Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall

09/03/2026

On this week in Morris County history...
Mayor Clyde Potts of Morristown gave an address "recalling the importance of Jockey Hollow and the part it had in American history". In the September 4, 1929 address, he asserted that the area where Washington's troops encamped during the winter of 1779-80 "shall be preserved forever." Morristown National Historical Park, which includes Jockey Hollow, was created as the US's first national historical park in 1933.

09/01/2026

Found in nearly every room in Acorn Hall, mirrors of all shapes and sizes reflect a long history of their place in private homes. Over time, they transitioned from exclusive to ubiquitous pieces while retaining an opulence that has set them apart for centuries.

by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement August 26, 2026 Found in nearly every room in Acorn Hall, mirrors of all shapes and sizes reflect a long history […]

08/28/2026

Looking for ways to celebrate America250? Join MCHS and our partners for our Revolutionary Lecture Series and Morris County Walking Tour Series which continue this September! All tours and lectures are free; pre-registration is required. Check out our website calendar for more information. https://youtu.be/GuDIAdL1Wnw

08/27/2026

On this week in Morris County history...
Crowds lined Speedwell Avenue on August 27, 1909 to greet Morristown's first trolley as it rolled into town. This photo, now in MCHS archives, is one of several taken to commemorate the occasion. Incorporated ten years prior, the Morris County Traction Company, which operated the trolley, first offered service in Dover, and eventually built a 50-mile system. However, the company struggled to gain traction and the last the trolley ran in 1928.

To learn more about the Morris County Traction Company, check out this blog:
https://morriscountyhistory.org/gaining-and-losing-traction/

08/26/2026

Help support MCHS and join us at the surface lot on Dehart St. on October 4 from 11am-2pm for our second annual “History in Motion” Car Show. Dozens of classic cars, muscle cars, antique cars, hot rods, and exotic cars, foreign and domestic, will be on display at this fundraiser that celebrates automotive history. Music will once again be provided by Denville’s Golden Gup from his custom pink 1965 Ford F-100. All are welcome! If you have a car you would like to register, visit the link below:

https://morriscountyhistory.org/history-in-motion-car-show/

08/25/2026

Morris County's 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites. In the 22nd blog of this series, we highlight how some of those in Mt. Olive contribute to the diverse and multifaceted county we live in today.

by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections August 25, 2026 Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national […]

08/20/2026

On this week in Morris County history...
Mrs. Grace Winters sent this postcard of the Hotel Breslin to her niece in Port Murray during her summer vacation to Lake Hopatcong, then a premier resort destination, on August 20, 1912. One of the lake's many luxury establishments, the four-floor, 300-room Hotel Breslin was built in 1886 and allowed well-to-do vacationers to enjoy the latest technology including elevators, steam heat, and electricity, along with leisure activities such as canoeing, bowling, and horseback riding. Renamed the Alamac Hotel after a change in ownership in 1918, the hotel continued to draw in crowds until the Great Depression led to its closure. Efforts to reopen the Hotel Breslin were thwarted by a fire, which destroyed the structure in 1948.

To learn more about the Hotel Breslin, check out this blog: https://morriscountyhistory.org/five-star-history/

08/18/2026

Enjoy a leisurely journey through the halcyon days of one of Morris County’s earliest, most popular, and fondly remembered summer destinations.

And don't miss our next lecture tomorrow at 6:00 pm, Lake Hopatcong's Rise as a Great Resort, presented by Marty Kane, president of the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum, on Zoom. To register:
https://morriscountyhistory.org/event/lake-hopatcongs-rise-as-a-great-resort/

by MCHS Staff August 18, 2026 Beginning in the 1880s, Lake Hopatcong developed into a popular summer destination, and the newly arrived railroads brought crowds to its shores. An assortment […]

08/14/2026

Situated just off the Morristown Green, the Mansion House hotel served as both a vacation spot and community hub for much of the 19th Century.

Situated just off the Morristown Green, the Mansion House hotel ser...

08/13/2026

On this week in Morris County history...
A survey was completed of Mrs Mary Ann Nesbitt's " forge lot" in the southwestern corner of Mendham Township. The August 19, 1843 survey, now in MCHS archives, was made for her son, John R. Nesbitt, who came into possession of a southern portion of the land that year. Also included on the survey is the location of the Union School which would be built on the northern portion of the lot later donated by Mrs. Nesbitt. Opened in 1851, the school operated until 1928.