Somerset County Historical Society NJ

09/04/2026

Step back in time as Colonel and Mrs. Van Horne host son-in-law to be, Colonel Stephen Moylan, his Continental 4th Light Dragoons, and as many guests as the house can hold for an Engagement Celebration of Colonel Moylan and Mary Van Horne! The Heritage Trail Association is so excited to present a night of authentic Irish music and dancing!

Friday, September 11th from 6:30-10pm at the Van Horne House. Adults 21 and over only.

Note that there will also be an all-ages event on September 12th from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Van Horne House where you may meet with the 4th Light Dragoons regiment. It is a free event with suggested donation of $5.00!

08/31/2026

What’s ahead for the D&R Canal State Park in the years to come?

One more of the five public meetings is yet to be held! Residents and other interested parties may make comments and may be asked how they use the park.

This session will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on September 8th at the Lawrence Township Library HQ Branch, Darrah Lane and Brunswick Pike (Route 1), Lawrence Township

Please visit the D&R Canal Commission website by September 8 and enter your comments for the future of our beloved canal: https://www.nj.gov/dep/drcc/master-plan-updates.shtml. Scroll down to “Submit Your Comment.”

08/13/2026

Announcing the Hands-On History Colonial Adventure scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11:00 AM - Noon, located at Wilson Memorial, 7 Valley Road, Watchung, NJ 07069

What was life like for children during colonial times? Step back in time with the Somerset County Historical Society for this fun, hands-on history program exploring daily life in early America!

Young historians and their families will rotate through interactive stations where they can examine real artifacts, discover colonial toys and games, make their own whirly-gig toy and tricorn hat, learn about clothes of the past, and more!

Registration for this program will open on August 29.

Go to sclsnj.org to register.
[Made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey Historical Commission, supporting our cultural heritage and the preservation of historical events in Somerset County.]

08/06/2026

History groups unite! We are thrilled to announce the Howe Farmstead's first event coming up in a few short months. Activities, workshoppers, and exhibit spaces are available and plenty! Please consider signing up and joining us to welcome the public to our humble homestead's 'grand opening' this November. Spaces are first come, first served! (NOTE DATE ADJUSTMENT)

Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage Association The History Girl Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Sites East Jersey Old Town Village Revolution NJ Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area The Historic Franklin Inn - 1756 Preservation New Jersey Mr. Local History Living History New Jersey Visit Somerset NJ New Jersey Historical Commission - NJHC The Meadows Foundation Heritage Trail Association
Great big thank you to Somerset County, NJ for partnering with us!

07/26/2026

The Somerset County Historical Society shares a significant opportunity and Call to Action. Public meetings are taking place pertaining to development of the Delaware and Raritan Canal on July 29th, Aug 11th, and Sep 8th.

The Delaware and Raritan Canal is a major feature of our lovely county. The waterway features prominently as our only national Scenic Trail; a ribbon park for hiking, dog walking, fishing and relaxation. It also contains architectural and transportation history in its locks and surviving lock keeper homes. Once a significant transportation highway for coal and farm produce, it even beat the Erie Canal in NY for total tonnage.

The Department of Environmental Protection is encouraging all residents of the Canal Region to contribute to the first major update of the canal master plan since 1982!

A series of public sessions is coming so the public will get a chance to sound off about their experiences using the park and their hopes for improvements and continued significance.

Please attend a public meeting and help shape the future at one of the following locations. Each session is from 6 to 8 pm.

July 29: Franklin Township Community Center, 505 DeMott Lane, Somerset.

Aug 11: DEP Public Hearing Room, 401 E. State Street, Trenton

Sep 8: Lawrence Township Library headquarters Branch, Lawrence.

The D&R is known as “a major Central Jersey recreation corridor". Ed Polosnak, the Acting Commissioner encourages all to participate in one of the series of public sessions. If you are unable to attend a session, submit comments online through the state’s D&R Master Plan update website.
https://www.nj.gov/dep/drcc/master-plan-updates.shtml

07/21/2026

On Friday, July 24th at 8 pm, the Planetarium at Raritan Valley Community College is hosting an astronomy program they created about the science and scientists of the Revolutionary War period, called "Revolutionary Skies."

More information about their programming is available at https://www.raritanval.edu/community/planetarium/

07/04/2026

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, why not learn about how Major-General Nathanael Greene chose the Watchung Hills in Central New Jersey as the location for driving the British to concede defeat in the Revolutionary War?

This video arrives courtesy of Dr. Michael Beck who has also written a book, "How Central Jersey Won the Revolutionary War" (2024), on the subject!

The Revolutionary war effectively ended in a Stalemate, with the Br...

07/04/2026

The Somerset County Historical Society wishes you a happy semiquincentennial! We are pleased to share the newsletter we've put together dedicated to the American Revolution and particularly Somerset County's significance to it. The newsletter linked below includes articles from our ongoing quarterly newsletter series that we deliver to Society members.

We hope you enjoy your holiday and take a moment to think about what it means to you!

06/22/2026

Docent tours of our recently unveiled Revolutionary War Museum this Saturday!

06/09/2026

Get your tickets today!!

Come join us for America's 250th in style and in timeless ballpark fashion! Scan the QR code or get in touch with SCHS to score your space.