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 The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills 2008 Speaker Series
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Thursday, March 20, 2008
7:30pm
Speaker Series :
Determining The Age of an Old Barn
Barns in the Northeast may be accurately dated by checking property titles, examining architectural style and design, as well as by noting the particular material used for the construction. This presentation includes topics such as searching property records, settlement patterns, historic barn designs, material manufacture and related personal experiences. Armed with the presented information, an attendee should be able to approximate the age of a barn or old building with great accuracy.
 Mark Pilipski, a resident of Robbinsville, NJ, a stone mason and timber framer, is called the “Rock Man”. He began his career as a pulmonary physiologist. While active at his clinical duties, he maintained his creative artistic spirit with retreats into his studio. He purchased his childhood home in the rural village of Westbrookdale, NY and began renovating the barn with plans to convert it into a studio retreat. He fell in love with the ‘hands on’ task and determined to follow his bliss, combined his passions, left his clinical work, and put his knowledge of physics, his love of art, and his inventive mind and body to work forming a contracting company called BARNS are NOBLE, specializing in renovation and restoration. He has become an authority in stone and timber work.
Programs are free • 7:30 pm at the Brick Academy
Refreshments • Family & Friends welcomed!
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Thursday, April 17, 2008
7:30pm
Speaker Series :
Castles of New Jersey
 Although not as numerous or grand as their European counterparts, a surprisingly large number of castles were built in New Jersey a century or more ago. The slide program includes well-known castles such as Lambert and Kip’s castles (photo) as well as lesser known ones throughout the state. Many of them still exist, some have been disguised over the years, and others have vanished.
Phil Jaeger, a retired mathematics teacher, is the author of two books: Montclair: A Postcard Guide to Its Past and Cedar Grove. He is currently a trustee of the Cedar Grove Historical Society and an officer of the Passaic County Historical Society.
Programs are free • 7:30 pm at the Brick Academy
Refreshments • Family & Friends welcomed!
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Thursday, September 18, 2008
7:30pm
Speaker Series :
Gordon Bond "A Printer on the Eve of Revolution"
“A certain wicked, false, seditious, scandalous, malicious, and infamous Libel”
In the final act of his life, the colonial printer, James Parker (1714-1770) found himself hauled before New York’s Lieutenant Governor and accused of participating in “a certain wicked, false, seditious, scandalous, malicious, and infamous Libel.” The irony was that for most of his adult life, Parker was devoted to serving his community, his clients and his King. This presentation will explore Parker’s life, focusing on his association with the radical “Son of Liberty,” Alexander MacDougall—and how the printer was sucked into the brewing maelstrom of New York on the eve of revolution.
Though dead for almost 240 years, James Parker has become something of a friend to Gordon Bond – someone he bumps into from time to time on the dusty shelves of archives and libraries. Getting to know this underappreciated colonial printer has proven a challenging labor of love for Bond, who worked in his spare hours since late 1999 to create an accurate and detailed biography. “James Parker: A Printer on the Eve of Revolution,” is due out spring of 2008 by New Jersey Heritage Press.
His days are spent working as both a professional and freelance graphic artist, but his off-hours are usually spent pursuing his passion for history. He is presently working with Stephanie Hoagland on a comprehensive survey of New Jersey’s folk grave marker tradition, collects antique cameras and is a member of The Historical Association of Woodbridge Township and Friends of the Abraham Staats House (South Bound Brook, NJ). www.CommonBondHistorians.com.
Programs are free • 7:30 pm at the Brick Academy
Refreshments • Family & Friends welcomed!
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Thursday, October 16, 2008
7:30pm
Speaker Series :
Frank Greenagel "Historical Churches of Somerset County"
 In this richly illustrated guide to all of the eighteenth and nineteenth century churches and meetinghouses in Somerset County, Frank Greenagel delves into the history of Somerset’s religious buildings. He has been working for almost nine years, trying to assemble a complete photographic and interpretive inventory of the roughly 1400 such buildings in New Jersey that still survive. He has photographed more than 1200 churches, synagogues and meetinghouses, and written 6 books. Frank tries to place the architectural style, scale, location and construction in an economic and cultural context so that the reader may gain an understanding of why the churches look the way they do, and why they are located where they are. Not surprisingly, the reasons differ widely from county to county. And Somerset’s history is among the most fascinating! http://www.njchurchscape.com/
Programs are free • 7:30 pm at the Brick Academy
Refreshments • Family & Friends welcome!
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Thursday, November 20, 2008
7:30pm
Speaker Series :
Matthew Dodd "Songs & Stories of Old Railroad Days"
 Dressed in period clothing, Matthew Dodd takes listeners back in time to one or other of six fascinating periods of American history, using songs from each period and stories (humorous and poignant).
On Thursday, November 20th, it will be the time of the rail splitter, tracklayer, passenger, brakeman or switchman or railroader’s wife and child; featuring railroad songs, (new, old and even older!), plus stories of famous trains, train wrecks, famous engineers, brakemen, famous passengers and railroad builders; railroad legends and ghosts, railroad lore, jokes and superstitions, and more! Matthew sings and plays acoustic guitar, harmonica, banjo and mandolin.
http://songsandstories.homestead.com/
Programs are free • 7:30 pm at the Brick Academy
Refreshments • Family & Friends welcomed!
Directions to the Brick Academy - Click Here
Back to Events List - Click Here
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