New Providence Historical Society

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States. Designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban, it has served as the residence for every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. This building and its residents have been integral to American history and world history as well.

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the Society’s Annual Dinner, historian Patricia Wells will share her in-depth knowledge of America’s Executive Mansion.

The Annual Dinner will begin at 6 PM at Vintage Tavern in Gillette.

The Salt Box Museum will be open on Sunday, February 4th, 1-3 PM. Stop by and get a taste of history! The museum is an authentic 18th-century farmhouse with an extensive collection of historic artifacts.

The museum is located at 1350 Springfield Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974

We’re kicking off 2024 with an open house. The Salt Box Museum will be open on Sunday, January 7th, 1-3 PM. Stop by and get a taste of history! The museum is an authentic 18th century farmhouse with an extensive collect of historic artifacts.

The museum is located at 1350 Springfield Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974

The Salt Box Museum will participate in Union County’s “Four Centuries in a Weekend” event along with other county historic museums.

The Salt Box Museum will be open for tours on both Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday at 1PM and 2 PM, John Sponauer and Jeff Grob will be conducting tours of the Presbyterian Cemetery across the street.

On Thursday, October 12th, at 7 PM, our guest speaker, Angus Gillespie will share his knowledge of this vital and vibrant topic. This talk is open to all at the DeCorso Center at 15 E 4th Street in New Providence, NJ.

Container shipping is a vital part of the global economy. Goods from all around the world are placed in large containers which are transported across the ocean in ships, then loaded on tractor-trailers and railroad flatbeds. But when and where did this worldchanging invention get started? New Jersey perhaps?

The Salt Box Museum will host the New Providence Book Festival on Saturday, September 30, 2023, 9 AM – 3 PM

Salt Box Museum
1350 Springfield Avenue
New Providence, NJ 07974

Visiting Authors include  J.R. Bale, Linda Barth, Mally Becker, Michelle Cameron, Michael Stephen Daigle, Sarajane Giere, Elissa Matthews, Linda Raedisch, and Kal Uddin.

Readings, Author Talks and Museum Tours will be held throughout the event.

Author Presentations:

10:00 AM – Children Story Hour

11:00 AM – Mally Becker
“Bringing the Past to Life One Spy, Mystery and Murder at a Time”

12:00 Noon – Elissa Matthews
“Three Kinds of Historical Fiction – Which One Calls to You?”

1:00 PM – Susen Edwards
“Writing Your Own Memoir”

2:00 PM – J.R. Bale
“Turning the Voices in my Head into Novels”

We just wanted to remind everyone of the New Providence Flea Market on Saturday, June 10, from 9 am to 3 pm. on the grounds of the Salt Box Museum, 1350 Springfield Avenue, New Providence, NJ. 

Society members can participate as vendors at a discounted price of only $15. So, if you have any old treasures in your attic that you’d like to sell, but don’t want to go to the trouble of arranging a garage sale, fill out and return the form with payment to the New Providence Historical Society, 377 Elkwood Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974. 

We will also be having a bake sale. So, there’s something for everyone, perhaps even an undiscovered treasure.

Please join us on grounds of the Salt Box Museum for our annual Salt Box Craft Fair. A wide range of craft vendors will be there, displaying their arts and crafts.

The fair will take place on Saturday, May 6, from 9AM to 3PM at 1350 Springfield Avenue in New Providence, NJ 07974. 
(Our raindate in May 13th.)

Free tours of the historic Salt Box Museum will also be available, as well as bake sale delicious goodies.

Vendors include:

– Lunawear by Danielle
– Second Stage Creations
– MW Woodcraft
– Creative Z’s
– Joanne White
– Rosemarie Hilse
– Quaint Creations Artist Shop
– BaleCraft

On October 15 & 16th, the New Providence Historical Society will participate is Union County’s “Four Centuries in a Weekend,” celebrating the rich history of area in three ways:

Salt Box Museum at 1350 Springfield Avenue will be open Saturday & Sunday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. 19th-century tools will be exhibited outside including a restored hay wagon, laundry implements, including a hand-crank ringer, foot-powered tool-sharpening wheel, and ice plow. Tour the interior of this restored house, furnished to represent a typical mid-1800s New Jersey farmhouse, and displaying fascinating artifacts — some dating to before the American Revolution.

On Saturday, October 15th, Guided Cemetery Tour at New Providence Presbyterian Church, across from Salt Box at 1307 Springfield Avenue, departing 1 pm and 2 pm (registration required): Learn the history of this cemetery and visit the graves of founding families and Revolutionary War soldiers on this guided 45-minute tour. Limit 20 per tour. To register and request confirmation, email NPcemeterytours@gmail.com with name, preferred time and number of people. Meet 10 minutes before start time on the sidewalk by church parking lot. Sturdy shoes recommended, due to uneven ground.

Mason Room Archives; inside the New Providence Memorial Library at 377 Elkwood Avenue will be open on Saturday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. Explore the Mason Room Archives of New Providence Historical Society: View local maps, photos, newspapers, personal journals and records in the Mason Room, located at the rear of New Providence Memorial Library.