Sayreville Historical Society

09/01/2026

On September 1, 1939, German forces invaded Poland, thus beginning World War II, the deadliest international conflict. Between 60 and 80 million people, including six million Jews, are estimated to have died in the war.

Germany's leader, Adolph Hi**er, claimed "Polish provocations" as the reason for the invasion. In reality, it was a part of Hi**er's belief that Germans, the Master Race, needed more living space and other countries stood in the way of A***n dominance. Hi**er believed the Poles were an inferior race who could be easily defeated and enslaved.

Within days, the SS "Death's Head" regiments were terrorizing civilians. Concentrations camps were soon established for slave labor and the extermination of Hi**er's enemies and other minority groups.

Poland's invasion introduced the world to Germany's new style of battle, the Blitzkrieg: tank divisions, supported by the Luftwaffe, raced forward and punched holes in the Polish defenses, with shocking speed and strength.

time.com
worldwar2facts.org
history.com
nationalworldwar2museum.org

09/01/2026

Today's Revolutionary Moment

On September 1, 1780, Militia Captain Joshua Huddy was captured for the first time by American Loyalists led by Colonel Tye, an escaped Monmouth County slave. Huddy's notoriety as a militia leader and privateer made him a target for those supporting the crown.

In the early morning, a band of between 25 and 60 Loyalists surrounded the Huddy tavern/homestead in Colts Neck. Inside were Huddy and a servant woman, Lucretia Emmons. Emmons is described as an African American, although the illustration depicts her as white. By loading and firing guns from windows throughout the house, the two managed to hold off the attacking force for two hours. It was only after Colonel Tye's men set the house on fire that Huddy surrendered. The attacking Loyalists put out the fire and Emmons escaped in the confusion.

While the Loyalists marched Huddy to the Shrewsbury River, the local militia jumped into pursuit to save their leader. During a battle on the beach, Huddy was shot in the leg. While being carried onto a barge, Huddy managed to jump into the water and swam toward the militia. As he swam, Huddy continually called out, "I am Huddy" to avoid being shot by his rescuers.

Huddy needed several months to recover from his injuries. However, Colonel Tye would later die when a wrist wound suffered during the fighting became infected with tetanus.

revolutionarywarnewjersey.com
njcssjournal.com
allthingsliberty.com
revolutionarynj.org

08/31/2026

Monday Memory

Here is an undated black and white photograph of Sayreville's Road Department and Borough officials. Some are looking serviously at a map and others are smiling at the photographer. Notice the ashtrays on the conference table! The second photograph shows the names of the men pictured. Recognize anyone?

Sayreville Historical Society Archives

08/30/2026

Today's Revolutionary Moment

William Livingston became New Jersey's first governor on August 31, 1776, defeating Richard Stockton.

Born in Albany, NY, Livingston was active in that colony's politics before moving to New Jersey in the early 1770s. He represented New Jersey in the First and Second Continental Congresses and served in the New Jersey militia.

Despite having a home, Liberty Hall, in Elizabethtown, now Union, Livingston found himself governing while on the run from the British. While governor, Livingston was a member of the Constitutional Convention and helped ensure New Jersey's ratification of the document.

During the Revolution, Livingston came to see slavery as incompatible with the ideals of the American Revolutions. Ironically, he owned two slaves and came from wealthy family which had been involved in the slave trade. Livingston freed his slaves and was able to win a ban on the Atlantic slave trade in New Jersey in 1786, 22 years before it became illegal nationwide.

Livingston died in office in 1790.

"New Jersey in the American Revolution, 1763-1783, A Chronology" by Dennis P. Ryan
nj.com
revolutionarynj.org
mountvernon.org
theconstitutional.com

08/27/2026

Today's Revolutionary Moment

Gen. Washington and the Continental Army crossed New Jersey numerous times during the American Revolution. But late August 1781 would be different.
Washington and the French, under Gen. Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, would be heading south to Virginia and victory.

Since their landing in Rhode Island in 1780, the question of how the French forces would be used to help the Americans was unclear. Washington and Rochambeau met several times to discuss strategy. After it became clear that Washington's preferred attack on New York City was impractical, two set their sights on the South, where the French fleet awaited in Chesapeake Bay.

They marched on parallel routes through New Jersey, sparing the state's roads from wear and tear as well as spreading the burden of supporting two armies across the small towns.

In New Jersey, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route follows a series of roadways from the New York border south to Trenton, including parts of several present day county roads and U.S. Routes 202 and 206. These roadways were the subject of an extensive study that documented the march of the various military units through New Jersey and identified routes, campsites, communities, and ‘witness’ sites with remaining historic resources.

In March 2009, the W3R Route was officially designated as a National Historic Trail. The W3R initiative in New Jersey is led by the non-profit W3R-NJ Association.

"New Jersey in the American Revolution, 1763-1783, A Chronology" by Dennis P. Ryan
mountvernon.org
nps.org
battleofrhodeisland.org
hiddennj.com

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

Today's Revolutionary Moment

George Washington is considered not only the Father of His Country, but also, perhaps, the Father of the American Foxhound. Like many Virginia gentlemen, Washington loved to fox hunt and bred his hounds to emphasize desired traits. His work, and that of other Virginia breeders, resulted in the American Fox Hound.

Washington kept many dogs, mainly for hunting or working, at Mount Vernon. He brought one hound, Sweet Lips, with him to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Another dog, French hound Vulcan, is reported to have stolen a ham from Martha Washington's kitchen. Guests that night were told the story and it is reported that Washington laughed heartily at the tale.

Washington's love for his dogs no doubt was behind his gracious gesture to British Gen. William Howe. During the 1777 Battle of Germantown, Howe's fox terrier, Lila, was lost in the confusion and followed Washington back to camp. Washington refused to keep her as a war trophy and had an aide, Alexander Hamilton, returned Lila to Howe.

Happy National Dog Day!

history.com
mountvernon.org
battlefields.org
akc.org
ourwhitehouse.org

08/25/2026

August 25, 1944 was the day Parisians had waited for for four years. In the late afternoon, French Gen. Charles De Gaulle entered the city, declaring it liberated from the N***s.

Liberating Paris was not initially part of the plan. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and other military leaders originally thought fighting for the city would slow the Allied march on Germany and drain valuable resources away from other operations. Instead, Eisenhower and others wanted to encircle the city and leave its Germans forces isolated until Allies came back to free Paris.

However, the psychological importance of freeing the French capital won over the Allied military leaders.

nationalww2musueum.org
histclo.com
history.com
apnews.com

08/25/2026

Another step for Endangered Fire House in Sayreville!

The Borough has formally recognized the Sayreville Historic Society's efforts to preserve its Old Town Hall and Firehouse, by designating the site as a local landmark.

Local preservation efforts like this demonstrate how historic buildings can continue to tell the stories of the communities they served while being thoughtfully considered for new life and continued use.

Read more from TAPinto Raritan Bay:
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/raritan-bay/articles/sayreville-council-moves-forward-on-old-town-hall-firehouse-preservation

08/25/2026

Today's Revolutionary Moment

George Washington was not the only Founding Father who spent a night or two or more in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. The Indian Queen Tavern, formerly in New Brunswick, hosted both Ben Franklin and John Adams. The two were guests in 1776 as they traveled to Staten Island to try to negotiate a peace treaty with British General Richard Howe.

Franklin and Adams shared a room in the crowded inn. According to biographers, Franklin insisted on keeping the window open, believing in the healthful benefits of fresh air. Adams, however, feared the possible health risks of the night air. Legend has it that Adams drifted off to sleep while Franklin explained his belief that people in closed rooms were likely to catch colds from each other.

The Indian Queen tavern was built in the 1700s and stood on Albany Street, New Brunswick, until it was moved to East Jersey Olde Towne Village in Piscataway in 1971. While parts of it have been rebuilt, much of the original building remain.

"Unhappy Catastrophes" by Robert M. Dunkerly
revolutionarynj.org
hiddennj.com
pbs.com