December 2016

SAVE The DATE - Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2016
Annual Holiday Dinner for Historical Society
See newsletter for details - click graphic in right column.
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Nov. 8th Meeting Cancelled
The Nov. membership meeting has been cancelled.  
Watch this space for future program details.
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Oct. 11th  Program
General membership meeting. No program.

Mittens topic for all-hands meeting
of Historical Preservation Society of UT

Jamie Hand, right, presented the documentary "Benjamin Franklin and the Cape May Mitten Trade" at the Sept. 13, 2016 meeting meeting of the Historical Preservation Society of Upper Twp.(HPSUT). Also pictured in Mike Houdart, Past President and HPSUT Board Member. Sonia Forry, below, introduced Hand.  Hand, along with local historian Gwen Brownell Raring and film maker, Jim Talone developed the 17 minute documentary that gives a discussion of this "mitten trade" cottage industry that was strictly the labor of women and girls in colonial Cape May County. The mitten trade was the fourth largest industry in the county prior to the Revolution and continued until after the Civil War. 
- Photos by Ralph Cooper, HPSUT Board Member.

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Early Strathmere History Video
Former Strathmere resident Ken Weaver has just released his new video on the early history of Strathmere, New Jersey. He supplied a DVD copy to the Historical Society for use in spreading the Township history. 

In his presentation Ken describes the development of the seashore village from the 1880’s to the great northeast storm of 1962. He also reviews some of his early memories of growing up in Strathmere in the forties and fifties. He talks about the importance of the railroads in Strathmere’s development and how the name changed from Corson’s Inlet as the result of a contest. The video contains over 100 old pictures. 

The video has been uploaded to Youtube, so it is available on either your computer or your “smart” TV if it has Internet access. Just go to Youtube (youtube.com) and in the search bar enter “Strathmere History”. You’ll see a Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive parked along Commonwealth Avenue in Strathmere - and that’s it.
(Ken says you may want to watch it in installments – it’s over 90 minutes long!)
Video Link Here > www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp8tImr-2JA

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Sept. 13th Program
     Cape May County Mitten Trade 

The September meeting of the Historical Preservation Society of Upper Township will be held Tuesday September 13, 2016 at the Upper Township Branch of the Cape May County Library. Refreshments are available at 7:00 pm and the public meeting starts at 7:30 pm. Visitors are always welcome!

Local historians, J. P. Hand and Gwen Brownell Raring along with film maker, Jim Talone will be speaking to us. They will show their short documentary....."Benjamin Franklin and the Cape May Mitten Trade". It will last about 17 minutes followed by questions and a brief discussion of this cottage industry that was strictly the labor of women and girls in colonial Cape May County. The mitten trade was the fourth largest industry in the county prior to the Revolution and continued until after the Civil War. A short bio of each of the presenters follows:

J. P. Hand is a lifelong resident of Cape May County. Jamie is a decoy maker and restoration carpenter by trade. He is a long time board member and past President of the Cape May County Historical & Genealogical Society. While still a teenager, his love of local history and genealogy was inspired by a favorite aunt who introduced him to the world of his Cape May ancestors which in addition to the Hands, includes the Corsons, Hildreths, Stillwells, Savages, Daniels, Teals, & Holmes to name a few. Since 2008, Jamie has edited and written articles for "The Blue Book" the Cape May County Journal of History & Genealogy, and this past year mailed out the 85th annual issue. Two of those articles have been reprinted in "Transactions", the journal of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina.

Gwen Brownell Raring is from Absecon, N. J. and holds degrees in Art History and American History from the University of Delaware as well as a degree from The Academy of Culinary Arts, ACA. Gwen is a tenacious researcher, a talent that serves her well in her quest for genealogical and historical information. Her efforts are reflected in her work such as her website, "Goshen Farm Cape May" which is dedicated to the folk art, nature, and architecture of South Jersey. She recently curated a special exhibit, "Taboo: Exposing Hidden History” for the Museum of Cape May County.

Jim Talone was born & raised in Ardmore, Pa. He graduated from Mount St. Mary's College, Maryland after which he served his country as a U. S. Marine Lieutenant who saw combat in Vietnam. Jim was an educator on the Main Line for forty years and presently pursues his passion of film making. His past work includes "Salt Marsh Stories" and 'Stone Harbor Stories" produced for the Wetlands Institute and the Stone Harbor Museum, and "Uncommon Journey: The Story of Phil Cornwell" for SNJ Today. His "Cape May Mitten Trade" was selected to be shown at the Cape May Film Festival this past summer.

Marj Bixby,
Publicity chairperson, HPSUT
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20 June 2016

Thank you for visiting our website.

The Historical Society members take a summertime break each year. Our regular monthly programs, on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Upper Cape Branch Library, will resume again in September 2016.
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25 May 2016

Successful Strawberry Festival
The 2016 Strawberry Festival was held Sunday, May 22, 2016.  Most of the event was rain-free and attendees had a great time.  To see 2-page photo montage, click HERE.

20 May 2016
NOTE: Due to the rain forecast of 100% for tomorrow, the Strawberry Festival has been rescheduled for Sunday, May 22, 2016.

Tuckahoe's Yank Marine Boat Yard
May 10th Program for Upper Historical Society
Our May meeting will be held Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at the Upper Township Branch of the Cape May County Library. Refreshments are available at 7:00 pm and the public meeting starts at 7:30 pm. Visitors are always welcome!

The speakers at our May meeting will be Bette Jean and John Yank owners of the Tuckahoe based Yank Marine Boatworks. The Yank operation was featured on National Geographic Channel production ‘The Yard’ on Wednesday, May 4, 2016.

Historically our locality has been tied closely to the rivers and bays; with fishing, clamming and transportation by water and with the industry of creating and maintaining the necessary ships.

As we know from last month’s program the tall ship, the AJ Meerwald, was overhauled this last winter at Yank Marine, on the Tuckahoe River.  However, many more types and varieties of ships have been built or repaired at the yard. This is an opportunity to learn more about the craft of ship building and of the machinery necessary to do the work.
> www.yankmarine.com
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NJ’s Official Tall Ship Upper Historical Society
April Program @ Upper Cape Library Branch
Jesse Briggs, Captain of the AJ Meerwald, was the April 12, 2016 speaker for the Historical Preservation Society of Upper Township.
The Meerwald, a two-masted gaff schooner, is based at the Bayshore Center, Bivlave, in nearby Cumberland County.  During the past Winter months, the ship underwent repairs at the Yanks Boat Works in the Village of Tuckahoe.  The work was completed earlier this month and the Meerwald has now been refitted with the masts and returned to full-service for the upcoming summer sailing season.
The April program was arranged by Mike Horan, UT Historical Society member and long-time volunteer with the Meerwald and Bayshore Center.
> http://bayshorecenter.org/
> http://bayshorecenter.org/a-j-meerwald/

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Upcoming Events:

General Meetings
Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 7 pm
Program: TBA
Meeting Location: Upper Branch Library

Tuesday, June 14, 2016, 7 pm
Program: TBA
Meeting Location: Upper Branch Library
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  Click Here for review Society's 2015 activities
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Main Events For 2016
The Historical Preservation Society of Upper Township has set the dates of our two main events for 2016.
They are:
- Strawberry Festival, Saturday, May 21, 2016
             Rain date of Sunday May 22.

- AppleFest, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016.
            Rain date of Sunday Oct. 23.

We hope you will include them in your annual calendars.
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Membership Dues / Renewals::
Consider renewing/signing up today for the HPSUT 2016membership year.  See the Membership Page for dues levels.
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Information You Can Use
Our Timeline:
2016 marks the 216th Anniversary of the Township and the 38th Anniversary of the Historical Preservation Society of Upper Township. 

Membership Dues / Renewals:
Consider renewing/signing up today for the HPSOUT 2016 membership year.  See the Membership Page for dues levels. Or print our handy application form.

WANTED!
The Historical Preservation Society of Upper Township is seeking information, interesting stories, old books, letters, post cards, documents, objects and other items relating to the history of our township.  Please help to preserve our past for our future generations.  Thank You!

Newsletter
Attention all members with email addresses:
Please include your email address when you renew your membership. It is quicker and easier to notify you by email if there is a new event or a change in plans.  Also the newsletter is in color and looks much better on the screen. Thank you.   Marj Bixby, newsletter editor.
See online copy on Newsletter Page.
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 Share your memories and artifacts: 

Photos by R. J. Cooper, October 2013
Stories of Upper Township, Cape May County
Historical Preservation Society is interested in archiving local memorabilia about our Cape May County community.
For example, see photos of the Railroad Memories program,
held Oct. 2013 - See Facebook photo gallery - here.
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  www.UpperTwpHistory.org

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See Priors

What's New Page - 2016

What's New Page - 2015

What's New Page - 2014

What's New Page - 2013

What's New Page - 2012

What's New Page - 2011

 What's New Page - 2010-2009

 
Last Page Posting Date ~~ Sunday, December 24, 2017