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/