Experience "Christmas Past"

Come and get a feel of the holidays in the olden days in Montague.

Stop by the annual Old Fashioned Holiday Weekends offered by the Montague Association for the Restoration of Community History (M.A.R.C.H.), being held at the ca. 1790
Foster-Armstrong House, located at 320 River Road.
This event debuted this weekend, and next Sat. there will only be an evening Candlelight Tour held on Sat. Dec. 1st from 6 - 8:30 pm,  with the last tour offered at 8pm.

On Sunday Dec. 2nd, and Sat. & Sun. Dec. 8th & 9th, the house will again open from 1 to 4 pm - final tours offered at 3:30 pm.

All events held weather-permitting.

Costumed docents will lead visitors through five decorated
rooms on the first floor of the house.   Each room will have a decorated tree and stockings hung on all of the fireplaces.  There are special holiday displays to see: baking items for the holidays will be featured in one room, a train display in another, and a holiday dinner table with all the finery in yet another room, with pine cones and garland throughout all the rooms. The special displays include antique rolling pins, cookie cutters, butter molds, iron-cast stag animals, Swedish tomtens, a running Christmas train set, pine cone wreaths, and antique ornaments.

             Come and enjoy all the holiday decorations, purchase wonderful handmade crafts made by the historical society members, buy a book for a family or friend, and experience a warm welcome as you tour the museum.  Cookies and hot cider will be served.  There is no admission fee charged.  Donations are welcomed and are used towards maintenance of the two buildings cared for by M.A.R.C.H.

Autographed copies of the "Montague" book remain available for purchase - and help support the society's work.

Lest we forget -

Courtesy US Dept. of Veteran Affairs

Thank a Veteran this Veteran's Day!

Show our service men and women your gratitude every day!

 This day is known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world. It falls on November 11th, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.
The major hostilities of World War I formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, with the German signing of the Armistice.

After the storm....

While normalcy appears to be returning - though some pockets within Montague still lack a full return of power - long will this now historic storm be remembered. 
Just imagine, such conditions were normal for those who resided here prior to  electric lines being introduced less than a century ago! 

Thankfully Sandy did spare us Irene's deluge.


A few lessons that have been learned:

Cordless or computer-based phones will not work if electricity or a cable connection is down for an extended period - beyond battery back-up.
Hold on to old-fashioned direct plug-in phones to use - as they work, if you have a traditional phone line. When Century Link had an interruption in its lines, you could make calls within the immediate area.

Have batteries, non-perishable food and bottled water handy in advance - and save plastic buckets or large containers [if you can't fill a tub] to fill and use for non-potable water for toilets, etc.

Gas/propane stove's burners work, using matches, when power goes out.

The above freezing daytime temperatures spared indoor water pipes from freezing, despite frigid nights in the 20's.
Learn what to do if next time we're not as fortunate.

Try to have some alternate means of heat - a woodstove, or an electric space heater if you have a generator. If only they can invent ones which are solar powered.

Despite our inconveniences - let us be thankful that we fared much better than many others. 

For updates on post hurricane info: http://www.sussex.nj.us/

Hurricane Sandy

A State of Emergency has been declared in Sussex County for Monday, Oct. 29th and Tuesday, Oct. 30th - and schools and county offices will remain closed. Residents are asked to stay off all roadways!

Click this link to read the document!

Fall is in full swing!

Harvest time, folks out and about admiring nature's array of Autumn colors, & lots of county-wide events.

2nd annual Sussex County Heritage Weekend

sponsored by

See List and Interactive map at scahc.org
or at Sussex County - News & Info

Locally,

 watch for bikers travelling on Montague roads this Sat. -

participating in the 2012 Black Bear Century tour.

Share the Road!

Come out to celebrate Autumn & Montague Day!

The event will be held in front of the municipal building on Sat., Sept 22nd.  This year marks the 40 anniversary of when the first event was held.

Montague Day!

Sat., Sept. 22nd from 11 AM to 6 PM

Forty years ago, the first Montague Day was held in July on the grounds on the Montague Township Elementary School.  Since that time, the event has been hosted at other sites - including Holiday Lake and Big Z Stables. In recent years, it has been held at the Montague Township Municipal area on Clove Rd.

New invasive species affecting the area!

Bad enough Purple loosestrife  {shown below} is choking wetland areas, and the Japanese barberry, Multiflora rose, and other non-native plants and insects are spreading into our wooded areas and along roads.

2010 water lilies and native grasses

2012 Purple loosestrife taking over

Add Japanese stiltgrass, a bamboo-like grass, which is very quickly taking over the floor of wooded and open areas.
As it is an annual - simple measures can be taken to help keep it from going to seed and spreading.

Removing these non-native plants will not only help protect the overall natural environment,  but will also remove areas where mice, which contribute to spreading the Lyme disease carrying ticks, and mosquitoes seem  most attracted to.

 Sat. August 25th at 1pm at the Foster-Armstrong House:

New Jersey State Parks 
                                                                                           MARCH hosts Kevin Woyce -

Some of New Jersey's most exciting history can be found in our more than two dozen State Parks.Old names such as Wawayanda and Hopatcong remind us of the Lenni Lenape, or "Original People."
Historic battlefields recall New Jersey's perilous years as "the Crossroads of the American Revolution."
Abandoned forges still speak of our first great industry, and we can trace the beginnings of our transportation network in the paths of the Morris and the Delaware & Raritan Canals.

August 18, 2012: 
Montague Vol. Fire Dept. "Wetdown" 
     This event marks a christening of brand new fire truck which joins the fleet.
Neighboring companies joined in the celebration.


Sandyston's VFD does the honor!

MVFD welcomes the addition of the

 2012 4-Guys Freightliner 2000 gallon Tanker.

New addition officially wet-down!

           The traditional welcoming ceremony originated among east coast fire departments - when changing out old fire pumpers for the new, with the horses being unhitched and water transferred to the new apparatus. The new pumper would be dried off after its wet down and it was then pushed into the stall - ready for service.

Come out to support the Grange & enjoy local home-grown talent!

8/17 at 7pm at the Grange Hall on River Rd., just south of Weider Rd.



Courtesy the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

 August 14th marked the 75th anniversary of the completion of the Appalachian Trail in 1937 .. also known as the A.T. which crosses Montague's eastern boundary.

The A.T. is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, measuring roughly 2,180 miles in length.  The task of building the original trail took more than fifteen years. It involved  volunteers, state and federal agency partners, local Trail-maintaining clubs, workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps -stationed at High Point Park, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Miss Montague 2012

Alexandra Lynn Frost

&

Young Miss, Little Miss & Little Mr.

 Daisy Lugo, Sara Holcomb, and Davian A. Southard

Miss Montague's sister, Samantha Frost, was this year's runner-up.

She will compete should Miss Montague be unable to participate

in Sussex County's Queen of the Fair pageant in August.

The Miss Montague 2012 Pageant was hosted at the High Point Country Club and the event itself was sponsored by the Montague Township Volunteer Fire Dept.

Fire Chief Jesse Brace crowned each finalist and the awards were presented by MVFD Pres., Kevin Kelly.

Summer will soon be upon us...

The Montague Association for the Restoration of Community History, Montague's historical society, which formed in 1979 during the Tocks Island Dam era  to preserve the remnants of the Town's heritage - will open two sites administered by the organization under agreements with the Dept. of the Interior and within the Delaware Water Gap National Rectreation Area each Sunday, June 24th through Aug. 26th, from 1-4 p.m.

The ca. 1790 Foster-Armstrong House [FAH] is on CR 521 at 320 River Road, about 1 mile north of the Milford/Montague Bridge, in Montague, N.J. It is on the National Register of Historic Sites.  
The Nelden-Roberts Stonehouse [NRS] is at 501 Rt. 206 North, about 1 mile south of the Montague-Milford Bridge, and listed  on the State Historic Register of N.J.

No charge for admission at either site - donations toward maintenance of the sites welcomed.

Special Exhibitors being featured:

June 24, Sunday, 1-4; FAH: “Mother Goose’s Chickens” -  Mini-farm presentation by Sharon Orce, along with live chickens and geese.

July 1, Sunday, 1 - 4, FAH; “Nature Photography and Local Anecdotes”. Keith Utter will display some of his award-winning photographs of scenery, wildlife and local Sussex County history.

July 8, Sunday, 1 – 4, FAH; Basket weaving display and ‘how to’ by Barbara Meyer and friends.  Watch as they make it look easy to weave varied decorative and useful baskets! Many handmade examples on display.

July 15, Sunday, 1 – 4;  FAH: Exhibit of Nature Photography and song by Karen Stevenson. Karen will display her great photography and greet you with music in the keeping room at the Foster-Armstrong House.
        at NRS: The Minisink Garden Club members will share info about the traditional herb garden theymaintain at the Nelden- Roberts Stonehouse.

July 22, Sunday, 1 – 4, FAH: Chair caning demonstration by Richard Jones. Get answers to questions about chair seat repairs and see varied caning examples on display.

July 29, Sunday, 1-4, FAH:  Covered Bridge Display by Bill Coughlin on the porch and room on 2nd floor – showing his recreated to scale models from around the U.S., along with  Model Trains displayed by the Sussex County Railroad – who can share info about Sussex County’s own early railroads. 

August 5, Sunday, 1 – 4; FAH: Montague Q & A with town historian, Alicia Batko.  Come with any questions you have about the town’s history or its places. She will share her knowledge about Montague and display local Tri-State postcards and local items. Acquire the Montague book, published by Arcadia as a way to generate support for M.A.R.C.H. – and have it personalized by the author.

August, 12, Sunday, 1 – 4; FAH:  Baskets, books and the music of the Lenape and other Indian tribes by Beth Jones.  See her personal collection, as well as M.A.R.C.H.’s, of Indian artifacts and learn their stories.

August 19, Sunday, 1 – 4; FAH: Lost Art Lacers.  Come watch the ladies demonstrate how the lovely, detailed lace pieces are still made by hand. 

August 26, Sunday, 1-4; FAH:  Quilting exhibit and ‘how to’ by Sylvia (Greening) Lau.  See how hand quilting is done. View sample quilts displayed and M.A.R.C.H.’s own vintage quilt collection.

   Memorial Day Observance  

USMC veteran Robert Benson and US Army veteran Douglas Dalrymple salute the flag after placing a wreath at Montague Township's Veteran's memorial.

Our local Girl Scouts, along with Pioneer Scouts, presented the colors at the annual ceremony held by the town hall - under the overall direction of a leader, Mrs. Rhodi Teufert. Pastor Forleo of the Minisink Reformed Church offered the invocation and read  "We Remember Them". Mayor George Zitone spoke to the solemn meaning of this day. Rev. Varga of St. James RC Church gave the final benediction. All the veterans in attendance were recognized, and an empty chair was shaded during the ceremony, to remind all of us of those who have passed on.

  The observance of this day was first held on May 30th, 1868 by the proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, as the first major observance to honor those who died "in defense of their country during the late rebellion". It was initially known as "Decoration Day", when the gravesites of both Union and Confederate soldiers were decorated with wreaths or the planting of flowers. That event was held yearly on May 30th until Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday in 1971, and noted that the holiday would be marked on the last Monday in May.

As in 2011-2015 our country is marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, it would be proper to stop and visit our township's own cemetery adjoining the Minisink Reformed Church - where many local Civil War veterans are laid to rest, along with veterans from later conflicts. Instead of wreaths or flowers now set upon their graves, freshly placed American flags mark their final resting places.


Amended Public Domain Postcard


Montague's heritage involved the bravery of those who protected this early frontier during the French and Indian and the Revolutionary Wars - before we were even the "United States of America".  Many of those veterans lay buried in small, often forgotten, plots scattered about our countryside. Few had engraved tombstones.. as often only simple field-stones, some of which have since toppled over, mark their graves.

To hear how men in the 18th century would have dressed .. come to a program being offered by the Montague Assoc. for the Restoration of Community History [MARCH]. The society will host a presentation by Fred Schofer on Thurs. evening, May 31st at 7pm. Mr. Schofer is a volunteer and interpretive guide of living history at Millbrook Village and will appear as a "military scout" of that period.
The program will be held at the Foster-Armstrong House, 320 River Rd. / CR 521 in Montague and is open to all!

Time to think of planting - Flowers, Gardens....

Local old-time residents abide by May 15th - or even Memorial day as the earliest to safely plant or set out sensitive flowers or vegetables due to the fluctuating temps. Temperature spikes in April and early May can often be followed by unexpected frosts or freezes.

Anyone who'd like to learn more - there's a local garden club which has been in existence for many years. Its members are willing to talk about their experiences and share their time tested experiences.

MINISINK GARDEN CLUB MEETING - 5/10

 

The May meeting of the Minisink Garden Club of Montague, N.J. will be held on May 10th at 1:30 P.M. in the Fellowship HAll of the Minisink Reformed Church at 346 River Road in Montague, N.J. -within 1/2 mile north of the Milfrd-Montague Bridge. 

A Horticulturist from Grey Towers will give a talk on pruning at this meeting.  Attendees are invited to bring their own pruning tools for a hands on experience in learning the techniques of pruning. 

 

Visitors are welcome to learn about pruning and are invited to become

members.

 

The challenge plant for the year will be made available to members.

The Montague Grange is located along River Road / CR 521

- between Weider and Millville Roads.

The National Archives and Records Administration opened the 1940 U.S. Federal Census on April 2, 2012 —  collection now available to the public.

Ancestry received the census, and quickly began uploading census images to their site so the public can now browse them. All states should be viewable by this Friday afternoon.
Initially, the collection will remain a browse-only collection. This means one can scroll through the pages of the census districts much like someone looks at a microfilm or a book. At the same time, Ancestry will be working behind the scenes to create an index of the census that will eventually allow persons to search for their family members by name as they currently can with all other censuses on Ancestry.com.

 Note:  the 1940 U.S. Federal Census will be accessible  free of charge throughout 2012 on Ancestry.com.

Ancestry.com hosts the largest collection of family history records on the web.  Learn details about your family's lives and build a family tree online. There are YouTube clips to guide individuals on how to navigate the 1940 records.

ONE week and Counting...  to the release of the 1940 census images.  Information that was collected 72 years ago will be made digitally accessible to the general public.

It will tell us about individuals who were part of what has been called the greatest generation. People who:

• Survived the Great Depression
• Fought in the Second World War
• Innovated technology (TV, Microwave)
• Sacrificed in the name of freedom
• Practiced thrift and compassion
• Understood hard work and industry

Disadvantages in being in the chilly corner of northern NJ:
With tonite's temps hovering around 33 with a rain/ snow/sleet mix threatened til 10pm, when it's supposed to warm up, the historical society meeting scheduled for Thurs. Jan. 26th has been cancelled. 
M.A.R.C.H.  hopes to be able to meet in Feb.