Tag Archives: art

I enjoy coming up to Germantown to visit the Clermont Mansion at any time of the year especially at Christmas time. I came for a tour of Clermont in the Christmas season of 2019 (pre-COVID) to tour the home. The old mansions of the Hudson River Valley show their real beauty at this time of the year.

The Clermont Library decorated for Christmas

In 2020, the home closed like everything else for COVID and because of extensive renovations on the property and in the home, did not open again until June of 2023. I came up finally in July of 2023 for another tour of the home. The mansion looked very refreshed and bright on a blue, sunny afternoon. The grounds were in full bloom and everything looked so green.

The views of the river when you arrive

Walking around Clermont is like walking through a history book. To think you are walking around the very rooms that family members who wrote the Declaration of Independence, were Governors and Ambassadors from our country and who owned most of Upstate New York lived is really incredible. The Livingston Family did so much for the United States in the formation of this country is a testament to the family.

Once you arrive at the Visitors Center and pay for your tour, you will have time to walk around the exhibition of the history of the family in the old stables. Here you will learn about the family who built and lived in this wonderful home. The family lived here for seven generations and like most families over time when the money depleted, they had to move out. The last daughter of the family, Honoria, sold the estate to the State of New York as a park. The upkeep got to be too much for the family.

The Visitor’s Center display on the family

The family story boards in the old stables

The history of the estate and the Livingston family in the Visitor’s Center

The history of the estate

The tour 2019 was wonderful because of the one on one conversation I had with my tour guide, Molly. It was the same in 2023 when Aaron took me on a one on one tour of the mansion. We started in the entry hallway where the family hang many of the family portraits and the long hall lead to wonderful views of the Hudson River.

The Entrance Hall of Clermont

Just off to the right of the front entrance of the home (the front entrance faces the river not the back entrance where you start the tour) is the Receiving Room. This was the room in 2023 during my summer tour of the house. The Receiving Room is where guests would wait to be welcomed by family members or people would call on the family and leave their calling cards.

The Receiving Room was also used as a Music Room as well

The Receiving Room was decorated for the holidays in 2019 with more beautiful views of the river and a very interesting clock on the mantle that there are only two in the world. This clock represented the first balloon launch in France and this was the clock where the balloon went up. In France was the other clock with the balloon going down. I thought that was pretty interesting.

Our next stop was the Library which seemed very homey and relaxing. It looked like a room that a family would want to spend their time in after a long day. The windows faced the river and the formal gardens at that time and let in a lot of light. The room was decorated with a elegant tree and looked like the family was ready to walk in and join us for the holidays.

The Library of Clermont

The Office/Library on the first floor

Next it was off to the formal Dining Room where the portraits of Margaret Beekman Livingston (a VERY distant relative of mine by marriage) and her husband, Robert Livingston hung. She had saved these along with the grandfather clock before her first house was burned by the British during the war years. It was set for Christmas lunch when the family would dine together.

In the summer months, the room was pretty plain with no set up on the table. The Dining Room has just had some renovation work so the walls and ceiling looked really nice.

The Clermont Dining Room in the summer of 2023

The Dining Room portraits

Margaret Beekman Livingston’s Wedding portrait in the Dining Room

Robert Livingston’s Wedding portrait in the Dining Room

We also toured where the food was prepared and prepped from the kitchen to the Dining Room, which was all done in organized fashion. I was told by the tour guide that for the most part the family lived here year round unlike some of the other mansions who only lived here during certain times of the season.

The Kitchen at Clermont

We took a walk upstairs to see the upstairs bedrooms and see where the third Mrs. Livingston lived. I thought it was interesting that she had two beds in her room in which neither was big enough to accommodate her. One was the main bed and the smaller one was a Day bed when she wanted to take a nap but did not want to mess up her main bed.

The last Mrs. Livingston’s bedroom until the 1960’s

We then toured what had been Honoria’s and Alice’s bedroom when they were children and then became the Guest Room. It still looked like a Children’s Room.

The Daughter’s/Guest Bedroom

Then it was back down to the formal hallway for the end of the tour. The one thing I have to say about Clermont is that it looks like someone’s home not some grand mansion like the Mills or Vanderbilt mansions that looked like they for a moment time or only for a season. This family lived here all the time.

The upstairs bathroom was one of the remodeling features

The family lived here until the 1960’s when upkeep of the estate got to be too much for the family and it was sold to the state. The New York Park is now maintained by the New York State Park system.

The Gardens:

The formal gardens were in bloom when I got there that weekend. Since the house opened in June most of the Spring plantings were already gone but the Summer plantings were in full bloom. There were three gardens on the property, two of which had been brought back to nature, the Wilderness Garden and the South Spring Garden and then the Walled Garden was well maintained and planted.

The Wilderness Garden was well-maintained and planted with natural plants

The South Spring Garden

The South Spring Garden has given way to nature

The Walled Garden was the most formal of all the gardens

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden

In the Fall, I went back up to Clermont for the Ghost Tour and the foliage was amazing, but the rain knocked a lot of it off. Still the colors were glorious.

Clermont in the Fall of 2023

The formal gardens in the Fall

The formal gardens in the Fall

The gardens in the Fall.

The I toured the rest of the estate and saw the ruins of the other mansion, Arryl, that is on the other side of the parking lot and then saw the ruins of the Old House and the Root Cellar.

The Ice House

The Root Cellar

The flowers by the Root Cellar

View of the Hudson River

The History of Clermont:

The name Clermont derives from “clear mountain” in French and was inspired by the view of the Catskill Mountains across the Hudson River from the estate.

The front of Clermont that faces the Hudson River

The estate was established by Robert Livingston following the death of his father, the first Lord of the Manor was inherited by the eldest son, Philip Livingston, 13,000 acres in the southwest corner later named Clermont was willed to Robert. The original house was built around 1740.

The path leading to the main house

Robert Livingston of Clermont died on June 27, 1775 and the estate passed to his son, Robert, who was known as ‘Judge Livingston’ to distinguish him from his father. Judge Livingston was a member of the New York General Assembly from 1759 to 1768, served as Judge of the admiralty court from 1760 to 1763 and was a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress of 1765. He married Margaret Beekman, daughter of Colonel Henry Beekman. Their son, Robert R. Livingston, later known as “Chancellor”, served on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. Judge Robert died about six months after his father, on December 9, 1775.

Burning and Rebuilding:

In October 1777, British ships sailed upriver from New York City in support of General John Burgoyne who was north of Albany. That same force had already stormed two forts in the Hudson Highlands and burned Kingston, New York. Major General John Vaughan led a raiding party to Clermont and burned Livingston’s home because of the family’s role in the rebellion.

The history of the ‘famous’ Robert’s of Clermont

Margaret Beekman Livingston rebuilt the family home between 1779 and 1782. Robert R. Livingston became the estate’s most prominent resident. Chancellor Livingston administered the oath of office to President General Washington, became Secretary of Foreign Affairs and negotiated the Louisiana Purchase.

Margaret Beekman Livingston

He also partnered with Robert Fulton in 1807 to create the first commercially successful steamboat on the Hudson River, the North River Steamboat (later known as the Clermont) which stopped at the house on its inaugural trip.

Robert Livingston in the famous Gilbert Sullivan painting.

The home’s final Livingston owners were John Henry Livingston and his wife, Alice. They added to the home and greatly valued the homes important historical role. The Livingston’s built second mansion on the property known as Arryl House, which burned down in 1909. The ruins of Arryl House are still visible at the south end of the property.

The burnt ruins of Arryl Mansion on the other side of the property.

The Arryl Mansion in the Fall of 2023

Alice Livingston was responsible for creating many of the landscaped gardens that are continued to this day. Following John Henry’s death, Alice turned the Mansion and property over to the State of New York in 1962 so that all the people of New York could enjoy it.

The landscaping around the old Ice House

The house is now a New York State Historic Site and was designated a United States National Historic landmark in 1972. It is a contributing property to another National Historic Landmark, the Hudson River Historic District. Although locate in the town of Clermont, its mailing address is in the nearby town of Germantown.

The views from the back of Clermont to the Hudson River

(This information is a combination from the Clermont Website and Wiki and I give them full credit for this information. Please check the website above for more information on the site and its activities through their Friends site.)

The Clermont Grounds

The Fall in the Hudson River Valley is one of the most brilliant times to visit and the foliage is so colorful. The constant rain knocked a lot of it down already but all around the house their were still signs of the reds, golds and oranges. I came up for the Ghost Tours which the mansion resumed this year to sold out crowds.

The Clermont Estate in the Fall.

The river front of the estate in the fall.

The Hudson River in all its glory.

The Ghost Tour of the estate:

The Ghost Tour took us on a tour through the house to meet the costumed characters throughout the mansion. The mansion was decorated for the Halloween and with the lights dimmed, it gave the house an eerie appearance to it.

When I arrived at the estate, the house loomed in the distance in its it glories with the golden colors of autumn.

Jack-a Lanterns lined the pathways and lit the way to the house.

We were greeted with fresh Apple Cider Doughnuts and Apple Cider from a local farm in Kingston, NY.

We were also treated to old fashioned Halloween candy with Mary Janes, Tootsie Rolls and other treats.

We started our tour at 7:00pm at twilight with the lanterns lit and the house waiting in the distance.

The hallway was decorated for Halloween.

First we met an embittered Robert Livingston (who over acted)

We stopped in the haunted Living Room to talk to the maid.

We met the ghost of Janet Livingston Montgomery in the Parlor.

Then it was off to the Dining Room to meet the last inhabitant of the house, Janet Livingston.

Margaret Beekman Livingston guarding the Dining Room.

On the way to the kitchen, we met Captain Kidd, the Livingston children and the last owners of the house on the way out the back door to end the tour. The whole tour took less than an hour.

We exited the house through the kitchen and out the door to a moon lit night with jack-a-lanterns taking us back to the Visitors Center. The night had fallen in the early evening at the mansion as we were the second to last tour of the evening and the moon had come out giving the sky a ominous and spooky look about it.

The Christmas Open House: 2024

I visited again for the Christmas Open House in early December to see the decorations. I had not been there since 2018 and wanted to see how things had changed for the winter months. Everything was decked out for Christmas. The rooms were decorated but not in an over the top way as some of the other Hudson River homes.

The Clermont Estate at Christmas time.

The Clermont Estate at Christmas time.

The Front porch at Christmas time.

The Christmas tree on the porch.

Even the logs on the porch were decorated for the holidays.

The entrance foyer from the stairs.

Upon entering the front door, you could see the beauty and simplicity of the Christmas holidays in the early 1800’s before Victorian traditions took over and the house was overdone with decorations. Garland, Holly and simple pine trees adorned the rooms and welcomed everyone to the Christmas Holiday Open House sponsored by the Friends of Clermont. The home was nicely decorated for the holidays circa 1840’s.

Entering the Front Door at Clermont at Christmas.

The wreath was beautiful on the door.

Livingston Painting in the foyer

The Sugar Spun Clermont Sculpture.

Painting in the Foyer of Robert Livingston

Portrait of Margaret Livingston in the Foyer.

The holiday display.

The Office of Clermont

The Table Top tree in the Office.

The Library was set for Christmas morning with a large tree, homemade presents from the family and a morning of Christmas cheer. The views from the windows would have shown the beautiful views of the river.

The Library at Clermont

The Clermont Library at Christmas time.

The Christmas tree in the library.

The Library decorations.

Library decorations.

The Living Room was set for Afternoon Tea and for greeting guests who would have entered through the front door right off the main hallway.

The Living Room decorated for Christmas.

The Living Room was set for Afternoon Tea.

The portrait of Robert Livingston in the Living Room.

The portraits of Alida and Robert Livingston.

The Dining Room was not set for dinner but in anticipation of the holidays. The elegant runners, china, crystal and silver were off to the side awaiting the servants to set the table and prepare for Christmas dinner.

The Dining Room decorated for the holidays.

Holiday display in the Dining Room.

The Wedding Painting of Margaret Beekman Livingston in the Dining Room.

The family’s private bedrooms were decorated with garland and a small tree in the foyer.

Heading to the Second Floor of Clermont.

The view of the foyer from the upstairs.

The Livingston girls Bedroom.

The Livingston girl’s doll adorns the room.

The Christmas tree in the upstairs Foyer outside the bedrooms.

The Gingerbread House display in the Foyer.

When touring the kitchen which is located to the side of the house, the counters and tables were filled with all the delicious foods that would have been served at Christmas. Roasts, Trifles, Cakes and Pies would have been served by the staff for holiday get togethers and dinners at the mansion.

The Kitchen staff preparing the family’s Christmas dinner feast.

Preparations for Christmas dinner for the family.

Preparing Christmas dinner in the kitchen at Clermont.

After the Christmas Open House tour was over, the Friends sponsored Marshmallow roasting on the front lawn of the mansion and refreshments and talks up at the Visitors Center.

Roasting Marshmallows over the firepit on the mansion’s grounds after the walking tour of the mansion.

Christmas cookies, Apple Cider and Classic Candies in the Visitors Center ended the tour and the Open House for the day.

After the tour was over, I toured the gardens, which were dormant at the time and the grounds along the Hudson River. The views were just amazing and the gardens awaited the coming of the Spring when flowers would be blooming again.

The Garden Tours:

In the Summer of 2024, I took a special Garden Tour of the Livingston Gardens. A new Lead Gardener had been hired by the State of New York and she was starting to renovate the gardens. So we took a tour of the four gardens near the mansion. While we toured the estate grounds, we visited the South Spring Garden, the Walled Garden, the Children’s Garden and the Cutting Garden to see how they were progressing. The staff here is doing a good job bringing these gardens back to life to how Alice Livingston envisioned them.

The first was the South Spring Garden which is closest the house. This was built when the stairs to the side of the home were built and one of Alice Livingston’s first gardens.

The South Spring Garden sign

The South Spring Garden in Summer 2023

The South Spring Garden being cleaned up in Summer 2024

The grown in wall of the South Spring Garden

The Root Cellar sign

The Root Cellar remains by the South Spring Gardens

The flowers in the South Spring Gardens

The sign for the Walled Garden

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden Statuary

The Walled Garden

Then we visited the Wilderness Gardens that were just beyond these and they also had been brought back to life by the gardeners. This was to be a transition from the formal gardens to the woods.

The Wilderness Gardens:

The Wilderness Gardens sign

The Wilderness Gardens

The Wilderness Gardens

The we visited the Children’s Garden and the Cutting Gardens which were the newest gardens on the estate. The Children’s Garden playhouse had just been renovated and the beds had been replanted.

The Children’s Garden with the Children’s playhouse

The Children’s Garden from the entrance

The Children’s Garden Garden

The Children’s Garden

The Cutting Gardens were created so that Alice Livingston could grow the types of flowers that would decorate the house at various points in the season. These gardens have been brought back to their original purpose and the flowers and assortments that have been planted are colorful and the fragrances are so nice. On a beautiful day, walking amongst the beds is so nice and relaxing.

The Cutting Garden

The Cutting Garden

The Cutting Garden

The Cutting Garden trellis

The bridge between the Walled Gardens and the Children’s and Cutting Gardens

The Gardens Tour was very informative. Alice Livingston’s love of flowers and how they accented the house were her pride and joy. The Cutting Garden were all the flowers that she used to decorate the house with and the Children’s Gardens taught her daughters responsibilities and knowledge of horticulture.

The biggest problem in recent years is how to maintain all these gardens. This takes a lot of effort and work to weed. plant and prune these beds and make them look nice. The new gardener hired by the State and her team of two staff and volunteers are doing a nice job cleaning out the old beds and replanting and pruning all the plants and bushes that were already there. You can tell by the pictures there is a lot more to do but the gardens are on their way back to their original look.

The Garden Tour in 2026: “Gardens and Growth-The Evolving Landscape of Clermont”

The Clermont Garden Walking Tour 2026:

I returned in the Spring of 2026 for the an updated walking tour of the gardens “Gardens and Grounds: Evolving Landscaping of Clermont”, where the State of New York horticulturalist who had just been hired to maintain the gardens, explained to us the developments and goals that the State wanted for the direction of the landscaping on the property. They wanted it brought back to the 1930’s blueprint of what Alice Livingston had originally envisioned for the estate when she returned from Europe.

Arriving to the Clermont estate for the walking tour

We started the tour with a history of the house and Alice Livingston’s return from Europe to create her famous gardens

The front of the mansion in the Spring of 2026

We started the tour at the Walled Garden which was just finished being restored. The back wall had just been finished and the site’s main horticulturalist explained that she was working with a group of volunteers to maintain the gardens.

The Walled Garden designed by Alice Livingston

The Walled Garden in the Spring of 2026

The inside to the entrance of the Walled Garden

The back part of the Walled Garden

The next garden we toured was the Wilderness Garden which included wildflowers and a fish pond

The Wilderness Garden sign

The back part of the Walled Garden leads to the Wilderness Garden

The entrance to the Wilderness Gardens

The lecture on the design and plantings of the Wilderness Garden

The colorful wildflowers that line the grass paths

The fish pond in the Wilderness Garden

We then followed the path and walked up and toured the Cutting and Children’s Garden. These colorful gardens once supplied the house with an assortment of fresh flowers. It also taught the Livingston girls the attributes of gardening.

The Cutting Garden and Greenhouse sign

The main Cutting Garden

The Cutting garden

The Cutting Garden in the late Spring

The in season flowers in the Cutting Garden

The Children’s Playhouse and Garden is next to the Cutting Garden

The Children’s Garden in the Spring

Touring past the old Greenhouses

Part of the former greenhouse

The tour through the grounds with my group

The pathway back to Clermont

Touring along the river

The former roadway between the house and the river

The South Spring Garden

Our last garden toured was the one closest to the house and that was the South Spring Garden of which Alice could see from her window. When the porch was removed from the home and Alice developed plans for other gardens, this garden went ‘native’.

The South Garden

The South Garden in bloom

The views from the South Garden

The flower planters near the South Garden

The planters filled with Spring geraniums

Walking back after the tour was over and looking at the beautiful grounds

Ending the tour that day with a walk along the river

It was a beautiful day to walk the gardens and the perfect way to spend the afternoon. Each time I take a tour of the gardens, I am amazed how different they seem. I love the different times of the year and how it changes these gardens.

Exploring Germantown, NY:

https://germantownny.org

After touring the mansion at Christmas time in December 2023, I visited Downtown Germantown, which itself was decorated for the both holidays.

Downtown Germantown, NY decorated for the Christmas holidays.

This Is How to Spend a Charming 24 Hours in Germantown

Downtown Germantown during the Christmas holidays.

Downtown Germantown at the Christmas holidays.

Downtown Germantown for the Christmas holidays and church service.

After the tour in July 2024 for the Summer Garden tour, I revisited Germantown again to see what it was like during the summer months. It is a very active and historical downtown with nice restaurants and shops, a wonderful gourmet grocery store and beautiful historical churches. It is a nice place to spend the weekend when touring the mansions in Columbia and Duchess Counties.

Germantown in the Summer of 2024:

Downtown Germantown, NY in the summer

The town square and historical sign

The Inn downtown

The restaurant row of Germantown with Gaskin’s in the background

The Reformed Church of Germantown. For some reason the clouds started to roll in after a sunny day.

The church grounds across the street

Germantown is a small town that keeps changing as more people from the City move up to the Hudson River Valley. A lot of the buildings in town are becoming art galleries, furniture shops and new restaurants. With each season, there are more changes coming to the town.

My Life as a Fireman: The Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association Barbecue and Entertainment June 13th, 2026

June 14, 2026"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Bergen County Firemen's Home Association, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Boonton, NJ, Exploring Historic Morris County, NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, My life as a Fireman Justin Watrel, My life as a Fireman: FF Justin Watrel, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Uncategorized, Walking in Downtown Boonton, NJAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, art, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, Bergen County Firemen's Home Association, Bergen County Firemen's Home Association Annual Barbecue, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, Exploring Boonton, NJ, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, MywalkinManhattan.com, NJ State Firemen's Home, photography, summer, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

It was another warm and sunny Saturday afternoon and we lucked out that the day fell between two rain storms, where the rain cooled down the temperature and got rid of the humidity. It made it the perfect day for our June barbecue.

The grounds of the NJ State Firemen’s Home

The NJ State Firemen’s Home built an outdoor grill a few years ago making it easier for us to sponsor our barbecues, where the food is cooked and served outside for the residents and their guests. The tables and chairs were set under tents and umbrellas and shade trees making it an enjoyable afternoon.

The built in barbecue was ready to start cooking

The food preparation by Chef Prince and our own President of the NJ State Firemen’s Association Bob Ordway was started in the afternoon

Chef Prince and his helper manning the grill

With the grill fired up and meat sizzling for lunch, everyone anticipated a wonderful lunch ahead. With the assistance of Chef Prince of the Firemen’s Home and NJ State Fire Association President and member Bob Ordway, we stated serving lunch to everyone by 12:30pm.

NJ State Firemen’s Association President Bob Ordway helping with service to the residents

Entertainment rocked that afternoon with the sounds of performer Kelly Carpenter

As residents and their families settled in for lunch and the members of our organization startled to serve everyone, singer Kelly Carpenter started to perform singing popular contemporary songs.

Singer Kelly Carpenter is always a favorite at our events

(for information on Kelly Carpenter)

https://www.facebook.com/KellyCarpenterVocalist/

https://www.instagram.com/kellsingz/

https://www.facebook.com/kellsingz/

Residents got to enjoy the beautiful weather that afternoon

It was such a beautiful afternoon with temperatures hovering around 80 degrees with no humidity making it the perfect afternoon to eat under the large shade trees.

Members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association relaxing for their lunch after serving the residents

Kelly Carpenter performing as the sun shines on this marvelous afternoon

Sitting down to enjoy our barbecue lunch. One of the perks of membership to the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association

The lunch started to wrap up by 1:00pm and everyone started to either head back inside or wondered ofc to spend time with their families.

It was another successful picnic sponsored by the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association.

If you would like to make a donation to our organization, please send it to:

BCFHA

C/O Jeff Parma

277 Harriott Avenue

Harrington Park, NJ 07640

Please make the checks out to the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association

Our 2026 Meeting Schedule:

All our meetings at the home start at 12:00pm at the NJ State Firemen’s Home in Boonton, NJ:

August 15th (August Barbecue)

October 18th

December 6th (Annual Christmas Party)

A big “Thank you” from The Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association Executive Board 2026

Day Eight Hundred and Eighty Six: Attending Private Members Nights at the Museums in New York City-The Museum of Modern Art, The Morgan Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art March 24th and May 26th, 2026

June 12, 2026Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, Members Events at the MoMA, Met After Hours event, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New York City, Walking around Manhattan, Walking on the Upper East SideAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, art, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, history, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, Met After Hours, museums, MywalkinManhattan.com, photography, The Morgan Library & Museum, The Museum of Modern Art, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

The Morgan Library at 225 Madison Avenue

https://www.themorgan.org

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60763-d107356-r1054349477-Morgan_Library-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

The Morgan Library & Museum 225 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10016

The Mozart Exhibition at the Morgan Library

In the months of March and May right before the Memorial Day holiday, many of the museums I belong to held their private ‘Members Night’, where they hold extra hours for members after the museums are closed to the public to come and see the exhibitions, listen to music, have something to eat and drink and listen to talks about the exhibitions. The funny part is that the museum’s are more crowded on these nights than when they are open to the public.

Walking inside the soaring dining space at the Morgan Library

The first set of ‘Members Nights’ I went to were on March 24th with my first stop at the Morgan Library. I was there to see the ‘Mozart’ exhibition again.

The wonderful entertainment that evening

Touring the Mozart exhibition

https://www.themorgan.org/press/2026/mozart-exhibition

(from the Morgan Library Website)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Treasures from the Mozarteum Foundation of Salzburg, an exhibition that traces the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791). On view March 13th through May 31st, 2026, this two-gallery exhibition combines the Morgan’s significant holdings in Mozart manuscripts and first editions with remarkable objects, on view in the United States for the first time, from the Mozarteum Foundation of Salzburg. These include Mozart’s clavichord on which he composed The Magic Flute and his childhood violin, as well as famous portraits, letters, and personal objects of Mozart and his family (Morgan Library.com).

Touring the exhibition

Video on the exhibition:

The concert of Mozart as a child

The Magic Flute music and costumes

I happen to love ‘The Magic Flute’ and it was interesting to see the notes and some of the original costumes from the opera at the exhibition.

The costumes from the Magic Flute

After I toured the Mozart exhibition, I toured the rest of the museum that included the original part of the mansion.

The old Living Room

The ceiling outside the exhibition hall

The old Library and Rare book collection

The ceiling in the old Library

I then visited the exhibition of ancient Mesopotamia art scrolls. This was really interesting how this form of written art worked into the collection.

The exhibit on ancient scrolls

https://www.themorgan.org/collection/ancient-near-eastern-seals-and-tablets

I thought this was so interesting

An interesting form of communication

Video on the Exhibition

The Dining area during Members Night

After touring the museum, I went to see what everyone was eating in the museum’s small restaurant was eating because it was getting crowded. The counter was filled with delicious looking desserts.

The sweet treats at the dessert bar at the Morgan Library

The selection of desserts at the Morgan Library the night of Member’s Night

I then visited their very interesting Gift Shop

Admiring the flowers at the Coat Check on the way out. I thought this was a nice touch.

All good things come to an end and I made my way up Fifth Avenue to the Museum of Modern Art for the second part of the evening

I could not believe that the museums arranged these ‘Members Nights’ on the same night. They would plan this three weeks late when the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I just had to enough time at one museum and see what I wanted to see and then go up the next.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) at 11 West 53rd Street

https://www.moma.org

My review on TripAdvisor:

I started this Member’s Night at the MoMA, finishing the ‘exhibition and then going to the Met.

The opening of the ‘Frida and Diego’ on Members Night

https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5882

(From the MoMA website):

Frida and Diego: The Last Dream celebrates Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera—two of Mexico’s most beloved icons of 20th-century art—in a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the Metropolitan Opera. Organized in conjunction with the Met’s new production of El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego, the presentation at MoMA features artworks by Kahlo and Rivera in an elaborate setting designed by Jon Bausor, the set and co-costume designer of the opera. For both the opera and installation, Bausor evokes the artists’ lives and artworks in his theatrical designs (MoMA.org).

Key participants in a movement to redefine Mexican culture and identity after the revolution of 1910–20—Rivera through monumental murals and Kahlo through intimate self-portraits—the artists were romantically involved from 1928 until Kahlo’s death in 1954. The fictional narrative of the opera El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego begins three years after Kahlo’s death and follows an aging Rivera as he summons the deceased Kahlo back to life on the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday honoring passed loved ones. As the opera and installation design attest, the pair continue to have an enduring influence on artists across the visual and performing arts (MoMA.org).

Video on the exhibition:

The opening of the ‘Frida and Diego’ exhibition brought members out in droves

The description of the exhibition

The tree dominates the center of the exhibition

The signature piece from the exhibition

One of the dominate drawings

Looking over costume designs

Some of my favorite costume designs

Another great costume design

After touring the exhibition, I visited some of the other galleries and looked over other works of art that I admired in the past. I took a quick tour of the Modern Galleries before I left that evening.

The Jackson Pollack work

I loved this creative food service work

After touring the museum, I joined the rest of the crowd on the main floor for music.

The main lobby of the MoMA the night of Member’s Night

A few weeks later, the Metropolitan Museum of Art had planned their Member’s Night and then the Museum of Modern Art planned a Member’s Night the same night. So I planned another night of running back and forth between museums.

Member’s Night at the Museum of Modern Art

The schedule of events

There was a lot of activities happening that evening and I wondered around museum to see all of them. I started in the Museum Garden to hear the singers who were performing that evening.

The first performer was Lizzy Hilliard, who performed the guitar and was really enjoyable to hear. She is a very lively and engaging entertainer.

The crowds were outside enjoying the beautiful weather that evening

Lizzy Hilliard performing that evening in the garden

https://www.lizzyhilliard.com

After the performance, I wondered around the museum to see some of the exhibitions and started on the first floor which was really active.

I love wondering through the lobby of the MoMA.

While most of the crowds were still listening to the entertainment in the garden, I went up to the Marcel Duchamp exhibition and toured the galleries again (I had been there the previous week and quickly walked the exhibition).

The Marcel Duchamp exhibition was the biggest retrospect of the artist’s work in years

https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5820

(From the MoMA website):

Marcel Duchamp is organized by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Philadelphia Art Museum, with the generous collaboration of the Centre Pompidou. “Contemporary artworks often prompt viewers to ask, ‘Why is this art?’ It is virtually impossible to answer this question without referring to the work of Duchamp,” said Temkin. “More than any other modern artist, Duchamp challenged and transformed the very definition of an artwork.” Kuo added, “Duchamp’s
influence is incalculable and his myriad contributions have established him as one of the most important figures in modern culture (MoMA.org).

Our exhibition will foreground the ways in which Duchamp upended conventional oppositions between hand and machine, original and copy, intention and chance, and matter and idea.” MoMA and PMA have a longstanding history with Duchamp’s work. MoMA was the first museum to acquire a work by Duchamp, in addition to including his work in early landmark exhibitions such as Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism (1936) and The Art of Assemblage (1961) (MoMA.org).

Video on the exhibition from the MoMA curator:

I joined the start of the walking tour with one of the docents at the MoMA at the beginning of the exhibition

The gallery was so crowded with people listening to the one docent that was describing the exhibition that I continued on my own. I had never seen much of this artist’s work in museums before and had heard about his piece of changing the look of the Mona Lisa. I really enjoyed seeing it up close.

The 1919 original “L.H.O.O.Q.” was on a card

The 1930 replica “L.H.O.O.Q.”

The information on the replica piece

I then moved on to other works that he was well known for especially his controversial urinal piece.

The work “Fountain” (I thought this was unusual)

The write up on the piece

The last piece that I saw in the exhibition before I left the museum for the Met was his spoke wheel piece.

The work “Bicycle Wheel”

I wondered around the museum for a bit after the tour of the exhibition and admired works in the Modern Wing.

I love Picasso’s Cubism works

After I finished touring the exhibition, I left the MoMA for The Met. The weather was beautiful and with it being light out until almost 8:30pm. It was a beautiful walk up Fifth Avenue with the trees and the flower beds in full bloom.

Arriving at The Metropolitan Museum of Art for “The Met After Hours”

https://www.metmuseum.org/visit-guides/membership

My reviews on “Met After Hours” on MywalkinManhattan.com:

https://mywalkinmanhattan.com/tag/met-after-hours

Day Three Hundred and Seventy-Nine Exploring The Met at ‘Met After Hours’ February 12th, 2026

The lobby and rotunda for the event seemed very quiet to me

The beautiful floral arrangements in the lobby area were fresh Cherry Blossoms

The Cherry Blossoms in the urns around the lobby

The American Wing where the Member’s Bar and entertainment was located

The Met seemed very quiet that night. Being the Tuesday after Memorial Day Weekend, I guess most members were getting back to work or still tired from the weekend. It had been a rainy mess the whole weekend and I could not see many people going away.

The bar and the entertainment in the American Wing were located that evening.

I had about two hours before the museum closed for the evening, so I wondered through some of the special exhibitions and started with the “Raphael-Sublime Poetry” exhibition on the second floor.

The entrance to the “Raphael” exhibition

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/raphael-sublime-poetry

(From the Met website):

Raphael: Sublime Poetry is the first comprehensive exhibition on Raphael in the United States, bringing together more than 170 of the artist’s greatest masterpieces and rarely seen treasures to illuminate the brilliance of Raphael’s extraordinary creativity. The son of a painter and poet, Raphael engaged with the foremost writers and thinkers of his age in Rome, displaying a poetic sensibility that captivated his peers and generations that followed. Follow the full breadth of his life and career, from his origins in Urbino to his rise in Florence, where he began to emerge as a peer of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to his final, prolific decade at the papal court in Rome (Met.org).

Dive into the artistic process of one of history’s most beloved and influential artists. A true titan of the Italian Renaissance, Raffaello di Giovanni Santi (1483–1520)—better known as Raphael—matched ambition with lyricism to create works with both intellectual heft and emotional depth, a necessary skill in the complex political landscape of Renaissance courts. In his short life of only 37 years, he achieved such profound success as a painter, designer, and architect that he was regarded as the pinnacle of artistic perfection for centuries after his death (Met.org).

Video on the exhibition with the MoMA:

Video on the exhibition with CBS This Morning:

The work admired as I was walking around the exhibition.

This was my favorite piece from the exhibition

The Raphael Exhibition I know was a big deal for the museum but it really was not my taste in art. As much as I admired the work, the whole exhibition did not ‘grab me”.

I was not as impressed with the art in the exhibition and took a quick tour of the works. I had seen the exhibition on a previous tour of the museum so I just wanted to walk around again to see the works that I missed.

I then went back to the first floor and spent more time at the Costume Art exhibition. There had been so much media on the exhibit that you could not get in without timed tickets but because it was quiet on Member’s Night, I just walked in.

The Costume Art Exhibition

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/costume-art

(From the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s website):

The Costume Institute’s spring 2026 exhibition explores depictions of the dressed body across The Met’s vast collection, pairing garments with artworks to reveal the inherent relationship between clothing and the body (Met.org).

Focusing primarily on Western art from prehistory to the present, Costume Art presents connections between garments from The Costume Institute and objects from the Museum’s other collecting areas. Pairings between fashions and artworks will present a spectrum of connections and experiences: from the formal to the conceptual, the aesthetic to the political, the individual to the universal, the illustrative to the symbolic, and the playful to the profound. These pairings are organized into a series of thematic body types that reflect their pervasiveness and endurance through time and cultures (Met.org).

Video on the Costume Art exhibition:

Walking through the entrance of the exhibition

This gallery was newly created for this collection and I had display the pieces that stood out to me the most in the Costume Art exhibition.

One of the pieces I admired

Some of the Evening clothes I admired

Another piece I admired

I thought this was really unusual

I really enjoyed looking over the exhibition yet wondering how many people would actually wear some of these pieces out in public. It really asks the question “What is art?” Still, I loved the dress with all the human organs on it. Now that would stop everyone in mid conversation at a party.

All good things come to an end again and I left the Met as it was closing for the evening. It really is a pretty site at night looking down Fifth Avenue.

How beautiful the Upper East Side is at night

I was starved when I left the museum and knew not too many places outside the bars would be open this late at night. I remembered Asian 83 on East 83rd Street that still might be open for the evening and I was one of their last customers that night. The food is excellent at this little ‘hole in the wall’ on the Upper East Side.

Dinner at Asian 83 at 1605 Second Avenue

https://www.asian83nyc.com

My review on TripAdviser:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60763-d13433935-r1061867800-Asian_83-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:

Asian 83 Chinese Cuisine 1605 2nd Avenue New York, NY 10028

Dinner at Asian 83, Beef and Broccoli with Fried Rice

I ordered a combination platter of Beef and Broccoli with Fried Rice and an Egg Roll with a Coke. Their prices are so reasonable and their portion sizes are very fair. It was a nice dinner before I left Manhattan that evening.

The Beef and Broccoli entree

Their Egg Rolls are excellent

Being a member of many museums, this is one of the perks about membership. You get to enjoy these wonderful evenings while supporting the museums which in this economy really helps. That’s why I have enjoyed supporting them for years. The donation benefits everyone.

Day Three Hundred and Eighty Four Bergecco-Parc Consulting presents “Bergen 250: Touring & Marketing the Pascack Historical Society Museum in Park Ridge, NJ for Tourism” April 29th, 2026

May 21, 2026"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Projects, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Historic Bergen County NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New Jersey, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring Paramus NJ, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), MywalkinManhattan-Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc., Small museums in New Jersey, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, The Bergen 250-250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War in Bergen County, NJ, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New JerseyAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, art, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc., Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Bergen 250-Touring the Pascack Historical Society, Bergen 250-the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War in Bergen County NJ, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, education, Exploring Historic Bergen County NJ, Exploring Historical Towns of New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring Paramus NJ, Exploring Park Ridge NJ, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, food, Hasbrouck Heights NJ, history, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, Justin Watrel CEO Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc., Justin Watrel CEO Orion Malls Inc., LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, MywalkinManhattan.com, Pascack Historical Society Museum, Pascack Valley Historical Society, Professor Justin Watral, Professor Justin Watrel, Professor Justin Watrel CEO & Co-Founder, Small Historical Societies in New Jersey, Small Historical Societies of New Jersey, Small Museum of New Jersey, Small museums of New Jersey, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

Every semester for my Business Marketing, Management and Communications classes, I create one big Team assignment for my students. In a Commuter College, it is a lot tougher for students to get to know one another between their studies and their jobs, so I create these projects to foster learning, creativity and especially Teamwork.

This semester I taught two sections of Business 101-Introduction to Business, which is the entry level course to the Business/Hotel Management School. This is a tough course to teach as you always have students of various age groups and various levels of industry experience.

The Spring semester was no different. This makes the class more interesting yet more challenging to teach. I still challenge them and test them to see what type of future executives they will become.

I also taught Principles of Management, which came with its own set of challenges. It was the amount of people in the class and what projects would they be working on.

In the past, I have created these Team projects under the Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. banner, the main consulting company, the Orion Malls banner, a Mall design company and the Buscomonzefi.com banner, my Tech Division. All of these business concepts are simulated.

Each business does its best to be creative, forward thinking and have a thought producing presentations. I also challenge the students to top on another in their presentations and build on what they have seen others do in the past.

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. concept is an acronym for Bergen Community College Paramus campus where I work.

Professor Justin Watrel, CEO Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.

Our Corporate site (created my one of my former President’s:

Additional Resources

While my morning Business 101 classes worked on their ‘Breakfast at Primo Pizza’ project and my International Marketing students worked on their “The Historic Revolutionary War Graveyards and Cemeteries of Bergen County” projects, I had my Principle of Management students create a game plan to market the Pascack Historical Society Museum in Park Ridge, NJ to a younger, more modern audience.

When choosing a project for this class, I had had two other ideas that fell through, then I had remembered working with the Pascack Historical Society Museum the prior year for my “Bergen 250” Team Project. We had proposed a Farm to Table Dinner at the Wortendyke Barn down the road with the dinner starting with a Cocktail Party here with a tour of the museum. I asked the museum again to partner with me on this project.

The “Bergen 250” Project in Spring 2025:

Day Three-Hundred and Thirty-Seven Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. presents “The Bergen 250-the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War in Bergen County, NJ” April 23rd, 2025

The Video Presentation of the “Bergen 250” in 2024:

The museum had created a wonderful exhibition for the “Bergen 250” but when I went to visit it, no one was at the museum but myself. When I asked the volunteers that day how many people had visited the museum, they told me I was the first one. That got me thinking why people were not visiting this wonderful museum with its interesting artifacts and intriguing displays.

The outside of the Pascack Historical Society Museum at 19 Ridge Avenue in Park Ridge, NJ

Then I looked at their website and their displays. I realized that the museum was not adapting to the cellphone age. There were no QR codes at any of the displays, not enough pictures of the display on their website and their scavenger hunt bingo game needed an update to engage a younger crowd.

Home

https://www.facebook.com/pascackhistoricalsociety

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46713-d12610386-r1051662243-Pascack_Historical_Society_Museum-Park_Ridge_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

Pascack Historical Society Museum (John C. Storms Museum) 19 Ridge Avenue Park Ridge, NJ 07656

That’s when I came up with a Marketing plan for the museum and proposed it to their Executive Board. We worked together to come up with new ways to promote the museum and its collection. This was our combined idea and we looked at how to bring more traffic to the museum.

The Proposal for “Bergen 250: Touring the Pascack Historical Society Museum”:

BCC-Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. 2026 Touring the Pascack Valley Historical Society Download

I presented the project to my students after the Spring Break and then the next week took my students on a mandatory field trip to the Pascack Historical Society Museum in early April. The Board members of the Museum led us on a tour of all the exhibitions, then discussed their plans for the “Bergen 250” and then discussed some of the challenges that the museum faced with attendance.

Touring the museum

The students on their part took pictures and notes about the museum and their displays. Many would make various trips back to the museum to crest the QR codes for the displays and map the museum’s backyard for the Farm to Table fundraiser and a proposed afternoon tea.

Touring the museum

Touring the museum

Touring the museum with the Board of the museum

The museum’s Board members could not have been nicer and more helpful to the students and myself. We got a lot of insights on what direction the Board wanted to go.

Our Team picture at the museum

The tour of the museum took about an hour. We then had a Division Team Dinner at Pompilio’s Pizzeria in Downtown Westwood, NJ:

https://www.pompiliospizzeria.com

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46923-d4643410-r1053567938-Pompilio_s_Pizzeria_Restaurant-Westwood_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

Dinner with my Divisional Team

I find that these Team dinners and lunches are very helpful in getting the students together to get to know each other and we share a nice meal as a Team should. We asked the Board to join us so we could continue the conversation.

Dinner with both the Board and my Team

For the next five weeks the three Teams broken into Marketing, Historical and Foodservice created their ideas and game-plans to help the museum increase traffic by trying to bring a younger and tech savvy visitor into the space.

The Pascack Historical Society PowerPoint:

https://onedrive.live.com/personal/de20296acb6718c2/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7Bbc38ac22-58a7-444e-8a3d-919c9e880890%7D&action=default&redeem=aHR0cHM6Ly8xZHJ2Lm1zL3AvYy9kZTIwMjk2YWNiNjcxOGMyL0lRQWlyRGk4cDFoT1JJbzlrWnllaUFpUUFXUktobTlXakl2R3NEUUZhQ0k5OFA4&slrid=f6a013a2-4017-1000-b492-bb60994c6fcb&originalPath=aHR0cHM6Ly9vbmVkcml2ZS5saXZlLmNvbS86cDovZy9wZXJzb25hbC9kZTIwMjk2YWNiNjcxOGMyL0lRQWlyRGk4cDFoT1JJbzlrWnllaUFpUUFXUktobTlXakl2R3NEUUZhQ0k5OFA4P3J0aW1lPW1yVHgtT3V4M2tnJnJlZGVlbT1hSFIwY0hNNkx5OHhaSEoyTG0xekwzQXZZeTlrWlRJd01qazJZV05pTmpjeE9HTXlMMGxSUVdseVJHazRjREZvVDFKSmJ6bHJXbmxsYVVGcFVVRlhVa3RvYlRsWGFrbDJSM05FVVVaaFEwazVPRkE0&CID=35417700-9c90-4764-923b-3c9c9a5a6ca3&_SRM=0%3AG%3A58&file=The%20Bergen%20250%20-%20Promoting%20the%20Pascack%20Valley%20Historical%20Society.pptx

The Pascack Historical Society Corporate Website:

https://ekucevic4.wixsite.com/bergecco-parc-consul

The Pascack Historical Society YouTube Presentation:

The video of our Presentation to the Board of the Pascack Historical Society Museum on the evening of April 29th, 2026

On the evening of April 29th, the Board members of the museum joined us for the Presentation of ideas the students came up with including setting new QR codes for all the displays, a revamped Marketing plan to showcase the museum, a new historical walking tour, one aimed at adults and one to children and the ideas for the fundraising dinner, a children’s birthday party concept and a Afternoon Tea fundraiser.

After the Presentation, we had a Q & A on the ideas and after the Presentation was over, we had a reception for our guests and for the student consultants. Then we took our Corporate Team picture.

My Divisional Team the night of the Presentation

Our reception after the Presentation

It was another successful project accomplished and it looked like the Board went home with new ideas and the students learned a few things about themselves. I could not have been more proud of the students.

Historical Society of Boonton Township/Oscar A. Kincaid Home of History 591 Powerville Road Boonton Township, NJ 07005

May 19, 2026"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Historic Morris County, NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Farms of Morris County, NJ, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, Morris County NJ "Pathways to History" Tour, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Pathways Tour of Morris County, Small museums in New Jersey, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New Jersey, Visiting Farms and Farm Stands of New JerseyAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, art, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, Exploring Boonton Township NJ, genealogy, Historical Society of Boonton Township, history, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, Morris County's "Pathways to History" Tour of Historical Sites, MywalkinManhattan.com, Oscar Kincaid Homestead, Pathways Tour of Morris County NJ, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watrel, writingjwatrel

Historical Society of Boonton Township/Oscar A. Kincaid Home of History

591 Powerville Road

Boonton Township, NJ 07005

https://historicalsocietyofboontontownship.org/

Open: For Special Events and Pathways Tours only

Admission: Free on the Pathways Tour

My Review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Profile/R4960NKjustinw/mediabatch/14296162?m=19905

The Historical Society of Boonton Township

One of the last places I visited in the 2026 Pathways tour of Morris County was the Historical Society of Boonton Township which is located in the former Oscar Kincaid Farm Homestead. The house and what was left of the acreage of the farm was part of the current museum. The museum was an example of early New Jersey farming that dated from the 1800’s to the Twenty-First century. There was not much in the way of period furniture or farm equipment (items of the home were sold off since Mr. Kincaid’s passing), but the new historical society is buying artifacts and bringing them back to the farm. This includes one of Mr. Kincaid’s tractors. His roll up desk is also still in the display room which was once the Living Room of the home.

The Kincaid Homestead

History of Oscar Kincaid and Homestead:

(From the Morris County Historical Society website)

Originally a part of the extensive tract belonging to William Penn, the earliest portion of the home was constructed in 1785 by Adam Miller and Anna DeMouth Miller. Just over a decade later, they sold the property to Adam’s cousin, Sarah Miller Parlimen (of the Miller/Dixon homestead) and her husband, John, who built a sawmill there. After a brief ownership by William Scott of Powerville, a Miller relative, the land was sold to John Decker in 1828. An industrious man, Decker operated both a farm and successful forge, shipping his goods to New York via the Morris Canal. By 1837, he expanded the home, adding a distinctive folk-art painting of a face and unique plasterwork that can still be seen today (MCHS website).

The homestead passed through generations of Decker’s family, ultimately being inherited by Oscar Kincaid Sr. in the early 20^th century. Kincaid ran a popular ice cream stand and dairy business throughout the 1920s and 30s. Following World War II, the family opened Valley Farm on the site, which continued until the death of Oscar Kincaid Jr. in 2000. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, the Decker-Kincaid Homestead today operates as a museum and headquarters of the Historical Society of Boonton Township (MCHS website).

The Kincaid House

The historical marker for the house

The front yard

The entrance to the house

The main foyer of the house

The house is a small farmhouse built in two sections. The original part of the house dates back to the late 1700’s and the newer part in the early 1800’s. The once furnished rooms now hold displays of Morris County and the farming industry of the time plus community artifacts.

The former Living Room

Oscar Kincaid’s desk

There were not much left in the way of family furnishings and heirlooms but this desk was Oscar Kinkaid’s.

The back bedroom

The Flag display for the ‘250th Anniversary’

Story of Oscar Kincaid’s life: Oscar Kincaid was a farmer/businessman, a politician and a conservationist.

On Community:

(From the museum website)

Oscar’s commitment to his community transcended farming. He served as a member of the Boonton Township Committee for 30 years and was mayor for two terms. He was also a founding member of the Morris County Agricultural Development Board, on which he served for 17 years, six as board chairman. Oscar led the charge for farmland preservation in Morris County. His efforts resulted in the preservation of 41 farms covering 3,100 acres spanning several municipalities throughout the county. As one person put it: “Oscar had more impact on preserving the character of Boonton than any single individual.”

But to Oscar: “Farming and being active in local politics was simply a way of life.” Oscar passed away November 11, 2000

The contractor’s face on the wall

The face came about when Oscar Kincaid did not want to pay a contractor for his work. He created this face so that he would have to live with it for the rest of his life. It can not be planted over.

The ‘Mr. Face’ in Weird NJ

On Farming:

(From the Museum website)

Oscar Kincaid, Jr., was born into farm life. It was 1824 when the Kincaid family purchased 30 acres in Boonton Township, Morris County and began farming. More than a century later, a young Oscar took over the operation, working alongside his father as they raised dairy cows, grew vegetables and developed a poultry business. For years, they delivered eggs to retail establishments and sold vegetables from their roadside stand. Over time, Oscar moved away from the dairy and poultry business and focused his efforts on vegetable and hay production.

The Kincaid house from the side

After the short tour around the house, I walked around the farm grounds. The house was set on a beautiful piece of land that sloped down to the old farmstand. There was also a swimming pond which was once part of the farm which is now private property.

The farm property from the side with the barn

The barn across the street

The property was about ten acres at the time of his death and parts have been developed. It still has some of the most wonderful views of the area.

The view of the old farm from the front porch

The farm land stretches over different sections of the road and the property is very picturesque. It is a very beautiful homestead.

The view of the farm from the lawn

The swimming pond on the edge of the property

The old farm stand that had been used for eighty years

The old Farm stand was used into the mid 2000’s

The full view of the farm

Since the house was just recently bought, there is still some design and artifacts that need to be collected to complete the look of a Jersey farm.

The Historical Society of Boonton Township is still expanding the collection of farm equipment for property and finding furniture for the home. The property is a beautiful and picturesque and shows how the traditional farm has adapted to modern times. Mr. Kincaid only passed a few years ago but kept the farm traditional and that worked for him. He left a legacy for us to appreciate the independent Jersey farmer.

Lewes Life Saving Station & Museum 2 Shipcarpenter Street Lewes, DE 19958

May 18, 2026"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Historic Towns of Delaware, Exploring Lewes DE, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Historic Delaware Towns, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Small museums of Delaware, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in Delaware, Walking Downtown Lewes DEAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, art, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, europe, Historical Society of Lewes DE, history, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, Lewes Life Saving Station & Museum, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, MywalkinManhattan.com, photography, Small Historical Societies in Delaware, Small museums in Delaware, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

Lewes Life Saving Station & Museum

2 Shipcarpenter Street

Lewes, DE. 19958

(302) 645-7670

U.S. Life-Saving Service Boat House

Exploring the History of Life Saving Stations in Lewes

Open: Sunday-Tuesday Closed/Wednesday-Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm (In Season April 1st-October 11th-closed the rest of the year)

Admission: Free but a $5.00 donation is appreciated

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34028-d17640480-r1060547919-Lewes_Life_Saving_Station_Museum-Lewes_Delaware.html?m=19905

The back of the Lewes Lifeguard Station Museum

The description sign up front

I recently visited Lewes, DE for ‘Maritime Day’ by the harbor and there were a lot of interesting booths on the watersheds, environmental agencies that discussed their purpose with harbor issues and what the town of Lewes does for the environment.

The historic Blizzard from 1888

History of the Lewes Life Saving Station & Museum:

(From Historic Lewes.com)

It was also a busy station, guarding both the mouth of Delaware Bay and the protected waters created by the massive breakwaters of the National Harbor of Refuge. Its string of Keepers and their six- or seven-man crews of Surfmen enacted scores of rescues through the years and in particular won great praise for their tireless heroics during the Great White Hurricane of 1888, when they pulled scores of sailors from the frigid waters and iced-over hulks of wrecked vessels to safety.

The front of the museum

The History of the Lewes Lifeguard Museum:

(From the Historic Lewes.com)

The United States Life-Saving Service (USLSS) protected the American coast and saved lives in peril at sea from 1871 until 1915, when it became a part of the new United States Coast Guard (USCG). This incredible humanitarian mission came to Lewes in 1884, making it the fourth of six stations to be established in Delaware. Lewes was among the most desirable stations for the Keepers and Surfmen who manned it, with its original location on the site of the present-day Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal placing it not far from town and therefore civilization.

The view of the harbor which has changed over the years

I spent my time touring the Lewes Lifeguard Museum, which is an interesting little museum on the history of life saving along the Delaware coast. The museum’s artifacts show some of the earliest and innovative forms of rescue equipment from before the Civil War. This was the precursor to the United States Coast Guard.

The inside of the museum

The lower part of the museum contained most of the equipment, items like rescue ropes, wenches, rescue apparatus, lanterns and uniforms like jackets and boots.

Pulled and equipment used to rescue stranded people

History of the Lewes Historical Museum:

(Historic Lewes.com)

The United States Coast Guard maintained the Station Lewes from 1915 until 1969, when it was closed, declared surplus, and sold. The original main station building was relocated numerous times and still stands today, heavily modified, as the Rehoboth Beach VFW. The Boat House preserved by Historic Lewes, a unique 1884 addition to the USLSS station intended to launch lifeboats on a marine railway directly into the harbor, was acquired from the Pilots’ Association of the Bay & River Delaware in 1979 and moved to its present home at Canalfront Park. It stands proudly beside the Lightship OVERFALLS (LV-118), together commemorating the nation’s and community’s efforts to preserve life on hazardous waters.

The bullies and wenches used by the men

Information in the Lewes Life Saving Station

Biography of the men who worked there

Information on the Boat House

Some of the ropes and wenches used in the rescue procedures

On the other side of the building was the rescue boat the ‘Life Car’, a rudimentary form of rescue boat that the docents said was effective but clunky and hard to use. It shows how we have progressed in life saving.

The Life Car rescue unit

Information on the ‘Life Car’

The ‘Life Car’

The ores and other rescue equipment used

The small rope cannon

The ores

The rope equipment

The story of the ‘Great White Hurricane of March 1888’

The Men’s Dining area in the front of the building

There was no living area in the facility but a place to gather the team, eat and socialize when manning the station.

History of Lewes Lifeguard Museum:

(From the Lewes Lifeguard.com)

Guests visiting the USLSS Boat House today will find it furnished just as Keeper John Clampitt and his courageous Surfmen left it on March 12, 1888, as they pushed out into the roaring gale and whipping snow for their finest hours. It also features a display of early life-saving equipment, including the rope-and-pulley Breeches Buoy rescue system, a steel life-car, and a rare 1887 Long Branch, New Jersey-style surfboat under restoration.

The dining area and the schedule

The dining room table

The Lewes Life Saving Station & Museum is an example of early beach and shipping rescue at the East Coast Shore. It also shows the daily life of these brave men and how lonely and dangerous this job could be. It shows how times have progressed and how they have stayed the same. To save people and property.

Harding Township Historical Society/Tunis-Ellicks House 16 Village Road New Vernon, NJ 07976

May 18, 2026"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Historic Morris County, NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New Vernon NJ, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, Morris County NJ "Pathways to History" Tour, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Pathways Tour of Morris County, Small museums in New Jersey, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New Jersey, Visiting Farms and Farm Stands of New JerseyAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, art, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, europe, Exploring Historic Morris County, NJ, Exploring New Vernon NJ, Harding Township Historical Society, history, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, Morris County's "Pathways to History" Tour of Historical Sites, MywalkinManhattan.com, Pathways Tour of Morris County NJ, travel, Tunis-Ellicks House, VisitingaMuseum.com, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watrel, writingjwatrel

Harding Township Historical Society/Tunis-Ellicks House

16 Village Road

New Vernon, NJ 07976

(973) 272-3661

https://www.hths.org/museum

Open: Special Events and Pathways Tours

Admission: Free but donations are accepted

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46670-d24085125-r1058924664-Tunis_ellicks_House_Museum-New_Vernon_Morris_County_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

I visited the Tunis-Ellicks House on the Morris County ‘Pathways’ tour of historical sites throughout the County and enjoyed the self-guided tour of this well maintained and displayed home. Unlike many sites I have visited over the years where things are left out and jumbled on tables, the Tunis-Ellicks House offers a look at small family farms from before the Civil War. The displays depict and discuss the life of a farming family in Central New Jersey.

The Tunis-Ellicks House in New Vernon, NJ

The house sign

The house is located in the New Vernon Historic District

The house was located in one of the oldest sections of the community, facing other structures in the historical district of New Vernon, NJ.

The house and front garden from the road

The vegetable garden in the front of house

In front of the house was a large vegetable and fruit garden with a grape arbor for spirits on the side of the house. These items would be jarred and pickled for the winter months or sold at market.

Mission Statement:

(From the Museum website)

The Harding Township Historical Society is a private, not-for-profit corporation founded in 1977 to stimulate interest in the history of Harding Township. The Society shall support, assist in and seek to achieve the preservation of documents, buildings and sites related to Harding Township. It shall also collect, preserve, maintain and interpret original cultural material, which illuminates this history. In addition, The Society is responsible for preserving and maintaining the Tunis-Ellicks House and environs. Through use of its historic site, collections and programs, the society endeavors to document and illustrate the history of Harding Township for present and future generations (Tunis-Ellicks website).

You enter the museum from the back of the house. In the backyard of the home, there were all sorts of activities going on while you could start a self-guided tour of the house.

The back of the Tunis-Ellick’s House

The beautiful view from the back door of the home

The inside of the main part of the museum

The main part of the museum was the newer extension of the home where the living room and dining rooms were located. There were displays on the walls discussing farm life in New Jersey during the late 1700’s and early 1800’s.

The Dining Room section of the house

The workings of the Dining Room

The story of ‘Country Life’ and the gentleman farmer

Pieces of the decor on display

The kitchen area of the older part of the home offers a homey fireplace for cooking and summer storage for jarred and pickled food stuffs for the winter.

The kitchen and storage areas of the home

Pottery collection in the museum

The pottery collection

The kitchen dining and cooking area of the home

The fireplace for cooking, roasting and stewing of foods

The oven for baking breads, cookies and pies and the baking equipment

The Summer storage area for canned and jarred provisions for the winter months and for cooking.

The bathrooms were on the second floor of the home/museum and I got a quick tour of the upstairs bedrooms.

Bedroom One

Bedroom Two

These were not part of the self-guided tour but I was able to see them and how they were decorated.

History of the Harding Township Historical Society:

(From the Museum website)

The Harding Township Historical Society was formed in 1977 to save the circa 1795 Tunis-Ellicks House and restore it as it appeared in the early 19th century. The society discovered an original 18th century hearth and Federal-style mantel and a water-fed cooling room besides the well. Areas of the house were left exposed to showcase the post-and-beam construction. A permanent exhibit on 19th century farming was created as well as space for temporary exhibits.

The Society saved a circa 1870 Tramp House from destruction when the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was created by having the building moved the Tunis-Ellicks House property. The Harding Township Historical Society maintains an extensive archive containing records, maps, and objects since the colonial era pertaining to the town. The archive is open to researchers, genealogists and the public. Each year we provide an award to a student at the Harding Township School that excels in the subject of history. The Society produces exhibits, lectures, tours, and interactive events to bring history to the public.

I then joined many of the other visitors to hear an historical reading on the patio of the home from a descendant of a Colonial family. He was discussing life in Colonial New Jersey.

The Colonial talks

They also had a table set up for arts and crafts. The volunteers were making corn husk dolls with some of the visitors.

They also had corn husk doll making as an activity

Then I was able to tour the grounds and visit the ‘Tramp House’ that was used for workers of these farms. This had been moved from the ‘Great Swamp’ to this location. It showed the living conditions of workers on the farm.

Walking on the grounds of the farm

The Wine Arbor on the side of the house

History of the Tunis-Ellicks House:

(From the Museum website)

The Tunis-Ellicks House was built in 1795 when George Mitchell bought it from Michael Pearce, a Minuteman in the Revolutionary War. The deed for 7 acres of land is dated April 22, 1795. Interestingly, the ledgers of Daniel Tunis, who lived down Millbrook Rd and had a store, show that, beginning May 9, 1795, Mitchell bought items consistent with building a house: a load of timber and half a bushel of hair (used for plaster).

In 1838, a local farmer named Silas Tunis bought the farm and his descendants owned the house until 1923. Eva and Lee Ellicks sold the house to the township in 1968. In 1977, the Harding Township Historical Society began to restore the home as it would have appeared in the early 19th century. The house is a post-and-beam East Jersey cottage complete with a cooling room fed by the well outside. The museum features a permanent exhibit entitled A Country Life about the workings of 18th-century farms.

The ‘Tramp House’ for farm workers

The historic sign

The inside of the small living quarters

The farm equipment used in processing crops

History of the Tramp House:

(from the Museum website)

The Tramp House is a simple stone building built about 1870 by the Morris Overseer of the Poor as a place to stay for wandering Civil War veterans searching the countryside for work. By providing a place to stay, farmers protected their barns from accidental fires by the men trying to cook or keep warm. The men would work on the farms in exchange for a safe and warm place to sleep

The house was located in one of the oldest sections of the community, facing other structures in the historical district.

The house and front garden from the road

I really enjoyed visiting the site and got a good view how life on a New Jersey farm was before the Civil War. The museum was very nicely organized and the displays were engaging. The volunteers and docents could not have been nicer and it was a fun afternoon.

Instituto Italiano di Cultura (The Italian Cultural Institute of New York) 686 Park Avenue New York City, NY 10065

May 2, 2026Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring The Upper East Side of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New York City, Walking around ManhattanAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, art, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, Exploring the Upper East Side, history, Instituto Italiano di Cultura, italy, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, MywalkinManhattan.com, painting, Small museums of New York City, The Italian Cultural Institute of New York, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Walking Around the Upper East Side, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

Instituto Italiano de Cultura (The Italian Cultural Institute of New York)

686 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10065

(212) 879-4242

https://iicnewyork.esteri.it/it/

https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fiicnewyork%2F&is_from_rle

My review on TripAdvisor:

Instituto Italiano de Cultura at 686 Park Avenue

The Institute of Italian Culture has a small gallery in it that several times a year hosts small art gallery events that are open to the public. This one caught my eye when I saw the picture of Sophia Loren looking back at me when I passed.

I thought it might be interesting and I stopped to see “Italians: Italian Women who changed the World” by artist Salvatore Catalano. The gallery held about fourth pictures of Italian women from all over the world and of different time periods who influenced art, fashion, politics and business.

There were many names I recognized and a few who I did not know. The works were very interesting and engaging.

The sign that welcomes you to the gallery

The main gallery at the Instituto Italiano di Cultura for the “Italiana: Italian Women Who Changed the World” exhibition

The exhibition Italiana: “Italian Women Who Changed the World” by artist Salvatore Catalono highlights the many impressive achievements by Italian women over the course of the last few centuries, until today.

(From the museum website):

These formidable women all greatly impacted the world in one way or another, often also against the odds imposed by a “male-ruled” society. The selection of 22 portraits includes scientists, politicians, entrepreneurs, artists, humanitarians and writers. These women all accomplished incredible feats and have contributed to the world in ways that still continue to resonate nowadays.

The Institute of Italian Culture exhibition sign:

The show Italiana: Italian Women Who Changed the World”

These were my favorite sketches from the show and women I most admired in the show.

Miuccia Prada, of the Prada fashion empire

Catherine de Medici, who revolutionized French Culture

Sophia Loren, the famous Italian actress

Lidia Bastianich, the Chef and restauranteur

The sketching’s represented different eras.

(From the museum website)

They are not all household names, but they are all at the top of their professions and exemplify the spirit of Italy. Salvatore Catalano uses his art as a vehicle to transmit these stories and to highlight the lives of these incredible Italian women.

Artist Salvatore Catalano

https://www.salvatorejcatalano.com/

https://www.instagram.com/catalano7127/

(from the Italian Cultural Institute of New York website)

Salvatore Catalano is an artist, illustrator, and educator. Catalano works in all forms of visual communication. His art has appeared on everything from postage stamps to billboards and his work is in many private and corporate collections. He is an educator at the college level, teaching in New York City and Florence, Italy.

Catalano has worked with The United Nations, U.S. Government, Department of The Interior, National Audubon Society, The New York Times, The New Yorker, ABC, CBS, NBC, American Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, N.Y. Zoological Society, Merck, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Seagram’s, General Foods, Sony, Panasonic, Citibank, Scholastic, Harper-Collins, Bantam-Doubleday, Dell, MacMillan, DuPont, Exxon, State of New Jersey Children’s Television Workshop, McGraw-Hill, Ranger Rick, among others. He has also worked on more than thirty books for children.

The History of the Instituto Italiano di Cultura in New York City:

(from the Instituto Italiano di Cultura website)

The Italian Cultural Institute in New York was founded in 1961 by the Italian Government. Its mission is to promote Italian language and culture in the United States.

Under the guidance of its trustees at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its advisory board, and its staff, the Italian Cultural Institute in New York fosters cultural exchanges between Italy and the U.S. in a variety of areas, from the arts to the humanities, to science, and technology.

Central to the Italian Cultural Institute’s activity is its collaboration with the most prominent academic and cultural Institutions of the East Coast. The scientific exchanges, the organization of, and support to, visual arts exhibitions, the grants for translation and publication of Italian books, inspire and nourish the Institute’s initiatives.

In particular, we focus on the relationship between memory and innovation, and the multiplicity of identities in the Italian civilization. The Italian Cultural Institute in New York, therefore, provides an “open window” on main cultural and social aspects of past and current Italy.

Geordane’s Neighborhood Market 57 Main Street Irvington, NY 10533

April 12, 2026"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Bakeries for the budget minded, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String in New York State, Exploring Historic Towns of Upstate New York, Exploring Irvington NY, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring New York State, Exploring Tarrytown NY, Exploring the Historic Hudson River Valley in New York State, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring Westchester County NY, Historic New York State neighborhoods, Little Shop on Main Street in New York City (LittleShoponMainStreet), Little Shop on Main Street in New York State, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Sandwich and Deli's for the budget minded, Uncategorized, Walking Downtown Irvington, NYAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, art, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, christmas, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, Exploring Irvington NY, food, Geordane's Neighborhood Market, Gourmet Markets in New York State, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, MywalkinManhattan.com, NYC, Reasonable Delis and Bodegas in New York State, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Walking in Downtown Irvington NY, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

Geordane’s Neighborhood Market

57 Main Street

Irvington, NY 10533

(914) 591-6911

https://www.geordanes.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g47953-d5485251-r1056359648-Geordane_s_World_Food-Irvington_New_York.html?m=19905

I had passed Geordane’s Neighborhood Market many times on my trips to Irvington, NY when I was visiting Sunnyside, Washington Irving’s Home right up the street or for Halloween or Christmas events in Tarrytown, NY. During the holidays the market is so nicely decorated and their diverse menu is very reasonable for both breakfast and lunch.

The front of Geordane’s Neighborhood Market during the holiday season

Their many sandwiches are reasonably priced and I can tell you from eating there are over-sized. The market has wonderful quality and looking over their hot line, everything is made inhouse.

The sandwich menu has a lot of choices

The hot food line at the deli has a lot of delicious choices

It was a cool Spring afternoon and since I was eating outside and I was starved, I decided to go with something hearty and ordered a Meatball hero (please note there is a difference in price between the sandwich and the hero). The homemade meatballs were large and meaty with a hint of garlic and parsley. The tomato sauce was spicy and rich and the perfect accompaniment to the meatballs. I really enjoyed my sandwich.

The Meatball hero with a specialty soda

The Meatball sandwich was over-sized and is enough for two hungry people to share

The sandwich was delicious

Some of the desserts are made inhouse such as these delicious Apple Cider Doughnuts that begged me to try them but for another time. Everything looked like it would satisfy any sweet tooth.

Their cases have homemade desserts that include in house made Apple Cider Doughnuts

The History of Geordane’s Neighborhood Market:

(From the store’s website)

Dani Diaz has built this landmark on a simple promise: “Quality you can taste, with a heart for the hometown.” Dani prides herself on a hands-on commitment to excellence, ensuring that Geordane’s delivers the best of a classic NY Deli with the high standards of a fine grocer.

For three decades, we have been more than just a neighborhood market; we have been the village’s gathering place and kitchen. We are the place where neighbors meet for coffee, high-schoolers get lunch, and where the community comes for quality they can count on.

hat dedication is evident on every shelf. From our fresh, organic ingredients and locally sourced meats to our famous grilled chicken, we believe in honest cooking. Whether you need a quick panini, a fresh chopped salad, or full-service catering to cover an event “from soup to nuts,” we are here to make it great.

After lunch was over, I walked around Downtown Irvington, NY, which is one of the nicest downtowns along the Hudson River. This downtown is lined with historic storefronts and buildings, unique independent businesses and an excellent view of the Hudson River. Being a rail town, there is a close proximity to New York City.

I then worked it off by walking around Downtown Irvington, NY

Downtown Irvington, NY:

https://www.irvingtonny.gov/

https://www.visitwestchesterny.com/discover/communities/hudson-river/irvington/

I had visited the store during the holiday season in 2025 after lunch at another restaurant up the road and loved their menu and wanted to try it on my next trip to the area. During the Holiday season it was beautifully decorated for Christmas and it was a very festive environment.

The inside of the store during the holiday season

The counters were full of holiday treats

The store was stocked with all sorts of foods and gifts for entertaining and for gifts to bring to people’s homes for the holidays. I loved the way things were packaged.

The front of the store decorated for Christmas

Downtown Irvington is like a storybook town at the holidays. Something out of Currier & Ives when you walk around both during the day and when the downtown is lit at night.

Downtown Irving during the holiday season

Downtown Irvington during the holidays

The decorations around the downtown were really cute

The signs for the holidays were very creative

Geordane’s Neighborhood Market is the perfect place for breakfast and lunch and the perfect place to pick up things for a picnic by the Hudson River. The food is wonderful and the prices are very fair. The service is very friendly and you know you are a local when they call you by name.

Meadowlands Museum 91 Crane Avenue Rutherford, NJ 07070

April 5, 2026"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Historic Bergen County NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring Rutherford, NJ, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, Hot Dog, Hamburger & Fries for the budget minded., My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Small museums in New Jersey, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, Spanish Restaurants for the budget minded, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New Jersey, Walking Downtown Wood Ridge, NJAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, art, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, europe, Exploring Historic Bergen County NJ, Exploring Rutherford, NJ, history, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, Meadowlands Museum, MywalkinManhattan.com, photography, Small Historical Societies in New Jersey, Small museums of New Jersey, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Walking in Rutherford NJ, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

Meadowlands Museum

91 Crane Avenue

Rutherford, NJ 07070

Phone: (201) 935-1175

Email: meadowlandsmuseum@verizon.net

https://www.meadowlandsmuseum.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MMusRutherford/

Open: Most Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:00am-4:00pm

TripAdvisor Review:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g46796-d2403380-Reviews-Meadowlands_Museum-Rutherford_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

Both Curator & Chronicler

The entrance of the museum

The Meadowlands Museum is the main steward of the history and culture of the Meadowlands region and one of its leading storyteller.

The sign welcoming you

Its mission and collection, which resides in the Yereance-Berry House in southern Bergen County in Rutherford, NJ are distinctive and unique. The house too is a historic treasure and landmark and was built in 1804 by the Berry family, who were among the county’s earliest European settlers.

The front of the museum in the Spring of 2026

Rooms in the three-level American Dutch farmhouse are alive with permanent and temporary exhibits and sometimes include loaned objects from other museums and private collections. Historical artifacts like archives and photographs are mingled with textiles, furniture, housewares and artwork.

The display on the history of area

There is even correspondence by the daughters of John Rutherfurd, a close confidant of George Washington.

The display in the local artifacts

The gardens outside in the Spring of 2016

Grounds include the William Carlos Williams Poetry Garden, which acknowledges the legacy of Rutherford’s most famous native and the town’s history as a cultural center.

The everyday products of the Meadowlands Museum

Founder in 1961 as the Rutherford Junior Museum by parents of school age children to help connect them to their community, the museum is staffed by professionals assisted by dedicated volunteers and involved trustees. Interns add to the rich resource of individuals who contribute to its present and future.

A recent commercial developed by my Business 101 Class for the Meadowlands Museum for the project “Rocking it in Rutherford: Being a Tourist in your own Town”

The location of the Yereance-Berry House suggests a colonial farm dating to 1740. The oldest house in south Bergen County in close to original condition, it was part of the Historic American Building Survey project of the 1930’s. The building is also listed on the state and national registers of historic places and the Bergen County Stone House Survey.

The Yereance-Berry House is the now the Meadowlands Museum

Affiliated organization include the American Alliance of Museums, American Association for State and Local History, Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Association of Museums and The National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Programming & Community Service:

Free and reasonably priced services for individuals, community groups, businesses, government bodies and educational institutions are available.

*Educational programs, lectures and traveling exhibits.

The ‘Historic Rutherford Homes’ exhibition at the museum in 2026

The Historic Homes exhibition

The Historic Homes exhibition

*Customized on and off site programs.

*Collaborative ventures with a wide range of partners.

*Assistance with academic research and other archival support.

Special Events:

Special events, which often are made possible by partnerships with businesses and other organizations, are an additional way for visitors of all ages to enjoy the museum. Public and private events occur on a regular or one-time basis; many are fundraisers. Call or email for a current calendar and sponsorship possibilities. The house hosts both permanent and special exhibits.

Our permanent exhibits include:

*Yereance Berry House: During the Spring of 2026.

The outside of the museum

*Pre-electric kitchen: This unique kitchen in the basement shows off the collection of equipment that would be used in the kitchen from the Civil War to the 1950’s. There are coffee grinders, whisks, wash boards and such. It showed how much effort was put into preparing the family meal through the ages.

The Farm Kitchen of Bergen County

The Farm Kitchen at the Turn of the Century

*Meadowlands Geology: there are all sorts of rocks and gems not just from the area but all over the state. There are two different rooms one of the specimens locally and there is a separate room for glowing stones. It is very interesting to see when the lights are out.

The Mineral Collection at the Meadowlands Museum

The fluorescent Zinc display

The Mining Display

*Mining in South Bergen: This is how the county has changed when we mined ore.

The Mining Display at the Meadowlands Museum

The Mining Display

The Mining Display

*19th century Laundry Room: The Laundry room that is located in the basement has many of the things our grandparents would have used. The washboards, scrub bushes, old washing machines and ringers. Washing clothes was much harder back then.

The Wash Room of the Turn of the Century

*The wonderful Toy Exhibition of turn of the last century toys and from the 1960’s 70’s and 80’s. This contains Dolls, Board Games, play things and instruments:

The Toy Collection fascinates kids of all ages

The Factory Toys display

The wonderful toy factory in Kearny, NJ that used to produce all these wonderful toys.

The Toy Display

The Toy Display

The Doll display

The Doll display

The ‘Brownies’ display in the Toy Room

*The Bergen County Farm display:

Farming in the County in the past

The Farm display

The home Spinning Wheel display

Spinning Wheel display

The new Turn of the Century Furnace display

*Horse elevator

Recent special exhibits have included:

*High school football

*Needlecraft

*Steampunk

*Medical Innovations

*Maps of the region

*Civil Rights

*Dr. Williams’ Babies

Dr. William’s display

Dr. Williams display

Dr. William’s display

Dr. William’s display

Dr. William’s display

*World War I

Special Events:

Scarecrow Day 2018:

I went to the recent Scarecrow Day on October 20, 2018 where guests of the museum created their own scarecrows using their own creativity. All the scarecrows were lined up facing the street with their interesting clothes and accessories.

Each person got to use their own clothes and each one had its own style to it. It was fun watching the families show their creativity at this annual event.

Image result for scarecrow day at meadowland museum

Scarecrow Day at the museum in 2018

Scarecrow Day in 2021: the winners of the contest for best Scarecrow

I also stopped by for the Dutch Christmas decorations. The museum was decorated for the holidays with garland and trees. On December 1st, they had a Dutch Christmas festival (I could not attend) with food and entertainment.

Celebrating the Easter Holidays in 2026

Help tell the story…

(from the museum website)

Individuals who value the purpose and work of the Meadowlands Museum remain its inspiration and abiding spirit. Donations, memberships, sponsorship’s, grants and fundraisers are crucial elements of the museum’s financial well-being.

Admission to the museum is free but donations are greatly appreciated. Fees for events and other services vary. A personal letter to the appropriate person acknowledges a gift made in the name of an individual. Donations to provide for the buildings and grounds are valuable links to the future and a kind of giving that is among the museum’s top priorities.

Disclaimer: This information was taken directly from the Meadowlands Museum’s pamphlet. For information on the site, please call or email the museum for more information.

My Bergen Community College Team Project in 2022:

Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.-Rocking it in Rutherford:

My Business 101 class at Bergen Community College Lyndhurst branch visit in the Spring of 2022 for the project “Rocking it in Rutherford: Be a Tourist in your own Town”.

For Spring Semester in 2022, my Business 101-Introduction to Business class made a weekend visit to the Meadowlands Museum for the project “Rocking it in Rutherford-Be a Tourist in your own Town”. We were promoting the museum to increase tourism with a fundraiser and a barbecue. So on the weekend, I took my Team to the museum to tour it for extra credit. They ended up learning a lot about not just the museum but the history of Rutherford and Bergen County, NJ.

The project was promoting the Town of Rutherford for Domestic and Foreign Tourism and created a fundraiser and modernization of displays for the museum. This is a copy of the project, presentation and Commercials.

The Team Project “Rocking it in Rutherford: Be a Tourist in your own Town”:

Day Two Hundred and Thirty-Four- Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. presents: “Rocking it in Rutherford, NJ: Be a Tourist in your own Town” April 28th, 2022

Video’s of the Presentation:

The video presentation promoting the museum:

The Project showcased the museum in such a professional and creative way.

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