April 15th is significant as more than TAX DAY...

April 15, 1861: President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 militiamen for three months service in the wake of the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter as the Civil War began. 
New Jersey’s quota was four regiments.

For a township with a population of about less than one thousand residents between 1860 and 1870, Montague would see many of its men volunteer, or get drafted, for military service. See link for draft compiled by the Sons of Sussex researchers, John and Lisa Rights.

Four years later, minus one day, would see Lincoln assassinated. 
One man, who was a pall-bearer at his funeral, Lt. Gov. William Bross of Illinois - originally was from Montague.  

LAST DAY TO POST COMMENTS

  Listening Sessions for Visitor Use Management Plan

The National Park Service (NPS) is undertaking a listening session process as an initial step in the development of a visitor use management plan (the plan) for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area  and Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River (the park) {aka DEWA} . The purpose of the plan is to maximize the ability of the National Park Service to encourage access and protect the park's natural and cultural resources. The planning process will examine current and potential visitor opportunities and develop long-term strategies for providing access, connecting visitors to important experiences, and managing visitor use. As an integral part of the planning process, the National Park Service is asking for your input so that we can gain a better understanding of our visitors and their needs, experiences, and preferences and to help us identify existing or new opportunities to meet those needs while also achieving our mission to preserve and protect resources.

We encourage you to get involved with the process and add your voice to the beginning of the visitor use planning for the park. The National Park Service will host two public listening sessions, and will be providing information on the park to spread the word about this important effort. In addition to the listening sessions, presentations will be posted online. This is the beginning of the input process, and there will be future opportunities to provide additional input. A formal comment period will begin in summer of 2015. 
You can find out more at: www.nps.gov/dewa/getinvolved/index.htm 
or 
www.facebook.com/DelWaterGapNPS


One can comment online directly at
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=220&projectID=55912&documentID=64690


Please do so - especially if you have an interest in visiting any historic sites within DEWA, along with your other preferred uses. 




Currently the NPS retains full jurisdiction over four of their structures being utilized in town, via partnerships with their designated groups, that remain responsible for their use and for providing for the site's overall care and maintenance via individual agreements with the NPS:


The Minisink Reformed Church building  /  Minisink Reformed Congregation

http://minisinkreformed.nextmeta.com/welcome

Courtesy    Flickr image by Richard
at https://www.flickr.com/groups/2543685@N25/pool/7652577@N05/

Foster-Armstrong House 

Courtesy             NPS
http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?STATE=&PARK=DEWA&STRUCTURE=&SORT=4&RECORDNO=82

       -  along with the
Nelden-Roberts Stonehouse [a former one room schoolhouse]      

   /    M.A.R.C.H.  - Montague's Historical Society  https://www.facebook.com/MontagueNJHistory

Courtesy         Jennie Sweetman
http://www.kwwl.com/story/22663047/2013/06/22/march-to-show-what-it-was-like-to-live-200-years-ago

Grange Building  /  Montague Grange - Patrons Of Husbandry # 140

The Montague Grange P. of H. No. 140 - was incorporated on June 27, 1905

There also remain 3 historic houses:

• DeRemer House near Shimer's Brook on CR 521
• Mabel Roberts House and its 3 barns on Rubin Hill Rd. 
• Nelden-Hornbeck Farmhouse off Route 206

         which should be preserved, as they represent aspects of our community's heritage. 

Anyone wishing to assist- contact the Township Historian via email : ab1759hist   at   gmail.com or the town office and leave your contact information.  NPS Vol. In Parks forms will be forwarded.

Celebrate Spring!

Back in 1888, weather made headlines and history:

http://i.factmonster.com/images/blizzard.gif

"On March 11th, 1888, all along the East Coast, light snow began to fall at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. At first, the flurries were dismissed as just another light snow fall, but after time, when the levels of snow did not decrease, people became increasingly worried about their personal safety. After a grueling 96 hours without electricity and with snow drifts as tall as 50 feet, the worst blizzard in U.S. history finally came to an end, and marked a turning point in city-wide transportation."

"As the blizzard continued, the infrastructure vital to many east coast cities began to crumble. Many fires broke out, with firefighters and firetrucks unable to respond to emergencies. Power and telegraph lines were also downed, and communication between major cities was cut off, essentially isolating cities. With power lines ineffective, people were left without electricity, unable to get coal or wood for 36 hours, desperate citizens even resorted to burning their own furniture."

Link to more info about the Blizzard of 1888 and at this Media History blog.

For our current local weather, hear it before the weather channels tell it - at: http://theedgeweather.blogspot.com/.

Don't pack those snowblowers and shovels away 
- just yet!

The NJ Herald featured the blog at  edgeweather.com in its front page feature article, Amateur weather forecaster touts results, back in Feb.

The blog is credited to a Newton High School teacher and amateur weather forecaster, whose track record over this unusual Winter has proved itself quite accurate.

If you want to experience a little bit of Spring,
think about popping over to Springfest - being held the end of next week at the County Fairgrounds in Augusta.

courtesy of   http://www.springfestgardenshow.org

March 12th-15th, 2015

10am to 5pm - Daily

Admission 

Adults$12, Seniors $9, Children 12 & under free.

Senior Day $8 only on Thursday 12th

Plan to go during the initial 2 days, as the blog cautions:

"Wednesday and Thursday should be nice.

Next Friday, once again even though the National Weather Service 

says it will be sunny, it likely won't be,    

as another low pressure area will approach from the Gulf of Mexico, 

bringing us a chance of rain or snow.

This storm will likely continue through the day on Saturday 

and possibly even into Sunday 

with chances for rain, snow, freezing rain, or sleet."