2011 Press Releases

December
Winter Break Activities
Holiday Shopping Party to benefit the Historical Society of Princeton

November
Historical Society of Princeton House Tour

October
Princeton 2011 Antiques and Fine Art Show Shines

August
October Events at Historical Society of Princeton
September 11 Commemoration Events at the Historical Society of Princeton

June
Caring Kids in the Community
Bug Safari!
Brett Weaver- Impressions of Princeton
Brett Weaver – American Impressionist

May
Celebrating Father’s Day – My Family History!
Free Museum Admission to the Historical Society of Princeton for Active Military
Play Ball
Historical Society of Princeton Presents Historic Preservation Awards
Presentation on the Art of Botanical Illustration
Celebrating May!

April
Meet Me at the Farmstead. Big Success!

March
Meet Me at the Farmstead
The Historical Society of Princeton is honored at the New Jersey Historical Commission Grant Recognition Ceremony

January
The Historical Society of Princeton Opens Exclusive Exhibition on Albert Einstein
History Detectives Book Club
Princeton Pi Day Celebrations

Winter Break Activities

LET IT SNOW!
Wednesday, December 21, 10 AM and 11 AM
Preschoolers will gather together for story time tales of The Smallest Snowflake and Millions of Snowflakes. Children will then create paper snowflakes and snowflake window clings, while learning about the science of snow.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WOODROW WILSON!
Wednesday, December 28, 11 AM and 1 PM
Celebrate the life and accomplishments of President Woodrow Wilson on his 155th birthday! Adults and children will have the opportunity to learn interesting facts and trivia about Wilson, as well as play some old-fashioned party games.
Preregistration is requested for this event. Please call 609.921.6748 x100, or e-mail jeanette@princetonhistory.org.

FRAME YOUR YEAR!
Friday, December 30, 10 AM—2 PM
Tour the photography exhibit, Picturing Princeton, and decorate a picture frame for your favorite photo of 2011! There will be all sorts of fun decorations to dazzle and personalize your homemade frame.

Martin Luther King, Jr Day
Saturday, January 14, 10 AM—2 PM
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?'” Answer that question by coupling arts and crafts with community service  in the creation of “Dream Bags” filled with treats for patrons of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Children of all ages can decorate their bags with drawings and words of MLK’s famous speech, as well as their own dreams and aspirations for the future.
All programs are held at the Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, and are included with museum admission: $5/person (ages 3 or older), $8/for 2, $10/for 3, $15/for 4
FREE for HSP Members
For more information, call 609.921.6748 x100,
or e-mail jeanette@princetonhistory.org

Holiday Shopping Party to benefit the Historical Society of Princeton

Start your holiday shopping on December 3, 12-4 PM, when the Historical Society of Princeton holds its annual Shopping Day at the Updike Farmstead, located at 354 Quaker Road in Princeton.

Held in the restored 18th/early 19th century farmhouse, the day will feature needlepoint crafts and hooked rugs by NeedlepointPillows.com. 10% of all proceeds go to support the Historical Society’s exhibitions, collections care and educational programming for schools and families.

At 12 PM, Cloud 9, Princeton High School’s all-female a cappella group, will perform holiday selections for the crowd. There will be refreshments, ornament making for children and a Toys for Tots collection all day.

While browsing, shoppers can enjoy the new Picturing Princeton photographic exhibit, which features a variety of 19th and 20th century images from HSP’s massive photo archives. An interactive component allows visitors to “Be the Curator” by selecting pictures to display and writing captions to accompany photos.

Historical Society of Princeton House Tour

The Historical Society of Princeton is hosting its 10th annual House Tour from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, November 5, 2011. The tour features five extraordinary homes, from modern to traditional.

Twenty-first century modernist best describes the stunning 4750 Province Line Road, recently built, but evocative of the architectural movement that began in the 1920s and 30s.  On a lovely wooded lot, the architect used a sweeping glass arc for the façade, introducing views and natural light of the surrounding landscape into the living spaces.

Edgar Palmer envisioned a square and neighborhood of Georgian revival buildings where residents would live, work and shop in the heart of downtown Princeton. Visitors to 75 Chambers Street, one of the completed townhomes of “The Residences at Palmer Square,” can not only see this dream fulfilled, but also view an extensive collection of antique furniture, needlework and decorative arts.

The owner of 31 Hawthorne Avenue, a striking Spanish revival circa 1930, saw the potential for an extraordinary redesign and renovation. Retained was the basic footprint of the house, once the home of Edward B. Snook, who served as chief bank examiner for the State of New Jersey.

The simple whitewashed stone façade of 56 Edgerstoune Road, a colonial revival, conceals a masterfully designed plan with well proportioned rooms and superb garden views. Built in 1929, it reflects the creativity of Aymar Embury II, a well known New York architect known locally for his design of Princeton University’s Dillon Gymnasium and 1915 Hall.

The oldest home on the tour is 70 Leigh Avenue, a 1920 peri-urban house in the heart of the John/Witherspoon district. The design and construction are examples of a straightforward approach to creating a more sustainable building; the small footprint of the house preserves open space and pervious land.

Advance tickets are $40 for HSP members and $45 for non-members. All tickets purchased the day of the tour are $45. All proceeds help fund the Historical Society’s core mission activities throughout the year, including exhibitions, collections care and educational programming for schools and families.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 609.921.6748 x100. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.princetonhistory.org. On the day of the event, tickets may be purchased at Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, or at any of the five homes on the tour.

The Society is grateful to N.T. Callaway Real Estate, Glenmede and the Princeton Area Community Foundation for their generous support of the event.

Princeton 2011 Antiques and Fine Art Show Shines

Princeton, NJ — Hundreds of visitors were welcomed into the hangar at Princeton Airport on September 23-35, as the Historical Society of Princeton hosted its major fundraising event of the year. Attendees were treated to a diverse selection of antiques and fine arts from across the country.

The weekend long event featured a lecture presented by Princeton’s own Dr. Jonathan Clancy, Director of the American Fine and Decorative Art Program at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Entitled “Utility-Simplicity-Beauty: Design and The Arts and Crafts Interior,” the program focused on the Arts and Crafts Movement in America. Dr. Clancy charmed audiences by broadening the information to include not just Stickley Furniture and textiles, but also Grueby, Marblehead and Newcomb pottery and lighting from Dirk Van Erp and the Roycroft Shops.

Friday night, HSP supporters attended a Preview Party featuring a Tuscan Feast, catered by Max Hansen, and wonderful music by the Sustainable Jazz Ensemble. On Sunday, 34 people brought their valuables to an appraisal clinic given by experts from Rago Art and Auction Center of Lambertville, NJ.  Throughout the weekend, a Treasure Hunt introduced children to the antique world by sending them in search of portraits, landscapes, maps, vintage posters and figurines.

In its seventh year, the Show featured several returning favorites, including an amazing array of posters from Vintage Poster Art, beautiful estate jewelry from S. Eden Antiques and antique furniture and paintings from Pierce Archer II. New exhibitors included Joseph M. Hayes Antiques furniture and Howard I. Price II Fine Art prints.

Dr. Clancy identified the importance of this type of event for audiences. “Antique shows are an amazing resource not only for the physical experience of objects, but also for the opportunity to meet dealers, interact with them, overhear conversations and gain an education that is otherwise impossible. Antiques are also the most environmental way to furnish a home, and you get a piece of the past as an added bonus.”

All proceeds from the weekend support the Historical Society of Princeton’s educational programs, exhibitions and collections care.

October Events at Historical Society of Princeton

Harvest Festival at the Farmstead

When: Saturday, October 1, 2011, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ

Bring the whole family to the historic Updike Farmstead for arts and crafts, music and more!

pumpkin carving

From 12-2 PM, watch ordinary pumpkins transformed into amazing art! Ashley and Steve Campbell will showcase and demonstrate how they create their unique, self-made designs.

Cost:   $ 5/person (ages 3 or older)
          $ 8/2 people
          $10/3 people
          $15/4 people
          FREE – HSP Members

Halloween Extravaganza at the Farmstead

When: Saturday, October 29 2011, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ

Come on down to the Farmstead for some early Halloween fun, including pumpkin painting, games, and more!

From 12-2 PM, learn cookie decorating ‘tricks’ to make some Halloween ‘treats!”2 Moms & a Mixer will be on hand to teach all goblins and ghouls how to decorate whimsical–and all natural–Halloween sugar cookies with royal icing. Spider webs, ghosts, pumpkins and bats–oh my!

Costumes are encouraged, but not required.Cost:   $ 5/person (ages 3 or older)
          $ 8/2 people
          $10/3 people
          $15/4 people
          FREE – HSP Members

For more information about our programs, please call 609.921.6748 x100 or explore our website.

September 11 Commemoration Events at the Historical Society of Princeton

In commemoration of September 11, now a National Day of Service and Remembrance, the Historical Society of Princeton will open its restored Updike Farmhouse to the public on Saturday, September 10, from 10 AM – 4 PM.

The museum galleries feature the exhibit Caring Kids in the Community, which explores the wide-ranging efforts of young people who seek to make a difference in people’s lives through community service. It features 3 groups from the Princeton area, but also has an interactive component where visitors can not only learn about non-profit organizations, but also share volunteer experiences of their own.

Guests are encouraged to use the tranquility of the farm location for reflection. The poem “For Our World,” written by 11 year-old Mattie Stepanek on September 11, 2001, will be used as inspiration for journal and poetry writing throughout the day.

A donation of an individual portion of canned fruit, juice box or Chef Boyardee (or similar) microwave pasta is requested as admission. Items will be included in bagged meals for the homeless families of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.

On Wednesday, September 21, at 1:00 PM, as part of HSP’s Meet Me at the Farmstead series, Sheri Burkat, Program Director at Voices of September 11th, will speak about the organization and its 9/11 Memorial Project, an online digital archive that commemorates the nearly 3,000 lives lost and documents firsthand accounts of rescue workers and survivors.
Admission is $ 5/person (ages 3 or older), $ 8/for 2, $10/for 3, $15/for 4 and FREE for HSP Members.
Location:  Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton

Caring Kids in the Community

caring

Photo credit: Caring Kids throughout the Community, Princeton and West Windsor, NJ, Historical Society of Princeton, 2011

On Wednesday, July 20, 2011, from 5 to 7pm at the Updike Farmstead, the Historical Society of Princeton is excited to present the opening reception for Caring Kids in the Community, an exhibition that explores the wide-ranging efforts of young people who seek to make a positive impact in the lives of others through community service.  In the Princeton region, children and teenagers help others through a variety of programs, such as the NJMTA Children Helping Children Performathon, the Princeton High School Career Awareness Community Service Program for sophomores, and youth in West Windsor in the Kids-for-Kids organization support local charities that assist children.

In an effort to support the school supplies drive for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, please bring items to donate, such as pencils, pens, backpacks, lunch boxes, notebook paper, children’s scissors, glue, and rulers.

This exhibition will be on view at the Updike Farmstead until October 19, 2011 during open public hours at the Updike Farmstead on the first Saturdays and third Wednesdays every month.

Bug Safari!

Bug Safari

Please join us on Saturday, July 2, 2011, at the Updike Farmstead for a Bug Safari!  There are nearly one million known species of insects in this world.  Young entomologists will study insect anatomy and life cycles, and learn how insects fit into the food web.  Come hunt for insects on the grounds of the Updike Farmstead.  Children will learn the importance of insects to crops, native plants and animals, with a special emphasis on fireflies.  Nets, critter catchers, jars and a butterfly tent will be supplied. Live insect specimens will also be on view.  All native insects will be released unharmed at the end of the program.  Updike Farmstead will be open from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm with arts and crafts, games, scavenger hunts, and other fun activities throughout the day!  The Bug Safari runs from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm.  Bring a picnic to enjoy on the lawn!

Cost:   $ 5/person (ages 3 or older)
          $ 8/2 people
          $10/3 people
          $15/4 people
          FREE – HSP Members

Location:  Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton

Brett Weaver- Impressions of Princeton

Brett Weaver Plein Air Workshop

Photo Credit: Painting at the Updike Farmstead, Princeton, NJ, 201, Brett Weaver Plein Air Workshop

From June 15-16, the Historical Society of Princeton sponsored a lecture and a full-day plein air painting workshop by American Impressionist, Brett Weaver, at the Updike Farmstead.  Local artists spent the day at the Updike Farmstead, capturing the beauty of the natural setting on canvas under Mr. Weaver’s direction.  He taught students to focus on the simplicity of design and composition as well as the importance of light on color.  Mr. Weaver’s works of the beautiful landscapes of Maine, Tennessee, and Princeton will be on view in the galleries at the Updike Farmstead through July 5, 2011.  Those interested to purchase his works, should contact the Historical Society of Princeton.

Brett Weaver – American Impressionist

Brett Weaver American Impressionist

Photo Credit: Updike Farm, oil on canvas, 2007, Brett Weaver, Painting/photo courtesy of Dee and John Patberg

The Historical Society of Princeton is thrilled to present renowned American Impressionist Brett Weaver with a lecture on Wednesday, June 15 at 2:00 pm, followed by a full-day Plein Air Painting Workshop on Thursday, June 16 from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm, both at the Updike Farmstead in Princeton.  Mr. Weaver is a nationally recognized artist who depicts impressions of rapidly diminishing natural landscapes around the world.  He travels extensively, painting outdoors using a bold and direct representational style, focusing on simplicity of design and composition as well as the importance of light on color.  Mr. Weaver’s works are currently on view in the galleries at the Updike Farmstead.

On Wednesday, June 15, the Historical Society of Princeton will provide a Farm Tour of the Updike Farmstead at 1:00 pm, followed by a 2:00 pm lecture by Mr. Weaver.  He will give a talk on his art and explain how strong fundamentals allow more expression in painting.  He also will discuss the three main regions where he has focused his works:  Maine, Tennessee, and Princeton, NJ.  Cost:  $5/person, $8/2 people, $10/3 people, $15/group of 4, FREE for HSP members.

The lecture will be followed with a full day plein air painting workshop on Thursday, June 16 from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm.  With the beauty of the farm as inspiration, Mr. Weaver will focus students on the fundamentals of building a solid foundation for landscape painting.  He will lead students to see things in the simplest terms, breaking a scene into basic shapes and values that work together to form a strong design and composition.  Furthermore, he will touch on supporting elements such as drawing, color harmony, and texture.  The day will include a demonstration, group instruction, and individual critique.  The cost for the workshop is $100/person and open to painters of all levels.

To register for the workshop or for more information, please call 609.921.6748 x100 or email Jeanette@princetonhistory.org.

Celebrating Father’s Day – My Family History!

Sustainable Jazz Trio

Photo credit: Sustainable Jazz Trio

The Historical Society of Princeton invites families to the Updike Farmstead on Saturday, June 4, 2011 to celebrate Father’s Day!  It’s a day full of fun activities for the whole family!  Bring your friends for an exciting day of crafts and games at the Farmstead from 10:00am – 4:00pm, featuring Father’s Day arts and crafts, nature scavenger hunts, historical games, and a live musical performance by local talent, the Sustainable Jazz Ensemble!  Don’t forget to bring a blanket and picnic lunch to enjoy on the front lawn!

Special programs:
1:00 – 3:00 pm – Design your family crest and music by the Sustainable Jazz Trio!
2:00 – 3:00pm – children ages 8 and older – ”Widgets” an introduction to Medelian genetics!  Limited to 10 children per half-hour session, so please call to reserve a spot!

Cost:  $ 5/person (ages 3 or older)
             $ 8/2 people
             $10/3 people
             $15/4 people
             FREE – HSP Members

Location:  Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ
Time:  10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Free Museum Admission to the Historical Society of Princeton for Active Military

Blue Star Museum Program

 

HSP will be participating in the Blue Star Museum Program, which offers free admission to museums for all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 30, 2011 through Labor Day, September 5, 2011.  Free admission will be available to all active duty military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), National Guard and Reserve members and up to five immediate family members, bearing a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), and either a DD Form 1173 ID Card or a DD Form 1173-1 ID Card.  Veterans with any of these ID cards also will be granted free admission.

We invite the military members and their family to Meet Me at the Farm on the First Saturday and Third Wednesday of every month, active military and their family can attend public days at the Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, in Princeton Township, where HSP hosts a variety of history, art, and science programs for all ages.  Throughout the day, there will be arts & crafts, musical performances by local, emerging artists, and special workshops and lectures in gardening, farming, architecture, and historical forms of lost art.  Open 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Einstein At Home portrays the personal story of the world-renowned scientist and his life in Princeton through displays of family photographs, artwork, special memorabilia, and seventeen select pieces of his furniture from the Einstein Collection of the Historical Society of Princeton.  Einstein was a Nobel Laureate in physics, a humanitarian, and a philosopher, and the rarely seen personal items and furnishings on display in the exhibition provide a glimpse into his personal life at his Mercer Street home in Princeton, where he lived from 1933 until his death in 1955.  This exhibition runs through January 16, 2012, at Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, open from noon to 4:00 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. 

ABOUT BLUE STAR MUSEUMS – Blue Star Museums is a partnership among Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts, and more than 1,000 museums across America.  For more information about the program and acceptable forms of ID, visit arts.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/2011.

Play Ball!

Princeton Baseball Team

Photo Credit: Princeton University Baseball Team. Historical Society of Princeton

The Historical Society of Princeton is excited to host the 2nd annual historical re-enactment of 19th century baseball on Saturday, July 23 at 11:00 am, featuring two old-school ball clubs – The Flemington Neshanock and the Elkton Eclipse.  The teams will play a competitive match of bare-handed baseball wearing vintage period uniforms and using rules from 1864 and 1873.  The teams will present a short lesson on the history of the game and a recitation of “Casey at the Bat” by Brad “Brooklyn” Shaw.  We hope readers from throughout NJ can join us for a thrilling afternoon of old-fashioned fun with hotdogs and other treats!

Free and Open to the public!  Game starts at 11:00 am
Location:  Princeton High School Junior Varsity Baseball Field, next to 25 Valley Road, Princeton

Historical Society of Princeton Presents Historic Preservation Awards

Preservation Awards

Photo credit (from Left to Right): Tom Bernhard, Mercer County Asst. Engineer; Brian Hughes, Mercer County Executive; Robert Kiser, Princeton Township Engineer; David Chiu and Wen-Jinn Chiou, IH Engineers, P.C.; and Phyllis Marchand, Former Princeton Township Mayor.  Not pictured Greg Sandusky, Mercer County Engineer.

The Historical Society of Princeton presented awards in recognition of outstanding contributions to historic preservation in Princeton on May 22, 2011.  The winners presented design and restoration that integrated careful research, historic preservation, and green design where possible.  This year’s four Preservation Award winners include one private residential building – 57/59 Wiggins Street; two Princeton University projects – the College Road Apartments and restoration of the decorative iron fence around Maclean House on Nassau Street; and one Mercer County project – the Rosedale Road Bridge.

57/59 Wiggins Street, circa 1905, has undergone renovation under the research and guidance of architect Kirsten Thoft who successfully integrated both historic preservation and green building design to the Victorian two-family house.

Two of 14 units in the 1922 College Road Apartments of Princeton University were destroyed by fire in January, 2008.  The two apartments were rehabilitated with slate, stucco, trim and other decorative elements including more energy efficient windows, fire walls, and attic ventilation that improved thermal performance and energy efficiency while maintaining the building’s early 20th century appeal.

Also on the Princeton University campus is Maclean House, located on Nassau Street.  Over 160 years ago, a decorative iron fence was installed that surrounded and framed Maclean House.  Eventually the fence fell into disrepair with only a few original sections remaining.  The University salvaged and repaired the remains, crafted accurate reproductions of the balusters and posts to design a system with slight adjustments to the settings to create a seemingly level fence assembly on a sloping grade.

Rosedale Road is an early thoroughfare connecting Princeton to the settlement of Rosedale en route to Pennington and Hopewell.  A graceful stone span was built in 1937 to accommodate traffic but developed serious structural flaws and deemed unsafe in 2005.  Iftekhar Hossain of IH Engineering, PC made every effort to incorporate as much of the 1937 bridge in a new design.  The old bridge was dismantled, salvaged materials sequestered, and footings were laid for the new crossing, with original coping and cap stones reused.  The cooperative efforts of Mercer County, Princeton Township (including the Engineering Department, the Office of Historic Preservation, and the Historic Preservation Commission), IH Engineering and Interstate Contracting & Excavation completed the restoration in just four months!

The Historical Society of Princeton’s Preservation Awards Committee is proud to present these awards to worthy projects in the Princeton community during National Preservation Month, whose theme in 2011 is “Celebrating America’s Treasures.”

Presentation on the Art of Botanical Illustration

Snap Peas

The Historical Society of Princeton will present a lecture on botanical illustration by Princeton artist Magdalena Furniss on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 2:00 pm, the Updike Farmstead.  Ms. Furniss’ talk will be titled “Reviving the Lost Art of Botanical Illustration” and will trace the history of botanical illustration, a form of scientific drawing dating back to the fifteenth-century.  She will demonstrate different stages of her craft including observation, selection, lighting, sketching, tracing, as well as painting and the use of colored pencils to complete the image. Following Ms. Furniss’ talk, attendees will have the opportunity to sketch a live plant specimen. Artists, gardeners, collectors, and anyone with an interest in scientific illustration are encouraged to attend.  

A graduate of both the Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgers University and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Ms. Furniss has taught art education in private and public schools in NY and NJ.  She has also designed murals for private homes as well as book covers for author Rochelle Lynn Holt, including Holt’s upcoming book about Anais Nin. Ms. Furniss’ elegant, meticulous drawings, which highlight the beauty of common plants such as vegetables and even weeds, can be seen at www.magdalenafurniss.com.

Ms. Furniss’ presentation will be preceded by a tour of the Updike Farmstead at 1:00 pm; both the tour and lecture are included in the price of admission.  The Historical Society of Princeton has recently opened the Updike Farmstead to the public on the first Saturday and third Wednesday of every month. Admission prices are as follows:

Cost:  $ 5/person (ages 3 or older)
          $ 8/2 people
          $10/3 people
          $15/4 people
          FREE – HSP Members

Location:  Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ
Time:     Third Wednesday, Meet Me at the Farm, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Botanical Illustration presentation, 2:00 pm
For more information about our programs, please call 609.921.6748 x100 or visit us at www.princetonhistory.org.

Celebrating May!

Historic Maypole Dancing

Photo credit: Girls, probably from Miss Fine’s School, performing a Maypole Dance, Princeton, NJ, 1919, Historical Society of Princeton

The Historical Society of Princeton is Celebrating May!  Meet Me at the Farmstead on Saturday, May 7, 2011 to celebrate Mothers in May.  The Updike Farmstead will be open from 10:00am – 4:00pm, featuring a day of fun activities, including Mother’s Day crafts, musical performance by the Princeton Junior School Choir, a gardening workshop, the Maypole Dance, and chromatography flowers.  Children can make special Mother’s Day crafts, such as Victorian tussie-mussies, a coupon book, decorating historic photographs, and making wind chimes.  Children and adults can also help in a special project making origami to assist the Million Crane Project, a nationwide effort by Princeton and Stanford students to create a piece of memorial art in honor of Japanese tsunami victims.

The schedule of events:
10:00 – 11:30 am – “How Does Your Garden Grow?” Judith Robinson
11:00 am – performance by the Princeton Junior School Choir
12:00 pm, 2:00 pm – Sack Races
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Origami for the “Million Crane Project”
1:00 pm – Maypole Dancing
1:00 – 3:00 pm – Chromatography Flowers with scienceSeeds
3:00 pm – Counting Cranes

Cost:  $ 5/person (ages 3 or older)
          $ 8/2 people
          $10/3 people
          $15/4 people
          FREE – HSP Members

Location:  Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ
Time:  10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Meet Me at the Farmstead. Big Success!

Cake Walk at the Updike Farmstead

Cake Walk at the Updike Farmstead, April 2, 2011, Historical Society of Princeton

On Saturday, April 2, HSP opened the doors of the Updike Farmstead in Princeton Township to the public, and visitors streamed in from all parts of Central New Jersey to explore the beautifully-renovated farmhouse and peaceful six acres of farmland.  Children and adults enjoyed nature scavenger hunts, historical arts and craft activities, music performed by PHS a capella group, Cloud Nine, and folk music by Keeley and Jason Bruner, lectures by farmers and gardeners, natural egg-dyeing, and an old-fashioned cakewalk followed by enjoyment of big slices of cake (courtesy of McCaffrey’s) in the backyard!

Please join us for our next public day on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, open 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.  On view all day is an exhibition of landscape paintings by Brett Weaver, scavenger hunts, lawn games, and arts and crafts for children.  Special activities for the day include the following:

10:30 – Storytime for preschoolers, followed by a parent-child craft activity
11:00 – Guided tour of the Farmstead
11:30 – Storytime for preschoolers
1:00 – “Renovating Updike Farmstead” – a conversation with Michael J. Mills of Farewell, Mills, and Gatsch, Architects; and T. Jeffrey Clarke, architect and HSP trustee.  Mr. Mills and Mr. Clarke will discuss the renovation and restoration of the newly-opened Updike Farmstead.
3:00 – Guided tour of the Farmstead

Cost:   $ 5/person (ages 3 or older)
          $ 8/2 people
          $10/3 people
          $15/4 people
          FREE – HSP Members

Location:  Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton

Meet Me At the Farmstead

Updike Farmstead Front View

Front view of Updike Farmhouse, 2011
Historical Society of Princeton

When you want something new, fun, and educational for the whole family, think of Updike Farmstead!  Every first Saturday and third Wednesday of every month from now until December, the Historical Society of Princeton welcomes the community to slow down, enjoy the natural environment of the farm, and connect with loved ones and make new friendships.  Starting Saturday, April 2, 2011, and Wednesday, April 20, we welcome the community to spend the day at Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton.  There will be an assortment of educational yet fun activities for everyone:  tours of the farmhouse, live music, presentations by artisans, naturalists, and farmers, historic games with sweet treats, scavenger hunts and a variety of arts and crafts for all ages.  On Wednesdays, there will be the additional story hour for preschoolers.

On April 2, the following special events are planned:

                10:30 – A capella performance by Cloud Nine from Princeton High School
                11:00 – “Talk to Your Farmer” presentation – chance to chat with folks who grow our favorite local foods
                12:00 – Live fiddle music
                  1:00  – Natural Egg-Dyeing with Pam Newitt
                  1:30 – Growing Your Own Vegetables, gardening workshop with Judith Robinson

Cost:      $5/person (ages 3 or older)
                $8 for 2 people
                $10 for 3 people
                $15 for group of 4 or more
                FREE for HSP members

Additional material fees will apply for Natural Egg-Dyeing ($1/person) and Growing Your Own Vegetables ($5/person)

The Historical Society of Princeton is honored at the New Jersey Historical Commission Grant Recognition Ceremony

New Jersey Historical Commission Grant Recognition Ceremony

Photo Caption: (left to right) are Sara Cureton, Acting Executive Director, New Jersey Historical Commission; Michelle Stricker, New Jersey Historical Commission member; Eileen Morales, Curator of Collections, Historical Society of Princeton; Dr. Joseph Salvatore, New Jersey Historical Commission member; Erin Dougherty, Executive Director, Historical Society of Princeton; Scott Sipprelle, Board Member, Historical Society of Princeton; Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno; Michael Fernandez, Chair, New Jersey Historical Commission.

The New Jersey Historical Commission recently honored the Historical Society of Princeton in recognition of their exemplary efforts to advance public knowledge of, and access to New Jersey history.  The Historical Society of Princeton is currently the recipient of grant funding for General Operating Support, as well as a special collections project, “Cataloging Access Project for Off-Site Collections Objects.”  This support allows HSP to research, design, and present innovative programs and online access to New Jersey history to the community.  At Bainbridge House, the Historical Society of Princeton is currently featuring Einstein At Home an exhibition offering a personal glimpse of Einstein’s life as a Princeton resident through his furniture, photographs, and special memorabilia. With much community support for an expansion to a second site, the Updike Farmstead on Quaker Road in Princeton, HSP will present Meet Me At the Farmstead.  Every first Saturday and third Wednesday of each month, HSP opens the Updike Farmstead to the community presenting an array of New Jersey history, arts, and nature-based programming.  There will also be live musical performances by emerging local groups.  HSP invites the community to Meet Us at the Farmstead!

The Historical Society of Princeton Opens Exclusive Exhibition on Albert Einstein

 Einstein sitting on the front steps

Photo Credit: Einstein sitting on the front steps of his home in Princeton, wearing his fuzzy slippers.
Photo courtesy of Gillett Griffin.

The Historical Society of Princeton proudly presents an exclusive exhibition, Einstein At Home, featuring family photographs, artwork, special memorabilia, and seventeen select pieces of Albert Einstein’s furniture from the Einstein Collection of the Historical Society of Princeton.  The objects on display include upholstered armchairs, desks, a sideboard, and his victrola.

The rarely seen personal items and furnishings offer a glimpse into Einstein’s personal life at his Mercer Street home in Princeton, where he lived from 1933 until his death in 1955.  In addition to the furnishings on display are personal items, such as his pipe, games, and photographs of the scientist at home working at his desk, meeting with notable visitors, playing his violin, and sitting in his favorite chair.  Together the exhibition portrays the personal story of the world-famous scientist and his life as a Princeton citizen.

This exhibition runs from February 8, 2011 through January 16, 2012, at Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, open from noon to 4:00 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.  Suggested admission is $4/person; free for HSP members.  For more information, please contact us at 609-921-6748 x100 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

The Historical Society of Princeton receives an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.  This exhibition is generously supported by PNC Bank and PNC Wealth Management and Wilmington Trust.

History Detectives Book Club

History Detectives Book Club

The Historical Society of Princeton’s History Detectives Book Club gathered at the Updike Farmstead on Saturday, January 22, to read Counting on Grace, a work of historical fiction about the life of a young  mill girl in Vermont.  The fourth- and fifth-graders also participated in a spirited discussed about friendship, immigration, and the history of mills in New Jersey and the U.S.   As a craft project, students began weaving a book mark.  In the next three Saturday sessions students will create a photo essay, learn about different types of mills, and think about the problem of child labor in the modern world.

Princeton Pi Day Celebrations

In celebration of Albert Einstein’s birthday as part of Princeton’s Pi Day Celebrations in March, the Historical Society of Princeton will host the following events:

Friday, March 11, 2011
4:00 pm-5:00 pm: Curator’s Tour of Einstein at Home at the Historical Society of Princeton
A special exhibition featuring selected pieces of furniture from the Einstein Collection of the Historical Society of Princeton. Through these rarely-seen objects, visitors will have the chance to glimpse the personal side of this world-famous scientist. Tour is free to the public.
Space is limited to 20 people. Please call 609-921-6748, x100 to reserve a space.

Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13, 2011

10:00am- 11:00am: Children’s Celebration at the Historical Society of Princeton

For children ages 6 and up
Saturday, March 12 or Sunday, March 13
Tickets: $5 child / $4 HSP members
158 Nassau Street, Princeton

HSP will celebrate Albert Einstein’s birthday!!  HSP will have some of Einstein’s puzzle games, memorabilia, photographs, and other personal belongings on view, and kids will learn about Einstein’s scientific discoveries as well as his efforts to fight racism and foster world peace.
Space is limited to 15 children on each day.  Please call 609-921-6748, x100 to reserve a space.