National Park Service marks it Centennial 

 Aug. 25th

1916-2016

On August 25th, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved the legislation creating the National Park Service - a new federal bureau in the Dept. of the Interior, a single agency to protect the parks.

 This act made that bureau responsible for all the national parks and monuments, and any future national parks and such areas that would created by Congress. The Park Service was directed: "...to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

California's Yosemite state park as the first area to be designated a "national" park by president Ulysses S. Grant in 1872.

Montague has land along its western border within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area - aka DEWA.

About 35,000 of the approximately 67,000 acres 
of DEWA are in New Jersey. 
Just under a third of the park's total acreage is in Sussex County.

The Foster-Armstrong House
 and the U.S. Coast Guard

date back to 1790 

The 2 story clapboard portion is the original portion of Montague Township's
historic house and dates back to 1790.  It was constructed by Julius Foster, who applied to open it as a licensed tavern 1798 through 1814.

Courtesy www.uscg.mil 

This year marks the 226th birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard, which also originated in 1790 when the Revenue Marine was initiated by Congress.
That branch of the armed services later modified its title to the Revenue Cutter Service and, on combining with the U.S. Life-Saving Service, was renamed as the Coast Guard.        
    Read more about the Coast Guard at "The official blog of Fold3". 

If interested in learning more - check the US Census.gov> History> Through the Decades> Fast Facts>1790

Visit the Foster-Armstrong House to learn about it and our area's heritage.

                     NJ State Fair/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show

We wish the current Miss Montague, Mackenzie Derin, the best of luck in tonight's competition at the fairgrounds to pick the Queen of the Fair for 2016.

Courtesy - Montague Township post

The younger Royalty picked to represent our town are:

Sarah Hayes

Little Miss Montague 2016

&

Carter Stewart Estler

Little Mister Montague 2016

Tired of current newspaper reports?

 Take a peek into the Newark Evening News from 1909.

See what the top headlines were over a hundred years ago, the prices charged for certain items, and the fashion of that era. 

Courtesy   http://www.theindependencedays.com/

  

This prayer is an adaptation of the prayer which was composed by Archbishop John Carroll for use on the occasion of the inauguration of George Washington in 1789. 

Almighty and eternal God,
you have revealed your glory to all nations.

God of power and might, wisdom and justice,
through you authority is rightly administered,
laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed.

-We pray for the president:
Assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude
the President of these United States,
that his administration may be conducted in righteousness,
and be eminently useful to your people over whom he presides.
May he encourage due respect for virtue and religion.
May he execute the laws with justice and mercy.
May he seek to restrain crime, vice, and immorality.

-We pray for the members of Congress:
Let the light of your divine wisdom
direct the deliberations of Congress,
and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws
framed for our rule and government.
May they seek to preserve peace, promote national happiness,
and continue to bring us the blessings of liberty and equality.

-We pray for state and local officials:
We pray for the governor of this state (commonwealth, dominion),
for the members of the legislature,
for judges, elected civil officials,
and all others who are entrusted to guard our political welfare.
May they be enabled, by your powerful protection,
to discharge their duties with honesty and ability.

-We likewise commend to your unbounded mercy,
all citizens of the United States,
that we be blessed in the knowledge 

and sanctified in the observance of your holy law.
May we be preserved in union and that peace which the world cannot give;
and, after enjoying the blessings of this life,
be admitted to those which are eternal.

We pray to you, who are Lord and God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

http://concordpastor.blogspot.com/2009/01/prayers-for-new-president.html