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A wonderful time was had by all on Sunday, March 17 at the Society’s St. Patrick’s Day event entitled “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”. Numerous visitors from throughout the area enjoyed viewing the museum’s collection of lace while listening to Irish music and indulging in Irish tea and homemade cake.

If you were unable to attend on the 17th, we’ll do the event once again on Sunday March 24 between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00. Hope to see you then.

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On Sunday, February 24 a group of Tiger Cubs from St. John’s School in Hillsdale and their parents were given a tour of the museum by Trustees George Sherman and Marie Hennesey. A good time was had by all.

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PHS CHAIR-MAN BOB MATHEZ SPEAKS ANTIQUE

“How to Speak Antique”, a program devised by Trustee Bob Mathez, was met with great enthusiasm by an appreciative audience at the Historical Society Museum on Sunday, February 17. Be sure to save the date – June 9 – when our “Chair-Man” Bob will present Part II.

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FREE COPY OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

The Pascack Historical Society is currently offering the public a free copy of its latest 16-page quarterly membership newsletter, RELICS. The well-known publication, which has been published continually, since it made its debut in September of 1955, is in the permanent collections of many libraries and historical societies throughout the United States, including the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

The November 2012 issue’s front-page story, “Operation Paper Clip and Montvale” , written by PHS member Philip Accardi of Simsbury, Connecticut, tells the fascinating story of Dr. Marie Feldman, a Russian immigrant who lived in Montvale in the 1940s.  Her home ,on Grand Avenue , served as a secret receiving station for many German rocket scientists, including Dr. Werner von Braun, who defected to America near the end of World War II.  Read about how six-year old Philip Accardi met Dr. von Braun in the living room of  that Montvale home.

Another story  tells the background of a poll tax levied on a 1903 tax bill for “Hillsdale Township”, twenty years before it became a borough.

To receive a free newsletter stop in at the Society’s barrier-free museum, 19 Ridge Avenue, Park Ridge on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. or Sundays from 1-4 p.m.  Or call RELICS editor Francesca M. Moskowitz at 201-666-0121 to have one mailed to your home.

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MAKING CORN BREAD AND BUTTER THE OLD FASHIONED WAY

On Sunday, November 18, PHS volunteers welcomed 10 youngsters in grades K-3 to the museum for an afternoon of Colonial Cooking.

Trustee Jackie Martin of Westwood led the way, teaching the children how to make butter and corn bread the old-fashioned way. Girls wore traditional Colonial “mop caps” and boys wore tri-corner hats made of paper.

As a jar filled with heavy cream was passed from child to child for a “shake”, it thickened. Within 20 minutes, it became rich creamy butter. The remaining liquid in the jar – buttermilk.

While shaking the jar of heavy cream, youngsters learned that the Lenape Indians introduced the Jersey Dutch to maize (corn). Indian corn was not the yellow corn we know today. It was multicolored, dried and then ground into flour. Participants soon were ready to bake their corn muffins.

Once the muffins were ready, Trustee Marie Hennesey assisted mothers as they helped their children butter the aromatic and piping hot treats.

As the colonial cooks prepared to leave, PHS Vice-President George Sherman distributed scrolls containing recipes and a listing of colonial manners for them to take home to review with their families. All in all, it had been a wonderful afternoon.

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DR. ANTHONY TRONCONE SHARES HIS 2012 ELECTION REFLECTIONS

Visitors to the Pascack Historical Society Museum were given the opportunity on Sunday, November 11 to hear the Chairman of the Society’s Historical Advisory Board share his thoughts on the outcome of the 2012 Presidential election and how it evolved.

Dr. Anthony Troncone, former Chairman of the History Department at Dominican College in Orangeburg, New York, kept the assemblage enthralled as he described the circumstances which he felt had led to the re-election of President Obama.

In spite of the contentious campaign that had characterized the election season, the audience enjoyed a thoughtful and stimulating discussion over homemade cakes, cookies and coffee throughout this most informative afternoon.

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HISTORIAN DAN MORRISON SPEAKS OF THE HISTORY OF THE BAYONET

On Sunday, September 30, Mr. Dan Morrison, co-founder of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors and a long-time resident of Bergen County, spoke to an audience of history enthusiasts about the origins and the history of the bayonet. Displaying a variety of bayonets he had collected over the years and sharing a dramatic reading of what it would have been like to take part in a bayonet charge during the Civil War, Mr. Morrison held the audience spellbound. During the question and answer period that followed, visitors enjoyed free coffee and cake, shared with Mr. Morrison samples of their own collections and got a close up view of items dating back to the Revolutionary War, some of which are pictured below.

To view the Society’s own collection of bayonets and other military artifacts, plan on visiting us some Wednesday between 10:00 and noon or on Sunday between 1:00 and 4:00. Admission is always free!

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STONES & BONES 2012 EDITION – Part 2

On Thursday, August 30, over 20 youngsters entering grades 2-6 next week spent an enjoyable few hours as amateur archaeologists at the Society’s backyard dig-sites. Under the supervision of Society volunteers, the children learned about the work of archaeologists as they dug, recorded and displayed their findings in this ever more popular 3 hour program.

WHEN ARE YOU OPEN???

Don’t say you forgot the Museum’s regular visiting hours!! They are posted on our front lawn in living color for all to see. Trustee Bob Breitenbach made this nifty new lawn display case.

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THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

Last year visitors to the museum were able to view a wonderful life size  Lenape Indian Village scene created by Kevin Markle of Park Ridge.  For that masterful effort Kevin was granted his Eagle Scout Award. He just finished his freshman year at Virginia Tech (engineering major) and he and his parents were given a “Welcome Back” pizza party at the museum. Here, proud parents Karen and John Markle admire a patriotic sheet cake made by a society volunteer especially for the occasion.

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INDISPENSABLE INTERN

Recent NYU history  graduate Jason Schachter of New City, New York, is spending his Sundays at the museum this summer helping us research the “improved folding steamer chair”  patent granted to the Collignon Brothers of River Vale, NJ by Queen Victoria on June 23, 1868.  The Collignon Brothers made a specialty of folding chairs, including their famous invention- the first folding rocking chair in the United States. A number of these historical chairs are on view at our museum. Here, Jason transcribes the original English patent for our archives.

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STONES & BONES 2012 EDITION – Part 1

On June 28 volunteers at the Society conducted the first of two mock archaeological digs to be held this summer in the museum’s back yard. Fourteen children entering grades 2-6 in September learned about archaeologists and their work as they dug, recorded and displayed their findings in this popular 3 hour program. The second dig will be held on Thursday, August 30 between the hours of 10:00 and 1:00. Call201-664-7924 to make your reservation.

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HOME OF THE WAMPUM MAKING CAMPBELL FAMILY

Society Trustee Bob Mathez alerted us to this plaque on the first floor of in the medical arts building on Pascack Road in Park Ridge (across the street from the Pascack Reformed Church).  The picture below is compliments of Francesca and David Moskowitz. Clicking on the plaque will allow you to read its contents more easily.

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SOCIETY TRUSTEES AND VOLUNTEERS WIN COUNTY RECOGNITION

For the fifth time since 1993 the Society was the recipient of an Historic Preservation Commendation Award from Bergen County. This one, presented on May 10, 2012, was awarded for our “Picture That” exhibit which remains on permanent display in Berdais Hall at the museum.Receiving the award are (l. to r.) Past President Carol Riccardo, Trustee and Curator of the “Picture That” Exhibition Helen Whalen, Volunteer Virginia McInerney and Trustee Grace Wohn. (Click on any of the above items to see them more clearly.)

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Over 60 people came together in Berdais Hall at the museum on Sunday, May 20 to hear Pat Schuber give a talk on the American Entry into the Great War – World War I. Rarely have 90 minutes passed so quickly! Audience members sat enthralled as Pat vividly described the photos in his presentation along with a variety of artifacts he brought with him.

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The Pascack Historical Society’s publication – Pascack Valley Tales II – edited by Katharine P. Randall of Hillsdale, is available for sale at the museum, 19 Ridge Avenue, Park Ridge, on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. until noon and on Sundays from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m.This limited edition 176-page soft cover book is also available at Shaw’s Book shop, 267 Center Avenue in Westwood.

The attractively bound book contains more than 70 entertaining and historic stories and photographs about the eight towns (Hillsdale, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake, Emerson, Montvale, River Vale, Township of Washington, Park Ridge) that comprise the Pascack Valley. The text and content are suitable for all ages. Stories range from intriguing tales of local activities during the Revolutionary War to surprising events in the 20th century.

The book can be purchased for $20.00 a copy and is available for mailing for an additional $3.00 fee. For further information call 201-573-0307 or 201-666-012, or you may e-mail info@pascackhistoricalsociety.org.

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FOUNDERS’ DAY A BIG DRAW

Eighteen month old Brian Chavez of Hasbrouck Heights, held by his mother Linda, was one of almost 100 visitors who attended our April 29 Founders’ Day celebration and exhibit. Here Brian gazes at the itchy woolen coat he would have worn if he were growing up in 1942, the year the Society was incorporated. The handsome little fellow’s grandparents live in Hillsdale.

Trustee Helen Whalen coordinated the successful event. Trustee Bob Mathez lends a helping hand with the 1942 artifacts on display.

Below, PHS volunteer Mary Sheerins of Park Ridge, right, donates 10 cents to receive a long hot dog “with the works” from kitchen volunteers Grace Wohn, left, and Jackie Martin of Westwood. (Both cooks are Society Trustees.) The “Dime-A-Dog” feature was a huge success. The low donation amount was determined by the price of a hot dog at Yankee Stadium in 1942.

On Wednesday, November 2, Society volunteers welcomed 8 Tiger Cubs and their parents from Den 4, Pack 336 in Montvale. A fine time was had by all as they were given a tour of the museum.

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Twenty Brownies from Park Ridge came to the museum on Oct. 27 to learn of the history of Girl Scouting and life in the Pascack Valley 100 years ago.