SO it began......

We had a great turnout at the March 26th kick-off celebration and were joined by Congressman Garrett's aide, Ms. Holly Ostby, and by Mayor Gary Lopriore of Port Jervis, NY and Mayor George Harper of Sandyston, NJ - as well as past mayors of Montague: Pat Smith, Joseph Butto, Paul Brislin and Mark Utter and the current Township Committee.

The Art Club's mural was unveiled, and it is a wonderful work of art!

With costumed MARCH members in attendance, the Broome Street Fife and Drum Corps represented by: Betsy Brydon Krakowiak & Shelley Granger, and NJ Frontier Guard reenactors: Doug Pitchell and Dominic Zampella - it set the overall tone for the evening and a wonderful time was had by all.

Thank you again to Montague Elementary School for welcoming us to use their facility for this celebration. Someone said there were over 200 people present.

HAPPY 250th ANNIVERSARY - MONTAGUE !!!

Thurs., March 26th The celebration of the township's 250th anniversary of the creation of Montague, had its official kick-off at the Montague Township Elementary School.

It began with a short program, during which excerpts of the original founding patent and an official township proclamation for this anniversary were read. Members of The Broome Street Fife and Drum Corps from neighboring Port Jervis provided some music of the colonial period. Some M.A.R.C.H. members attended this celebration in period costume. An Invocation written by Pastor Forleo of the Minisink Reformed Church [organized in 1737] was read by church elder, Paul Blissenbach. Resolutions, Citations, and other greetings were accepted from the local, county and state representatives in attendance, and others received acknowledged. A mural portraying Montague's heritage created by the Montague Elementary School's Art Club was unveiled..and also the 250th logo created by Thompson Creative LLC. A Benediction by Rev. Wayne Varga of St. James the Greater Parish concluded the evening.
Following the formal portion, the Frontier Guard shared how life was like when the town formed.

{April 3rd - School event: MES students participate in a Blast from the Past! Sponsored by the PRIDE in Education Committee of the Montague Education Association, students + MARCH participation.}

{April 4th - Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Montague Fire Dept.
& Easter Egg Hunt 11AM at town hall }

{ April 11th - MRC Egg Hunt 11 am – 1 pm }

{April 24th - Montague PTA Tricky Tray at Montague Elementary, doors opened at 6PM}

Thurs. April 30th at 7pm
Peter Osborne's talk: While New Jersey Slept, New York Was Wide Awake.
The program explores the various issues surrounding the most significant boundary dispute in colonial America. Co-sponsored by M.A.R.C.H. Held at Montague Township Elementary.

May 18th - Montague's history in print!
After 30 years of compiling and preserving Montague's history, M.A.R.C.H. encouraged their Historian to pursue writing a book about the town's heritage through Arcadia Publishing. Entitled Montague, it will be offered for sale following its release.
Orders are being accepted through the society - for pick-up or mailing [with added S&H]. Cost $21.99 per book - payable by Check or M.O. to M.A.R.C.H. Please add $5.00 S&H if unable to pick-up and requesting mailing. Email Historian.

{May 25th - Memorial Day observance} Any servicemen who served as Montague residents are asked to attend if possible.

May 29th - Premier of MES students' books about Montague - school event

{June 4th thru June 6th - MRC Rummage Sale}

{June 7th - annual MVFD BBQ - tickets $10.00 973-293-7441}

June 25th - Robert MacAvoy will speak on NJ's Civil War veterans at Foster-Armstrong House Our Brothers Gone Before MARCH

June 28th - Historic Sites open 1-4pm. Exhibitor. MARCH

{July 6-10 – MRC Vacation Bible School}

{July 11th - Miss Montague contest at 1pm, at Minisink Church pavilion on Clove Rd. - contact Lori Coss for details 293- 8375 and at 3pm Talent Show - contact Chris Thompson 293-8252 Divisions: Children's - through age 9; Junior - ages 10-15; and Adult, ages 16 and up - applications at Town Hall.}

July 12th through Aug 30th - Historic Sites open 1-4 pm. Exhibitors scheduled. MARCH

{July 24th - Skylands Baseball Game with fireworks - to support MVFD - $10.. tkts}

{July 25th - Noon - 4

St. James Church Tickets : $10. for adults; children under 12 $5.00

and Minisink Reformed Church Annual BBQ's - limited Tkts will be sold onsite -Pavilion site on Clove Rd. , so call 293-3514}

{July 30th at 7pm, Glenn Wershing to talk about Archaeology of the Delaware River Valley area - at Foster-Armstrong House - sponsored by MARCH}

{August 29 - MRC King's Kids Reunion}

Sat. Sept. 12th - MONTAGUE DAY !!!
This will be an extra-special celebration, to help comemorate this significant year. To be held at Town Hall grounds. Details to follow.

{September 26 – MRC Auction}

{October 1, 2, 3 – MRC Rummage Sale}

{Oct. 3rd - Graveyard and Cemetery Art talk by Peter Osborne at FAH at 9:30am
followed by a walking tour of Minisink Cemetery - sponsored by MARCH }

{Nov. 28th & 29th - MARCH Holiday weekend - FAH

and Dec. 5th & 6th - MARCH Holiday Weekends - FAH}

As further events are planned, they will be posted.
Those events listed in brackets { } are independent of the 250th, but are community events noted for your participation.

Helping Celebrate our 250th

Neighboring Wantage Township has sent a plaque with its Resolution honoring Montague Township on the occasion of its 250th anniversary.

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg has forwarded a congratulatory Citation.

The Sussex County Board of Freeholders presented a Certificate to township representatives during their March 11th meeting in recognition of the 250th anniversary. Shown (L-R) are: Richard Jones, MARCH Pres.; Alicia Batko - MARCH & Township Historian; Freeholder Phil Crabb; Township Committeemen: George Zitone and Ted Brace. An announcement regarding the township kick-off celebration is posted on the Sussex County, NJ website.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine of NJ has sent a letter expressing his greetings and best wishes.

NJ State Sen. Oroho, Assemblywoman McHose & Assemblyman Chiusano have presented a Joint Legislative Resolution, co-signed by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of NJ, acknowledging their recognition of the significance of the township's anniversary.

A Proclamation has been received from Sen. Robert Menendez.

Congressman E. Scott Garrett acknowledged the township's anniversary and delivered what he had entered into the Congressional Record via Holly Ostby, his legislative aide.

M.A.R.C.H., celebrating its own 30th anniversary, presented the township with a congratulatory certificate.

French and Indian War

It is known that the area, that became known as Montague, was almost entirely vacated due to the raids occuring during that period. The men of the NJ Frontier Guard will come patrol and assure the safety of the township residents in time for its opening celebration on March 26th.

First, they will visit with the school children, and then will return to stand guard while the township and visiting representatives issue a formal proclamation at 7pm to mark the 250th anniversary date. They will linger to share stories about their adventures to those who may be curious as to how life was lived in the early frontier.

The Lenape

In February, John Kraft spoke regarding the Lenape people. His father, Herbert Kraft, had done archeological studies in the Delaware River Valley which offered substantial evidence of the presence of the native people prior to colonial settlement.

Currently, as the Director of Lenape Lifeways Educational Programs, Inc., John presented an evening program focused on the Lenape or Delaware Indians of New Jersey. He illustrated his talk with detailed life drawings and photographs, and had objects displayed for the audience to have a "hands-on" experience.

Over the years, he has helped discover and excavate Lenape villages and artifacts and has added much new information about their family life, dwellings, diet, spiritual beliefs and technology. John and his father published The Indians of Lenapehoking, an educational unit on the Indians of New Jersey, and he has illustrated The Lenape or Delaware Indians and other books. His goal has always been to create enthusiasm and appreciation for the remarkable people called the "Lenape."

Environment, Ecology & Geology

In January, Nature Conservancy's [NC] Skyland's Director, Eric Olson, presented two assembly programs at the Montague Township Elementary. He explained to the students the significance of NC's work and why natural habitats are vital. He also informed them of the locations the Conservancy has in the township, which are open to the public for visitation: Mashipacong Bogs, and the Minisink Valley Preserve.

During an evening program, he offered an overview of how the area evolved geologically, and how that has influenced its unique features and ecology. Information about Montague's Nature Conservancy sites was presented, along with a slide presentation.