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Community Corner

Book signings in conjunction with the 350th New Jersey Anniversary

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum (MHHM) is celebrating the 350th anniversary of New Jersey with book signings by authors whose work explores aspects of the state’s history. On Sunday June 15th we welcome Betsy Guzenski who will be available to sign and sell her book “Washington Township, Morris County” to museum visitors during touring hours 1pm – 4pm. Visitors may also wish to visit the second floor gallery exhibit “Made in New Jersey: A Celebration of Decorative and Fine Arts” which stars the Museum’s collection of New Jersey stoneware, silver, and artists such as Thomas Nast, A.B. Frost and Edward Kranich.

Elizabeth Guzenski is an active member of the Washington Township Historical Society, and wrote the book with two other members, Charlotte and Juergen Arndt.  “Washington Township, Morris County” takes the reader through a pictorial tour of the township and showcases the 11 districts of the township according to the E. Robinson map of 1887.  The area was once the home of the Lenni Lenape Indians and later became the home of Dutch, English and mostly German settlers from the Palantine area of Germany in the early 1700s.  It was primarily a farming community but grew to be a major iron ore and trap mine center thanks to the Jersey Central Railroad.  In the late 1800s Schooley’s Mountain became one of the first major resort areas in the country thanks to the healing properties attributed to the chalybeate waters from a spring on Schooley’s Mountain which attracted such notable visitors as Ulysses S. Grant, Thomas Edison, and members of the Roosevelt and Astor families. The book includes photographs and captions to help the reader understand the “rich agricultural, industrial and recreational history of this New Jersey Skylands community”.

Elizabeth Guzenski, a retired educator of 33 years, is the current vice president and former president of the Washington Township Historical Society.  She has run a student volunteer program at the museum for several years and is a member of the Library Committee.  The majority of the photographs used in the book are part of the vast collection housed in the Washington Township Historical Society Museum. Additional images were provided courtesy of Washington Township residents.  

Book signings with other New Jersey authors will continue throughout the spring, please visit maccullochhall.org for dates. Admission includes meeting with authors, house tours, and gallery visits between 1pm and 4pm. In addition to book signings the Museum is also presenting a speaker series to celebrate the 350th anniversary taking place at 4:30pm on the second Sunday of each month through June. Tickets for Sunday programs go on sale from 1pm on the day of the program, no advance sales. House tours (regular admission applies) take place throughout the afternoon, the last tour ticket is sold at 3pm. Visitors can also enjoy the upstairs gallery exhibit “Thomas Nast Brings Down Boss Tweed,” featuring the political cartoons Thomas Nast created attacking Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall, prior to the speaker programs. Also on display, “Controversies” presents challenging subject matter on New Jersey history topics and events which had national significance: medical experimentation, immigration, and the right to die. A second series of programs, related to the “Controversies” exhibit takes place on the first Sunday of each month through June. Visit maccullochhall.org for more details.

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. The Museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 – 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. The gardens at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum are open Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and Sundays 1pm - 4pm unless posted otherwise. Please check our website for any holiday closings. Call (973) 538-2404 ext. 10, visit our websitewww.maccullochhall.org find us on Facebook. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.  Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is a nonprofit educational affiliate of the W. Parsons Todd Foundation.
 

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