Colored Crystal Palace by Bob Bowné
9 hours ago
December 24, 2011
Yule Log!
For many years Channel 11, WPIX in New York City (one of the oldest TV stations in the country), would present the "Yule Log" on Christmas Eve. While the Yule Log burned, Christmas carols would play. Now my childhood home did have a fireplace, but there was something about the Yule Log on Channel 11 that made us happy. It became a New York area tradition. I hope you enjoy it! This particular Yule Log was shown in 1983.
November 15, 2011
Thanksgiving in the Country, Part II
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
Last week I showed you some photos of our time at Thanksgiving in the Country, held in Sergeantsville, New Jersey (part of Delaware Township). The house tours were fascinating, and here are some more photos. Unfortunately I could not take pictures inside the houses (these are private properties), but I tried to take as many as I could outside.
We visited a home where George Washington slept (this is not a museum but a home where someone actually lives!), complete with summer kitchen.
We visited the beautiful house of a brilliant illustrator, and also a multimillion dollar mansion set on 26 acres.
We visited a very interesting house where modern meets old. In the living room the homeowners had a very large German clock on the wall from a bell tower, a ottoman covered with material from a circus tent, a set of orange school lockers against one wall with a bowl full of billiard balls on top. Very interesting. Those homeowners have eclectic tastes.
I would be willing to move into any of these homes immediately!
We also just were able to appreciate the beautiful Hunterdon County countryside.
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
To read more about Sergeantsville, click here.
Click here to see last week's photos of Thanksgiving in the Country.
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
November 08, 2011
Thanksgiving In The Country, Part I
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For the last 38 years Sergeantsville, NJ has hosted Thanksgiving In The Country. This is a tour of interesting houses and places in the surrounding countryside. The proceeds benefit the Cleft Palate Unit of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Sergeantsville (the first syllable is pronounced "surge"), part of Delaware Township in Hunterdon County, is a lovely rural area.
Many houses and buildings in the area date to the Revolutionary War days. Many buildings there and in surrounding towns are in the National Register of Historic Places. I was also pleased to see signs on some farms that are designated as preserved farmlands.
Nearby is the famous Green Sergeant’s Covered Bridge, which we passed through twice but I was unable to photograph (we were on the tour bus and went through the bridge quickly). I will definitely go back for that! It is the last covered bridge in New Jersey.
This year’s tour included an artist’s home, an old house that George Washington slept in (he slept his way all over New Jersey during the Revolutionary War), and a really cool old house with an eclectic mix of modern and old furnishings. I couldn’t take photos inside the houses of course, but tried to take as many photos of the surroundings as I could. Also included was the Methodist church, where a delicious lunch was served, and the Prallsville Mills in Stockton, where a complimentary tea was served.
The photo above is the Sergeantsville Post Office. Below are photos of the Sergeantsville General Store, The Sergeantsville Inn, the Methodist Church, some of the houses and countryside, and the Prallsville Mills.
The Sergeantsville Inn, which has been around in one form or another since the 1700's:
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| The Sergeantsville Inn |
The traffic cop:
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| Sergeantsville Police Officer |
The Methodist Church:
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| Sergeantsville Methodist Church, New Jersey |
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| Sergeantsville Methodist Church, New Jersey |
The General Store:
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| Sergeantsville General Store, New Jersey |
One of the tour houses and surrounding countryside:
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
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| Thanksgiving in the Country House Tour 2011, Sergeantsville, NJ |
The Prallsville Mills in Stockton, NJ:
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| Prallsville Mills, Stockton, New Jersey |
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| Prallsville Mills, Stockton, New Jersey |
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| Prallsville Mills, Stockton, New Jersey |
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| Prallsville Mills, Stockton, New Jersey |
To read more about Sergeantsville (Delaware Township), click here.
For more about the Sergeantsville Inn, click here.
For more about the Prallsville Mills, click here.
For more about the Green Sergeant’s Covered Bridge, click here.
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
For more about the Prallsville Mills, click here.
For more about the Green Sergeant’s Covered Bridge, click here.
October 30, 2011
Snowtober!
As I write this I'm sitting in semi-darkness. Why? Because we had a massive snowstorm yesterday! Two days before Halloween. The poor trees -- their leaves were just getting to be so beautiful and then the wind, snow, and ice hit them and WHAM! Many trees around here are down for the count. Too many leaves plus snow plus ice were too much for them.
Yesterday and most of today we were totally without power. You know what that means?
1. No showers, unless you want to take a shower in pure, icy water. I WANT A SHOWER!
2. All the food in our refrigerator is totally ruined and I had to spend the morning throwing it all out (and cleaning the fridge thoroughly). At least the fridge is nicely defrosted now.
3. No TV.
4. No internet.
Anyway, I spent a few minutes today (a beautiful bright, sunny day compared to yesterday!) We had to go out to get some food (all the supermarkets and restaurants in our town are CLOSED -- no electricity). We finally ended up at a Dunkin' Donuts. We passed by many NJ DOT crews cutting down trees. There were broken trees everywhere. We were so sad.
Anyway, PART of our electricity is back and I managed to boot up my computer and it works!
Our refrigerator is sitting empty and silent, waiting for the electricity to come back. I can't wait until it works again. I'm tired of eating dry cereal with cups of water.
October 25, 2011
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, is a charming place with a downtown that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Famous because of the prestigious Bucknell University, the town is nestled on the banks of the Susquehanna River.
October 23, 2011
Fosterfields, A Living Historical Farm, Part II
Yesterday I explained the history of Fosterfields. Here are a few more photos.
In first photo above are corn cribs, used for storing and drying field corn, which is eventually fed to the animals.
The next two photos are cornfields.
The first photo below shows the ensilage pits.
The next two photos are cornfields.
The first photo below shows the ensilage pits.
Ensilage is livestock feed made by chopping green corn stalks and storing them in an almost airtight environment.
The farm superintendent's home, the 1920's farmhouse:
Walking the cows home:
To read my first post on Fosterfields, click here.
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
The farm superintendent's home, the 1920's farmhouse:
Walking the cows home:
To read my first post on Fosterfields, click here.
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
October 22, 2011
Fosterfields -- A Living Historical Farm, Part 1
Fosterfields is a living historical farm located in beautiful and historic Morristown, New Jersey.
In the first photo of this post, B.J., the very friendly farm cat, is front and center, and Calvin the horse is poking his head through the door.
His companion, an almost identical horse with a missing left eye, Hobbes, is inside the stall (yes, they were named Calvin and Hobbes after the comic strip -- my favorite!)
General Joseph Warren Revere, who was the grandson of Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere, bought the property in the 1800s (which had been a working farm since the 1760s) and built the Gothic Revival main house, The Willows.
Around 1881 Charles Foster bought the property and renamed it Fosterfields after himself.
His daughter, who was around four years old at the time, lived in the house her entire life. Apparently country life agreed with her, because she lived to be 102! She was quite an interesting character.
As the website says:
Wishing to preserve her beloved home and give future generations the chance to experience the sights, smells, and sounds of rural life, Caroline Foster in 1979 bequeathed Fosterfields to the Morris County Park Commission, to be preserved as a "living historical farm," the first in New Jersey. Not a replica, Fosterfields is a working farm, using the tools, techniques, and materials of a turn-of-the-century farm.
Fosterfields closes for the season on October 30th. It is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The weather should be gorgeous this weekend!
The Willows:
The Ice House:
The Woodshed:
You can read more about Fosterfields, including some wonderful stories about Caroline Foster.
Click HERE for Part II!
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
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