The NJ History Fair: Looking Back

Two weeks ago, Allaire Village hosted the 2011 Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair. Due to state budget cuts, the fair had gone on hiatus in 2010 but as one article stated, “it came back with a vengeance” this year! Indeed, it was a huge success! We had a great turn-out and the weather was perfect!

Check out some photos as well as comments by participants and visitors:

Getting ready

Elizabeth K: Had a FANTASTIC time….great job by all involved!

Carl K: My wife and I enjoyed very much. Thank you

Colonial-style dancing!

Elizabeth K: Just came home from the History Fair…was there from 11 to 4 and had a FANTASTIC time…You have outdone yourselves in every way possible. Thank You!

Geoff M: It was an awesome day!!!!!!!!!

Molly Pitcher giving a talk

Jim S: Thanks for helping to bring the Spirit of the Jerseys History Fair back to life. It was a worthwhile event and we at Historic Cold Spring Village were glad to participate.

Tony B: We went to the NJ History Fair today. The weather was terrific and exhibits extremely interesting. The event was well done and it is always a pleasure to visit Allaire.

David L: what an amazing day at the History Fair! Thanks so much to all the re-enactors, volunteers & all involved.

Barn raising

Allaire presented Maria Allaire's wedding

Two young visitors became pirates for a day with the help of Tuckerton Seaport

Playing some 70's classics. 1770's, that is.

Our 1836 villagers did some time travelling.

Plowing demonstrations

What was really lovely were the many visitors and exhibitors commenting on the importance of supporting NJ History education and tourism. Through all of the visitors and positive feedback, we (including all NJ historic sites) can help keep history alive!

Thanks to everyone who participated, volunteered, and visited!

More photos can be found on our facebook page.

-Hannah

Coming to the NJ History Fair? Here’s what you need to know!

So the NJ History Fair is tomorrow and Allaire Village is buzzing with activities & set up. With only one day until the event I figured I would do a post with general information & things you need to know!

When is it?: The event is Saturday, May 7th from 11am to 5pm.

Where is it?: The event is at Allaire Village located within Allaire State Park. Our physical address is: 4265 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ 07727.

How do I get there? Allaire Village is conveniently located off of the Garden State Parkway, exit 98. For specific directions, visit our website.

Do I have to pay?: Admission to the History Fair is free. Allaire Village, Inc. is requesting a $5 parking donation per car.

What if it rains?: The event is rain or shine! As of now, it looks like there might be some light showers in the AM so we advise bringing a raincoat or umbrella, just in case!

Will there be food available on site?: You bet! Food and beverages will be provided by a variety of vendors throughout the Village. Cheeseburgers, BBQ, salads, pizza, iced cream and more will be available.

Who will be there?: There will be over 125 historical sites, organizations, re-enacting units, personalities and more represented at the Fair. For a complete list of exhibitors click here.

A fun event to check out: 1836 Fashion Show at 12, 3 & 4pm at the Gardener's Cottage!

Do the exhibitors operate on certain times? Most of the exhibitors will be active continuously throughout the day (11am-5pm). Certain activities do operate on a schedule, which can be found here.

What will Allaire be doing?: In addition to hosting the Fair, Allaire Village will also be presenting our own activities and performances. Throughout the day check out:

• An 1830′s School Day (12:30pm at the Chapel)
• The Wedding of Maria Allaire (1:00pm at the Chapel)
• Militia Demonstrations (At the Carriage House, continuously throughout the day)
• A special display devoted to Arthur Brisbane (Enameling Building)
• An 1830′s Fashion Show (12:00, 3:00 & 4:00pm at the Gardener’s Cottage)
• Open Heart & Dutch Oven cooking (Manager’s House)
• 19th Century Games (in front of the Allaire Mansion)
• In addition, our Historic Buildings will be open to visitors and tours!
• And more!

What is new this year?: In addition to the Fair being at a new location, there are also new activities and presentations:

• Benjamin Franklin (meet & greet)
• Practitioners of Musick
• Silhouette Images
• Presentation on 18th c Dentistry
• 1836 Wedding
• Colonial Hymn Sing – Allaire Chapel
• Scale model barn raising
• Sheep shearing demonstration
• William Franklin, Loyalist Royal Governor (meet & greet)

Is this event family-friendly?: Absolutely! The Fair is open for people of all ages! There will be fun & educational activities for everyone!

Things to keep in mind:

• Over the past couple of years the Fair has attracted over 6,000 visitors (per event!). For families with young children especially, please be aware of your surroundings and the members of your party. We suggest choosing a specific place to meet in the event of someone getting separated or lost.
• Officers from the NJ State Park Police will be on-site in the case of an emergency.
• The Volunteers and Staff of Allaire Village will be happy to be of assistance for directions, help, or general questions!
• There will be re-enacting units at this event. Cannons and rifles will be fired (at a safe distance from visitors, of course) but be aware that there will be loud noises as a result of this.
• Oh, and have fun!!!

I need more information, who do I call?: Feel free to call our office, at 732-919-3500 or the New Jersey Department of Parks and Forestry at 609-777-0238.

More information can be found on the Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair’s official website.

I will be acting as the official photographer for Allaire Village. If you see me, let me know what you think and I’ll include you in an upcoming blog post!

Hope to see you tomorrow!!

-Hannah

A whole bunch of things to do at the 2011 NJ State History Fair

Well it’s t-minus 3 days until the history fair and it feels like the calm before the storm here at Allaire….

It looks calm now...just wait

which obviously won’t last long since there’s tons to do at the History Fair! Here’s a list of  just some of the things going on! (The items in red are unique to/presented by Allaire Village!)

1. Plow a furrow & experience horse-power first hand
2. Participate in a barn-raising
3. Discover five centuries of New Jersey’s history in one place
4. Discuss Native American Indian place-names
5. Attend a fashion show
6. Invent your own working phonograph
7. Watch a baseball game using 1864 rules, uniforms and equipment
8. Put out a “house-a-fire”
9. Try your hand at spinning wool
10. Tap your feet to some bluegrass music
11. Attend the wedding of Maria Allaire*
12. Purchase a book on  NJ’s history
13. See a mid-19th century woodworking demonstration
14. Meet Commanders of the USS Lehigh*
15. Ride the Pine Creek Railroad ($)
16. Watch a sheep-shearing demonstration
17. Watch a side saddle demonstration
18. Search census & cemetery records
19. Shop at the General Store for unique keepsakes & souvenirs 
20. Revisit the days of air ships & the ill-fated Hindenburg
21. Learn about Robert Erskine, George Washington’s geographer & Surveyor-General
22. Witness the evolution of NJ’s cranberry harvesting
23. Take a dance lesson
24. Stroll among Model T Ford cars and trucks
25. Experience the BOOM of cannon fire
26. Discover how the Civilian Conservation Corps helped establish Parvin State Park
27. Engage the senses with open hearth and Dutch Oven cooking
    
28. Practice using Native American tools
29. Research your family’s genealogy
30. Acquaint yourself with NJ’s Sentinels of the Sea
31. Talk with a wheelwright about making iron tires
32. Explore a Revolutionary War encampment
33. Use a drop spindle to make yarn
34. Learn about grist milling at Historic Walnford
35. Discover the architectural significance of the Roseberry Homestead
36. Learn about Mary Hayes McCauley, aka Molly Pitcher
37. Tour a 19th century church
    
38. Learn the art of paper marbling
39. Get your mail hand-cancelled with a special postmark
40. Meet Mrs. Woolley of the Eden Woolley House
41. Play a game of bocce
42. Have your silhouette portrait made
43. Meet a female Civil War soldier*
44. Join the Monmouth County Militia for a wooden musket drill
45. See a display of historic fire apparatus
46. Discover farming artifacts from Hunterdon County
47. Observe writing techniques of the 13th – 19th  centuries
48. Examine the “Horseless Carriage”
49. Take in the aromas of fresh baked goods at the Bakery
    
50. Talk battle strategy with George Washington*

52. Hear stories of NJ’s most famous suffragist, Alice Paul
53. Learn how a bill becomes a law
54. Investigate what painter Thomas Eakins, naturalist John Burroughs & writers Oscar Wilde & Bram Stoker all have in common
55. Stroll the Village Green
56. Watch a U.S. Lifesaving Service Beach Apparatus Drill
57. Take your picture with Revolutionary War & Civil War soldiers
58. Survey an exhibit on NJ’s transportation history
59. Shovel coal into a locomotive boiler
60. Talk to a Confederate Cavalryman
61. Learn about the Israel Crane House
62. Discover America’s first national historical park
63. Celebrate the upcoming sesquicentennial of the Civil War
64. Find military artifacts & documents from the National Guard Militia Museum
65. Uncover the role of the Brisbane Family in establishing Allaire State Park
66. Explore 330+ years of publicly accessible records
67. Train with a Civil War unit
68. Participate in historic games
69. Examine early Egg Harbor City tax records, early newspapers & photographs
70. Listen to poetry by the Good Grey Poet*
71. Learn about Jersey Shore jazz & blues music
72. Listen to the sweet sounds of a dulcimer
73. See artifacts once used by Thomas Edison
74. Learn about the NJ veterans’ oral history project
75. Master the task of corn shelling
76. Feel the heat of the Blacksmith Shop
    
77. Find out why NJ is the “Crossroads of the Revolution”
78. View the history of Trenton, our state capitol
79. Receive Professional Development Credit for NJ school teachers
80. Hike the ½ mile Bog Iron Ore Trail along the Manasquan River
81. Help save White Hill Mansion, a house with Revolutionary War significance
82. Meet Elizabeth White*, creator of the cultivated blueberry
83. Talk with the village tinsmith
    
84. Attend a program on the Great Awakening
85. View a copy of Washington’s “Farewell Orders”
86. See a Civil War era howitzer
87. Watch the video “Ten Crucial Days”
88. Discuss colonial politics with Benjamin Franklin*
89. View a replica 1831 stagecoach
90. Examine the ongoing research of the Ocean County Historical Society
91. Try your hand at an interactive woodworking demonstration
92. Hear stories of the ghosts of Bordentown
93. Learn about the history of Woodbridge Township
94. Explore the culture & heritage of the NJ Pine Barrens
95. Participate in a children’s drill with a Bergen County militia unit
96. Find out how charcoal was made
97. Enjoy a family picnic
98. Learn about the renovation work at Edison Memorial Tower & Museum
99. Tour the “Big House” – Allaire’s family home
    
100. Earn advancement requirements for Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts
101. Examine paranormal research equipment used at historic locations
102. Watch a quilting demonstration

*actor portrayal

This list was taken from the NJDEP’s official page for the NJ State History Fair. Photos belong to Allaire Village, Inc.

Hope to see you there!

-Hannah

This Saturday. The Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair. Be there.

That’s right! This Saturday, Allaire Village is hosting The Spirit of the Jersey’s State History Fair! It’s our first time hosting and we are very excited!  Throughout the week I will be updating the blog more often with more information on the exhibitors, the activities and what Allaire Village will be doing/presenting during the day. For a nice introduction to what’s going on I included our official press release:

Experience five centuries of New Jersey’s history all in one place at the SPIRIT of the JERSEYS – a historical festival for all ages on Saturday, May 7 at the Historic Village at Allaire, Allaire State Park in Farmingdale.

This free event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, drew 6,000 visitors in 2009. Now in its seventh year, the Fair is a fun-filled adventure into New Jersey’s past with:

• Living history demonstrations
•  Military re-enactors
• Tours
•  Exhibits
• Period music and dance
• An authors tent
• Historical organizations and museums from around the state
• Historical figures such as Molly Pitcher, Walt Whitman, and Ben Franklin!

New this year, visitors can meet Benjamin Franklin; sit for a silhouette image; watch a 19th century tinsmith; attend Maria Allaire’s wedding; learn about the Hindenburg, watch an old-time baseball game, and chat with Civil War soldiers!

There are plenty of hands-on activities for kids and adults, from learning the art of paper marbling to participating in historical games; to plowing a furrow and inventing a working phonograph. Children can learn about the women’s movement by playing NJ Women Bingo or suffragist dress-up at the Alice Paul Institute booth. Get the whole family together for a colonial photoshoot with the Burlington County Historical Society. For literary fans, Darrel Ford of Babylon, NY will portray one of America’s greatest poets, Walt Whitman.

Allaire Village will be presenting the Wedding of Maria Allaire in the Chapel!

As you stroll through the Village listen to musical performances by “The Practitioners of Musick’, an 18th century musical group, and dulcimer player Bonnie Leigh. Or, see a hands-on demonstration of WWII radio equipment. Investigate the truth behind paranormal claims with the Shore Paranormal Research Society. Watch the Flemington Neshanock Baseball Club re-create an 1864 baseball game!

There will be over 100 historical organizations and museums, re-enactors, authors, performers and living history demonstrators exhibiting at this year’s SPIRIT of the JERSEYS State History Fair!  Bring the entire family for a day of fun & learning!

The Fair is sponsored by Allaire Village, Inc. and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Historic Sites, Division of Parks and Forestry.

Be sure to check back during the week for more info about the fair!

-Hannah