Drake House Museum

06/02/2026

Crafts with a local Girl Scouts Troop at the Drake House. Coloring banners for the July 4th parade.

05/24/2026

On this Memorial Day weekend, please remember all the soldiers from Plainfield who served since the American Revolutionary War. According to the Union County Clerk's Veterans records data base, there are 116 Veterans buried in the cemeteries on Plainfield Avenue, 4 Veterans buried in the Friend's Meeting House Cemetery, 419 Veterans buried in St, Mary's Cemetery, and 3.115 Veterans buried in Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains. We remember Signalman First Class Edward James Lloyd who died in WW2, and still is unidentified. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has been sent information about E. J. Lloyd in the hopes that he can finally be recovered and identified and buried with his family at Hillside Cemetery. (Article from the Courier News, July 17, 1943, page 1.) RIP E.J. Lloyd - you have not been forgotten. Plainfield Public Library

05/17/2026

For any Drake Family members, the annual Drake Family Reunion will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Princeton, Illinois at Zearing Park. The Drake House receives these notices from a family member. A contact number of the organizer can be provided to any family member who may be interested in attending. Please email: [email protected]

05/17/2026

Thank you to eveyone who made this an amazing tribute to Caesar. It was a 30 plus year journey of connecting all the pieces of Caesar's life. Taking the clues in various written local history books, finding his grave marker at Scotch Plains Baptist Church, discussions with Maxson School students, and ultimately finding Caesar's military record that said he was in the Contintenial service. Thank you to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, who worked to make a replacement of the Caesar's grave marker, and Rev. Chaz, who is the Pastor and steward protecting Caesar's original grave marker. Additional thanks to HSP trustees, City of Plainfield, elected State, County, and Local officials, NJHC, Crossroads, and Drake House staff and volunteers who made this a wonderful celebration of Caesar's life. Thank you to the weather for cooperating!

PLAINFIELD, NJ — The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) on Thursday unveiled a New Jersey Black Heritage Trail historical marker and an interpretive panel at the Drake House Museum in...

05/15/2026

Thank you to all who helped and attended yesterday's NJ Black Heritage Trail marker and Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area interpretive panel unveiling. The weather held, and all of you made the day special.

05/02/2026

Join the Drake House Museum and the New Jersey Historical Commission on Thursday, May 14, 2026 in Plainfield, New Jersey at 11:00am for the dedication and unveiling of a New Jersey Black Heritage Trail marker honoring the life of Caesar (last name unknown) whose legacy represents the sacrifices and contributions of African Americans to the Revolutionary War era in New Jersey.

05/02/2026

04/29/2026

Free Program tomorrow, April 30, 2026, at 7 PM made possible by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, a partner of the State of New Jersey Council on the Arts. Presented by the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

04/17/2026

Hello Friends of the Drake House and Plainfield Public Library,

Still time to register for
"Scaling the 1870 Brick Wall: African American Genealogy" on Sat., April 18, 2026 at 10:30 Am via zoom.
Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_O6BWcTyASoSe3RIBRRz-5Q #/registration
We hope to see you on zoom. Thank you for your support of local history.
Plainfield Public Library

04/16/2026

Preparing for Crafts Day with Ms. Mary Lou from the Plainfield Public Library today, April 16, 2026, from 3 to 4 PM. Make a fund craft and take home a craft bag that includes a Mother's Day card! Hope you can join us today.