CELEBRATING
HUNTERDON COUNTY HERITAGE

"Water, Water Everywhere!"

FEATURED EVENTS

June 3: Lake Solitude and the Forge
June 19: Spring Activities of the Lenape Indians in Hunterdon

SPECIAL PARTNER EVENTS

June 10: Solitude House Open House
June 16: The Red Mill Retro Ride and Picnic
June 20: The American Revolution of Jacob Francis of Hunterdon County, former slave and patriot
June 25-29: Red Mill Museum Village Summer Nature Camp
June 28: Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation - Concert Under the Stars with the Hunterdon Symphony
June 29: Readington Museums 18th Century Tea
June 30: Union Hotel Named Historic Site by the NJ Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists

LAKE SOLITUDE AND THE FORGE
Lake Solitude was built by the Taylor Iron and Steel Company to provide hydro-electric power to the plant.  From the time of its construction in 1858, Lake Solitude provided a functional use as a power source for the Foundry as well as a popular recreation area. In 1909 the original crib dam was replaced by the current spillway structure, which is a significant example of dam engineering known as the buttress dam. This is the earliest example of this construction type, and it is the last remaining buttress dam in New Jersey. The dam is recognized by the State and nationally as a significant historic structure.  Union Forge Heritage Association Mike Gronsky will present a power point talk about this fascinating and important piece of Hunterdon County History.    Hunterdon County Library Main Branch.  2 pm. Free. Refreshments follow.  Reservations recommended.
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW

TRICENTENNIAL VOLUNTEERS MEETING
Public Welcome to Attend.
3 Chorister Place, Flemington
7pm - 9pm 

SOLITUDE HOUSE OPEN HOUSE
Solitude House, the Taylor mansion next to Lake Solitude in High Bridge, will be open Sunday, June 10, 2018, from 1 pm to 4 pm.  Current exhibits are on High Bridge and the wide range of products made by Taylor-Wharton.  
In colonial times and during the Revolutionary War, Solitude was the home of the manager of the Union Iron Works.   Horseshoes and nails were early products.  During the Revolutionary War, Cannon balls were made for Washington’s army. When the Union Tract was divided and sold in 1803, Robert Taylor, who was then the iron works manager, bought the lot which contained Solitude and Union Forge.   The Taylor family developed this business into the Taylor-Wharton Iron and Steel Company, which the town of High Bridge grew up around.   Taylor-Wharton was the largest employer in the area and built many homes for its employees.   Solitude House itself was expanded and remodeled several times over the years, and today is a two-and-a-half story Italianate style dwelling. 
Taylor-Wharton made wheels, axles, switches and tracks for railroads.  The company produced dredge buckets which were used to dig the Panama Canal, to mine gold in the West and to mine tin in Southeast Asia.   Seamless high pressure cylinders for industry, the military and the medical field were another important product.    In times of war, the company made items for the military, including shells, tank treads, and doughboy hats.   More recent Taylor-Wharton products include cryogenic tanks for industrial and medical uses and even tanks for beverage carbonization!
Solitude House is at 7 River Road, High Bridge, NJ, 08829.   For more information, or if you would like to volunteer to help the High Bridge Cultural and Heritage Committee events and our activities, please contact us at:  heritage@highbridge.org.

RED MILL RETOR RIDE AND PICNIC
This brand-new fundraiser will feature bicycles, costumes, live music, prizes, unique vendors, picnics and more! Loosely based on London's Tweed Ride, Red Mill Retro Ride participants are encouraged (not required) to shine up their vintage bicycles and don period costumes (emphasis on 30s through 60s) for a leisurely route through Historic Clinton, NJ. The approximately 5-mile route will traverse paved streets and gravel trail and will offer six "selfie stations" for refilling water bottles as well as photo booth fun. The route even includes a portion of the path around Spruce Run that normally does not allow bicycles!
After the ride, awards will be presented in a number of categories (Noblest Steed, Most Dapper Gent, Smartest Togs, Most Magnificent Mustache/Beard, Most Distinctive Participant, Family of Distinction, Most Magnificent Hat, Coolest Restoration, Hottest Re-Imagining of a Second-Hand Bike and Best in Show). Live entertainment will provide the opportunity to break out your swing-dancing moves; there will be a DJ spinning vintage vinyl and live music from local band Mike DeVita and the Slick Back Boys. Win a prize for your Picture-Perfect Picnic Set Up! Spectators are welcome to register as such and will have access to all the festivities of the day including live entertainment and shopping.
Registration cost is $20 for all riders over 6 years of age, $60 for Family Package, $5 for Spectators. Volunteers are FREE! Volunteers are needed to help with Set-Up, Registration, Clean-Up, to act as Road Marshals, etc. Email the Red Mill Museum with the subject "Request to Volunteer".
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The American Revolution of Jacob Francis of Hunterdon County, former slave and patriot
Historian and author Larry Kidder is the guest speaker at the Hunterdon County Historical Society’s library talk on Wednesday, June 20, @ 6:30 p.m. The lecture will be held at the Society’s headquarters, 114 Main Street in Flemington.
The evening lecture will discuss the fascinating life of Jacob Francis born in 1754 in Amwell Township. Mr. Kidder has been researching the life of Jacob for several years and has accessed the materials in the Society’s manuscript collections to help tell his story. Jacob Francis, a freed black man, had his time as an indentured servant sold to several different people before he enlisted in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He married a woman who was enslaved in Hunterdon County and purchased her freedom. The historic details of his life and times in the 18th century were difficult to research. Learn how Mr. Kidder conducted his research and how the story unfolded.
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