Notice: Our Dec 14 HOLIDAY TEA has been POSTPONED til next year

View of Van Veghten House facing North. This used to be the back of the house.

The Local Source for The Historian In All of us.

We can help with local research, genealogy, archives, programs and networking.

Open House Hours with special conditions.

908-218-1281

Breaking News

Holidays and History Events

Van Veghten Open House Tuesdays: DEC 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 11 am to 3 pm and second and fourth Saturdays Dec 13 and 27 from 12 pm to 3 pm. Special dates by appointment.

Our two room Revolutionary War Museum is open and waiting for visitors. Stop by and check us out! Docent guided tours on Saturday, Dec 27th

Saturday, Dec 6, 11 am at Raritan public library, Wallace House reenactment of Hessian Arrest of Derrick Van Veghten. FREE. Limited seating. Refreshments. Reservations at email: 1776arrest6771@yahoo.com

Abraham Staats House Holiday Weekend. Open House and Tours Sat a

Sunday.

Sunday, December 7. The Meadows Foundation presents SinterKlaus at Van Liew house. Check their website for details.

and

The Heritage Trail Association presents a mini Middlebrook museum at the Van Horne House. See their website for details.

and

General von Steuben visits at the Abraham Staats House from 1 to 4 pm

Sunday, Dec 14, Van Veghten House. HOLIDAY TEA POSTPONED

December 25. Merry Christmas!

Saturday, Dec 27 Docents available to lead tours of Rev War Museum.

Wednesday, Dec 31 Happy New Year

Coming Attractions: Joins us for a series of guest speakers at VVH each month

Saturday, January 10 closed to public, Board of Directors planning session

Thursday, January 15, 1:30. Society members speak at Ridge Oak Center about Lenni Lenape heritage.

Saturday, February 7. Guest lecture by Sam Davis. Details to follow.

Saturday, March 14, Middlebrook Symposium

Howe Farm-stead or Stillwell-Van Tine House

Preservation in Action News

Somerset County's Historic Preservation Grant Program announced the Stillwell-Van Tine House (better known in the Society as the Howe Farmstead ) was granted $442,500 to complete restoration that focuses on updating the home's kitchenette, wooden floors, carpets, walls, ceiling, interior floors, and both porches. The first-floor interior will be restored with this grant. The Society has learned that this year is the second largest grant total the County has awarded in the 26 years history of the program. With the awards to 3 other sites, a total of

$1, 145,982 is available to save and restore the rich story of Somerset County. And just in time for the 250th celebration of the Declaration of Independence!

CHECK OUT OUR GO FUND ME PAGE:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-schs-restore-300yearold-farmstead out buildings

(these are not included in the grant for the house.

schshowefarm@gmail.com

732-305-0265

OUR MISSION

Founded in 1882, the Somerset County Historical Society is dedicated to finding, saving and sharing the history of Somerset County, New Jersey

We accomplish this in a variety of ways including:

Foster a growing local community of history lovers of all ages

Maintain and preserve the Van Veghten House, a National and State Historic Site

With the County Cultural and Heritage Commission restore and put to creative reuse the Howe Farmstead in Franklin Township

Collect and maintain an Archives of manuscripts, photographs and ephemera related to Somerset County History

Collect and maintain a Library of State & Local History Books and Genealogical Resources

Conduct and assist public with genealogical and local history research

Communicate through Quarterly Electronic Newsletter, Facebook , video vignettes, and a Website

Issue Publications and video's of local interest

Present authors and speakers

2024 Accomplishments

In addition to holding weekly open house hours and handling more than 150 inquiries from the general public, the Society recruited a librarian and an archivist, reviewed our records retention policy, conducted another 50/50 raffle fund raiser,

signed a long term lease with the County for the field in front of the house, reorganized the display highlighting our hand tools and began one on flax farming, created a new geography display stressing the importance of Fortress Watchung to

Washington's multiple year siege of New York, acquired a wall TV and began a video library, participated in the latest Middlebrook Symposium, sponsored several library programs highlighting a member's research into how Central Jersey “won”

the Revolutionary War, started the cumbersome paperwork associated with a Federal award, received several significant artifact and book donations, and participated in the first phase of the County Docent Training effort. This is in addition to partnering with the other Five Generals Houses for the spring bus tour, hosting the Hessian Jaegers for a day, participating in the summer Revolutionary Revel at Patriot's Ball Park, celebrating General Greene's birthday at the third annual picnic, hosting a tea party with Katy Greene at the all county Weekend Journey Through the Past, meeting with the historical architect about flood mitigation efforts, attending several NJ League of Historical Societies meetings, and conducting the third annual Arrest of Derrick Van Veghten at the Old Parsonage in Somerville.

For the fourth year of our preservation project at the Howe Farmstead in Franklin Township, there was visible change: the main house's roof was replaced, the old greenhouse/gazebo was removed and the connection to the house was repaired, the barn and carriage house were deconstructed, and the beginning of ground work for the carriage house's new foundation began. Unfortunately, the loss of the barn and carriage house changed our project from preservation of a historic district to preservation of a house. In order to save the remaining out buildings we started a Go Fund Me Page with a goal of $40,000. Please consider helping with this. We really are trying to Save a Place for You !

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the active support of our volunteers and members. Thank You!

The Local Source for The Historian In All of us.

Take a stand and join the oldest Historical Organization in the County

Breaking News

Holidays and History Events

Howe Farm-stead or Stillwell-Van Tine House

OUR MISSION

Friends of SCHS

Click the logos to learn more!

The Local Source for The Historian In All of us.

Take a stand and join the oldest Historical Organization in the County

Breaking News

Holidays and History Events

Howe Farm-stead or Stillwell-Van Tine House

OUR MISSION

Find us on Facebook & instagram

Friends of SCHS

Click the logos to learn more!