Col. Anthony Kuser was interested in wild life and natural history. He thus acquired a large estate on Kittatiny Mountain, including High Point, 1805 feet high, highest point in New Jersey, and Lake Marcia, the state's highest lake, and maintained it as a wild life sanctuary. In 1922 he turned it all over to the state, which then placed it under  the care of the High Point State Park Commission, with Wayne Dumont as chairman. It was extensively developed with state appropriations.

 Col. Kuser gave funds for the erection of a perpetually lighted war memorial tower, to the soldiers and sailors of New Jersey who gave their lives in the various wars of the Nation, on the summit of High Point. 

 

Source of data: Scenic and historic America, Volumes 1-2 

                      by American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society

All Hallow's Eve - Harvest Fest

Halloween, known in the Netherlands as All Hallows Eve or "vooravond van Allerheiligen", was initially brought to North America with Irish and British colonists. It was not widely observed until the larger influx of European immigrants in the 19th century [late 1800's] and trick or treating was not recognized as commonplace until the early 1900's. In Ireland, however, Halloween remains much more a harvest festival.

Sussex County Heritage Tour this weekend

The Foster-Armstrong House will be one of a number of locations opening up for tours this Sat. and Sun., Oct. 15th and 16th, as part of a county-wide effort to celebrate the county's rich history - in conjunction with the truly unique traveling exhibition being hosted at the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council in Newton, NJ. The ca. 1790 house will open between 1 and 4pm and on Sunday only, a banjo minstrel will offer up some musical tunes and tales.

At SCAHC, the exhibit entitled "New Harmonies" lets anyone stopping in try playing the spoons, a rub board, or a diddley bow. Discover what old tyme country, polka, blues, gospel, klezmer, folk, zydeco and hip-hop have in common ....  and hear samples of many of these. The exhibit has been touring the nation, and Sussex County is currently hosting it at SCAHC, 133 Spring Street until Oct. 30th.

Did you know there is a Constitution Day -
when our Constitution of the United States 
marked its 224th birthday?!

On Sept. 17th 1787, the draft of the Constitution was signed and formed the foundation upon which the United States of America organized its government. This link tells the story of its creation.

9/11: Ten Years Later

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since that tragic morning of September 11, 2001. While a full decade has passed, the memories of that day remain seared in our hearts and minds. Many of us will never forget where we were and how we felt when we first heard the news. And many of us will never forget the friends and family whose lives were cut short that day.

As we gather together today to mark the ten year anniversary of September 11, let us honor and remember the many legacies left behind on that fateful morning. Let us honor and remember the heroism displayed by the first responders who ran into the burning buildings; let us honor and remember the search and rescue teams that scoured the debris of ground zero for survivors; and let us honor and remember the brave men and women of our armed forces that have brought justice to the enemy.

To say September 11 was a defining moment for our country would be an incredible understatement. After September 11, we learned that the forces that unite us are far stronger than those which seek to divide us. They say that the true test of a people’s strength is how they rise to confront a challenge when it arrives. Following the attacks of September 11, Americans of all stripes united together as one behind a common purpose. In our country’s greatest hour of darkness, the resiliency of the American spirit shined brighter than ever before and our nation grew stronger.

Every time we feel we have reached our limit, we are reminded that our potential knows no end. Today, our problems are more focused on the state of our economy and our country’s finances. While we face many challenges on the road to recovery, we can still move forward with the same determination that inspired us a mere decade ago. I have always held the utmost faith in the will of the American people. September 11 awakened us to the worst of humanity, but brought out the best in all of us.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those who mourn the loss of loved ones on this day. May God bless their memory and may God bless the United States of America.

Sincerely,

U.S. Congressman Scott Garrett