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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!
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Howe Farmstead
Howe Farmstead
Howe Farmstead
Preservation in Action News
Thank you to Somerset County for the grant for ongoing work in 2025. President Frank McGonigle and Trustee Alan Hurley accepted the award for the Society at the October Commission meeting.
Construction permit from Franklin Township was issued and work to replace gutters and roof of the main house is completed. Repairs to south wall in oldest section of the house are completed. Lovely white siding and a multipaned window have been installed. (This is the section that previously connected to the gazebo hothouse, which was removed.)
For your safety, PLEASE do not visit the site. We have pictures of ongoing work available at The Van Veghten House.
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Become a historic preservationist with our team and reach out today! Give us a call or email to register as a volunteer for Howe Farmstead's news and work day announcements
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Society Activities
Howe Farmstead
Howe Farmstead
Van Veghten Open House Tuesdays May 6, 13, 20, 27 from 11 am to 3 pm and second and fourth Saturdays May 10 and 24 from 12 pm to 3 pm. Special dates by appointment.
Thursday, May 1, 7 PM, Culture and Heritage Commission meeting, Somerville, NJ
Sunday, May 4, 2:00 PM, The Duchess of South Somerville Book Talk with author Rikki Lyn McCarthy, Heritage Trail Association, 941 E Main St, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Saturday, May 17, 10 AM to 4 PM, East Jersey Old Town Village History Day
and
10 AM to 2 PM, Manville American Revolution Soldier's Camp, 100 S. 10th Ave, Manville.
Wednesday, May 21, 11 AM, member O. Young speaks about the Lenape at Somerset County Senior Wellness Center at Basking Ridge, 202 Mount Airy Road, 07920
Thursday, Jun 5th, 10 am to 12 pm and 6 to 8 pm, RWJUH Somerset’s Journey
Through the Years, RWJUH Somerset’s Fuld Auditorium, 110 Rehill Ave, Somerville, NJ
and
7 pm, Culture and Heritage Commission meeting
Saturday, Jun 14th, 1 pm, Basketry Workshop Day, Van Veghten House, 9 Van Veghten Dr, Bridgewater, NJ
Ongoing:
April 7-Jun 29 Docent training moves to onsite internship stage
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
- 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
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!
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Somerset County Historical Society.
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