Union County Celebrates 30 Years of Exploring History With Four Centuries in a Weekend Event October 19-20

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce Union County's "Four Centuries in a Weekend" countywide history event returns for its 30th season on Saturday, October 19th and Sunday, October 20th. Unless noted otherwise, all participating historic sites are open from 12:00 p.m. noon to 5:00 p.m. Each day is packed with tours, exhibits, and various special events and activities at more than 30 house museums and historic sites in Union County, all open to the public free of charge.

"Our 'Four Centuries in a Weekend' event aims to ignite interest in the great history of our county for both history enthusiasts and curious visitors," said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. "Attendees will have the opportunity to witness a reenactment of the Revolutionary War era in Elizabeth, learn to make butter the colonial way at Caldwell Parsonage in Union, or even try their hand at apple cider pressing as our ancestors did in Berkeley Heights. With 38 locations participating this year, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and take away from Union County's diverse and storied past. I invite you to join us in exploring as many historic sites as you can and bring your friends and family. I hope to see you there."

Union County's 'Four Centuries in a Weekend' is the first and oldest History 'Open House' Weekend of its kind in New Jersey. The event started in 1994 with 16 participating locations and will now celebrate its 30th anniversary with 38 participating sites, the largest number to date.

"I proudly join in celebrating 30 years of connecting our residents and visitors to New Jersey's historic beginnings," said Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. "Union County is rich with historical treasures, traditions and stories. You can see and enjoy many of them at Four Centuries in a Weekend. I want to thank the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, their dedicated staff and the volunteers whose contributions make this lively weekend possible."

Attendees can stop by Revolutionary War burial grounds, the county's oldest railroad station, quaint house museums, special exhibitions, and much more. Each site will provide visitors with a free Union County Passport to stamp. Visitors can also pick up free Union County History trading cards at many sites.

At most sites, representatives or docents will provide tours or answer questions. These exhibits provide the opportunity to learn about aspects of every-day life during the 1700s, the 1800s, and more recent times.

Four Centuries in a Weekend is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, part of the Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State, and is organized by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, in collaboration with staff and volunteers at the sites and is sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

Participating Sites are:

Berkeley Heights

• Deserted Village of Feltville / Glenside within Watchung Reservation

1 Cataract Hollow Road, Berkeley Heights

31 Horseshoe Road, Berkeley Heights

Clark

• Dr. William Robinson Plantation Museum

593 Madison Hill Road, Clark

Cranford

• Crane-Phillips House Museum

124 North Union Avenue, Cranford

• William Miller Sperry Observatory

UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ

1033 Springfield Avenue, Cranford

Elizabeth

• Belcher-Ogden Mansion & Bonnell Homestead

1046 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth

• Boxwood Hall State Historic House

1073 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth

Open Saturday only/ Closed Sunday

11 South Broad Street, Elizabeth

• Siloam Hope First Presbyterian Church and Snyder Academy

42 Broad Street, Elizabeth

Fanwood

• Fanwood Train Station Museum

Open 12-4 pm both days

230 North Avenue, Fanwood

Hillside

1137 North Broad Street, Hillside

• Woodruff House/ Eaton Store Museum

Open 12-4 pm both days

111 Conant Street, Hillside

Kenilworth

49 South 21 Street, Kenilworth

Mountainside

• Deacon Andrew Hetfield House

Constitution Plaza, Watchung Avenue, Mountainside

New Providence

1350 Springfield Avenue, New Providence

Plainfield

602 West Front Street, Plainfield

Open Saturday 9am-3pm / Open Sunday 9am-12pm noon

1030 Central Avenue, Plainfield

Open Saturday only/ Closed Sunday

225 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield

Rahway

• African-American History & Heritage Learning Center

Open Saturday only/ Closed Sunday

261 Central Avenue, Rahway

• Merchants & Drovers Tavern Museum

1632 St. Georges Avenue, Rahway

• Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)

1601 Irving Street, Rahway

Roselle

• Abraham Clark Memorial House

101 West 9^th Avenue, Roselle

Roselle Park

• Roselle Park Historical Society & Museum

9 West Grant Avenue, Roselle Park

Scotch Plains

1451 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains

• Osborn Cannonball House Museum

1840 Front Street, Scotch Plains

820 Jerusalem Road, Scotch Plains

Springfield

126 Morris Avenue, Springfield

Summit

90 Butler Parkway, Summit

Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Open Saturday 10am-4pm only/ Closed Sunday

165 Hobart Avenue, Summit

Twin Maples

214 Springfield Avenue, Summit

Wallace Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church

138-142 Broad Street, Summit

Union

909 Caldwell Avenue, Union

888 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union

• Donald M. Payne Vauxhall Meeting Center

333Russell Street, Vauxhall (Union)

1003 Morris Avenue, Union

Westfield

614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield

Reeve History & Cultural Resource Center

314 Mountain Avenue, Westfield

Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route

Pop-Up Visitors Center, 10 Prospect Street, Westfield

For more information, including a complete list of activities and participating locations, visit www.ucnj.org/4c or contact the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs at [email protected] or 908-558-2550.

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