Morris County Historical Society

At Acorn Hall

FALL 2010
Please welcome the VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS AT ACORN HALL
following new members:
 Jennifer Agnello and ish holiday decorations in all seven
Douglas Waller period rooms and two hallways. It
 Jenalyn August was the 19th century, after all, that
 Barbara Jo Brothers
gave the world Christmas trees,
Christmas cards, store-bought orna-
 Doreen Byrnes ments, early electric lights, poinset-
 Erin Byrnes tias, and other staples of today’s holi-
 Judy Casey day celebrations. The Hall’s famous
upside-down Christmas tree, an hom-
 Faye and Irving Fishman age to Queen Victoria’s 1860 holiday,
 Barbara Fowler will once again hang in the library.
 Ulysses Reyes Also on view is the stunning “Gowns”
exhibit (until February 20). Acorn
 Paula Scerbo
Hall’s Victorian Christmas celebra-
 Melanie and Louis Sta- tion begins Friday, December 3, and
matellos
ends Sunday, January 16. The Hall
 Veronica Stevans will be open from noon till 4:00 on
Sundays (closed December 26), from
Visitors to Acorn Hall this holiday sea- 10 till 4 on Mondays and Thursdays,
son can enjoy a Victorian-style Christ- and from 1 till 7 on Friday, December
Inside this issue: mas throughout December and into to 3, 10, and 17 (see “Festive Fridays”
Historical Happenings 2
January 2011. Acorn Hall will offer lav- on page 5).

From the Director 3 STEP OUT AT THE ARMISTICE BALL

Home Garden Club 3 The Morris County Historical Society and the Metropolitan
Vintage Dance & Social Club will host its third annual 1918-
Victorian Fashion Plate 4 style Armistice Ball on Saturday, November 6, at the Clifton
Workshop Community Recreation Center, 1232 Main Avenue, Clifton,
Oakleaf Gallery Update 4 NJ, from 7 to 10 p.m. The Met Club Orchestra will once
again provide hot dance tunes of the early 20th century. We
Festive Fridays 5 encourage period 19-teens, ‘20s, or modern formal or cock-
tail attire or military uniforms — no jeans, please. A work-
Wreath-making 5 shop on early 20th-century dances will be taught at the CCRC
Workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. that day. Tickets for the workshop and
dance are $30 per person in advance or $35 at the door. Tick-
Armistice Ball, cont’d 6 ets may be purchased online at www.armisticeball.com, or
checks payable to Morris County Historical Society may be
In Memoriam 6 sent to MCHS, 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960.
Jennifer Ochman and Al Seabra
(Continued on page 6) enjoy a spin on the dance floor.
Membership 7
 PAGE 2
HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS
Boonton Historical Society
Saturday, October 16— Walking
Tour of Historic Main Street led
by Lloyd Charlton. 10 a.m. Begins
at Canalside Park at the top of
Main Street. Suggested donation
$5. 10% discount at certain Main
Street eateries and businesses fol-
lowing the tour.
Friday, December 10— Holiday
Open House at the Museum. Re-
freshments and entertainment. 7
p.m.
For additional information:
973-316-0976
www.boonton.org/Community/
HistoricalSociety.htm.
Dover Area Historical Society
Tuesday, October 19— “History
of Paul Guenther,” by Ulla Shuler.
7:30 p.m. Guenther Hosiery Mills,
69 King Street. $5 donation.
Sunday, October 31— Halloween
Yard Sale and Clam Chowder So-
cial at the Flea Market.
Saturday, November 6— “History
of the Dover Fire Department.” 6
p.m. First Presbyterian Church of
Dover. $5 donation.
Tuesday, November 16— Harris’s
Glass Negatives. 7:30 p.m. Dover
History Museum House, 55 West
Blackwell St., Dover.
Tuesday, December 21— Mu-
seum House Holiday Open House.
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Refreshments will
be served.
MCHS
For additional information:
973-361-3525
www.doverhistoricalsociety.com
Lake Hopatcong
Historical Museum
Saturday, November 20— “Lake
Hopatcong’s Famous Three—
Lotta Crabtree, Hudson Maxim
and Joe Cook.” 6 p.m. The
Arlington.
For additional information:
973-398-2616
www.hopatcong.org/museum
Mt. Tabor Historical Society
Monday, October 5— “A His-
torical View of Gardens in Mor-
ristown,” a joint meeting with
the Mt. Tabor Garden Club. 7
p.m. The Bethel.
Thursday, October 8— “Ghost
Tales with Historical Flavor,”
presented by storytellers Carol
Titus and Ken Galipeau. 7 p.m.
The Bethel.
Thursday, November 11—
“Growing Up in Mt. Tabor” A
panel of long-time residents
share memories about their Mt.
Tabor childhood. 7 p.m. The Be-
thel.
F r i d a y , N o v e mb e r 1 2 —
“Tellabration,” storytelling for
grown-ups. 7 p.m. The Bethel.
For additional information:
973-586-1564
www.mounttabornj.org
FALL 2010
Historical Society of
Old Randolph
Saturday, October 30— Historic
Bus Tour of Randolph. Take a
ride around the township, learn
about historic landmarks within
town borders and learn about
Randolph history. 2 p.m. $5 for
adults, children under 12 free.
Ticket includes admission to the
Randolph Museum and the
Friends Meeting House. Tour
departs from Randolph Museum,
Freedom Park, Millbrook Ave-
nue.
For additional information:
973-989-7095
www.gti.net/randolph/hsor
Washington Township
Historical Society
Tuesday, October 19— WTHS
Celebrates 50 years, includes a
slide show of members and ac-
tivities through the years. Re-
freshments. 7:30 p.m. WTHS
Museum, 6 Fairview Avenue,
Long Valley.
Saturday, December 11– 27th
Annual Historic House Tour.
Tour historic homes at your own
pace, route map and Tour Book
provided. Complimentary home-
baked refreshments and craft
sale at the Museum, 6 Fairview
Avenue, Long Valley. Tickets
$20 per person. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
For additional information:
908-876-9696
www.wthsnj.org
FALL 2010 PAGE 3
MCHS

FROM THE DIRECTOR

In our last newsletter, I was able to report on the tremendous success of our annual Yard Sale. I am
thrilled to report even more good news in this newsletter! Countless hours spent on grant applications
earlier this year have paid off. In June we received notification that we were awarded two grants from
the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund, in August we received notification of awards from
the New Jersey Cultural Trust and the New Jersey Historical Commission, and most recently we re-
ceived a general operating support grant from the F.M. Kirby Foundation.

So, what does all this good news mean? Well, first and foremost a construction grant from the Morris
County Historic Preservation Trust Fund will be used to analyze, stabilize, and repair the bay window
area of the dining room. This is a critical project. A non-construction grant will be used for a new pres-
ervation plan for Acorn Hall. This plan will be used to create guidelines for the continued care and
maintenance of the Hall and will explore options for interpretation of the home’s history as well as po-
tential uses for the Carriage House. The New Jersey Cultural Trust award will fund a membership study.
We want to learn what our members want and how best to serve you. You’ll be hearing more about this
project soon. We are so pleased that the New Jersey Historical Commission was able to fund not only
MCHS, but historic sites and museums across New Jersey. Funding for the Commission comes from a
special hotel/motel tax that was created to use tourism dollars to fund state tourism infrastructure.

Despite all of this good news, we still need your support. Matching funds are needed for both the bay
window project and the preservation plan, in an amount in excess of $16,000. While we did our best to
plan for the bay window project, there is still a strong possibility that the project will cost more than an-
ticipated. You will shortly receive our annual campaign appeal asking for your financial support. We
understand that this is a difficult time for many people, but whatever amount you can give will be grate-
fully received and will go directly towards these important projects.

— Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika

HOME GARDEN CLUB NEWS

Wednesday, October 13
Catch the buzz! Joe Lelinho of
the Essex Beekeepers Society
will speak about the importance
of bees in society, bee-friendly
plants, and the significant pests
affecting bee colonies. Mr.
Lelinho operates Hilltop Honey
and maintains commercial and
residential colonies throughout
Essex County. He has been fea-
tured in the Star Ledger and New
York Times, and has won numer-
ous awards in the New Jersey
State Annual Honey Competi-
tion. 1 p.m. at the Frelinghuysen
Arboretum.
Wednesday, November 17
Dish garden demonstration and
workshop with Peggy Koehler.
Dish gardens differ from con-
tainer gardens in that they are
designed for indoor use. Ms.
Koehler is an award-winning
designer and member of the
Garden Club of New Jersey.
The fee is $20 for the work-
shop or $15 if you bring your
own six-inch dish. 1 p.m. at
the Frelinghuysen Arbore-
tum. For more details and to
register contact Ilona at 908-
879-0232.
 PAGE 4
VICTORIAN FASHION PLATE WORKSHOP
Be your own Victorian clothing
designer at our Fashion Plate
workshop! At one time, it was a
fad to take fashion plates out of
ladies’ magazines like Godey’s
or Harper’s Bazar and “dress”
the figures using scraps of fab-
ric, lace, ribbon, and other trims.
Framed examples of this craft
are on display in our current ex-
hibit, “Gowns: From Birth to
Bedroom to Ballroom.” Partici-
pants in the workshop will
“dress” a reproduction image in
this same manner.
OAKLEAF GALLERY UPDATE
In mid-November Acorn Hall’s
Oakleaf Gallery gift shop will
again be transformed into a
magical holiday shop. The
Christmas tree will take center
stage and offer unique orna-
ments that make wonderful gifts
and mementoes. Candles, books
and other holiday items featur-
ing snowmen, Santa Claus, and
FALL 2010
MCHS
The workshop will be held Sun- Calendar.htm.
day, October 17, beginning at
12:30 p.m. at the Frelinghuysen
Arboretum. The cost is $6 for
MCHS members and $12 for
non-members. The cost includes
all materials and supplies, in-
cluding a reproduction image,
fabric, lace, ribbon and other
trims (frame not included). Res-
ervations are required. For addi-
tional information or to make a
reservation call 973-267-3465.
Reservations can also be made
online at www.acornhall.org/
angels will be clustered through- only will you find unique gifts,
out the shop. Special holiday your purchases will support
stocking stuffer items will be MCHS programs. The Oakleaf
available for the young and Gallery accepts all major credit
young at heart. cards, and members always re-
ceive a 10% discount, with a
Returning this year will be our special 20% discount available
popular $10 grab bags. In addi- on “Festive Fridays.”
tion to the bags of regular
merchandise, this year
there will also be special
holiday gift bags. These
bags make fun gifts for
friends or a truly memora-
ble hostess gift.
For those looking to give
the gift of history, our shop
offers a wide variety of
local history titles and
books on Victorian archi-
tecture and fashion.
So skip the crowded mall
this year and do your shop-
ping at Acorn Hall. Not
FALL 2010
FESTIVE FRIDAYS BRIGHTEN THE SEASON
We’re thrilled to announce the
introduction of “Festive Fri-
days” for this holiday season.
As part of our extended hours
in December, we will have
three special evenings of music
and fun at Acorn Hall on Fri-
day evenings.
“Ladies’ Night Out” will be
WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOP
If you’ve ever wished you could
decorate your home in the lavish
Victorian style created every
holiday season at Acorn Hall,
this workshop is for you! A
MCHS
held on December 3. In ad-
dition to the opportunity to
stroll through Acorn Hall’s
wonderfully decorated pe-
riod rooms and the
“Gowns” exhibit, “Ladies’
Night” will also feature a
chance for fun, food, and
friendship. Live holiday
music will float through the
air. The Oakleaf Gallery gift
shop will provide an inti-
mate setting for your holi-
day shopping. Wine and
cheese will be served. All
ladies will receive a special
gift for attending and door
prizes will be given out as
well. Don’t miss this unique
chance to take a break from the
holiday madness and enjoy your-
self!
“Family Night” will be held on
December 10. Santa Claus will
be on hand for photo opportuni-
ties and each child will receive a
holiday photo card. A family
carol sing-along will take place
hands-on wreath-making session
conducted by the MCHS staff
will be held on Saturday, No-
vember 13, from 10 a.m. to 12
p.m. at the Morristown Masonic
Temple. Attendees will be able
to decorate a faux holiday
wreath just like the ones which
adorn Acorn Hall. The workshop
price includes all materials and
supplies, including wreath, rib-
bons, bows, and other decorative
items. You are welcome to being
PAGE 5
around the historic Chickering
grand piano. Hot cocoa and
cookies will also be served.
“Wassail and Wine” will be
featured on December 17. For
those who have always won-
dered exactly what wassail is,
we’ll prepare this traditional
holiday drink for sampling.
Live music will again be fea-
tured and attendees will get
another chance to complete
their holiday shopping in the
Oakleaf Gallery. Each visitor
will receive a holiday gift and
a chance to win special door
prizes.
Hours for “Festive Fridays”
will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission is $6 for adults, $5
for seniors, $3 for students.
MCHS members and children
under 12 are free. MCHS
members will also receive a
special 20% discount on their
purchases in the gift shop on
“Festive Fridays.”
any special trimmings of your
own, as well.
The workshop is $10 for
MCHS members and $15 for
non-members. Reservations
are required. For additional
information or to make a reser-
vation call 973-267-3465. Res-
ervations can also be made on-
line at www.acornhall.org/
Calendar.htm.
 PAGE 6
ARMISTICE BALL, CONT’D
All proceeds benefit the Society’s
programs.
The Met Club Orchestra features
Scott Black on cornet, Will Reardon
Anderson on reeds, Bryan Wright on
piano, and Sue Fischer on drums and
traps.
The afternoon workshop will allow
novices to master the basics of such
ragtime-era dances as the one-step,
foxtrot, tango, blues, and waltz.
These dances are fun and easy to pick
up! It will be taught by instructors
Jan and Al Seabra of Raritan, who
teach classes in vintage dance in
Bridgewater, NJ. They have partici-
pated in dance demonstrations in
New Jersey and Pennsylvania as
members of the Metropolitan Vintage
Dance & Social Club.
IN MEMORIAM
We are saddened to report the
loss of long-time MCHS member
Wilma Lewis Sagurton, who also
served as secretary of the MCHS
board of trustees. A music
teacher by profession, she was a
passionate advocate for local his-
tory. Born at her parents’ dairy
farm on Combs Hollow Road in
MCHS
The first Armistice Balls were im-
promptu celebrations of the end of
the First World War (on November
Last year’s dance workshop led by Jan and Al Seabra
Randolph, which had been
in her family since the
1730s, she strongly be-
lieved in preserving the ag-
ricultural history of Morris
County’s past. She wrote
The Lewises of Combs Hol-
low and was featured on the
DVD “Girl on the Farm,”
which recorded her memo-
ries of growing up on her
family’s farm. The DVD was
featured at the Society’s 2009
“Local Harvest” program.
Mrs. Sagurton loaned and do-
nated many items to MCHS and
other local museums. She main-
tained a magnificent collection of ing collection. She will be
historic artifacts ranging from
FALL 2010
11, 1918). The tradition of holding
balls around that date continued
though the 1920s, dying out as the
Depression worsened and a new war
threatened.
Native American arrowheads to
early 20th century agricultural
implements which she carefully
cataloged and kept in their own
building on her property. The
building even featured a repro-
duction open hearth kitchen. In
1991 she received the Local His-
torian Award of Distinction from
the New Jersey Historical Com-
mission.
Right up until her death at the
age of 94 she was active in the
community. She was a tremen-
dous resource for MCHS and
was always willing to share her
knowledge as well as her amaz-
missed.
FALL 2010 PAGE 7
MCHS

MEMBERSHIP
THIS FORM IS SUPPLIED FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF NEW MEMEBRS. IF YOU ARE ALREADY A
MEMBER, YOU WILL RECEIVE A RENEWAL REMINDER IN THE MAIL WHEN YOUR MEMBERSHIP
IS COMING DUE. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

 Student $15  Family/Institution $50  Sponsor $500

 Senior $20  Contributor $100  Patron $1000

 Individual $30  Sustaining $250  Life $2500

Account#_______________________________________________________

Expiration_______________ Signature_______________________________

 MasterCard  Visa  Discover  American Express

Make checks out to: Morris County Historical Society

68 Morris Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960

NAME_______________________________________________________

ADDRESS____________________________________________________

CITY_____________________________________________STATE_____

ZIP___________PHONE(___)_____________EMAIL________________


 I have enclosed a matching gift form.
 I would like to volunteer.

www.acornhall.org

Where did you get this newsletter?_________________________________

Board of Trustees
Barbara Benedict
Learned T. Bulman
Wayne D’Angelo
Robert H. Donaldson
Heather Emelander
David G. Holdsworth
Steven. K. Johnson
Gregory C. Kurlander
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MCHS
Hours
Acorn Hall: Mon. and Thurs.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Office: Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
This newsletter is published quarterly by
the Morris County Historical Society, headquartered at
Acorn Hall, 68 Morris Avenue,
Morristown, NJ 07960-4315
Phone: 973-267-3465 Fax: 973-267-8773
www.acornhall.org
The mission of MCHS is to discover, preserve,
and make known the history of Morris County
through exhibits, programs, publications,
and preservation advocacy.
MCHS receives operating funds from
the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders,
the F.M. Kirby Foundation,
and the New Jersey Historical Commission.
President of the Board — David G. Holdsworth
Director — Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika
Curator — Debra Westmoreland
Outreach Coordinator — Karen Ann Kurlander
Education Coordinator — Carie Levin
Morristown, NJ 07960-4315
68 Morris Avenue
At Acorn Hall
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
MORRIS COUNTY