Morris County Historical Society

At Acorn Hall

SPRING 2010
Gowns: From Birth to Bedroom to Ballroom
… and our membership Gowns: From Birth to costume collection, the nineteenth century French
continues to grow Bedroom to Ballroom exhibit will feature fashion designer Frederick
Please welcome the will open on June 3 at evening gowns, night- Worth; an evening gown
following new members: Acorn Hall. Drawing on gowns, christening designed by Swiss Schroe-
the Society’s incredible gowns, and wedding der, MCHS member and
 Ann Delitzscher gowns. Many long-time proprietor of the
 Rona Jannard of the gowns Swiss Shop in Morristown;
 Lisa Margolis
displayed will and a breathtaking hand-
be pieces that crocheted court presenta-
 Betty Wise were once tion gown with three-
worn by dimensional flowers. In
women of addition to the wonderful
Morris pieces on display, the ex-
County, in- hibit will discuss local
cluding mem- dressmakers and shops
bers of the where ladies would have
Crane-Hone consulted when looking for
family of a special gown for a special
Acorn Hall. event. The exhibit will be
on display at Acorn Hall
Inside this issue: Highlights of into 2011. Look for cos-
the exhibit tume- and textile-related
Historical Happenings 2
will include workshops scheduled for
From the Director 3 the Society’s Fall 2010 at our website
gown by the www.acornhall.org/
Home Garden Club 3 renowned calendar.
Eagle Scout 4 Gown by Frederick Worth

Clean-Up Day 4

In the Oakleaf Gallery 5 Third Annual Yard Sale May 22

Be Our Guest 5 Help Our Future – Buy Your Past! Whether you’re looking for a set of vin-
tage napkins for your next dinner party or a coffee mug for your morning
MCHS Receives Grant 6 cuppa – you can find it at the third annual Yard Sale on the lawn at Acorn Hall
on Saturday, May 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (No early birds!) This is the
MCHS in the Community 6
Society’s largest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds directly benefit MCHS
Membership 7 programs and collections care. Please note that Acorn Hall will not be open
that day. While we welcome donations for future yard sales, we are currently
overwhelmed by inventory, so please call the office prior to bringing things in.
PAGE 2
Historical Happenings
Boonton Historical Society
Saturday, May 15 — “Murder at the
Earl of Grey’s Hound Manor,” a mur-
der mystery afternoon tea. 2 p.m.,
Boonton Senior Center, 126 North
Main Street. Tickets are $25; for res-
ervations call 973-316-0976
(Jennifer) or 973-396-6782 (Joy).
Saturday, May 15 — Walking Tour
of the Historic Residential District.
10 a.m., begins at the Boonton Post
Office, 501 Main Street. $5 suggested
donation for non-members. Stay for
lunch and shopping — attendees re-
ceive a 10% discount coupon to use
at participating restaurants, delis, and
merchants on the day of the tour.
Wednesday, May 19 — “Eighteenth
Century Clock Making in NJ,” a
presentation on NJ’s centers of clock
production in Elizabethtown and Bur-
lington. 7 p.m., Senior Center. A pro-
gram of the NJ Council for the Hu-
manities.
Saturday, June 19 — Walking Tour
of The Park. 10 a.m., begins at the
gazebo in Grace Lord Park. $5 sug-
gested donation for non-members.
Stay for lunch and shopping — atten-
dees receive a 10% discount coupon
to use at participating restaurants,
delis, and merchants on the day of the
tour.
For additional information:
973-316-0976
www.boonton.org/Community/
HistoricalSociety.htm.
Jefferson Township
Historical Society
Saturday, May 8 — Museum Garden
Club Plant Sale, including perennials
(from the Museum’s Victorian Gar-
dens), herbs, and vegetables. 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m., Jefferson Township Mu-
MCHS
seum, 315 Dover-Milton Road, Jef-
ferson.
Saturday, May 22 — Reception for
the placement of the George Cham-
berlain House (Jefferson Township
Museum) on the State and National
Registers of Historic Places. 4 p.m.
Reception to follow at Casa Bianca;
reservations required.
For additional information:
973-697-0258
www.jthistoricalsociety.org
Lake Hopatcong
Historical Museum
Saturday, May 1 — “Hopatcong’s
Grand Hotels.” 6 p.m., The Arling-
ton.
For additional information:
973-398-2616
www.hopatcong.org/museum
Madison Historical Society
Wednesday, April 28 — “Parties,
Politics, and the Presidency of Tho-
mas Jefferson” by Dr. Barbara
Oberg, General Editor of the Papers
of Thomas Jefferson. 7 p.m., Chase
Room, Madison Library. Free.
Thursday, May 20 — “Abraham
Lincoln and Local Environments”
by Dr. Perry Leavell, Professor of
History, Emeritus, Drew Univer-
sity. This program is part of the An-
nual Dinner of the Society. 6 p.m.,
Madison Hotel. Please call for res-
ervations.
For additional information:
973-377-0722 ext. 8
Mendham Borough
Historical Society
SPRING 2010
Tuesday, April 27 — “Fakes,
Frauds, and Forgeries” by Patricia
Santner. 7:30 p.m., Garabrant Cen-
ter, Wilson Street. Free.
Montville Twp. Historical Society
& Museum
Monday, May 10 — NJ History
Day. Re-enactors and programs by
Montville High School students.
7:30 p.m. at the Montville Town-
ship Senior House, 356 Main Road.
For additional information:
973-394-0554
Mt. Tabor Historical Society
Thursday, May 13 — “The History
of Parsippany” with Nick Cerbo. 7
p.m., The Bethel. Free.
Thursday, June 10 — “Jewels at the
Windows,” a tour of stained glass
windows in Mt. Tabor and a dem-
onstration presented by Beth Shaw
and Mt. Tabor Home Owners. 7
p.m., The Bethel. Free.
For additional information:
973-586-1564
www.mounttabornj.org
Washington Township
Historical Society
April 15, 16, 17 — Used Book Sale
to benefit the Museum Library
Committee. Thursday, April 15, 2
p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 16, 8
a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 17, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m. Washington Town-
ship Historical Society Museum, 6
Fairview Avenue, Long Valley.
For more information:
973-876-9696
www.wthsnj.org
SPRING 2010 PAGE 3
MCHS

From the Director

It’s no secret that these are difficult times for non-profit organizations. Particularly hard hit are historic and cul-
tural agencies that have a harder time justifying why they should receive support. But at MCHS, we aren’t al-
lowing adversity to gain the upper hand. This spring we have applied for grant funding for four major projects to
enhance the Society and to advance our mission to promote Morris County history.

An important project, and one that has been delayed for too long, is much-needed improvements to the drive-
way, sidewalk, and walkways surrounding Acorn Hall. If funded, the project will allow us to repair the damaged
areas of bluestone on the Morris Avenue sidewalk and around the exterior of Acorn Hall and to improve drain-
age and other issues in the parking area. Equally important is the proposal for a new and comprehensive preser-
vation plan for Acorn Hall. A preservation plan outlines the history, conditions, current usages, and other vari-
ables affecting the long-term care and maintenance of a historic property. The last preservation plan for Acorn
Hall was completed in 1980, so it is definitely time for a new one! An issue that cannot wait for the preservation
plan to be completed is the ongoing structural problem causing damage to the Hall’s dining room bay window.
While much of the damage is hidden from public view behind the nineteenth century draperies, plaster cracking,
splitting, and other damage has begun to accelerate at an alarming rate! Our final project will address the Soci-
ety’s membership and board development. In order for the Society to continue to be viable, we need to expand
our efforts to attract and retain new members. At the same time, we need additional board members to shoulder
the many responsibilities of running MCHS. A plan in both areas must be implemented, and we hope we will
receive grant funds from the New Jersey Cultural Trust Fund for this important project.

How can you help? By continuing to support MCHS as a member! Just by making sure you pay your dues
promptly you save us staff time and postage. You don’t need to be a Rockefeller to contribute something—help
out at our spring clean-up day on April 24 or stop by our yard sale on May 22. Help us ensure that Morris
County’s past has a future.
-Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika

Home Garden Club News

The Home Garden Club of Mor-
ristown will host renowned gar-
den designer Kent Russell in a
fundraiser at the Haggerty Edu-
cation Center at the
Frelinghuysen Arboretum,
Hanover Avenue, Morristown,
beginning at 1 p.m. on Wednes-
day, May 19. Kent’s topic will
be “Great Garden Combina-
tions.”
Russell has had his hands in hor-
ticulture since he was eight
years old. At 19 he was hired by
Renny Reynolds to establish
Renny: The Perennial Farm, and
has gone on to design and con-
sult as well as host “The Garden
Guru” on PBS.
He will display a variety of plant
combinations suitable for the
perennial and potted gardens.
Many of the plant groupings
will complement each other
through color, texture, and
changes in season of bloom. At-
tendees will learn how a variety
of new and unusual plant mate-
rials can be combined with
many old favorites to enhance
the beauty of existing gardens.
This dynamic speaker will give
an enlightening presentation
offering many ideas, useful in a
variety of garden settings.
For advance ticket sales at $25
per ticket, please call 973-520-
8112 or 908-575-1787. Tickets
will be $30 at the door. Unusual
plants will be available for pur-
chase after the presentation.
Proceeds will go toward the
Club's projects, including the
maintenance of the gardens at
Acorn Hall.
PAGE 4
Scout Puts Acorn Hall in Spotlight
Lights, camera, action!
In 2007, MCHS won a grant from
the Morris County Heritage Com-
mission to purchase a video re-
corder and TV/DVD player. The
plan was to film a virtual tour of
the second floor, including period
Spring Clean-Up Day at Acorn Hall
Saturday, April 24 (rain date
April 25), will be a much-needed
Clean-Up Day at Acorn Hall
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We’ll be
joined by a team of volunteers
from Moretrench, a nationally
known geotechnical contractor.
Many hands make light work, so
we welcome all participants.
Projects will include touch-up
painting, cleaning outdoor furni-
ture, clearing debris from the
yard, and plenty of other jobs
large and small. Most of the
work will be in the yard, the
basement of Acorn Hall, and the
carriage house. We’ll need all
kinds of skills, from organiza-
tional to heavy lifting and proba-
SPRING 2010
MCHS
rooms and exhibit areas, which wonderful care of our interior.
can’t be accessed by visitors unable
to use the stairs. Unfortunately, the Gordon then edited many hours
project languished due to lack of of video, adding period music
time, staff power, and technical and special effects. The final
know-how. video exists in two formats – up-
stairs and the whole house. The
Then Eagle Scout candidate Gordon former is played for our first-
Best of Morristown offered to film floor-bound guests. The full-tour
Acorn Hall. Despite obstacles in- version will be used, among
cluding Holly Walk decorations other things, at conferences
lasting into mid-January, our mem- where MCHS is exhibiting and as
ber tea in February, and several a training aid for new docents.
snow storms, Gordon got in two The documentary is a very pro-
long days of filming with his volun- fessional-looking production.
teer crew and members of our staff, The lighting even brings out de-
including on-camera narrator and tails that may not normally be
outreach coordinator Karen Ann seen by visitors. The house truly
Kurlander. Acorn Hall’s irreplace- is presented in its best light!
able antiques and period-dim light-
ing provided additional challenges Gordon’s Eagle Court of Honor
– watch where you’re swinging that will be scheduled for later in the
boom! – but he and the crew took year.
bly a bit of
everything
in be-
tween. If
you have a
special
skill that
you think
would be
beneficial,
please let
us know
and we can
put you to
work ac-
cordingly. Help us turn our “before” into an “after”!
Plan to
“dress for
mess” and bring a pair of work freshments will be served. Call
gloves if you have them. Re- the office to R.S.V.P.
SPRING 2010 PAGE 5
MCHS

In the Oakleaf Gallery Gift Shop

If you have a Our note cards feature Victorian
passion for costumes from the collection of
vintage fash- the Victoria and Albert Museum
ion, the Oak- in London and have golden tas-
leaf Gallery sels so they can be used by the
Gift Shop is recipient as a bookmark. Our
the place for selection of scrap art for your
you! Coin- crafting projects includes hats,
ciding with shoes, fans, and other old-time
our exhibit, fashion accessories.
Gowns:
From Birth We also carry books on Victo-
to Bedroom rian fashion. The Etiquette of
to Ballroom, Dress features such helpful
the shop will clothing hints for the Victorian
offer a wide lady as “Every ornament on the
variety of head is in bad taste in the morn- be or a linen envelope for
items related to and inspired by ing.” If you’re interested in try- baby’s first curl. We also have
vintage fashion. ing your hand at making Victo- a full line of imported linen
rian garb you can pick up a copy aprons, a great gift for any
Looking for paper dolls, note of Authentic Victorian Fashion special occasion!
cards, or art for scrapbooking? Patterns: A Complete Lady’s
You can find all of them with a Wardrobe. These are just a cou- The Oakleaf Gallery Gift Shop
vintage flair in the shop. We ple of the titles available. at Acorn Hall accepts all ma-
carry a wide variety of fashion jor credit cards. Members al-
paper dolls ranging in price In keeping with the gown theme ways save 10%! Gift shop pur-
from $1.50 for a sticker book of the exhibit, we also have a chases support MCHS pro-
paper doll to $10 for an elegant variety of gift items for christen- grams.
14-inch doll with a complete ings and weddings, whether it’s
nineteenth century wardrobe. a picture frame for the bride-to-

“Be Our Guest” Returns

Acorn Hall will again be a part of Morris County’s
annual “Be Our Guest” open house event on Sun-
day, May 16, from noon to 4 p.m. Acorn Hall will
be one of several historic sites and museums
throughout Morris County that will be open free of
charge. However, visitors are asked to bring a
canned good or other non-perishable food item for
the Interfaith Food Pantry in lieu of admission. The
Interfaith Food Pantry is located on West Hanover
Avenue in Morristown and serves residents
throughout Morris County. The Food Pantry cur-
rently provides 15,000 pounds of food to more than
300 families weekly. Unfortunately, that number is
growing! You can help fill this need and have a fun
and educational afternoon.
Transportation will be provided free of charge
courtesy of the Morris County Park Commission
between sites in Morristown, the Museum of Early
Trades and Crafts, and the Stickley Museum at
Craftsman Farms. See a full list of participants at
www.morristourism.org.
PAGE 6 SPRING 2010
MCHS

Historical Society Receives Grant Award

The Morris High quality conservation forms quire three conservation forms.
County are critical to the preservation of We still urgently need more.
Historical our costume collection. Modern Sponsorship opportunities are sill
Society has store mannequins are less than available for the Gowns exhibit.
received a ideal for many reasons. They’re For $1000, a business or individ-
grant from the wrong size for most period ual can be a “Mannequin Spon-
the Morris garments and since modern sor,” whose name and logo will be
County women don’t wear corsets, the prominently displayed next to a
Heritage silhouettes make it difficult to particular gown. “Underpinnings
Commis- properly display period pieces. In Sponsorship” at $500 and
sion to ac- addition, it’s hard to get clothing “Accessories Sponsorship” at
quire two on and off of the rigid models, $250 will share signage next to
additional which can cause damage to fragile particular gowns. Sponsors’
conserva- fabric. A nineteenth century gown names will also be included in me-
tion form also looks out-of-place on a model dia releases, the MCHS newslet-
manne- wearing brink pink lipstick and ter, our website and other elec-
quins for purple eye shadow! Old-fashioned tronic media, the exhibit cata-
the display dress forms aren’t much better, as logue, flyers, and other related
Conservation forms show of items most have metal pieces that may materials. Sponsors will also be
off MCHS costumes at from the cause rips and tears. recognized at the opening recep-
their best! costume tion for the exhibit. Call the
collection. Grants from the Heritage Com- MCHS office if you’re interested
mission have allowed us to ac- in sponsoring a mannequin.

MCHS In the Community

The Morris County Historical Society will be coming soon to a place near you! MCHS is a partner in a
number of exhibits and programs throughout the area this spring. On Wednesday, April 28, the Society is
part of a sold-out fundraiser fashion show being held by the Bonafides of Somerset Hills. Antique cos-
tumes from the Society’s collection will be on display and MCHS staff members and volunteers will be
modeling reproduction nineteenth and twentieth century fashions. Coldwater Creek will provide a show of
today’s styles. The show will benefit a variety of local charities.

Opening on May 9 at the Morris Museum and running through the end of August will be “The Shoe Must
Go On!” This exhibit features a number of shoes from the Society’s shoe collection. Evening shoes to
nineteenth century sporting shoes from MCHS will be part of the display, along with shoes of the future,
extreme footwear, and shoes of distinguished people associated with New Jersey.

Join MCHS at the Arts Council of the Morris Area’s annual Giralda Concert. This year’s concert will be
held on Sunday, June 27, at the Giralda Farms Corporate Park in Madison. The gates open at 3 p.m. and
attendees can enjoy an art show, refreshments, family activities, and MCHS’s own Victorian textile arts
display and demonstration booth. The concert, performed by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, will
begin at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are $12 for adults, $4 for children under 12, while tickets at the gate will
be $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
SPRING 2010 PAGE 7
MCHS

Membership
THIS FORM IS SUPPLIED FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF NEW MEMEBRS. IF YOU ARE ALREADY A
MEMBER, YOU WILL RECEIVE A RENEWAL REMINDER IN THE MAIL WHEN YOUR MEMBERSHIP
IS COMING DUE. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

 Student $15  Family/Institution $50  Sponsor $500

 Senior $20  Contributor $100  Patron $1000

 Individual $30  Sustaining $250  Life $2500

Account#_______________________________________________________

Expiration_______________ Signature_______________________________

 MasterCard  Visa  Discover  American Express

Make checks out to: Morris County Historical Society

68 Morris Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960

NAME_______________________________________________________

ADDRESS____________________________________________________

CITY_____________________________________________STATE_____

ZIP___________PHONE(___)_____________EMAIL________________


 I have enclosed a matching gift form.
 I would like to volunteer.

www.acornhall.org

Where did you get this newsletter?_________________________________

Board of Trustees
Barbara Benedict
Learned T. Bulman
Wayne D’Angelo
Robert H. Donaldson
Heather Emelander
David G. Holdsworth
Gregory C. Kurlander
Fan us on Facebook!
Search for “Acorn Hall.”
MCHS
Hours
Acorn Hall: Mon. and Thurs.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Office: Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
This newsletter is published quarterly by
the Morris County Historical Society, headquartered at
Acorn Hall, 68 Morris Avenue,
Morristown, NJ 07960-4315
Phone: 973-267-3465 Fax: 973-267-8773
www.acornhall.org
The mission of MCHS is to discover, preserve,
and make known the history of Morris County
through exhibits, programs, publications,
and preservation advocacy.
MCHS receives operating funds from
the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders,
the F.M. Kirby Foundation,
and the New Jersey Historical Commission.
President of the Board — David G. Holdsworth
Director — Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika
Curator — Debra Westmoreland
Outreach Coordinator — Karen Ann Kurlander
Education Coordinator — Carie Levin
Morristown, NJ 07960-4315
68 Morris Avenue
At Acorn Hall
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
MORRIS COUNTY