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.
Take a stand and join the oldest Historical Organization in the County
With your support of time, talent and treasure you join a dynamic group of history lovers united to celebrate and preserve the fascinating story of life in Somerset County then and now!
Opportunities Coming up
Van Veghten House Open Tuesdays 11 AM - 3 PM and 2nd and 4th Saturdays 12-3.
Van Veghten House Open Tuesdays 11 AM - 3 PM and 2nd and 4th Saturdays 12-3.
Van Veghten House Open Tuesdays 11 AM - 3 PM and 2nd and 4th Saturdays 12-3.
November 14, 21, 28
Saturdays 11, 25
Admission At Van Veghten House is $5 and includes a tour
Limited engagement. In partnership with Front Line Arts, a display of prints created by veterans on paper constructed from uniforms.
Our first ever art exhibit!
Visit any day we are open and demonstate your gratitude for what our veterans haveave done and do.
Saturday, Nov 11 Opening reception for Front Line Arts exhibit.
Friday, November 17, NJ State Historic Commission Conference at War Memorial in Trenton
Sunday, Nov 19, 1:30 pm Annual Meeting with Raffle Drawing and holidays reception.
The Hessians are coming in December! Join us Saturday Dec 9 for another reenactment of the Arrest of Derrick Van Veghten in 1776
OUR BOOK TABLE NEEDS RESTOCKING. Donate unwanted historically oriented books. Get a tax donation for your contribution too. Drop off any day we're open for review. THANK YOU!
New T-Shirts design available! Check out the samples at the Van Velghten House store. Only $20
Honor our vetaransHowe Farmstead
Van Veghten House Open Tuesdays 11 AM - 3 PM and 2nd and 4th Saturdays 12-3.
Van Veghten House Open Tuesdays 11 AM - 3 PM and 2nd and 4th Saturdays 12-3.
Exciting News!
On Tuesday, October 24th the Society accepted a significant grant award from Somerset County for continued work on the Howe Farmstead renovation.
If you're ready to tackle the farm, give us a call or email to register as a volunteer for Howe Farmstead's news and work day announcements. Become a historic preservationist with our team and reach out today!
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 Van Doren-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
- Maintain Museum of early hand tools and Native American stone tools
- Communicate through Quarterly Electronic Newsletter, Facebook , video vignettes, and a Website
- Issue Publications and video's of local interest
- Present authors and speakers
OUR 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Your Society was been busy in 2022 with emphasis on maintenance, 2026 preparedness and improving financials. Here are some highlights:
created a Funding Plan, conducted a 50/50 raffle which brought in over $2100, began charging admission at Van Veghten House (VVH), to increase visitation began setting up periodic displays at VVH, to address Americans with Disabilities needs began a script to create a video tour of VVH, added new membership categories for students and businesses, adopted a Land Acknowledgment recognizing that our property was originally the homeland of the Indigenous People known as the Lenape, welcomed a member's donation of new installed flooring at the VVH entrance, hosted a video interview with a local author, replaced the headquarters building's boiler, trimmed dangerous branches from trees at VVH, and established an Ethics Committee. All this was in addition to holding four informative talks at local libraries!
On our preservation project, we officially corrected the first owners' names from Van Doren to Covert, filed for and received a more than $233,000 grant for stabilization of the Covert-Howe Farmstead house; conducted a ground penetrating radar survey of the yard behind the farm house, and continued negotiations with PSE & G and the township to reinstall power to the site. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the active support of our membership . Thank You
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Somerset County Historical Society.
All Rights Reserved.
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