November
A Windmill Turns Again
October
Historical Society of Princeton House Tour 2012
Family-friendly Fright and Fun in Princeton
September
“O Say Can You See?” Music of the War of 1812
Annual Bainbridge Club Party
August
Come Picnic with Mrs. Wilson at the Updike Farmstead!
June
Ladies, First! Luncheon Speaker Series with Natalie Douglas of Idis
May
The Bacon Brothers perform at the Historical Society of Princeton’s Updike Farmstead
March
Historical Society of Princeton Opens Princeton Pride Gallery
Historical Society of Princeton Awarded New Jersey Historical Commission Grant
Carole Sonnenfeld Geithner speaks at Historical Society of Princeton’s Ladies, First! Lecture Series
February
Historical Society of Princeton Celebrates Black History Month
Historical Society of Princeton Celebrates Two Princeton Icons
January
Martin Luther King Day Activities
A Windmill Turns Again at the Historical Society of Princeton’s Updike Farmstead
The Historical Society of Princeton hosted a party on Saturday, November 17 to celebrate the reinstallation of the Updike windmill. Visitors enjoyed exploring the beautiful grounds of the Updike Farmstead, as well as three new exhibitions in the galleries of the restored late 18th/early 19th century farmhouse. Guests also enjoyed browsing the incredible jewelry of Brad Reh Estate Jewelry and partaking in seasonal refreshments.
The original windmill, which can be seen in several photographs in the Farmhouse history gallery, was taken down in 2006 for safety reasons, and rebuilt by E&R Windmills out of Bethel, PA. The project was underwritten by generous contributions from Steve and Treby Williams and Ann Lee Saunders Brown. The project was managed by architect Ronnie Bregenzer, who generously donated her time and services. Baxter Construction poured the foundations and also provided a generous donation to the project, as did project engineer Harrison Hamnett. The pump house was painstakingly refurbished by Sam Pirone. The windmill, which retains the original tank structure, is an iconic feature of the Farmstead which will be the centerpiece for new environmental programs on site.
Also dedicated at the party was the Sipprelle Unity Garden, made possible by a generous donation from Scott and Tracy Sipprelle. The Unity Garden is now at the core of education programs on health and wellness, and some of the produce grown is being donated to area organizations. In October, student volunteers from the Princeton Friends School harvested spring mix lettuce that was used in a Cornerstone Community Kitchen (CCK) dinner at the Princeton Methodist Church. Windmill Party guests brought juice boxes and paper products that were donated to the CCK, which works in partnership with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
Updike Farmstead, at 354 Quaker Road, is currently open to the public one Saturday each month, with the next opening on December 15, from 12 to 4 PM. For more information, please visit www.princetonhistory.org, or call (609) 921-6748 x102. Quaker Road is open to Farmstead visitors from the Mercer Street side during open hours.
Historical Society of Princeton House Tour 2012
The Historical Society of Princeton has announced its House Tour will take place on Saturday, November 3, 2012, from 10 AM to 4 PM. The annual tour features extraordinary homes, from historic gems to marvels of modern design.
Included this year is 200 Mercer Street, an elegant Neoclassical home built in 1895, with renovations and an addition by architect Cathy Knight, of Knight Architects, LLC.
The Society is grateful to Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty for its continued support as a Bainbridge Sponsor of the House Tour.
All proceeds from the event help fund the Historical Society’s core mission activities throughout the year, including exhibitions, collections care and educational programming for schools and families.
Ticket prices are $40 for Historical Society members and $50 for non-members. For more information, please visit www.princetonhistory.org, or call (609)921-6748, x105.
Family-friendly Fright and Fun in Princeton
Princeton, NJ – Dress up in your best costume and join us for the Annual Hometown Halloween Parade! The Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton Public Library, Historical Society of Princeton and the Princeton Family YMCA join forces this year to present a fun and spooky family event Friday, October 26, 2012 beginning at 4:00 pm.
Join the Historical Society of Princeton at 4:00 pm for a 45 minute walk through Princeton Cemetery, referred to as the “Westminster Abbey of the United States.” The tour will start at the main gate, at the corner of Greenview Avenue and Humbert Street and is recommended for ages 8 and up. We will then gather at 5:00 at Palmer Square Green for the parade. At 5:15, the Princeton University Band will lead the parade and will march to Albert Hinds Plaza where the ACP and the Princeton Public Library will host a fun filled performance by Alex and Najwa from Alex & the Kaleidoscope Band. After leaving the concert, families are invited to head over to the YMCA on Paul Robeson Place where the fun continues with “trunk or treat” (trick-or-treating in the parking lot), a spooky trail, carnival games and bounce houses.
Free parking at the YMCA provides a great starting point for families walking to Palmer Square for the parade. After the library’s Haunted House, they can then circle back for fun at the ‘Y’ before heading home. The parade is organized and sponsored by the Arts Council of Princeton, Historical Society of Princeton, Princeton Public Library, Princeton Family YMCA, Palmer Square Management, the J. Seward Johnson, Sr. 1963 Charitable Trust, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Novo Nordisk, jaZams, and Witherspoon Grill.
The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP), founded in 1967, is a non-profit organization with a mission of Building Community through the Arts. Housed in the landmark Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, designed by architect Michael Graves, the ACP fulfills its mission by presenting a wide range of programs including exhibitions, performances, free community cultural events, and studio-based classes and workshops in a wide range of media. Arts Council of Princeton programs are designed to be high-quality, engaging, affordable and accessible for the diverse population of the greater Princeton region. For more information contact Vashtie Coefer at vcoefer@artscouncilofprinceton.org or call (609) 924-8777.
“O Say Can You See?” Music of the War of 1812
The Historical Society of Princeton and Nassau Presbyterian Church have announced an exciting night pairing history and music in honor of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.
On Friday, September 28, “O Say Can You See?” Music of the War of 1812 begins at 7:30 with a lecture by Dr. David Hildebrand of The Colonial Music Institute, from Severna Park, Maryland, followed by an 8 PM concert and post-performance reception. Guest artists will include singers from Westminster Choir College and recorder player John Burkhalter of The Practitioners of Musick.
Last spring, WWFM The Classical Network sponsored Dr. Hildebrand to produce a one-hour radio program entitled Broadside to Anthem: Music of the War of 1812, which was largely recorded at Nassau Presbyterian Church. Much of this material will be presented during this concert, which will showcase the huge variety of American songs inspired by the war. The program culminates in the true telling of the birth of the Star-Spangled Banner in September, 1814, dispelling several lingering myths along the way.
From the early stirrings of party politics under President Adams, the traumatic effect of Jefferson’s Embargo in 1807, through the triumph at Fort McHenry, Americans took pen to paper to tear at political opponents, to dramatize the great sea battles between huge frigates in full sail and to laud battle heroes, like William Hull and Oliver Perry. In addition, marches, dance tunes and songs, both for and against the war, were sung at home, on the streets and in theaters.
Tickets prices are $20 for adults; $15 students/seniors/Historical Society members. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
Annual Bainbridge Club Party
On Sunday, September 16, the Historical Society of Princeton held its annual Bainbridge Club Party and History Awards presentation at the home of T. Jeffery Clarke in Princeton, NJ. PNC Bank / PNC Wealth Management received the Community Leadership Award.
Left to right: Erin Dougherty, Historical Society of Princeton Executive Director; Joseph Whall, PNC Director of Client and Community Relations; Linda Bowden, PNC New Jersey Regional President; Chris Lokhammer, PNC Wealth Management Director/Princeton; Scott Sipprelle, President of the Historical Society of Princeton Board of Trustees.
Come Picnic with Mrs. Wilson at the Updike Farmstead!
The Historical Society of Princeton invites visitors to bring a picnic lunch, relax and enjoy the beauty of Updike Farmstead. Families can also partake in nature scavenger hunts before heading inside the restored farmhouse to take in the beauty of Ellen Axson Wilson’s landscape paintings.
On view through September 15, The Art of First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson: American Impressionist, features landscape paintings by the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson that span the years 1902-1913, which include her time in Princeton during her husband’s presidency of the University.
Hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4 PM. The address is 354 Quaker Road, Princeton. Admission is $4, and also includes entrance to the Society’s other site, Bainbridge House, at 158 Nassau Street.
Please visit www.princetonhistory.org to confirm operating hours, and to learn more about special events.
On July 28, August 25, and September 15, at 2 PM, a one hour guided tour of Historic Stony Brook will start at the Updike Farmstead, and follow a portion of the trail Washington took from Trenton to the Battlefield, including stops at the Stony Brook Meeting House and cemetery. Tours are free with museum admission.
Ladies, First! Luncheon Speaker Series with Natalie Douglas of Idis
On view through September 15 at the Historical Society of Princeton’s Updike Farmstead is the traveling exhibition, The Art of First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson: American Impressionist, organized by the Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, DC. The exhibition features 19 landscape paintings by the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.
To honor the memory of this inspiring First Lady of both New Jersey and our nation, the Historical Society is presenting the Ladies, First! Luncheon Speaker Series. The series celebrates the accomplishments of women in the public and private sector who have had a significant impact through their work. The catered luncheons are warm and intimate, like Ellen’s own social events, bringing together a group of women to engage in spirited discussions of today’s topics of importance. Funds raised through the series will be reinvested to support the Historical Society’s educational programs.
The first luncheon featured Princeton native Carole Sonnenfeld Geithner, a social worker, professor and author, who is married to Tim Geithner, current Secretary of the Treasury. Ms. Geithner spoke about her new book, If Only, the story of a young girl coping with the death of her mother.
On June 25 at 12 noon, Natalie Douglas, CEO of Idis, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, will discuss healthcare in a global community. Ms. Douglas won the UK’s prestigious First Women Award in 2007, and was a finalist in the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2008. Her presentation will range from commentary on the global healthcare system to individual cases involving patients from around the world.
Tickets for the second Ladies, First! Luncheon are $60, and can be purchased by contacting Jennie Floyd at (609) 921-6748 x106 or jennie@princetonhistory.org.
The Bacon Brothers, featuring Kevin Bacon, at the Historical Society of Princeton’s Updike Farmstead!
The Historical Society of Princeton is pleased to be hosting a new fundraising event on June 9, 2012 to celebrate the opening of its second location, the Updike Farmstead.
A Concert Under the Stars will feature a 90-minute live performance by The Bacon Brothers, the rock/soul band formed in 1995 by actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael, an Emmy-winning composer. Their character-driven songs and cool, easy style fit in perfectly with the farm atmosphere. Guests are encouraged to wear blue jeans and boots. Main Street catering has prepared a menu featuring down home cooking and Southern Comfort punch.
All guests are invited to explore the grounds and tour the recently renovated farmhouse, where the travelling exhibition, The Art of Ellen Axson Wilson: American Impressionist is on view. Organized by the Woodrow Wilson House, the show features landscape paintings by the first Mrs. Wilson, several of which were painted during the time she lived in Princeton.
A Concert Under the Stars celebrates the generosity of the wider Princeton community in supporting the Historical Society’s efforts to create this new backyard for Princeton. Tickets start at $200, and event net proceeds go to support the Society’s programs.
“This ‘grand’ opening is a way to thank our supporters with a wonderful outdoor concert,” said Erin Dougherty, Executive Director. Our Farmstead is truly “Princeton’s backyard,” and what better way to celebrate among friends than with great music and food, under the stars!”
The Society is very pleased to announce high level corporate sponsorship for the event from Baxter Construction and Idis. “We are deeply gratified by the financial support of these companies. Their sponsorship is both an endorsement of our mission and a symbol of their own civic-mindedness,” said the Society’s Board President, Scott Sipprelle.
The Updike Farmstead opened to the public in 2011. The site includes a renovated late 18th/early 19th century farmhouse, a large barn and several outbuildings on six acres of beautiful, historic grounds.
Adds Dougherty, “We are proud to be the caretaker of this community space with enduring power to educate and inspire.”
For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.princetonhistory.org, or call (609) 921-6748 x105.
Historical Society of Princeton Opens Princeton Pride Gallery
With just a photo, you can bring Princeton history right into your home or business!
The Historical Society of Princeton announces the opening of its new Princeton Pride gallery, an exhibition of images from our extensive photographic collections. If you’re looking for the perfect image over your fireplace, in your front hall, or in your office lobby, the Princeton Pride gallery will inspire you. Need help finding a unique hostess gift for a housewarming or cocktail party? Our images provide impact! The photos allow everyone, whether new to town or a longtime resident, to take a walk down memory lane.
The photographs in the Princeton Pride gallery feature a diverse range of well-known landmarks, streets, people, and events in Princeton and the region. Some are lighthearted, such as a boating trip on the Stony Brook or a view of a local soda fountain. Others feature famous individuals, such as Booker T. Washington’s visit to Princeton in 1914 or President Warren Harding’s dedication of the Princeton Battle Monument.
Once you’ve found the perfect photo in our Princeton Pride gallery, you can order your own photographic reproduction – perfect for framing! If you can’t wait to place an order, then we have a great solution. Our brand-new HSP Dorm Posters are ready for purchase at Bainbridge House. Choose from five exclusive images, specially selected by Princeton University students. Sized at 24×36 inches and only $10, a poster will add something special to your room walls. Parents will want one, too!
If you can’t come to Bainbridge House, then you can find a special photo online. Visit this link for our digital database of 4,000 photographs:http://www.princetonhistory.org/collections/digital-database.cfm Send an email to Eileen Morales, eileen@princetonhistory.org to order your photo reproduction.
Visitors are welcome to the Princeton Pride gallery at Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Wednesday to Sunday from 12 to 4pm.
Historical Society of Princeton Awarded New Jersey Historical Commission Grant
The Historical Society of Princeton is pleased to announce the receipt of an $11,443 project grant award from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. The grant funds will support the Historical Society of Princeton’s upcoming exhibition, Stories from the Street: Princeton Borough Places and People. Timed to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Princeton Borough’s 1813 charter, the exhibition will be on view at Bainbridge House on Nassau Street from September 5, 2012 through June 2013.
Stories from the Street will explore both notable and lesser-known people, places, and moments in the Borough’s history through the Historical Society’s expansive collection of maps, photographs, objects and oral histories. A community advisory board will help inform the exhibition and will solicit Princeton residents for their own Borough stories. The consolidation process of Princeton Borough and Princeton Township will be centrally featured in the exhibition.
The Historical Society of Princeton also receives an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission. The Commission’s competitive grant process provides support for projects dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history.
Carole Sonnenfeld Geithner speaks at Historical Society of Princeton’s Ladies, First! Lecture Series
Ms. Geithner spoke about her new book, If Only, as part of the Ladies, First! Lecture Series at the Society’s Updike Farmstead on March 20. The series celebrates the accomplishments of women in the public and private sector, in conjunction with the exhibition The Art of First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson: American Impressionist, currently on view at the Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton; Wednesdays and Saturdays, 12-4 PM; $4 admission, free for HSP members.
Historical Society of Princeton Celebrates Black History Month
The February celebration of Black History Month can be traced back to 1926 when Carter G. Woodson established “Negro History Week.” This month, the Historical Society of Princeton proudly joins with the Numina Gallery at Princeton High School by displaying objects and photographs related to the experience of African-Americans in Princeton.
For the Numina Gallery’s exhibition “Princeton Black History: A Pictoral Retrospective,” Princeton High School students visited the Historical Society’s library to research, then printed, matted and framed the photographs for the exhibition. Historian and educator Shirley Satterfield and Former Township Mayor James Floyd were interviewed, and the video of them speaking about their Princeton memories is shown in the gallery. The exhibition is open by appointment through February 24.
An outdoor sign from Jimmy’s Barber Shop, at 141 John Street, a promised gift from Ms. Satterfield, is on display at the Historical Society’s Bainbridge House, along with Rex Goreleigh’s watercolor, Mary Watts’ Store. On view at the Society’s Updike Farmstead site is Goreleigh’s Field Workers (Tomato Pickers), on loan from the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church.
Throughout the 20th century, numerous African-American-owned businesses flourished in Princeton’s Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood. James Mack established Jimmy’s Barber Shop in 1961. He worked previously as a barber at his uncle’s shop on Witherspoon Street. Claude Mack’s barber shop began serving the community in 1935.
Artist Rex Goreleigh (1902-1986) arrived in Princeton in 1947 to direct Princeton Group Arts (PGA). Despite persistent segregation in Princeton in housing and employment, PGA and Goreleigh sought to foster inclusive, community-wide participation in all aspects of the fine and performing arts. Goreleigh himself painted Princeton streetscapes and residents, and particularly focused his art on the experiences of African-American migrant workers in central New Jersey.
“We are so pleased that the Historical Society was offered the storefront sign from Jimmy’s Barber Shop for our collections,” said Eileen Morales, Curator of Collections. “This sturdy, hand-painted sign helps document the many African-American-owned businesses which thrived in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood.”
Ms. Satterfield leads tours of the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood on The Albert E. Hinds Memorial Walking Tour: African-American Life in Princeton. Group tours can be arranged by calling the Historical Society at (609)921-6748, extension 102.
Bainbridge House is open Wednesday-Sunday, noon to 4 PM. The Updike Farmstead is open Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4 PM. Admission is $4, which includes same day entrance to both sites on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Historical Society of Princeton Celebrates Two Princeton Icons
Visitors to the Historical Society of Princeton are now able to get a two-fer, in more ways than one. Walk into Bainbridge House on Nassau Street and learn about the life of Albert Einstein through rarely-seen furniture, memorabilia and photographs. Venture two miles south to the Updike Farmstead to take in the landscape paintings by First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson.
Einstein At Home, a special exhibition featuring selected pieces of furniture from the Einstein Collection of the Historical Society of Princeton, offers an opportunity to glimpse the personal side of the world-famous scientist, who lived in Princeton from 1933 until his death in 1955.
The exhibit, which opened last February, was scheduled to close in January, but, due to its popularity, has been extended to August 19. “We’re encouraging our visitors to share their personal stories of encountering Einstein in Princeton through a new hands-on gallery activity,” said Eileen Morales, the Historical Society’s Curator of Collections.
Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 4 PM. Admission is $4. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the Historical Society offers a “two-fer:” admission includes entrance to both Bainbridge House and the Updike Farmstead.
Located in the heart of the Princeton Battlefield/Stony Brook Settlement Historic District, the Updike Farmstead consists of 6 acres of land, a restored late 18th/early 19th century farmhouse and several outbuildings, including a large barn, built in 1892, corn crib and wagon shed.
The farmhouse galleries are open every Wednesday and Saturday, noon to 4 PM. Tickets purchased there for $4 also include same day admission to Bainbridge House.
Opening February 1, The Art of First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson: American Impressionist, features landscape paintings by the first Mrs. Wilson that span the years 1902-1913, which include her time at Princeton during her husband’s presidency of Princeton University. The exhibition has been organized by the Woodrow Wilson House, Washington, DC, with generous support from the James Dicke family. Local support for the exhibition generously provided by Robert O. Carr.
“Having the work by Ellen Wilson and the Einstein Collection up at both sites is truly a groundbreaking time for HSP,” said Erin Dougherty, the Historical Society’s Executive Director. “We are excited to offer these stellar exhibitions to our wonderful visitors and devoted supporters.”
On February 18, from 1-3 PM, a special drop-in workshop will be offered for Presidents’ Day weekend, with a twist: the day will focus on the First Ladies. Children can play a First Ladies/Presidents matching game and, inspired by Ellen Wilson, paint their own watercolor landscape. The activities are included with museum admission.
For more information about the exhibitions and special events, visit www.princetonhistory.org.
The Arts Council of Princeton, Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum, and the Historical Society of Princeton partner to offer an afternoon of activities honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 16, 1- 4 pm in Princeton
Princeton, NJ – In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, vision and invaluable contributions to the nation, three community organizations are partnering to bring Dr. King’s ideals to life and into the community for an afternoon of creative learning, artistic expressions and fun for children and tweens! This open house program will run from 1 – 4 pm on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 16, at the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, home of the Arts Council of Princeton, located at 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. This is the fourth year that a tolerance-related program has been offered to families on Martin Luther King Day by the Arts Council of Princeton, Kidsbridge and the Historical Society of Princeton. Assisting with the event this year will be the Princeton High School Community Service Group.
The afternoon will feature an assortment of creative and thought- provoking hands-on art workshops, student-led puppet shows and collaborative projects, great for both elementary and middle school students, inspired by Dr. King’s words and inspirational messages.The Arts Council of Princeton, founded in 1967, is a non-profit organization with a mission of Building Community through the Arts. Housed in the landmark Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, designed by architect Michael Graves, the ACP fulfills its mission by presenting a wide range of programs including exhibitions, performances, free community cultural events, and studio-based classes and workshops in the visual, performing and literary arts. Arts Council of Princeton programs are designed to be high-quality, engaging, affordable and accessible for the diverse population in the greater Princeton region.Kidsbridge, a nonprofit organization dedicated to tolerance and the awareness and appreciation of diversity, encourages the students, families and educators of the greater Mercer County region to understand and celebrate the strengths and opportunities that are inherent in the diverse, mosaic cultures of our community and our world.Kidsbridge features the Tolerance Museum, located on the campus of The College of New Jersey, a hands-on interactive learning lab environment that encourages youth to explore issues of character education and diversity appreciation. Through interactive kiosks, games, simulations, puppet shows and small group discussions, college students partner with elementary and middle school children– creating an atmosphere where kids feel comfortable to share memories of being bullied, being excluded, or being ridiculed or teased. Together they are challenged to contemplate solutions for prejudice, name-calling, peer pressure, discrimination, apathy, powerlessness, negative stereotypes and bullying.The Historical Society of Princeton (HSP), founded in 1938, is a museum and library dedicated to interpreting the history of Princeton. Home to a vast collection of artifacts, manuscripts and photographs, HSP offers a wide array of exhibitions, lectures and public programs each year to school children, scholars and families at its two locations: Bainbridge House and the Updike Farmstead. Visit us at princetonhistory.org.This event is free of charge and open to the public. The event will take at the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08542. Parking is available in the Spring and Hulfish Street Garages as well as metered parking along Witherspoon Street and Paul Robeson Place. For more information, call (609) 924-8777 or visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org.
