Tag: museums

West Milford Museum 1477 Union Valley Road West Milford, NJ 07480

West Milford Museum 1477 Union Valley Road West Milford, NJ 07480

West Milford Museum

1477 Union Valley Road

West Milford, NJ 07480

(973) 728-1823

https://www.westmilford.org/cn/webpage.cfm?TPID=3979

Open: Sunday-Friday Closed/Saturday 1:00pm-4:00pm

Admission: Free but donations are accepted

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Profile/R4960NKjustinw/photo/798400892?m=19905

The West Milford Museum at 1477 Union Valley Road

The Museum focus:

(From the Township of West Milford, NJ website)

The Museum presents an eclectic view of local and regional history through permanent and changing exhibits of artifacts, documents, photographs, books, and videos. The West Milford Museum is the result of over 35 years of collaboration between local volunteers, donors, businesses, and municipal government. Formerly a M.E. Church, circa1860, this local historic landmark has been renovated extensively in the interior to accommodate the museum exhibits. 

The entrance to the museum

The museum is located in the former Methodist Episcopalian church built during the Civil War. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style with a cedar shingled roof over hand hewn beams and a dried laid foundation. The congregation moved to a new location in 1906 and the building was deeded to the town in 1910 (museum pamphlet).

The museum sign

The inside of the West Milford Museum

History of the museum:

(From the museum pamphlet)

Following the 1976 Bicentennial, with a renewed interest in American history, the Town of West Milford, NJ decided to establish a museum in the old Town Hall Annex. Passing a resolution in 1985, the museum started the collection and archiving it and renovating the building. The museum opened in 2000 to patrons.

Maps of the early history and colonization of the town

The Farming Community display of the Dutch and English settlers

The development and population growth around Greenwood Lake

The Warner Brothers ‘Jungle Habitat’ Park of the early 1970’s that was located in the area. This drive through park was very popular in that time. The park was once filled with exotic animals. Warner Brothers moved the operation out of the area when they built Six Flags Great Adventure Park in Jackson, NJ.

The display of the old park with promotional videos

Some of the promotional items and mementos from the park

The Long Pond Ironworks display

The display on the growth of the railroad in the area

The Long Pond Ironworks display at the museum. This was a big business between the World Wars

The Long Pond Ironworks

The History of the Ironworks:

The ironworks got its name from ‘Long Pond’, the Native American translation for Greenwood Lake. The ironworks were an important business in the area serving both the Revolutionary and Civil War armies with much needed iron for equipment and munitions. Because of cheaper options in the Midwest and more abundant ore, the ironworks closed in 1882 (museum pamphlet).

The Native American exhibition

The extensive collection of Lenape artifacts in the collection

The museum has a large collection of arrowheads and other hunting and fishing artifacts

The museum has an extensive collection of reproductions of the Hudson River School painter Jasper Francis Cropsey

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_Francis_Cropsey

https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1191.html

The reproduction works of the artist in the collection

Many of the books and notes from the artist and the locations where the works were made

They even had a resident bear as a artist

The museum has an extensive collection of textiles both clothing and quilts

This display quilt has many of the town’s historical sites that are of significance in the town

One of the sites was the Cross Castle that was knocked down years ago from neglect

Pictures of one of the local homesteads that has passed through many families hands

The Ice Industry which was a big business on the lake and the Rocket Mail business which was a failure

The resort business and the Greenwood Lake hotels were a big business until the advancement of the automobile made other areas desirable.

Local businesses had an interesting display along with community organizations

There was an interesting display on the West Milford Pharmacy

Some of the old medical equipment that you would have seen in the past

The museum is also dedicated to the West Milford school system. Their first display is a replication of an old schoolhouse, which has not changed too much in form. Desks still face the chalk board and the teacher still leads the class.

The old classroom

The old fashioned classroom has not changed much in the last 100 years

The museum gives children a glimpse of the past and a better understanding of how it relates to the future. There are all sorts of artifacts in which children can relate to and compare to today’s counterparts. It is a good place to use your imagination and think back to life in the past.

The new exhibition on the West Milford Marching Band will be opening soon

The back of the museum is filled with interesting artifacts

The gallery of Paintings and Native American artifacts

Kearny Museum at the Kearny Library 318 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032

Kearny Museum at the Kearny Library 318 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032

Kearny Museum at the Kearny Library

318 Kearny Avenue

Kearny, NJ 07032

(201) 998-2666

Kearny Public Library Home

Open: Sunday-Tuesday Closed/Wednesday 5:00pm-6:30pm/Thursday-Friday Closed/Saturday 10:00am-12:30pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46536-d33058185-r1001224452-Kearny_Museum_At_The_Kearny_Library-Kearny_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

The front of the Kearny Library at 318 Kearny Avenue

The library during the early spring

The historic marker of the library

The outside sign of the museum

The History of the Museum and Mission:

(from the museum website)

The Kearny Museum, on the upper floor of the Kearny Public Library, is a history museum that houses local displays about the town. The collection includes photographs, articles of clothing, and war memorabilia from the town’s history.

Special attention is given to Civil War hero Major General Philip Kearny Jr. for whom the town is named.  This includes a display of furniture from his Belle Grove home, donated by his granddaughter and second wife. The museum also includes a full collection of Kearny High School yearbooks.

The museum has a collection of antique clothes and accessories, representing town life between 1850 and 1960, which were donated or are on loan by townspeople.

The entrance of the Kearny Museum on the second floor of the Kearny Library

The main gallery of the museum with historical pictures of the town

The history of the community of businesses and organizations

The history of St. Cecilia School

The library docent explained that this statue of a soldier had been boxed up and hidden for years

Town artifacts from the schools and town organizations

Memorabilia from town organizations

Display of firematic items

The displays included a large exhibit of military items, uniforms, artifacts donated from local veterans and newspaper clippings

The display covered all branches of the military

This exhibit was interesting of the old New Jersey home for Disabled Soldiers that no longer exists. This home for VFW was once located in the town.

The Library Directors video on the Disabled Home for Soldiers:

(from the museum website)

The next display on Major General Philip Kearny whom the town is named after

The General’s information

Major General Philip Kearny

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Kearny

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/philip-kearny

The display on Major General Kearny was quite extensive and had many artifacts of his accomplishments including pictures and press clippings.

Library Director’s Video on the General:

(from the museum website)

The next exhibit describes Kearny’s past as a rural farming community. This included farm equipment and household items found in a home in the turn of the last century.

Kearny’s past

A closer look at our rural past and how things have changed in the past 100 years

The town has a rich history in the fire and police services and the exhibits show the progress that these departments have made over the last several decades.

The display on the Kearny Fire and Police Departments

The artifacts in the Kearny Police and Fire exhibitio

The display of old Class A uniform

The early founding of the town was displayed in the next exhibit with artifacts and items from the early history before Kearny’s founding.

The Early History of the region

Items from early Lenape tribes to the founding of the railroads in the region

The role of the development of the early government to modern times was nicely displayed along with the history of each Mayor in the town’s history.

The history of the local government in Kearny, NJ

This lead back to the General’s role as a local hero and the founding name of the current town of Kearny, NJ.

A closer look at the General’s history

More history on General Kearny

The museum has a collection of items from local residents and town ‘hero’s’ whose collections are now part of the museum.

Stanley ‘Buck’ Brookes sports collection

There is also a collection of ‘old’ families of the Kearny region before the town was founded. This display is for early resident, William Sanford.

The artifacts from the William Sanford estate

The museum has an extensive display on the town’s school system and the changes it gone through over the past hundred years.

The school system in the 1920’s and 1930’s

The history of the town’s schools with band uniforms and graduation dresses

The Library Director’s video on the Kearny School System:

(from the museum website)

Artifacts from ‘School Days’ at the Kearny Public Schools

With the formation of the town schools and department, the town’s role in the growth of this part of New Jersey led to new industries being developed.

The history and development of industry in town

The center of the museum was reserved for a display of ‘Fashion’ through the ages. The display contains all sorts of gowns and wedding dresses through the last hundred and fifty years.

The ‘History of Fashion’ display

The various gowns, coats and tea dresses on display

Gowns from the 1920’s and 1930’s

Gowns from the 1920’s

Gowns from the turn of the last century

Flapper gown and accessories from the 1920’s

The museum has an extensive display of items that not just cover the history of the town and of its founding and development but of every day life of its citizens. This is all tucked away on the second floor of their local branch of the Kearny Library.

The Kearny Library is the home of the Kearny Museum

What is nice about the Kearny Library is that it sits in the middle of a very vibrant downtown filled with an array of restaurants and bakeries. I walked the downtown after my visit to the museum.

I came across O Pao Quente D’Avenida at 244 Kearny Avenue. This wonderful bakery had an assortment of Spanish and Italian pastries at very reasonable prices.

The bakery ‘O Pao Quente D’Avenida’ (Avenue of Warm Bread) at 244 Kearny Avenue

https://www.facebook.com/pages/O-Pao-Quente-D-Avenida/118731094806654

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46536-d33058168-r1001223975-O_Pao_Quente_D_avenida-Kearny_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

The selection of pastries were extensive and looked so delicious that I could barely choose between them.

The selection of pastries at the bakery included cakes, cream pastries and cream filled flips.

It was a tough choice but I chose the flip filled with Dulce Leche filling. Talk about delicious. I munched on it while exploring several blocks of the downtown.

The pastry flip with Dulce Leche filling and a sugary topping

It was a nice way to spend the afternoon. You have to explore the rest of the library and its beautiful historical building.

Alloway Township History Museum 49 Greenwich Street (Room 216) Alloway, NJ. 08001

Alloway Township History Museum 49 Greenwich Street (Room 216) Alloway, NJ. 08001

Alloway Township History Museum

49 Greenwich Street (Room 216)

Alloway, NJ 08001

(856) 981-9388

Museum / History Room
Open: Sunday-Friday Closed/Saturday 9:00am-12:00pm (Last Saturday of the Month)

Admission: Free

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g29741-d32722951-r984660264-Alloway_Township_History_Museum-Alloway_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

The front of the museum building. The museum is located on the second floor

History of Alloway Township History Museum:

(from the museum website)

Dating back to our origins in 1767, Alloway Township is rich in history and heritage. Ocean going vessels were built in our shipyards. The Wistarburg Glassworks’ was the first successful glassworks of the early colonies. Patterned brick houses can still be spotted around town.

Our museum is filled with a collection of interesting artifacts from our past including: class plaques, the original bell from Alloway High School, early glass, a miniature recreation of the area back in the 1700’s Lenni Lenape Indian Arrowheads and much more. Everything in the museum has been donated by visitors also interested in preserving Alloways history. Our latest project is recreating an early classroom including a collection of historic school desks.

The Alloway Township Senior Building at 49 South Greenwich Street

The history of the Alloway Municipal Building

The town Christmas tree in the front yard

Our Mission:

(from the museum website)

The Alloway Township History Museum’s mission is to preserve the history and memories of Alloway, NJ. What is now Alloway was originally inhabited by Lenni Lenape Native Americans and its name is thought to be derived from Allowas, a local Lenni Lenape Chief. Located in Salem County, NJ, Alloway Township was formally incorporated as Upper Alloways Creek Township by a Royal Charter granted on June 1767.

The public is invited to come in and enjoy or collections, share your stories, photos, objects and ephemera to help maintain the history of Alloway. We welcome researchers and provide them with any available material.

The main gallery of the museum

The main gallery of the museum

When you enter the museum, it showcases the rich history of this small community. Each of the show cases tell the story of the small New Jersey community.

As you enter the museum, the displays describe the rich history of the building

The local businesses of the town are emphized

The museum displays many aspects from the community from its Native American past to its prominence in ship building, farming and agriculture and then localized manufacturing and glassworks.

Some of the businesses noted in the community

The Train display and the advent of changes this community saw with the rail system in New Jersey

The Train display

The museum displays lots of interesting artifacts from the community past from Military items to school related artifacts

The contributions of the communities Military past. The case offers so many interesting items to see

The local glass works display with glass and dish ware items

Glass works items

The Military drum

The interesting collection of toys that the museum displays

Tools and equipment from the communities agrarian past where farming made up a big part of the economy

The museum has an extensive collection of buttons, pins, pens and other artifacts from local business and community functions

The Glass works and dish ware display at the museum

The museum has an extensive collection of the first residents of Alloway which is the Native American Lenape tribe who farming and ship building set the tone for the first community. They trained those who came after them and built a system of trading and business.

The display case of Native American artifacts

The Native American past of the Lenape Indians

A closer look at the artifacts of local tribes

A closer look at the artifact

The Educational and Town display

An old bell surrounded by town artifacts

Artifacts from around the town

ld lard containers manufactured in town

Painted rocks in the museum

Office equipment and old signs from the town buildings

Funeral dress from the past

An old smock from a local company

Military items that were donated to the museum

Glass works and other artifacts

The other room of the museum across the hall was geared to education and the classroom with artifacts used in schools over the last 100 years. It shows the progression of the school system in Alloway, NJ and for the rest of the State of New Jersey from an agricultural community to a cosmopolitan community.

The history of the building over the years was on displa

The sign of the schools of the area

The class room set up with desks used in schools from the past

The classroom display with lessons from the past and present

Examples of desks used in the classroom over the years

Lunch boxes from the 1970’s

Pictures of the classroom over the years

A map of the region from the past

After the museum, I explored around Alloway and you realize what a small community it is. Most of the businesses in the small downtown have been shuttered but you can see have lots of potential. Alloway, NJ is such a pretty community and so beautifully decorated for the holidays, both Halloween and Christmas.

The old General Store that closed in the 1990’s

What looked like an old hotel in the area

The sign for the old Alloway Tavern

The old Alloway Tavern

The make up of Downtown Alloway, NJ

Homes decorated for Christmas in Downtown Alloway

A house the was on the Salem Christmas walking tour

There is a lot of potential for cottage industries in this small town for restaurants and retail. The are such unique buildings dotting this small farming town rich in history. I saw this when touring the town the after visiting the museum.

House decorated for Halloween

House decorated for Halloween in Alloway, NJ

Historical Society of Penns Grove, Carney’s Point and Oldmans 48 West Main Street Pennsgrove, NJ 08069

Historical Society of Penns Grove, Carney’s Point and Oldmans 48 West Main Street Pennsgrove, NJ 08069

Historical Society of Penns Grove, Carney’s Point and Oldmans

48 West Main Street

Pennsgrove, NJ 08069

(856) 299-1556

https://www.facebook.com/Historical-Society-of-Penns-GroveCarneys-Point-Oldmans-116286428399994/

Open: Sunday 1:00pm-3:00pm (Seasonal)/Monday-Saturday Closed

Admission: Free but donations are suggested and recommended to help operate the museum

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46723-d27075535-r973452214-Historical_Society_Penns_Grove-Penns_Grove_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

The Penns Grove Historical Society at 48 West Main Street

This was when the museum was decorated for Christmas in 2023

The Penns Grove Historical Society sign that welcomes you to the museum

The Mission Statement for the Historical Society of Penns Grove, Carneys Point and Oldmans:

The mission of the Society is to collect, study and conserve such historical materials as they relate to the towns and their inhabitants, especially of the early settlement. It shall preserve relics and property of the past, both real and personal as may be given, bequeathed, purchased, loaned or otherwise acquired by the Society. It shall be the Society’s responsibility to use the collection for the education, enjoyment and benefit of the general public.

After almost two years of trying to visit this small historical society, the trips aligned and J was able to visit the Penns Grove Historical Society and delightful and very engaging exhibitions. What was sad was that people missed this wonderful well thought out museum when visiting the area. The museum has so much charm and such interesting exhibitions to walk through.

Entering the museum and the sign for the main exhibition ‘The Clothes we Wore’

There were three exhibitions showing when I came to visit. One was “On the Waterfront” on the Penns Grove waterfront. This describes the shipping and fishing industry that the town had before the building of the factories and the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Each display case has different aspects of the industries.

The seafarer and shipping artifacts

This exhibit shows how much the Delaware Bay has changed over the last 100 years.

The pictures and description of the native coastline around the Delaware River

Pictures of the Fishing Industry that was once part of the fabric of the town

The next was the exhibition, “The Clothes We Wore” was an extensive look at the retail community of Downtown Penns Grove, NJ before the coming of the malls and changes of traffic patterns into town. It is also a look at the changes in the way we dress not just to go out but how we dress every day.

When you walk the exhibition you can see the array of stores from shoe stores to hats that people used to don until the mid 1960’s and the coming of ‘Flower Power’. Each store had its specialty and catered to a specific client. It is interesting how each stores had it own display of wares and its use in our wardrobes. It also shows a very vibrant downtown that is now part of its past.

Each store had its own display along with the advertising in a time when shopping was leisurely and we took time out to try things on. Pride in appearance was a big part of who we are as people.

Dresses and suits were once part of our everyday wardrobe

The Millinery shop where hats and gloves were part of the wardrobe

Shoes shined for work every day were part of the uniform

Accessories built the character of our wardrobe

More hats that showed the personality of the wearer

The different advertising for the various merchants that made up the downtown

A glimpse of the downtown in its heyday

The infant and children’s clothing was a bit more formal even at public school

We pampered babies even back then. Their wardrobes were always special

Poland’s Department Store downtown was the place to shops before malls took over

Gloves, hats and corsets were once part of a woman’s wardrobe

The stores that once catered to the well heeled and the every day customers when service was not a chore

Preparing for a formal occasion or for long distance travel

The back part of the exhibition with all the beautifully made clothing

The formal parlor display when entertaining guests was a ritual in good manners and social etiquette. This is where the mannequin of ‘Grandma’ stands guard over her guests. Things were more formal back then.

Grandma stands guard watching and engaging her guests

The last exhibition was entitled “It’s Elementary” on the town’s school system. The displays in the back of the museum discuss the modes of transportation before cars and highways became part of the fabric. The progression of the schools in Penns Grove were on display as well with class pictures, school trips, awards and pictures of the schools themselves before regionalization and building of new schools.

The history of the Penns Grove School system in the exhibition “It’s Elementary”

The history of early schools in Penns Grove

The corner stone of the Penns Grove School

A classic trip to Washington DC and Mount Vernon were part of the school traditions even in the 1920’s

The trolley system between Penns Grove and Pennsville all the way out to Salem, the County Seat were part of the way people travelled before cars became part of the fabric of our society.

The old trolley system

The main gallery of the museum

The museum has a lot to offer in such a small space . It packed with interesting information on a community that no longer exists but is part of its not so distant past. It shows how a community keeps progressing and writes its own future.

The museum is open once a week for touring on Sunday’s through Thanksgiving and then closes for the season reopening in March and April for visitors. I told them they could market the current exhibition as “Christmas Shopping in Penns Grove” and keep it open through December with a visit from a department store Santa. A nice twist to three excellent exhibitions.