Hackettstown Historical Society
106 Church Street
Hackettstown, NJ 07840
(908) 852-8797
http://www.hackettstownhistory.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HackettstownHistoricalsociety/
Open: Sunday 2:00pm-4:00pm/Monday-Tuesday/Closed/Wednesday 2:00pm-4:00pm/Thursday Closed/Friday 2:00pm-4:00pm/Saturday/Closed (check the website for additional open hours)
My review on TripAdvisor:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Profile/R4960NKjustinw/mediabatch/12142803?m=19905
The Hackettstown Historical Society at 106 Church Street.
The welcome sign of the Historical Society
I visited the Hackettstown Historical Society on a recent trip to Downtown Hackettstown and this small historical society is packed with interesting information on the history of the town and the local town of Mansfield, NJ that has more information but they do not have their own building for a society of their own.
The historical information on Mansfield Township, NJ
The other exhibits on the first floor are on the history and clothing of the “Gibson Girl”. It shows how women were progressing in society during the late 1800’s after the Civil War. It shows how women gained more independence after the war years and showed it in their clothing, physical activities and schooling.
The “Gibson Girl” exhibit
The first-floor exhibition also had a display on the first Miss America from New Jersey, Bette Cooper, who was Miss Bertrand Island. She won the award and then ran away from the award. She never wanted to participate in the Miss America Foundation and because of her, there was a contract put together for future winners to participate in activities for the organizations. The Cooper family resided in Hackettstown, NJ at the time of her being a winner.
Miss America winner Bette Cooper
Another exhibit explained the transportation for Hackettstown and its influence in the outside community.
The Transportation exhibit in Hackettstown, NJ.
Another popular exhibit especially with the kids is the toy manufacturing displays. Toys were based on careers as girls played with tea sets, dollhouses and dolls while boys played with trucks, cars and sporting goods. This set of displays showed the items that were made in the area of Hackettstown, NJ.
The Toy Company exhibition on the first floor.
The Beton (Bergen Toy and Novelty) Manufacturing Company display. The company manufactured at the turn of the century in Hackettstown, NJ.
On the second floor, the museum has displays on the businesses of the community. There were many manufacturers of items such as carriages, farm equipment and of course the M & M/Mars Company.
The Business display on the second floor.
Another exhibit was on how a households were run at the turn of the last century and what went into keeping house in those days. From equipment to clothing you could see how a woman’s time was taken up on a daily basis.
The Household Exhibit on the second floor
The Kitchen exhibit on the second floor.
The attitudes towards children after the Civil War and during the Victorian period changed as well as more affluence and change of attitude wanting children to be in school and out of the workplace. There was also more time for children’s play as we see in the sophistication of playthings. Things have not changed that much in that time.
The Children’s Exhibit on the second floor.
The Children’s display of games, toys and dolls.
Life in Hackettstown was also on display with a Civil War exhibit and the Hackettstown Fire Department. How people added to their communities and supported causes has not changed much to today.
The Hackettstown Fire Department display
The Civil War display on the second floor.
Life was not simpler in the turn of the last century but productive in a different way. People lived and contributed to their communities. Hackettstown citizens took a lot of pride in their community and you can see in the business development and the investment in town activities.
The Hackettstown Historical Society does a nice job telling the story of the town and its progress in building the community over the years.
The History of the Hackettstown Historical Society:
The main gallery of the first floor of the society.
The Hackettstown Historical Society was organized on March 6th, 1975. The chapter members, numbering 72 signed the incorporation papers on September 4th, 1975. In December of 1975, permission to use a vacant town-owned building was procured from Hackettstown Common Council. It is currently leased from the town. This building located at 106 Church Street and built in 1915 for the Theodore G. Plate family is the Society’s museum and headquarters.
The Miss America exhibit of first New Jersey winner, Bette Cooper, who ran away from the crown.
The Hackettstown Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of this area’s historic heritage. The objectives of the Society are to collect, catalog, preserve and display these artifacts, mementos and memorabilia for present and future generations and to hold meetings and exhibits that will inform members and interested persons of the Hackettstown area’s proud past.
The Centenary University exhibit (the local univerity) at the society.
It is a great little museum.
Visiting a Museum: The Unique, Unusual, Obscure and Historical 