Nature Done Wright

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April 27, 2018

History Day is Tomorrow at NW Bergen Sites

The Northwest Bergen History Coalition Presents:

How Immigration & the Railroad Shaped our Towns

Have you ever wondered what impact immigration and the railroads had on the development of the towns in Northwest Bergen County? On History Day 2018, April 28 from 10 AM to 4 PM, twelve museums and historic homes will be open to the public for visitors to explore how both immigrants and the railroads helped to define the villages, towns, and boroughs of NW Bergen County. Sites include the Fell House, The Hermitage, the Waldwick Train Tower and many more.

Below is a list of highlights for the day that will engage, entertain and educate visitors on History Day 2018:

The John Fell House (Allendale) will be open with activities for children and a display of a Lionel Civil War train. At 3 p.m they will host a presentation by Jim Wright on Col. Joseph Warner Allen (for whom Allendale is named), Allen's even-more-famous son, and much more.

The Schoolhouse Museum (Ridgewood) will feature a display on Ridgewood’s growth from a farming community to an affluent suburban village once the railroad was built and spurred migration from Manhattan and Brooklyn to the beautiful countryside of NW Bergen County.

The Hermitage (Ho-Ho-Kus) will open the north wing of their house museum with a special display exploring the lives of the immigrants who worked at The Hermitage in the 19th century.

The Mahwah Museum (Mahwah) will have their model railroad on display and an exhibit on immigration. Mahwah’s Old Station Museum will also be open to visitors for a personal look at this 1871 station and a 1929 caboose.

The Van Allen House (Oakland) will open their 18th century doors to visitors who will learn about the industries along the Ramapo River that employed immigrants from New York City and Paterson.

The Waldwick Museum and the Waldwick Signal Tower (Waldwick) built in 1887 and 1890 respectively will have displays about the railroad in these beautifully restored buildings.

The Museum at the Station (Glen Rock) is housed inside the original 1905 Erie Main Line Train Station. Visitors will hear the stories of the families, farmers, commuters and immigrants who traveled through this station and called Glen Rock home.

The Old Stone House (Ramsey) is the oldest building in Ramsey dating back to 1740. It was a tavern and stagecoach house and will feature a display of vintage post cards from days long before e-mail, Facebook and social media.

The Zabriskie House (Wyckoff) built circa 1730 by William Van Voorhees is one of Wyckoff’s oldest homes. Docents will welcome visitors and share stories of Wyckoff and the immigrants who helped to shape their town.

Hopper-Goetschius Museum (Upper Saddle River) is a rural farm museum with a Dutch barn, out-kitchen with beehive oven, privy, woodshed, tenant house and working blacksmith shop. In the 19th century immigrants came to work on the farms or bought their own land to develop their farms. While checking out what life was like on a farm, share your ancestry by placing dots on the world map.

Tickets for History Day 2018 will be available for sale starting April 4 at The Hermitage, 335 N. Franklin Ave. Ho-Ho-Kus, on Wednesday through Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM; The Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike Mahwah, on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM; and the Schoolhouse Museum, 650 E. Glen Avenue Ridgewood, on Thursdays and Saturdays 1 PM to 3 PM and Sundays 2 PM to4PM. Tickets purchased in advance will be $10 for adults 17 and over, children and students 16 and under will have free admission. Tickets purchased on History Day at the participating museums will be $15 per person, 17 and over. This one low-ticket price allows entrance to all of the NW Bergen History Coalition museums and historic homes listed above at a savings of over $55.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the railroads, immigration and local Bergen County history.

For more information on History Day 2018, contact Sheila Brogan at 201-652-7354 or by email at smbrogan@aol.com.