Last weekend was our Thanksgiving event. Check out some of the photos!
Preparing the feast in the Manager's House
Reflector oven
turkey time
Is it obvious that I’m hungry?
The staff of Allaire Village would like to wish everyone a safe and very happy Thanksgiving!
-Hannah
Well, the weather is getting chillier and sadly the leaves are starting to fall at Allaire. December is just around the corner and we’re already planning for our Christmas events here at the Village! Check out some of our favorite Autumn shots of 2011 and years gone by…
Not specifically Autumn but a cool shot of the Manager's parlor nonetheless!
Hope everyone enjoyed the Autumn events and we look forward to seeing you this Winter!
Cheers,
Hannah
Last Saturday’s Election Day event re-created the Election of 1836 in which Martin Van Buren (Democrat) ran against William Henry Harrison (Whig). During the event, our dedicated campaigners engaged the public and persuaded them to vote for the best candidate. Several women villagers picketed during the day as they did not yet have the right to vote (and wouldn’t until the 1920′s).
We recorded the results of the first counting of the ballots…Check out the video here!
After the re-count it was determined that William Henry Harrison won the election by 1 vote! While, in reality, William Henry Harrison did win the state of New Jersey, it was Martin Van Buren who became the country’s new president.
Thanks to all visitors, villagers, and voters for stopping by!
-Hannah
PS- If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, Allaire Village and the Traveling Literary Theater proudly present ‘The Words & Music of WWII’. The program takes place on Saturday, November 12th at 7:30pm in the Allaire Chapel. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 732-919-3500. Please call or visit our website for more information.
Tomorrow, (Sunday, November 6th) step back in time to the Presidential Elections of 1836 and join the Historic Village at Allaire as they cast their votes! Members of the public are invited to do their patriotic duty and join the residents of James P. Allaire’s Howell Iron Works in deciding the fate of our young nation. Vote wisely however, for things were not as “organized” as they are now; and you may find yourself tugged in different directions by the candidates’ argumentative “representatives”!
What were the “current events” of the 1830′s? Our foundling country was on the brink of turmoil in 1836. Andrew Jackson, the current president, had vetoed the charter for the Bank of the United States two years earlier and the country was on the verge of a depression (known as the Panic of 1837). Abolitionists were gaining a strong foothold in the National Political scene. Immigrants were pouring into the country while “native-born” Americans feared losing their employment. Other hot topics included the War with Mexico, National Currency, Texas’ wish to annex, the Fall of the Alamo, women’s right to vote, and more! The Villagers will be debating these issues and will be more than happy to discuss (and argue!) them with visitors!
Who were the candidates? Democrat Martin Van Buren offered himself as the heir to Andrew Jackson, candidate of the people, primising a continuation of the Jacksonian policies. Many of the nation’s voters who loved “Old Hickory” were quite content to vote for Van Buren. Van Buren also had the benefit of a well-organized and disciplined Democratic Party inw hich he himself had helped to build. The oppositional Whig Party, however, was still in its infancy and lacked the maturity, ideology, and organization of the Democrats.
Who will YOU be voting for?
Without the unity to hold a national convention, or even to settle on a single candidate, the Whigs ran three regional contenders: Daniel Webster of Massachusetts int he East, Hugh White, the senator from Tennessee in the South, and the party forefrunner, William Henry Harrison of Ohio in the West. Despite its shortcomings, however, the Whigs did offer stiff competition to the Democratic Van Buren. A party of the elite, the Whigs regarded their opposition as little more than a party stooge and warned that his election would only continue the flawed policies of, what they deemed, the monarchical Jackson.
The polls will open at 1:00pm under the tent at the Carpenter’s Shop and will close at 3:30pm. After the polls are closed the votes will be counted, and the results will be announced soon after!
In addition to the voting, our women visitors will be rallying for their own right to vote. Visitors are encouraged to join them in their cause! There will also be a special eulogy for former President James Madison, who had passed away in June of 1836 at 1:00 & 2:30pm.
Program researched & written by Ralph Cretella, Intern; and Derek Cardinale, Volunteer Coordinator
Hope to see you out there!
-Hannah
