Sussex County Historical Society - NJ

05/28/2026

The Historical Society has updated the book store on our website. We are currently offering a Sussex County Sampler. This is a group of four publications. First is High Point of the Blue Mountains by Ronald J. Dupont Jr. and Kevin Wright, the definitive history of High Point from prehistory through the Kusar family to the development of the park. Next we have a reprint of the classic That Ancient Trail by Amelia Stickney Decker about the Old Mine Road. For the cemetery fans we have Behold and See, As You Pass By, a selection of epitaphs from the Old Cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church of Sparta 1787-1924 written by Mary Elinor Eppler. And last we have a pamphlet Sussex County Place Names by Myra Snook. It lists some of the early place names in the county with a brief history. To order go to our website http://www.sussexhistory.org/ and click on the “shop” tab and make your selection. PayPal is accepted.

05/21/2026

Sunday, May 24.

Please join the Walpack Historical Society on Sunday, May 24th, 2026 from 12 pm - 3 pm as we open the doors of the Walpack Center Schoolhouse for the first time since 2018. Alumni Jim Heigis and Ollie Treible will be on hand to share their Walpack school days memories with visitors.

The Walpack Center Church, barn, Rosenkrans Museum, General Store and Post Office and the Van Campen Inn will also be open for tours.

Are you interested in exploring more of Walpack when you visit?

🥾 Hike the Military Trail (pamphlets are available at the Rosenkrans Museum and the Van Campen Inn). You can also hike the Walpack Loop, which has access points off the Military Trail.
➡️ Visit the Black/Slave Cemetery (located off the Military Trail)
➡️ Visit the site of Fort Johns / Headquarters / Fort Shapanack (located off the Military Trail)
➡️ Visit Col. John Rosenkrans’ Memorial (located on the side of Old Mine Road (dirt) a short distance from the Van Campen Inn)
➡️ Visit the Shapanack Cemetery (located up the path from Col. Rosenkrans’ Memorial)
🥾 Hike to Buttermilk Falls (vehicles must access via Struble Road). Buttermilk Falls is approximately 2.5 miles from Walpack Center if you chose to hike there.

05/20/2026

Memorial Program #3 is coming up on May 30th at 12 noon at the Frankford Plains Cemetery (rain date 31st). The following Revolutionary War Veterans and Patriots will be honored: Thomas Armstrong, John Bowman, Andrew Dalrymple, John DeWitt, Benjamin Gustin, John Gustin, Abijah Hopkins, David Phillips, Francis Price, Robert Price, Henry Stoll, Daniel Struble, and Johannes Leonard Stuble. Hope to see many of you there!

Looking ahead.....please mark your calendars and join us to honor Sussex County Revolutionary War Veterans and Patriots.

05/17/2026

John O'Brien sent us more pictures of the event at Old Newton Burial Ground on May 16th - America 250 honoring Revolutionary War Veterans and Patriots: Letitia Thornton Anderson, Thomas Anderson, John Couse, Matthew Davis, John Drake, Benjamin Halsey, Samuel Harden, Jacob Hendershot, John Holmes, Henry Johnson, Richard Lloyd, George Onsted, Charles Pemberton, Theodorus Polhemus, and John Stoll.

05/17/2026

More pictures from Old Newton Burial Ground - May 16th - America 250 Memorial Program honoring Revolutionary War Veterans and Patriots: Letitia Thornton Anderson, Thomas Anderson, John Couse, Matthew Davis, John Drake, Benjamin Halsey, Samuel Harden, Jacob Hendershot, John Holmes, Henry Johnson, Richard Lloyd, George Onsted, Charles Pemberton, Theodorus Polhemus, and John Stoll. Thank you again Lisa K.

05/17/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us today at the Old Newton Burial Ground to honor the 15 Revolutionary War Veterans and Patriots resting here. It was a beautiful day. Attached are some pictures shared by one of our Trustees - Lisa Kuever. I will post more tomorrow.

05/15/2026

Yellow ribbons are marking the 15 Revolutionary War graves....all set for our America 250 Memorial program tomorrow at the Old Newton Burial Ground - 12 noon - see you there!

05/15/2026

This Sunday, May 17, New Jersey forts.

05/14/2026

Back working at the Old Newton Burial Ground today - getting ready for our America 250 Memorial Program honoring our 15 Revolutionary War Veterans and Patriots on Saturday - May 16th - 12 noon. The County sign is getting spruced up too - Jack is adding a stone wall and mulch...flowers to come. Hope to see many of you there!

05/12/2026

Danielle will be singing our National Anthem on Saturday, May 16th...12 noon, at the Old Newton Burial Ground Memorial Program for the 15 Revolutionary War Veterans and Patriots resting there....hope to see many of you there!

05/12/2026

John O'Brien stopped by this morning to do some filling in on George Onsted's gravestone. I added the Revolutionary War marker (that my husband, Jack, engraved on back with name, date of birth and death, and ONBG). along with a new American flag. Mr. Onsted is all set for our Memorial Program on Saturday...May 16th at 12 noon...see you there!