENING EVENT, a police officer will escort attendees from the parking lot, across Schooley’s Mountain Road, to Fairview Avenue. Please do not park at the Firehouse or at the Coffee Potter.
$5.00 Adult Ticket Savings with Advance Registration
Tickets reserved in advance here are only $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under the age of 12. Day of tickets can be purchased at $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for children under the age of 12. Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6DM7TDQ to receive this special ticket pricing (one registration per family member). ALL PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE ON SITE, AT THE START OF THE TOURS. Cash only.
Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to delve into the fascinating history of Washington Township and create memories that will last a lifetime. Join the Washington Township Historical Society for an unforgettable evening of storytelling and discovery among the tombstones. Get your tickets now and be part of this immersive historical experience!
19th Century NJ Architecture: Innovation & Industrialization
Saturday, 4 November 2023 2-4 pm
Washington Township Public Library
34 East Springtown Road
Washington Township, NJ 07853
Janet W. Foster is a former professor of architectural history at Columbia University and a noted architectural historian, author and preservationist. Join us as Janet examines the innovations which made possible the beauty and function of 19th-century architecture.
Architecture in 19th century America moved away from the different vernacular forms of settler groups to a recognizable national set of forms and styles. New Jersey was central to this, because of the confluence of influential architects practicing in the state and the rise of industrial production of construction materials. This brief survey of 19th century architecture focuses on the ways NJ led the nation in the development of suburbs, the use of nails in construction, and the introduction of new technologies like electricity into homes and businesses.
PAST EVENTS
Stitches in Time: Three Hundred Years of Fashion in the Garden State
10 May 2023
Over the years, the descendants of the Livingston and Kean families lovingly preserved and packed away the previous generation’s belongings in attics, basements, closets, drawers, and yes, even underneath floorboards. This fashionable presentation tells the story of a way of life that has vanished from the Garden State and shows how fashion has changed over the last three centuries.
Pathways of History Weekend
7 May 2023
Celebrate Pathways Weekend with indoor and outdoor tours of the historic Union Schoolhouse and the historic Union Church cemetery. Cemetery tours, focussing on the graves of the earliest founding families and of Revolutionary War veterans, will be conducted on the hour.
Re-Enacting the Civil War
15 April 2023
Learn about the uniforms, organization and the command and control of a Civil War regiment. Phil and Lauri Berg have been re-enacting the Civil War for 30 years as members of the 33rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Phil is Colonel and Commander of the Mifflin Guard Battalion.
Rago’s Auction House Free Jewelery and Watches Valuation Event
4 March 2023
Jewelry specialists Diane Batista and Sarah Retallick from Rago Wright Auction House offer a free jewelry and watches valuation event.
Refinement and Unity: The Development of American Architecture in the Eighteenth Century
12 November 2022
Janet W. Foster is a former Professor of Urban Planning and Historic Preservation at the Graduate School of Architecture at Columbia University and is an active historian, author, consultant and preservationist.
Colorful Barber Bottles
2 October 2022
Mike Bienvenue is a former WTHS President and has been digging and collecting vintage and antique bottles for over 53 years.
Memories of Long Valley Ago
24 September 2022
Three longtime residents Charlie Van Stone, Pete Gartlemann and Doc Miller share their memories of their lifetimes in Long Valley.
Historic Railroading in Morris County
21 May 2022
Bob Pennisi is a former career employee of the Erie Lackawanna railroad and has authored 8 books and published 30 books on the subject of historic railroading.
Colonial Religion in Long Valley
23 April 2022
Pastor Timothy Wengert is Professor Emeritus of Reformation History, is an adjunct Professor at Princeton Theological seminary and has authored and edited over 20 books. His wife Pastor Ingrid Wengert is current pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church.