Crossroads of The Revolution Events & Sojourn

Get Revolutionary at this month's Heritage Partner events Explore these events at our partners in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area. Visit our website and Facebook page for even more activities through the month.

Battle of Chestnut Neck Memorial Event in Port Republic October 6 at 10:30 a.m. Salute the heroism of the local militia in facing British forces who attacked the South Jersey privateer base at Chestnut Neck 240 years ago. More information.

Walking Tour of Monmouth Battlefield and tour the Craig House in Manalapan October 7 at 1:30 p.m.   Meet a guide at Monmouth Battlefield State Park Visitor Center for a guided tour of the Revolution's longest battle, then visit the historic Craig House. More information.

Lord Stirling 1770s Festival at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge October 7 at 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hear the town crier, watch Revolutionary War detachments maneuver, and ask questions as colonial craftspeople ply their trades on the estate of Major General William Alexander, Lord Stirling. More information.

George Washington's Military Leadership: lecture at Fort Lee Historic Park in Fort Lee October 14 at 2:00 p.m. Historian Dr. Ed Lengel discusses Washington's strategic vision for winning the war without losing the American people or hopes for future prosperity, in this talk suitable for all ages. More information.

The latest issue of Sojourn - the South Jersey History periodical has an essay about Red Bank Battlefield for all of you fans of that historic site (I am one)  However, there is a correction, one of the volunteers has done extensive research on the African Americans who served with the Rhode Island Regiment, including, as I recall, pension records, and although the author of the piece is a renowned expert on South Jersey history, he claims there is no proof that African American soldiers served at Red Bank, and we think there is reason to believe they did!  This is important African American history!  You can get Sojourn at 2nd Time Around Bookstore in Rancocas Woods and from amazon, and probably other places, but those are the places where I have bought it!  It is a great read!

Ghost tales in time for Halloween!

Join author Patricia Martinelli at this lecture program as she explores some of the legends and myths that have been told in South Jersey for ages!  The Jersey Devil, the Woman in White, and other spirits will wander through these tales!

The cost is $5 per person. Please RSVP to burlcohistsocprograms@verizon.net or 609-386-4773

Ghost tale

Lecture on For Mifflin

American Revolution Round Table of South Jersey lecture on October 10th at the Indian King Tavern. This lecture will focus on the history of Fort Mifflin, and the presenter is Elizabeth Beatty, the Executive Director of Fort Mifflin!

Rosie at the Riveter at Burlington Co. Hist. Soc.

Yesterday a friend and I went to see the 'Rosie the Riveter' Women of World War II presentation at the Corson Poley Library of the Burlington County Historical Society in Burlington City, just off High Street.

It was BRILLIANT!  The presenter, Stacy Roth, dressed exactly as Rosie the Riveter, in overhauls, denim shirt, bandana and work boots extrapolated from the one composite character into many fascinating areas of World War II war efforts in the civilian community such as recruitment of women to work in war industries, rationing, the participation of local folk in various incidents in the war such as a bomber pilot from Burlington who was a tail gunner who miraculously survived an attack from a German fighter plane that nearly severed the tail from the rest of the plane.  The men on board used their parachutes to lash what they could reach of the tail to the plane until they made the 300 miles back to their field to do an emergency belly flop landing.  

Weaving the stories of local people into the presentation and collecting local memories was a plus.  People like to be a part of a presentation but I know as a presenter, that it can be tricky controlling participation.  The presenter was a master at it.  I have seen her portray Molly Pitcher at venues like Monmouth Battlefield as well as Rosie the Riveter, and by the way, there was a woman named Rosie who actually did train and work as a riveter at the New York Shipyard!

When you travel around from lecture to exhibit to presentation, you get such an interesting rich contextual view of history.  I have attended talks on the New York Shipyard too, at Camden County Historical Society, and this added a whole new dimension to that.  Also, I had attended a presentation by one or two of the women who had worked on the U. S. S. New Jersey, on the ship itself one summer some years back.  

My engagement with local history may have been sparked when I was a teacher at M. E. Costello School and was a participant in a local history program.  We were taken to various local history sites each week and we designed lessons to reflect what we learned there.  As an Art teacher it was easy for me to incorporate these things.  Once I took my summer enrichment students on a walking tour of our town, Gloucester City, and we took photos of our local history sites of interest, the Centennial Water Works, the Mill Blocks, Proprietor's Park, The Huggs Tavern monument, and others, then we made postcards based on the photographs and a color book which went on display at the local Gloucester Historical Society on King Street.  The kids loved it and so did I and it branched in so many directions, including science and the study of where our water comes from after a tour of the water works, over a hundred years old!

Check out the events at the Burlington County Historical Society - I have always been both entertained and enlightened by presentations there.

Happy Trails,
Jo Ann

Where I get my information & October History Week

Yesterday I dropped by two libraries and the Camden County Historical Society on Euclid Blvd. right behind Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Haleigh Cemetery, off Rt. 130.  I had just received the CCHS bulletin which described their upcoming events and ongoing programs.  They mentioned the first weekend in October was History Week and they have a "Passport" available listing the events.  The passport will be ready for pick-up after Sept. 26, so I will be going back, also available at that time will be the newest history magazine they have been publishing which is excellent.

I digress - e-mail is another way I get information on what is going on and I received an e-mail lately that said the latest SOJOURN history magazine is available.  You CAN get it via amazon.com and you can get it at 2nd Time Around Bookstore in Rancocas Woods - you may remember I recommended The Little Kitchen for lunch there for a nice day trip, and a cookie and coffee at the coffee shop a few doors down after antique and craft browsing!

At the Libraries - Collingswood and Haddon Twp. I picked up another Audubon Adult Education brochure.  They have a lot of classes to offer.  Of interest to me were the half dozen classes on dog behavior and training.  As I may have mentioned I adopted a new dog in June when my saintly and beautiful Trixie, a Weimaraner Lab mix passed away from a stroke.  Anyhow to reiterate - you can do a one day adoption at Camden County Animal Shelter.  My new trainer is Steve Spence recommended by the vet techs at my veterinarian Dr. Sheehen, in Fairview.  He is a marvelous vet, many time winner of BEST of South Jersey.  I previously had Janice Barlow also.  

What to do and Where to Go from the Libraries:  FREE PUBLICATIONS -
Out & About, serves Audubon, Barrington, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Haddon Heights, Haddon Twp., Haddonfield, Lawnside Oaklyn, Woodlynne.  One of the interesting things I found there was the info on visiting the Peter Mott House.  I followed the Underground Railroad trail for a few years when I was doing school programs for CCHS and I visited many sites from Greenwich and Othello to Saddler's Woods and Lawnside.  Peter Mott is a very interesting visit on that trail.  Pick up Out & About and read about it!

Today's Senior offers many tips on health and senior living.  I always enjoy it.

Golden Times is another great newspaper with tips on health and wellness and strategies for thriving at a challenging time of life.

There are often local events flyers available at the libraries.  Haddon Twp and Collingswood also have $1 handbook sales.  Upcoming - Sept. 17, Monday, free CHAIR  YOGA at Haddon Twp. at 10:15 and again on Oct. 24.  It is recommended that you call to reserve your space.  It is a popular class of about 10 to 12 people.  I have taken it whenever it is offered as my knees are no longer able to maneuver getting up and down off the floor for floor yoga!

When I get these newspapers, flyers and pamphlets, I pass them on to a friend who passes them on to her friends living in a senior center.  Not everyone has a computer and even those who do, may not know where to look to get information on places to go and things to do  Since I find so many, I thought in this post instead of trying to type them all in, I would send you straight to the source!

Happy Trails,
Jo Ann

Burl.Co. Hist. Society - World War II - Soldiers without guns! This Sunday 9/15

Saturday, September 15th,  2-4 pm. 

The setting: America, 1943.  Hear a testimonial from Rosie Niemiec (historical interpreter Stacy Flora Roth), a housewife who decided to do her bit for the war effort (and surprise her husband) by taking a job as a welder in a shipyard.  This intriguing session features a display of period artifacts and ephemera, a discussion of women's participation on the Homefront, and an opportunity for the audience to share memories, memorabilia, and personal and family stories of the Second World War. 

Stacy Flora Roth, of the company "History on the Hoof," is a freelance museum educator, public speaker, vocalist, and performance artist whose specialty is educational presentations on themes in American History.   

This is program is FREE and sponsored by the

New Jersey Council for the Humanities 

 Burl