Somerset County Historical Society NJ

10/14/2026

It's official! The Howe Farm is open to guests on this exclusive grand opening- block party style. Come enjoy our selection of vendors, hands on activities, historians abound, and plenty of great snacks and live entertainment. Somerset County Visit Somerset NJ The Vintage Vibe Tribe

The list is growing of our incredible crew of attendees. Won't you join us? Hats off to Howe! See you there~

10/12/2026

📅 Saturday, October 24

The Other Side of the Revolution: The Story of the Loyalist Vought Family

What happened to the people who remained loyal to Great Britain when their neighbors chose the Patriot cause?

As tensions with Great Britain grew, New Jersey communities became deeply divided. At the center of one such conflict were Christoffel Vought and his son, John, staunch Loyalists who found themselves at odds with their neighbor, Thomas Jones, a prominent Patriot leader.

On Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m., David Overaker, Board President of the nonprofit 1759 Vought House, will tell the story of the Vought family—from their arrival in the colonies in 1710, through their Loyalist activities during the American Revolution, and what happened to the family after the war.

Come hear the story of the Revolution from a perspective that is often overlooked.

📍 Van Veghten House
📅 Saturday, October 24
🕐 1 p.m.

10/11/2026

Thank you to all the incredible and brave folks who wandered down our loooong driveway to visit the Howe Farm's first day open during this year's Weekend Journey through the Past. Great big thanks also to Somerset County for the stunning cedar barn that starstruck everyone!
Stay tuned for day 2 and a big announcement!
Visit Somerset NJ RevNJ Discover Central NJ Crossroads NHA America250

10/10/2026

Braving our long driveway and doing some morning reflections to kick off Weekend Journey! Be sure to stop by and see our amazing locations!

10/10/2026

It feels so good to ✨️officially✨️ have two exceptional and rare sites open and welcoming to guests. We thank everyone who has stepped up, volunteered, showed the spirit of preservation, and persisted with us to make this possible in time for Somerset County 's 21st annual Weekend Journey Through The Past event, and on America's 250th. We look forward to seeing everyone stop by and say hi! To all our history neighbors and friends, have a fantastic WTTP!

10/08/2026

📅 October 10 & 11

Some of the best stories are found just beyond the beaten path.

If you’re planning your stops for this weekend's Journey Through the Past, be sure to include the Van Veghten House and Howe Farmstead. They may not be on the most traveled roads, but they’re well worth the trip.

At the Van Veghten House:
-Tour one of Somerset County’s Five Generals Houses and collect a limited-edition postcard. Each of the five historic houses has its own postcard, so you can collect the set.
-See live demonstrations of flax processing.
-Visit our new display about the skilled work performed by enslaved people at the Van Veghten House.
-Meet our docents in period clothing and hear the stories of this 300-year-old house.

And this year, there’s a new stop to add to your tour!

-Howe Farmstead is joining Weekend Journey Through the Past for the first time.
See the renovated carriage barn and learn about the history of the Howe Farm homestead and the plans for its future.

Together, these two sites offer a look at some of the people, work, and places that shaped Somerset County.

The Weekend Journey Through the Past is made possible through the work of the 144-year-old Somerset County Historical Society, in partnership with the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission.

Take a little detour. You might discover something you didn’t expect.

09/30/2026

2 weeks until our big day! Be sure to visit both our stunning historic sites and all our amazing history friends and neighbors on this incredible weekend!

We know what you are wondering! Just how many cool things are going on during the awesome Journey Through the Past weekend coming up in Somerset County, NJ, October 10-11? Well...

https://www.somersetcountynj.gov/government/public-works/cultural-heritage/journey-through-the-past

Get all the details, plan your weekend, come join in the fun!

Somerset County Tourism Somerset County Historical Society NJ Somerset County Library System Heritage Trail Association Revolutionary Crawls And Events Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area NJParenting.com League of Historical Societies of New Jersey New Jersey Historical Commission - NJHC Franklin 250

09/18/2026

Tomorrow is our Hands on History event! A special program oriented to kids ages 5 to 10 or so, hosted by Watchung Library, Somerset County Culture and Heritage Commission and the Somerset County Historical Society. Those in attendance will be able to examine real artifacts, discover colonial toys and games, make their own whirly-gig toy and tricorn hat, learn about clothes of the past, and more!

The event takes place at Wilson Memorial Church just off the Watchung Circle from 11am to 12pm. Explore what it was like for kids during colonial times!

Register for the free event at:
https://sclsnj.libnet.info/event/16651802

09/08/2026

What was it like to be a Loyalist in New Jersey during the American Revolution?

Join the Somerset County Historical Society for a fascinating look at the Revolution through the eyes of a New Jersey Loyalist. This story reveals the uncertainty, divided loyalties, and difficult choices families faced during this turbulent time.

David Overaker, President of the 1759 Vought House, will share the story of a New Jersey Loyalist and explore what happened to those who remained loyal to the Crown when their neighbors chose independence.

📍 Somerset County Historical Society
🏛️ Presented by the 1759 Vought House
🎙️ Speaker: David Overaker, President

Hear a perspective on the American Revolution that is often overlooked—and discover how the conflict affected New Jersey communities on both sides of the struggle.

Saturday, October 24, 2026 @ 1 PM

Somerset County Historical Society

9 Van Veghten Dr.

Bridgewater NJ 08807

07/04/2026

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, why not learn about how Major-General Nathanael Greene chose the Watchung Hills in Central New Jersey as the location for driving the British to concede defeat in the Revolutionary War?

This video arrives courtesy of Dr. Michael Beck who has also written a book, "How Central Jersey Won the Revolutionary War" (2024), on the subject!

The Revolutionary war effectively ended in a Stalemate, with the Br...