New Providence Historical Society

The New Providence Historical Society will have its annual Salt Box Craft Fair on May 4th, from 9 am to 3 pm.  Craft vendor will be display their goods. We will also be having our antiques & treasure tables, as well as some scrumptious baked goods for sale.

The Salt Box Craft Fair serves is the primary fundraising event for the year to support our high school scholarship program and maintenance of the Salt Box Museum and the Mason Room Archives.

The Salt Box Museum is located at
1350 Springfield Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974.

We are still accepting last-minute application for craft vendors.
Just call 908-665-1034.

At our Annual Dinner on April 25, 2019, Rick Geffken will speak on the “Lost Amusement Parks of the North Jersey Shore,” bringing together rarely seen images from the Library of Congress, local historical societies, and private collections to document how the Jersey Shore became the most famous vacation and recreational destination in the coastal United States. This engaging talk and slide show capture a simpler way of life in our country, when families took their children to boardwalks to savor candy apples, salt water taffy, hot dogs and hamburgers, popcorn, and, of course, the rides.

The dinner and talk will take place at the Murray Hill Hotel & Suites on April 25, 2019. Hors d’oeuvre at 6 PM, Dinner at 7 PM, Cash Bar. $38.00 per person.

The Genung Wagon (circa 1820) is the oldest remaining piece of farm equipment in New Providence. Used to transport animals and crops, the wagon worked the farm which is now the Acme parking lot. But time has taken its toll. The wagon is currently in desperate condition and needs urgent repair, including wheels and bed boards. Help us refurnish this historic artifact to working order.

Please contribute to our GoFundMe campaign to restore this historical artifact to working order at: www.gofundme.com/RestoreTheGenungWagon

Donations may also be mailed to:
New Providence Historical Society
c/o New Providence Memorial Library
377 Elkwood Avenue
New Providence, NJ 07974

The New Providence Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax deductible.

Every February, the New Providence Historical Society sponsors an exhibit display at the New Providence Memorial Library. This year, we have an array of 16 film cameras on display. These cameras are on loan from J.R. Bale, a former commercial photographer and current New Providence resident.

“While we now take digital photography for granted,” Bale said, “one has the respect the mechanical and chemical ingenuity of the past century.”

The cameras on display are from various eras and include both roll and sheet film equipment, used by both amateurs and professionals. The manufacturers include Kodak, Hasselblad, Agfa-Ansco, Polaroid, Nikon and others.

Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791–1872) epitomized the titans of the Industrial evolution in America with his wide-ranging accomplishments in technology and art. Although not his only contribution, Samuel Morse is best known for his invention of the telegraph and the code which bears his name.

On Thursday evening, photojournalist Jim DelGiudice details the life of the Massachusetts-born Morse, who worked for a time in New Jersey. Mr. DelGiudice will speak at 7 PM at the DeCorso Center at 15 East Fourth Street in New Providence.

Refreshments will be served afterward.

Based on the success of last year’s event, a second New Providence Book Festival has been scheduled for Saturday, September 22, 2018. We plan to even more authors this year. The festival will once again take place on the grounds of the Salt Box Museum at 1350 Springfield Avenue in New Providence.  The museum will be open for tours on the day of the festival.

So far, scheduled authors include J.R. Bale, Linda Barth, Michael Stephen Daigle, Reyna Favis, Vivian Fransen, Kristina Garlick, Laura Kaighn, Bob Mayers, Ginger Pate, Bill Powers, Linda Raedisch and Amy Reade. Some of these authors are new to the festival. Others are familiar names  bringing their newest works. Either way, it’s going to be an exciting festival.

You can support the festival through purchase of festival t-shirts, mugs and buttons. All proceeds go to supporting the festival. Click here.

The rain date is September 29th.
Check back for a schedule of speakers.

The New Providence Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting on April 26th at the Murray Hill Hotel & Suites at 6PM.

Gene Pantalone, New Providence resident and author of Madame Bey’s: Home to Boxing Legends, will share the fascinating story of an aristocratic woman who managed a training camp in Chatham NJ for world champion boxers during the early twentieth century.

Come listen to this fascinating local history and enjoy the delightful cuisine from Moe’s Bistro. $40 per person. Makes check out to “New Providence Historical Society.” Send checks to the Mason Room, New Providence Memorial Library, 377 Elkwood Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974, c/o Margaret Maurer.

Damien Cregeau will explore the murky world of Colonial espionage during the American Revolution. Mr Cregeau’s talk will be at 7 PM at the DeCorso Center, 15 East Fourth Street, New Providence, NJ 07974.
Refreshments will be served afterwards.

On Thursday night at 6:30 PM the New Providence Historical Society will host the third in series of four “History Talks.”

“Grounds For Sculpture” is a 42-acre sculpture park and museum located in Hamilton, NJ, on the former site of the New Jersey State Fairgrounds. Founded in 1992 by John Seward Johnson II. The venue is dedicated to promoting an understanding of and appreciation for contemporary sculpture by organizing exhibitions, publishing catalogs, and offering a variety of educational programs and special community events.

Douglas Kale, owner and president of Kale’s Nursery & Landscape Service, will make his presentation in the Conti Room in the  New Providence Memorial Library at
377 Elkwood Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974

Flyer for “Ground For Sculpture” History Talk