Historical Society of Stillwater Township

05/05 :  Swartwout Massacre Recalled in Stillwater

   Historian and author Kevin Wright will present a program on the French and Indian War at the Historical Society of Stillwater Township’s museum on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Wright, a Sussex County native, will speak about the county’s experiences as a frontier community and flashpoint during the war, including the 1755 Swartwout Massacre, which occurred in Stillwater’s current-day Swartswood section.

“Sussex County was on the front lines during the French and Indian War,” said Bob Grabowsky, President of the Society. “It’s intriguing, but sobering, to learn about the dangers our founders faced.”

The program is open to the general public will be held at the Society's museum at 900 Main Street, Stillwater. Refreshments will be served after the program.

30/11 :  Christmas Open House

   The Historical Society will host our Christmas Open House on Sunday, December 4, 2011 from 1 pm to 4 pm at the museum. Visitors will enjoy carriage rides, live music, Santa, museum tours, homemade trifle and a bake sale.

The Christmas Open House is a well-loved annual tradition for the Society and for our guests. The museum is the perfect setting to get together with friends and neighbors to celebrate the season. Join us and see for yourself!

05/11 :  CRATER LAKE: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

   Today’s visitor to Crater Lake, at the end of a long dirt road on the Kittatinny Ridge in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, would never guess that the lake once hosted a thriving summer vacation community, had a sister lake (Lake Success) and was the scene of outdoor M asses on the lake, officiated by Father Jack Cassidy.

The Historical Society of Stillwater Township will host Ms. Priscilla Hayes for a program on Crater Lake’s past at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the Society’s museum.

Ms. Hayes will make the invisible history of the lake visible again, including its several name changes, and its beginnings as the site of the Ah - Ka - Mon Inn, which offered meals and rooms year round , plus provisions and tents for those who wanted to camp at the lake. She will describe how the first homeowners won “free lot certificates,” either with purchases of furniture in far - away Jersey City or in newspaper crossword contests. Who were the members of the community around the lake, and how did they come to leave us their beautiful lands to enjoy today?

The Historical Society’s museum is located at 900 Main Street, Stillwater, NJ. Refreshments will be served after the program. For more information, visit [link] , or e-mail to: -email-.

Priscilla Hayes is combining her interests in the environment and history to create an environmental and social hist ory of Crater Lake, and another former resort area, the Deserted Village of Feltville, in the Watchung Reservation, Union County. She is the Director of Energy and Sustainability at Far Hills Country Day School.

The Historical Society of Stillwater Township is a 501(c)3 non - profit organization. It is the mission of HSST to foster and promote an interest in Stillwater area history through the education and preservation of family information, local cemetery records, artifacts, sites and structures and to maintain an historical and genealogical library and museum.

26/09 :  Stillwater Welcomes Autumn as the Rain Takes a Break

  
Though it was not an idyllic fall day, Mother Nature delivered the goods last Saturday as HSST hosted its 6th Annual Fall Festival, in partnership with the Stillwater Recreation Commission. As the weather cooperated, the Stillwater community gathered at the elementary school to celebrate the arrival of autumn.

This year, more than ever, the Festival was a town-wide effort. Many township organizations exhibited at the event, including the Emergency Squad, the Volunteer Fire Department, the PTA, the Environmental Commission and more. The Harmony Hill United Methodist Church handled refreshments and a Stillwater-based caterer held a Pig Roast. And, in an effort to help area crafters and merchants recoup business lost during the recent storms, the Society waived its vendor fee.

Among the many popular attractions at the Festival were Mr. Hecht's horse and wagon, a hay ride with pumpkin picking, and the Itty Bitty Fire Truck. There were races for the kids and horseshoes for the adults. A DJ and live music entertained the crowd.

Thanks to several generous sponsors and to money raised at the event, this year's Festival was a big success. But, just as important, is the opportunity for those in the Stillwater-area to enjoy time together as friends and neighbors.

15/08 :  Life's a Peach in Stillwater!

   The Historical Society will host our annual Peach Festival on Sunday, August 21, 2011 from 1 pm to 4 pm at the museum. The star of the event will be fresh peach cobbler, made with local peaches from Windy Brow Farm.

A terrific way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon, the Festival also features live music, horse and buggy rides, museum tours and a bake sale.

"An apple is an excellent thing -- until you have tried a peach." -- George du Maurier

07/07 :  Spiffing up the Stillwater Grist Mill

   HSST volunteers will be cleaning the interior of the Stillwater Grist Mill on Saturday, July 16.

This is not an easy task, but it is important.  Cleaning up the Mill will allow HSST to make a better assessment of its condition so we can arrange for maintenance work.  We would appreciate the participation of as many HSST and Stillwater community members as possible.  

If you can, please join us at the Mill at 9 a.m. on the 16th and lend a hand.  Please bring supplies with you - brooms, shop vacs, trash bags and so on.