Happy New Year from Journey Through Jersey! This year will surely be full of history, fun, and entertainment especially after Journey Through Jersey introduces you to its New(est) additions - one to visit each month of the New Year! 

1. Surflight Theatre - Also know as “Broadway at the Beach,” is now a Journey Through Jersey site! Surflight Theatre was founded in 1950 by Joseph P. Hayes. The first season was produced in a tent, which eventually moved to an old mechanic's garage, and then to the Seaside Theatre in Beach Haven in 1987. Today, the Surflight Theatre provides high-quality, professional live theatre to the vacationers of Long Beach Island and the residents of Southern New Jersey. It also serves as a community resource that trains young theatre performers and technicians. The goals of the training program are to engage, entertain, and foster the appreciation of live theatre among adults, teens, and children. Check out a show at the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven this year! See a schedule of performances and trainings on the Theatre’s website: https://surflight.org/. 

2. Miller Cory House Museum – Step back in time during a visit to the Miller Cory House Museum - a living history museum dating back to the eighteenth century. The homestead dates to 1740 and was one of the first plantations in the West Fields of Elizabethtown. The grounds contain a number of gardens with typical early American plantings, as well as an outhouse, corncrib, and cookhouse. Of special interest is the museum’s open-hearth cooking program; each spring and autumn, members of the Cooking Committee demonstrate the preparation of dishes over the open hearth, using seasonal ingredients as well as eighteenth-century recipes and cooking techniques. The museum is also a historical resource for schools, Scout troops, and other community groups. For a schedule of events, check out the Miller Cory House Museum website: https://millercoryhouse.com/ev...

3. Hinchliffe Stadium – Stepping up to the plate next is Hincliffe Stadium in Paterson. Hinchliffe Stadium is an open-air stadium in the classic amphitheater style, heavily inspired by the stadium movement of the 1920s. According to the website, “During its 1930s and ‘40s heyday, coinciding with the segregated Jim Crow era, Hinchliffe played host to significant Negro Leagues baseball. Crowds flocked to see some of the world’s greatest ballplayers – from Josh Gibson to Cool Papa Bell to Monte Irvin and Paterson’s own Larry Doby – many of them denied entry into Organized Baseball only because of their skin color.” 

Restored and re-opened in 2023, the stadium is now home to The Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium, which offers educational programs, guided tours, and special events for visitors of all ages. The museum’s mission is to preserve and share the story of Hinchliffe Stadium, most notably its role as a Negro Leagues Stadium and home to the New York Black Yankees and New York Cubans during the 1930s and 1940s. During your visit, do not forget to check out the rest of the New Jersey Black History Trail, Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park, and the Paterson Museum. Visit the Museum website to plan your Paterson journey: https://www.montclair.edu/muth-museum-hinchliffe/.  

4. The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County - “From the Freehold peddler to the Long Branch department store magnate…from the Howell Township chicken farm to the Jersey Homestead industrial and agricultural cooperative… from the Jewish “Newport” on the Jersey Shore to the Cream Ridge Zionist pioneer camp, the story of the Monmouth County Jewish community is the story of American Jewish life.” 

Situated in the heart of Freehold Township, The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County is housed on the second level of the historic Levi Solomon barn. The Solomon family was one of the first Jewish families to permanently settle in Monmouth County. Today, the museum promotes public awareness of the County’s Jewish heritage. The Museum’s exhibits, programs, and publications celebrate the rich and unique history of the Jewish residents of Monmouth County and their contributions to the community. Book a tour today! https://jhmomc.youcanbook.me/.  

5. Smith-Cadbury Mansion – Bird and Horse are the words to celebrate the mansion and its fascinating history! The Smith-Cadbury Mansion was built in 1738 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 for its significant architecture and military history. In 1777, during the Revolutionary War, the home hosted French officer Marquis de Lafayette and was taken over by the Hessians during the British retreat from Philadelphia in 1778. The most well-known resident of the home was Edward Harris II, a famous ornithologist and friend of John James Audubon. Harris is also responsible for introducing the Percheron Horse breed to the United States. Today, the Smith-Cadbury Mansion serves as the headquarters of the Historical Society of Moorestown. Check out the Historical Society’s calendar for upcoming events at the Mansion: https://moorestownhistory.org/.  

6. Parker Homestead- Can you imagine living in the same house as your great-great-great grandparents? Visit the Parker Homestead to find out what it was like! The Parker Homestead is one of the oldest houses in New Jersey and represents 330 years of continuous use by one family from 1665 to 1996. The property was bought in 1665 by Quaker brothers Peter and Joseph Parker. Much of the Parkers’ family photos, personal letters and postcards, baseball cards, books, and other belongings were left behind at Parker Homestead for future residents and visitors to enjoy. The property includes a large farmhouse, three barns, town garden, and sweet potato farm. Learn about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities at the Parker Homestead by visiting the website: https://parkerhomestead1665.org/. 

7. North Pemberton Railroad Museum – All aboard! It is time to visit the North Pemberton Railroad Museum! The North Pemberton Railroad Station operated from 1891-1969, providing Pemberton with materials and transportation including the supplies needed to begin construction at Camp Dix or modern-day Fort Dix. The museum exists today to celebrate the history of Pemberton Township, the lives of those that lived in the town, and more broadly, the importance of railroads in southern New Jersey. The Train Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 for its significance in architecture and transportation. Check out the Pemberton Township Historic Trust Facebook page for more information about the museum and other great historic sites in the community: https://www.facebook.com/people/Pemberton-Township-Historic-Trust/100089487612688/.

8. Shady Rest Country Club– Take a swing this year at the Shady Rest Country Club – a historic 9-hole course with a mini golf course on site! The Shady Rest Golf and Country Club is the oldest African American golf clubhouse in the United States. In the mid-1700s, the story of Shady Rest began with the construction of the Ephraim Tucker Farmhouse, nestled in a thirty-one-acre plot of rural landscape in Scotch Plains. The property served several uses until the late 1890s when it was sold and converted into a 9-hole golf course by the Westfield Golf Club. Finally, in the early twentieth century, a group of Black investors from the Progressive Realty Company acquired the property and established the Shady Rest Golf and Country Club. Shady Rest stood as the center for African American society at the time; the first African American professional golfer, John Matthew Shippen, Jr., served as head professional from 1924-1960; esteemed guests W.E.B. DuBois, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and others were welcomed to share their talents; and Shady Rest offered golf, tennis, horseback riding, and skeet shooting for all ages. 

Today, Shady Rest is run by the Preserve Shady Rest Committee, which has a mission to educate and present the rich history of Shady Rest and John Shippen, Jr., preserve the clubhouse, and create a public center and museum to display the site’s memorabilia, photographs, artifacts, and oral histories. See the Preserve Shady Rest Website to schedule tee times and to see other events at the clubhouse: https://preserveshadyrest.org/. 

9. Clara Barton Schoolhouse – School may only be 180 days each year, but you can visit the Clara Barton Schoolhouse anytime! Clara Barton, best known as a Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross, was significant in New Jersey history for establishing the first public school in the state. She took a teaching position in Hightstown, and while visiting Bordentown, was disturbed by the number of children she found in the streets because their families could not afford private school. Barton met with the local school committee and convinced them to let her educate the children in a free school. She opened the school in 1852 with only six male students in attendance. At the end of the first year, attendance grew to 600 students. The town officials built a new public school but replaced Barton as principal with a man. She then left for Washington, DC, where she became the first full-time employee of the Federal Government in the Patent Office. Barton went on to become the Angel of the Battlefield in the Civil War and founded the American Red Cross. Learn about the incredible life and legacy of Clara Barton, attend a lecture at the schoolhouse, and explore shops and restaurants in Bordentown City in 2025! See the Bordentown Historical Society’s website for more information about events: https://bordentownhistory.org/.  

10. 1760 Joseph Turner House & Solitude Heritage Museum – If you want to enjoy nature and history all in one day, look no further than the Jospeh Turner House and Solitude Heritage Museum! Located next to the Spruce Run Reservoir, the Union Forge Heritage Association's 1760 Joseph Turner House and Solitude Heritage Museum is dedicated to preserving and protecting the rich heritage and natural environment of Hunterdon County. Visitors can take in the countryside at the museum as they learn about The Union Forge and Taylor Wharton Ironworks dating back to the early 1700s. Explore relics, photos, antique maps, a domestic room, vintage fashions, a formal parlor, and open-hearth colonial cooking. Check out the Union Forge Heritage Association website for more information about upcoming events including the live, historic cooking demonstrations: https://www.facebook.com/PRESERVENJ/. 

11. Cooper Gristmill– Grind your car to a halt when you get to Chester because the Cooper Gristmill is open to the public! Built in 1826, the Cooper Gristmill was once the heart of a thriving industrial community and played a vital role in the area's development during the Industrial Revolution. The Gristmill is the only restored water-powered mill in New Jersey and is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Witness the amazing power of the Black River - harnessed to run a steel water wheel and grind grains into flour using massive 2,000-pound millstones. These grinding stones can produce up to 800 pounds of flour per hour. Visitors are invited to take home stone-ground flour and cornmeal produced at the Gristmill. So, in 2025, travel back in time to Milltown, a thriving community situated along the Black River. See the Morris County Park Commission website for visitor information: https://www.morrisparks.net/parks_trails/cooper-gristmill/.  

12. Historic Speedwell – You’ll surely “tel” all your friends about your visit to Historic Speedwell after you discover the "Birthplace of the Telegraph" and New Jersey's unique role in the Industrial Revolution! Historic Speedwell's buildings and surrounding landscape capture the flavor of life during the early to mid-nineteenth century. This National Historic Landmark site preserves the restored estate of Stephen Vail, proprietor of the Speedwell Iron Works. Experience life during the mid-nineteenth century through guided tours, special events, school and youth programs, summer camps, and exhibits. 

The most significant building at Speedwell is the factory where Stephen's son, Alfred, worked with Samuel F.B. Morse to perfect the telegraph. The electromagnetic telegraph was first publicly demonstrated in this building on January 11, 1838, which earned Speedwell the title of "Birthplace of the Telegraph." Inside the restored building, enjoy interactive exhibits on the development of the telegraph and its connection to modern communications. The site also includes the historic Vail home, three original outbuildings with exhibits, and three historic Morristown homes moved to the site in the 1960s. Visit the Morris County Park Commission website for visitor information: https://www.morrisparks.net/parks_trails/historic-speedwell/.   

Where will your Journey Through Jersey take you this year?  

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