by MCHS Staff August 18, 2026 Beginning in the 1880s, Lake Hopatcong developed into a popular summer destination, and the newly arrived railroads brought crowds to its shores. An assortment […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement August 4, 2026 Long before the advent of air conditioning, other tools such as the parasol were used to keep cool. […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement July 28, 2026 By the late 19th century, the Gilded Age had arrived in the Morristown area and with it came […]
by MCHS Staff July 21, 2026 In the early 20th century, numerous colorful postcards of local scenes were printed, many for local businesses. Today, they provide a vivid glimpse of […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections July 14, 2026 This year marks the 100th anniversary of a major disaster that quite literally rocked Morris County. On July 10, […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement June 30, 2026 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections June 23, 2026 It is perhaps not a coincidence that precisely around the time of his appointment as Superintendent of the Morris […]
by MCHS Staff June 15, 2026 From its Revolutionary roots to the prominent local families that called it home, Beverwyck Plantation in what is today Parsippany holds a unique place […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement June 9, 2026 The mid-19th century saw the development of a fashion trend that became a staple in the American woman’s […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections June 2, 2026 For part one of this story, see Cherrycroft, Part 1: Mansion for Sale Upon their first summer renting in […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement May 26, 2026 With a long history as a reception area for guests, the parlor occupied a place of prominence in […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director May 19, 2026 For over a decade, restoration of Acorn Hall has been consistent, addressing projects like the exterior restoration of Acorn Hall, the restoration […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections May 12, 2026 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
by MCHS Staff May 4, 2026 Take a stroll through the Borough and Township of Rockaway in the early 20th century. Independent municipalities beginning in 1894, the two towns share […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections April 27, 2026 Originally a “white Colonial” built for Thomas Pinckney, Cherrycroft was extensively altered and expanded by its second owners, Mr. […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections April 21, 2026 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement April 14, 2026 Over 150 years ago, the spark of an idea grew into the creation of the Dover Fire Department. […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement April 7, 2026 Top photos from the collections of the Caroline Rose Foster North Jersey History & Genealogy Center, The Morristown […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director March 31, 2026 For over a decade, restoration of Acorn Hall has been consistent, addressing projects like the exterior restoration of Acorn Hall, the restoration […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement March 24, 2026 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement March 17, 2026 Long before there were tea parties in Boston Harbor or declarations of independence, a new county, known as […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections March 10, 2026 Ironically, sometimes what partially destroys something is also what saves it. Time and again in MCHS’s collections and archives, […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director March 3, 2026 For over a decade, restoration of Acorn Hall has been consistent, addressing projects like the exterior restoration of Acorn Hall, the restoration […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement February 24, 2026 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director February 17, 2026 From Parsippany to Morristown, Chatham to Washington Township, Morris County’s African American history spans hundreds of years and locations far and wide. […]
by MCHS Staff February 10, 2026 A long-established crossroads of Morris County, Morristown has played an important and multi-faceted role in local history over the centuries. Growing and developing over […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement February 3, 2026 With roots in the Middle Ages, sideboards have long been a household staple. Created to provide additional space, […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections January 20, 2026 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement January 13, 2026 Though an oft-overlooked feature today, escutcheons (or keyhole covers) once captured quite a bit of attention. Derived from […]
by MCHS Staff January 6, 2026 Take a stroll through downtown Dover in the earliest days of the 20th century when the town, which became a fully independent municipality in […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections December 16, 2025 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement December 9, 2025 In 1865, decades before the ultra-rich flocked to Morristown, wealthy NYC merchant John T. Foote purchased property off […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections December 2, 2025 In the early 19th century, a popular source for everything from weather predictions to cures for whooping cough were […]
by MCHS Staff November 18, 2025 Take a stroll through downtown Dover in the earliest days of the 20th century when the town, which became a fully independent municipality in […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections November 11, 2025 Following President Lincoln’s call for an additional 300,000 volunteers, the 15th Regiment NJ Volunteers was formed in the summer […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement November 4, 2025 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections October 28, 2025 The legend of The Morristown Ghost was the story that would not die. Reanimated dozens of times over the […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement October 21, 2025 While a recognizable design element today, the monogram is by no means modern. Indeed, the motif dates as […]
by MCHS Staff October 14, 2025 Constructed for Paul and Fanny Moore in 1913, Hollow Hill Farm was a grand estate and working farm populated by cows, goats, pigs, fowl, […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement October 7, 2025 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director September 30, 2025 As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we’re reminded of how much […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement September 23, 2025 Sharing a name with a figure from Greek myth for whom nourishment was always just out of reach, the […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections September 16, 2025 In 1877, E. Elizabeth Dana took over instruction of Morristown’s Morris Female Institute and soon after renamed it Miss […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections September 9, 2025 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
By Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections August 19, 2025 From late 19th to the early 20th century, fans embellished with sequins, feathers, painted scenes, and carvings were a […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement August 12, 2025 The 19th century saw an international resurgence of classical styles with Rococo Revival and its curved lines and […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement August 5, 2025 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections July 29, 2026 In 1794, two residents of Hanover, Stephen Brant and William Sayre, were contracted to build sister bridges over the […]
by MCHS Staff July 22, 2025 First opened as a dry goods store in 1912, Epstein’s became a Morristown institution over the course of the 20th century. Take a stroll […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement July 15, 2025 The shores of Lake Hopatcong were forever changed with the construction of a new vacation spot – the […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement July 8, 2025 The Turnpike Era of the early 19th century saw the construction of more expedient and better connected roadways […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections July 1, 2025 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement June 23, 2025 By the mid-19th century, cottage furniture, a style that favored functional design and painted details, rose to prominence. […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement June 17, 2025 Known as Boonton’s “Little Niagara,” the Boonton Falls have long been a recognizable feature of the community. Since […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections June 10, 2025 Utilizing everything from ostrich feathers to sequins to entire birds, a woman’s hat, long an indispensable accessory, completed ensembles […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections June 3, 2025 In 1881, Miss Julia Crane of Acorn Hall may have been labeled a “spinster,” but some of her greatest […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections May 27, 2025 In the early 19th century, a new dance instructor burst onto the scene in New York City. It was […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections May 20, 2025 In 1910, Boonton’s Business Men’s Association, which was “composed of merchants and professional men” who “looked after the commercial […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement May 13, 2025 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections May 6, 2025 Reading someone’s diary, even 150 years removed, feels uncomfortably invasive, but luckily for readers’ qualms, the one Mary Hone […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research and Visitor Engagement April 29, 2025 Top photo: Portrait of Johanna Stoutenburgh Hone (1765-1838), Joseph Klar after Rembrandt Peale, late-19th century For much of […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections April 22, 2025 From carriage makers to livery stables to wheelwrights, a whole array of 19th-century industries centered around horse-drawn locomotion. Harness […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections, and Noël Grabow, Collections Assistant April 14, 2025 Perhaps most associated with the Roaring 20s, beaded purses were in fact long a […]
by Pat & Martha Wells, Chatham Township Historical Society April 8, 2025 Top photo: Red Brick Schoolhouse by Tom Salvas The Red Brick Schoolhouse was built in 1860 in Chatham […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections April 1, 2025 Sitting at the crossroads of two turnpikes and at a prime location along the Morris Canal, one local establishment […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections March 25, 2025 In 1925, while Budd Lake was transforming from a popular campground to a thriving summer resort, one of the […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections March 18, 2025 Every year, MCHS receives dozens of donations from around the country that help further our mission of preserving and […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections March 11, 2025 Every year, MCHS receives dozens of donations from around the country that help further our mission of preserving and […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement March 4, 2025 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement February 25, 2025 During the 19th and early 20th centuries, it might have been said that one was never fully dressed […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections February 18, 2025 For Part 1 of this story: A Canary in the Barroom In 1923, the Canary Cottage Inn was a […]
by MCHS Staff February 10, 2025 In 2009, a longtime member, trustee, and dedicated volunteer donated a unique collection to MCHS: 133 stickpins. All beautiful, some highly unusual, they are […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections February 4, 2025 Upon his move to Morristown, Augustus Crane of Acorn Hall made himself into the archetypical country gentleman. He became […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement January 28, 2025 Once situated on Main Street in Chatham, the Fairview House attracted visitors from far and near to the […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections January 21, 2025 Morris County’s history was forged by the iron industry. The bedrock of the local economy, it was integral to […]
by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement January 13, 2025 From its agricultural past to its bustling downtown, Morris Plains has long been an industrious community that made […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections January 7, 2025 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
by MCHS Staff December 17, 2024 First opened as a dry goods store in 1912, Epstein’s became a Morristown institution over the course of the 20th century. Take a stroll […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant December 9, 2024 Long before the advent of central heating, there was another way to combat the cold: bed warmers, also known as warming pans. […]
by MCHS Staff December 3, 2024 From the later 19th century to the early 20th, the imagery we today associate with Christmas became more popular. The evolution can be seen […]
by MCHS Staff November 24, 2024 Although no record of a Crane family Thanksgiving dinner survives, with the assistance of menus suggested by 19th-century publications, its possible to put together […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant November 19, 2024 Since its construction in the late 19th century, Morristown’s “Lindenwold” on South Street has been a pillar in local society, both through […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections November 12, 2024 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections November 5, 2024 When it comes to local stories that have it all, it’s hard to beat Florham Park’s Canary Cottage. Prohibition […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director October 29, 2024 Twelve years ago, residents of NJ and states all along the eastern seaboard witnessed some of the most devastating storm damage many […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant October 22, 2024 Arriving in the Washington Valley in the late 19th century, millionaire Martin Luther, “Luther,” Kountze soon owned the largest estate in Gilded […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant October 15, 2024 The materials used for flooring in American homes varied greatly over the course of the 19th century. Often, these variations could be […]
by MCHS Staff October 8, 2024 First opened as a dry goods store in 1912, Epstein’s became a Morristown institution over the course of the 20th century. Take a stroll […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant October 1, 2024 In 1878, a household name was born when German pharmacist, Gerhard Heinrich Mennen, opened the G. Mennen Apothecary in Newark. Quickly gaining […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections September 24, 2024 Can I interest you in a pineapple? Just 15¢! One of our most popular foreign fruits! How about a […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant September 17, 2024 From its agricultural past to its bustling downtown, Morris Plains has long been an industrious community that made its mark on Morris […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections September 10, 2024 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant August 27, 2024 By the late 19th century, three telephone magnates dialed into the Washington Valley area of Morris Township as the site of their […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant August 20, 2024 Top photo: salt cellar, Koch & Bergfeld, Bremen, Germany, late 19th century, Collection of Morris County Historical Society Even having a pinch […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections August 13, 2024 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant August 6, 2024 Named for its distinctive topography, Rock Ridge Lake in Denville was a top destination spot in Morris County during the 20th century. […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant July 30, 2024 Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but over the centuries it was also considered an art in its own right, […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections July 23, 2024 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant July 16, 2024 Top photo: The section of railroad in Morris Township between Washington Valley and Watnong Station, 1910 From its inception in the late […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections July 9, 2024 Just like today, Morris County residents of the early 20th century flocked to the shore each summer to escape […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant July 2, 2024 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national level for their […]
By Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections June 25, 2024 In the aftermath of the Battle of Monmouth, Col. Matthias Ogden of Elizabethtown, senior officer of the 1st New […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections June 18, 2024 In what they described as the “first attempt at the production of a high school annual,” Morristown High School’s […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant and Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections June 11, 2024 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant June 4, 2024 Long before coolers became a fixture at summer barbecues, the cellarette was the hot way to keep things chilled. Found mainly in […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant May 21, 2024 The brick building at the corner of Franklin Place and Speedwell Avenue has served Morris Plains under many different names for over […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director May 14, 2024 MCHS joins hundreds of thousands of organizations in celebrating May as Historic Preservation Month. Growing out of three major Congressional Acts – […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections May 7, 2024 While MCHS has many amazing photographs of Morris County residents over the centuries, some came to us with no […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant April 30, 2024 Ahead of its incorporation (100 years ago April 29th), Mountain Lakes hit a high note with the composition of the MacDowell Club. […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections April 23, 2024 This spring, MCHS is preparing for the stabilization of the ice house foundation still to be found near Acorn […]
by Lauren Magnusson, Membership & Marketing Coordinator April 16, 2024 In 1886, Robert J Horner established a Lower Manhattan furniture business that quickly developed a lasting reputation for excellence. The […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections April 9, 2024 Beginning in the 1880s, Lake Hopatcong developed into a popular summer destination, and the newly arrived railroads brought crowds […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant April 2, 2024 On December 10, 1903, twelve millionaires, whose combined wealth surpassed $68,000,000, met on Wall Street and laid the plans for a highly […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections March 26, 2024 Virtually every single dress, shoe, hat, accessory, or object donated to MCHS in the past 30 years has been […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant March 19, 2024 Over three centuries ago, Budd Lake sprouted as an attractive destination offering both business opportunity and recreation. While historical accounts vary, the […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections March 12, 2024 Piecing together the story of longtime Morristown dressmaker Mrs. R.F. Dempsey (1850-1931) is a bit like attempting a jigsaw […]
by Erich Morgan Huhn, PhD Candidate, Drew University March 5, 2024 Click here for Part 1 of Masons in Morris County Throughout the first two decades of the nineteenth century, Masonic lodges […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant February 27, 2024 At the time of Acorn Hall’s construction and expansion in the mid-19th century, an element of interior décor was at the peak […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections February 20, 2024 Fifty years after his father toured the UK’s Lake District, John Hone IV (1844-1915) traveled much of the American […]
by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections February 13, 2024 In 1905, more dressmakers than ever were operating in Morristown. Often working out of their home and sometimes in […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant February 6, 2024 For centuries, the chatelaine came in clutch, providing a solution for the often pocket-less garments worn by women. Though known by a […]
By Erin Feith, Research Assistant January 30, 2024 By the latter half of the 19th century, the rubber industry met the roads of Butler, then a part of Pequannock Township. […]
by Erich Morgan Huhn, PhD Candidate, Drew University January 23, 2024 Click here for Part II of Masons in Morris County Freemasonry has a long and rich history in Morris County, from […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant January 16, 2024 At the close of the 18th century, there was a new school on the block: the Morris Academy. Organized by 24 local […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections January 9, 2024 In 1910, an atlas with the very catchy name of Atlas of Part of Morris Co., N.J. Embracing the Town of […]
By Noël Grabow, Collections Assistant December 19, 2023 As part-time collections assistant of an organization with an extensive historic costume collection, some of my favorite experiences have been when my […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant December 12, 2023 In the mid-to-late 1860s, the Morris Canal was in its heyday. Recently expanded, it was more profitable than ever, and many hundreds […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant December 5. 2023 200 years ago, piano maker Jonas Chickering quickly scaled to the top of the 19th-century music scene, creating instruments that set the […]
by Sara Weissman, MCHS Volunteer and Reference Librarian (Ret., Morris County Library) November 27, 2023 During his over two decades in Morristown, John Hone III (1819-1891) was a pillar of […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director November 14, 2023 The ironic part of my job as the executive director of a county historical society is that despite the name of our […]
by Michelle Munn, Mt. Tabor Historical Society November 7, 2023 Visitors to Mount Tabor’s Richardson History House often inquire with some curiosity about the lantern hanging in the parlor. They […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections October 31, 2023 When Green-Wood Cemetery opened in Brooklyn, it was a desirable place to visit even before one was deceased. Pre-dating New York […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections October 24, 2023 The title Curator of Collections may seem very specific, but in a small organization, it can be surprisingly broad. Describing an […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections & Erin Feith, Research Assistant October 17, 2023 Beginning in the late 19th Century, Morris County became a hub for Gilded Age millionaires, who […]
by Sue Schmidt, The Ayres/Knuth Farm Foundation October 10, 2023 Top photo courtesy of The Ayres/Knuth Farm Foundation Located in the present-day Township of Denville, the Ayres/Knuth Farm is listed […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant October 3, 2023 Originally known as “shades” or “shadow portraits,” silhouettes gained international recognition as the 19th Century dawned. By capturing a sitter’s profile, the […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections & Erin Feith, Research Assistant September 26, 2023 Beginning in the late 19th Century, Morris County became a hub for Gilded Age millionaires, who […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant September 19, 2023 “Oh, cool, you work at a museum! What do people who work at museums do?” is a question often asked when I […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections September 12, 2023 In 1910, an atlas with the very catchy name of Atlas of Part of Morris Co., N.J. Embracing the Town of […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections September 5, 2023 Once again this summer, MCHS closed at the end of August for what is internally dubbed “cleaning weeks.” Ironically, it is […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections August 29, 2023 In the summer of 1863, the Cranes of Acorn Hall did what many of 19th-Century NYC’s most fashionable did: went down […]
by Katelyn Rohlf, MCHS Summer Intern August 22, 2023 “Man, these things are heavy,” was my first thought after lugging the 10”x18”, Hone family scrapbooks (1869-1903) under the scanner. After […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant August 15, 2023 By the mid-19th Century, there were new ivories to tickle when Mason & Hamlin opened its doors. Starting production with harmoniums, a […]
by MCHS Staff August 8, 2023 When “rich-cut glass” made its debut at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, a new era in American decorative arts began. While glass cutting […]
by MCHS Staff August 1, 2023 Some of the most dynamic historic images within MCHS’s archives are in fact postcards depicting the local landscape. Frequently hand-colored, they offer an often […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant July 25, 2023 The corner of Madison Avenue and Danforth Road, being the site of a palatial estate that a number of the nation’s wealthiest […]
By Erin Feith, Research Assistant July 18, 2023 In the mid-19th Century, couture-inspired trends came “haute” off the presses in the form of fashion periodicals. Read and followed across the […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections July 11, 2023 In 1910, an atlas with the very catchy name of Atlas of Part of Morris Co., N.J. Embracing the Town of […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections June 27, 2023 Exactly 170 years ago, construction of the residence that is now known as Acorn Hall was nearing completion. A modest Foursquare, […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant June 20, 2023 With travelers attracted by its fresh air and rural surroundings, Morristown could boast of a burgeoning hotel industry by the 19th century, […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections June 13, 2023 In 1910, an atlas with the very catchy name of Atlas of Part of Morris Co., N.J. Embracing the Town of […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections June 6, 2023 When noted local artist Edward Kranich moved to Morristown, he was likely following in the footsteps of his brother-in-law twice over, […]
by Noël Grabow, Collections Assistant May 30, 2023 Top photo: Replica drape (left) and historic drape (right) in Acorn Hall’s front parlor. As stewards of one of the most remarkable […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director May 23, 2023 When Augustus Crane purchased the house and property that became Acorn Hall and his gentleman’s farm in 1857, he no doubt was […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections May 9, 2023 The meticulously rendered paintings of local artist Edward Kranich (1826-1891) are rare indeed, not only in number, but also in the […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant May 2, 2023 In the 1920s, a new figure emerged in the boxing industry who never fought yet packed a punch not soon forgotten, Madame […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections April 25, 2023 Top photo: Poster for earlier flight by Charles Durant in his hot air balloon. NYC was a happening place in the […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant April 18, 2023 In pre-Revolutionary Morris County, a trip to Schooley’s Mountain was thought to keep the doctor away. Chalybeate (iron salt) mineral springs had […]
by Erin Feith, Research AssistantApril 10, 2023 This year, two Morris County municipalities, Riverdale and Mine Hill, celebrate their centennial! While their origins differ greatly, both followed a similar path […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections April 4, 2023 From a library of books to monogrammed table linens, MCHS is phenomenally lucky to have an amazing array of Crane family […]
by MCHS Staff March 28, 2023 Born in Boonton, renowned artist Lucille Hobbie (1915-2008) was noted for her depictions of local historic landmarks. Enjoy an assortment of prints from within MCHS’s collection […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant March 21, 2023 Getting on board with transportation trends that swept the nation at the turn of the century, the Morris County Traction Company (MCT) […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections March 14, 2023 In MCHS archives are 16 Crane family letters long dubbed “the Canton letters,” as they chronicle the 1833-5 journeys of Augustus […]
by Sara Weissman, MCHS Volunteer and Reference Librarian (Ret., Morris County Library) March 7, 2023 Randolph became Morris County’s sixth municipality in November 1805 when the New Jersey Legislature passed […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections February 28, 2023 Before his move to Morristown, Augustus Crane and his four siblings lived among a tight-knit circle of family, friends, and friends […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections February 21, 2023 In 1896, to much fanfare, a large Brooklyn manufacturer of stoves and furnaces, Richardson & Boynton, moved its plant to Dover, […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections February 14, 2023 In stark contrast to their mothers’ generation, the 487 known students of the Morristown Sewing School went on to work outside […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant February 7, 2023 In the mid-19th century, Morristown found its sweet spot with the opening of Wilbur F. Day’s confectionery and bakery on Park Place. […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections January 31, 2023 Carnot Meeker Ward was born into a life of Gilded Age opulence. The heir of two fortunes before he turned 21, […]
by MCHS Staff January 24, 2023 Inamere Farm in Morris Township’s Washington Valley was NYC banker Rudolph H. Kissel’s country home in the early 20th century. Very near his elder […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant, and Sally Capone, Publicity Coordinator January 17, 2023 The Morris County Children’s Home opened its doors in 1881. Utilizing funds raised by a local branch […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections January 10, 2023 Research into the Morristown Sewing School, its 56 known teachers, and 487 known students, which I first began in the summer […]
by Dr. Nick Steneck, President of Friends Meeting House & Cemetery Association, Randolph December 13, 2022 If you were looking for a cozy fire, holiday decorations and Christmas carols two […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections December 6, 2022 MCHS is phenomenally lucky to have 59 letters written to Augustus “Gus” Crane, Jr. by his father, Augustus Crane, Sr., and […]
by MCHS Staff November 29, 2022 In 1982, when MCHS published New Neighbors, Old Friends, a book on Morristown’s Italian community, the book’s author donated nearly 1,000 images for the […]
by MCHS Staff November 15, 2022 By the turn of the 20th century, the Industrial Revolution in Morris County had moved beyond the iron mines and rubber works into middle […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections November 8, 2022 For much of the fall of 1869, the Cranes were “busy as bees” preparing for perhaps the grandest social affair they […]
by MCHS Staff November 1, 2022 Soon after their marriage, Walter and Emma Stone Kemeys set sail for Europe, joined for at least part of their journey by Emma’s sister, […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections October 25, 2022 It isn’t much of a stretch to say that if you are ever wondering why Augustus Crane of Acorn Hall did […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant October 18, 2022 As national interest in historic preservation grew, resulting in the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act (1966), the oldest existing house […]
by MCHS Staff October 11, 2022 Over the course of the summer, two of MCHS’s dedicated volunteers, John and Mary Lou Skillin, catalogued an collection of many hundreds of historic […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director October 4, 2022 In 1860, when Augustus Crane transformed his newly purchased country home, he had a clear vision for its style. Inspired by his […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant, and Sally Capone, Publicity Coordinator September 27, 2022 Located at the intersection of routes 10 and 202 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, the Old Littleton Schoolhouse has […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections September 20, 2022 Certain episodes in the centuries-long story of Acorn Hall and the Crane family can be rendered in remarkable detail thanks to […]
by MCHS Staff September 13, 2022 In 1982, when MCHS published New Neighbors, Old Friends, a book on Morristown’s Italian community, the book’s author donated nearly 1,000 images for the […]
by Michelle Munn, Mt. Tabor Historical Society September 6, 2022 Morris County’s unique, historic, and unforgettable Mount Tabor community was established as a permanent Methodist camp meeting in 1869 and […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant August 30, 2022 Near the end of the 19th century, the name of the game was golf and the ladies of Morris County were playing. […]
by Sara Weissman, MCHS Volunteer and Reference Librarian (Ret., Morris County Library) August 23, 2022 One of the most frequent research requests posited to MCHS is the history of the […]
MCHS Staff August 16, 2022 Documented through photographs in their family albums, construction of “Tranquility,” the Washington Valley estate of newlyweds Walter S. & Emma Kemeys, began in the summer […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections August 9, 2022 This side of “John Smith,” John Johnston is about as common a name as can be imagined. In 1886 alone, the […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections August 3, 2022 After the last Crane child had “flown” around 1885, Augustus and Mary Crane found themselves empty-nesters at Acorn Hall. Soon after, […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant July 26, 2022 Though initially just over 100 acres, Cedar Knolls had a big reputation as a summer destination. The area drew visitors from near […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections July 19, 2022 In Summer 1861, construction began on a new school in Morristown, the Morris Female Institute. Eight local builders and masons were […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director July 12, 2022 MCHS regularly receives ‘out of left field’ phone calls, but in May 2015, we received an unforgettable one from Pacific National Bank […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections July 5, 2022 This spring, MCHS received an extensive donation of local documents including everything from very early 19th-century daybooks to early Morris County […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections June 28, 2022 In addition to archaeological exploration of Jacob Ford, Jr’s (gun)powder mill on the Whippany River just behind Acorn Hall in 2019, […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director June 21, 2022 Augustus Crane spent nearly half a century as a well-respected gentleman farmer, pillar in the Morristown community, and general man-about-town. However, there […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant June 14, 2022 By the time the Levilion fashion house debuted in mid-1860s Paris, the city of light was the undisputed capital of haute couture. […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant June 7, 2022 American interior décor went absolutely wild by the 1870s as furniture made from animals, particularly their horns and antlers, gained popularity. Encapsulating […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections May 31, 2022 In researching the 480 known students of the Morristown Sewing School, historical records are often plentiful. Insight into who they were […]
by Noel Grabow, Collections Assistant May 24, 2022 One of the newest items in MCHS’s collection is a wooden busk from 1785. Busks varied widely in terms of size, shape […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director May 17, 2022 The passage of the National Historic Preservation Act on October 15, 1966 brought unprecedented public awareness and recognition to the urgency of […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections & Amy Curry, Executive Director May 10, 2022 Today, when MCHS looks back at Augustus Crane, we see him as he was for almost […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections May 2, 2022 Ever wondered what goes into the installation of an exhibit? As MCHS prepared for our current exhibit, From the Waist Up: Bodices, […]
by Sally Capone, Publicity Coordinator April 26, 2022 While many historic homes boast that “Washington slept here,” the Luke Miller House in Madison can boast that “Washington’s horse was shod […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections April 19, 2022 When 45 teacher’s books from the Morristown Sewing School were donated to MCHS in 2018, they opened a window into a […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant April 12, 2022 A light bulb went off in 1885 for Philip Julius Handel of Meriden, Connecticut that would glow brightly for half a century. […]
by MCHS Staff April 5, 2022 Throughout the mid to late 19th century, cartographer Frederick W. “F.W” Beers published atlases of towns and cities across the US. In 1868, he […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant March 29, 2022 Almost 100 years after General Washington crossed the threshold of Beverwyck (see A Tale of Two Beverwycks), a new family entered the […]
by Sally Capone March 22, 2022 Just a hop, skip, and a jump from one of the busiest stretches of highway in the state, waterfowl and brightly colored sailboats glide […]
Sara Weissman, MCHS Volunteer March 15, 2022 Acorn Hall brims with historic furniture, much of it mid-19th century, and some of which has lived at the Hall since it was […]
by Sally Capone, Publicity Coordinator March 8, 2022 Born into one of the most powerful families in the country, Geraldine Rockefeller married Marcellus Hartley Dodge, Sr. in 1907 and moved […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant February 28, 2022 When it was built in 1903, Alnwick Hall, the commanding home of General Edward P. Meany of the American Bell Telephone Company, […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant February 22, 2022 While renamed in 1872 after the 16th President, Lincoln Park began as a small, rural community within Pequannock Township. In fact, the […]
by Erin Feith February 15, 2022 While Acorn Hall served as the home of the Crane-Hone family for over a century, another family played an integral part in the Hall’s […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections February 8, 2022 In 1890, Robert McEwan and his seven sons took over the 100-year-old papermaking industry in Whippany. In the following years, they […]
by MCHS Staff February 1, 2022 Some of the most dynamic historic images within MCHS’s archives are in fact postcards depicting various historic sites, local landmarks, and streetscapes. Frequently hand-colored, […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant January 25, 2022 Among the estates dotting the Morris County landscape in the late 19th and early 20th century, “King of New York” Otto Kahn’s […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections January 18, 2022 Windows, both literal and metaphorical, into the history of Morris County’s Greystone Psychiatric Hospital are on display at Acorn Hall. A […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director January 11, 2022 Suffice it to say, today we don’t give much thought to how our homes are heated and many thermostats can be programmed […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections January 4, 2022 Top photo: Silas Byram Condict (son of Silas Condict and Charlotte Ford), wife Mary Johnson, and children Charlotte Ford, Dr. Alice […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections December 21, 2021 Top image: L. Prang & Co. card, 1884 When imagining a holiday card, one might envision holly, reindeer, poinsettias, Santa – […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director December 14, 2021 Each year, MCHS lavishly decorates for the holidays with Acorn Hall’s rooms, mantels, doorways, and banisters impressively festooned. The season also marks […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant December 7, 2021 Once located along the route known as Washington’s Trail for the Founding Father who traveled it and even considered a gathering place […]
by Sara Weissman, MCHS Volunteer November 29, 2021 For many, the approaching holidays bring the continuing tradition of family silver gracing the dinner table. Even at Acorn Hall, the holidays […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections November 10, 2021 Upon taking ownership following the death of his maternal aunt, Julia Crane Corning, in 1935, Augustus Crane Hone and his wife […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections November 9, 2021 As the nation plunged headfirst into WWI in April 1917, millions of American men signed up to fight, including over 340 […]
by Pat Goodfriend, Membership & Volunteer Coordinator November 2, 2021 Morris County Historical Society is fortunate to have in its collection various objects that represent Native American history. Donated to […]
Sara Weissman, MCHS Volunteer and Reference Librarian (Ret., Morris County Library) October 26, 2021 So many resources – books, databases, indexes, maps, etc. – have gone online in the last […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director October 19, 2021 In the 19th century, nearly every country home, like Acorn Hall, had a place to stable/house their horses. While these structures varied […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant October 12, 2021 The phrase “moving house” historically was often very literal. Since the 1700s, the process of transporting an existing structure from one location […]
By Anne Motto, Curator of Collections October 4, 2021 An amazing journey that began for MCHS in the Summer of 2020 is nearing the home stretch! St. Cecilia, the 1886 […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections September 28, 2021 Top photo: The Cranes at Acorn Hall, 1870. Although the Crane’s younger children, Augustus Jr. and Benjamin, inherited Acorn Hall alongside […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections September 21, 2021 Top photo: The Cranes at Acorn Hall, 1870 Augustus and Mary Crane of Acorn Hall had four children who all grew […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections September 14, 2021 When Acorn Hall was built for Dr. John P. Schermerhorn in 1853, it began its eventful 168-year life (and counting!) as […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant September 7, 2021 While all roads might lead to Rome, navigating them can still prove tricky. Today, Google Maps may eliminate some of the navigational […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections August 31, 2021 Top photo: The Cranes at Acorn Hall, 1870 Today, and for the past 50 years, Acorn Hall has been the headquarters […]
by Erin Feith, Research Assistant August 24, 2021 The gates at Florham, the palatial Madison Avenue estate of Hamilton McKown and Florence Vanderbilt Twombly, began greeting guests nearly as soon […]
by Kat Kurylko, Research Assistant August 17, 2021 Nestled between Randolph and Dover, lies Victory Gardens, Morris County’s smallest municipality. Originally established during WWII, it provided housing and fan easy […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections August 10, 2021 By 1863, Mr. and Mrs. Crane of Acorn Hall had settled into life in Morristown relocating from New York City a […]
by Pat Goodfriend, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator August 3, 2021 Visitors to Acorn Hall are often surprised to learn that most of the furnishings they will see are original to […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections July 27, 2021 Ever come cross something you’ve never seen before, but after learning about it, suddenly it’s everywhere? Well, that was the Hoffmans […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director July 20, 2021 Across the US in late 1945, and with the formal end of WWII just weeks before, civic and national pride were at […]
by Kat Kurylko, Research Assistant July 13, 2021 In 1910, the construction of a trolley line that connected Newark to Bertrand Island’s popular dance hall made numerous attractions even more […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director July 6, 2021 Mary Crane Hone (1904-1990) of Acorn Hall had an impressive career by the time she came to Morristown in the late 1940s. […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections June 29, 2021 Hindsight, they say, is 20/20. Today, when we look back at historical events, we do so with knowledge not afforded the […]
by Kat Kurylko, Research Assistant June 22, 2021 Mountain Lakes is known for its Arts and Crafts style homes, but the story of its shaky and colorful development has faded […]
Pat Goodfriend, Volunteer & Membership Coordinator June 15, 2021 Land use on Acorn Hall’s six acres continues to evolve. In the 19th century, gentlemen farmer Augustus Crane planted fruit trees, […]
by Kat Kurylko, Research Assistant June 8, 2021 Floriography, the use of flowers as a means of communication, became a popular method of covert flirtation and discreet communication in the […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections June 1, 2021 Some of history’s 19th-century mysteries likely can’t be solved, but if there was any place with best odds of success, it’s […]
by Noël Grabow, Collections Assistant May 25, 2021 When plans for A Storied Past: History That Made Morris County were first discussed, prominent Morristonian Lucy Fitz Randolph’s elegant, opulent 1889 […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director May 18, 2021 Augustus and Mary Crane had a definite aesthetic for Acorn Hall. They invested in decorative arts, like John Crossley & Sons carpets, […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections May 11, 2021 Rheumatism. Hemorrhoids. Pulmonary trouble. Loss of teeth. Joint stiffness. General debility. While the conditions attributed to the 134 men whose Civil […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director May 4, 2021 The Morris Canal is one of Morris County’s largest sources of industrial and engineering pride. In operation for nearly 100 years, the […]
by Kat Kurylko, Research Assistant April 27, 2021 In 1830, the residents of Columbia, now Florham Park, sought to improve their thriving farming and broom-making community by establishing a public […]
by Pat Goodfriend, Volunteer & Membership Coordinator April 20, 2021 Acorn Hall’s native hardwood forest once seemed to fill the sky. The trees grew side by side, tall and straight […]
by Kat Kurylko, Research Assistant April 13, 2021 Not since the advent of portraiture some 5000 years ago had a new means for capturing likeness been invented, until 1837 and […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director April 6, 2021 Today, most intrepid travelers on State Route 287 would have a hard time imagining life, let alone the daily commute, without the […]
by Amy Curry, Executive Director March 30, 2021 In 2018, MCHS and the Morris County Park Commission partnered on a grant for the development of New Jersey & National Register […]
by Kat Kurylko, Research Assistant March 23, 2021 Nicknamed “the Rose City” in the late 19th century, roses still hold a prominent place in Madison’s identity. Upon accessing the borough’s […]
Born in Boonton, renowned artist Lucille Hobbie (1915-2008) was noted for her depictions of local historic landmarks. Enjoy an assortment of prints from within MCHS’s collection that deftly capture some of Morris […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections March 9, 2021 The Turnpike Era dawned in the US in the early years of the 19th century. At the time, the average speed […]
by Pat Goodfriend, Membership & Volunteer Coordinator March 2, 2021 Tucked between volumes on landscapes and gardens, is a plain brown book in MCHS’s Research Library. Opening the cover of […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections February 23, 2021 Armed only with two names, an old photograph, and a brief 1886 news article, research into the artistic history of MCHS’s […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections February 16, 2021 This past spring, in a giant case of taking lemons to make lemonade, MCHS undertook a reorganization of our archives and […]
by Anne Motto, Curator of Collections February 9, 2021 Documentation of Morris County in maps and surveys evolved over time. Some of the oldest visual records were early surveys that […]
By Kat Kurylko, Research Assistant February 2, 2021 Trends popularized by Queen Victoria often made their way across the Atlantic Ocean and were adopted as part of American cultural norms […]
By Amy Curry, Executive Director January 26, 2021 This year, Morris County Historical Society (MCHS) will celebrate the 75th anniversary of our incorporation. A milestone naturally brings about reflection, pride, […]
By MCHS Staff January 19, 2021 Much like the rest of the U.S., Morris County felt the effects of Prohibition following the ratification of the 18th amendment and passage of […]
By Anne Motto, Curator of Collections January 12, 2021 2021 is a landmark year for MCHS, representing both the 75th anniversary of our incorporation and the 50th anniversary of Mary […]
by Kat Kurylko, MCHS Research Assistant January 5, 2021 Cute dogs make for a great advertising logo, right? Victor Talking Machine Company (VTMC) must have thought so, too, when they […]
by Kat Kurylko, MCHS Research Assistant December 2020 In the late 19th century, Randolph, as a resort destination, flourished as doctors from New York City and Philadelphia recommended the area […]
by Kat Kurylko, MCHS Research Assistant December 2020 Attempting to escape noxious city air and dusty plough fields, many people reinvigorated themselves annually by visiting sea or lakeside resorts. As […]
by Kat Kurylko, MCHS Research Assistant December 2020 Long recognized for distributing spirits and information in equal measure, taverns played an important role in the history of Morris County. Tavern-keepers […]