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I had never heard of the Hill-Hold Museum and I happened to come across it when I saw a sign on the local highway that the museum was open that day. I thought it was a very interesting home and grounds with historical homes and buildings. Some came from other parts of Orange County, NY.

There are group tours on the hour with the last tour at 3:00pm. I took the last tour by myself with the tour guide and got a one on one tour of the house and grounds. The tour takes you into a step back in time to an agricultural society that no longer exists and times were slower and more structured.

The Hill-Hold Museum

The estate in the background

The Hill-Hold Museum:

A Farm for Two Centuries. This stone farmhouse was built in 1769. This museum reflects the life of the Bull-Jackson family spanning over 200 years. Hill-Hold Museum has circa 1830 Furnishings, a one room School House, a historic 1870 barn, Goosetown Gift Shop, picnic benches, and parking (Museum website).

The house on the estate grounds

The Mission Statement:

(From the museum website)

The Friends of Hill-Hold and Brick House Museums serve to preserve and enhance the preservation of history in Orange County, by maintaining, furnishing and operating programs at both these exemplary 18th century houses. These museums include portraits, memorabilia, photographs, and furnishings pertinent to them, the county and the past ages that touched each house (Museum website).

The front of the Hill-Hold Museum at the start of the tour

History of the Hill-Hold house museum:

(From the museum website)

Visit Hill-Hold museum and see what life was like on a Hudson Valley farm in the 1830s. This was still the era of candlelight, fireplace heat, homegrown food, and homespun clothing. The stone farmhouse was built in 1769 with wide plank floors, handsome paneling, and huge fireplaces (Museum website).

It was the home of a prosperous farmer, Thomas Bull, and his family. Original furnishings range from a prized old mahogany sideboard to made-on-the-farm pieces. Most of the rural family’s needs – food, clothing, fuel came directly from the farm. The property was gifted to the County in 1968 by Eleanor Jackson and the house went through an extensive restoration in the 1970’s to return it to how it appeared when it was originally built in the 18th century. (Museum website).

The Hill-Hold farm served the Bull-Jackson family for more than two hundred years. Now visitors are welcome to tour the farm. As we wander through Orange County, reveling in its rolling farmland scenery, we can go back to when the early Americans brought the gracious living and energetic husbandry to this unique part of the Hudson Valley (Museum website).

The Parlor-sitting room on the first floor was once a bedroom

We started the tour in the formal parlor, which the tour guide told me was once a bedroom along with the Living Room before the house was expanded. The house is filled with Bull family heirlooms that were donated back to the house by distance family members.

The family portrait’s in the Parlor-sitting room with the family piano that was used in the evening for entertainment

The portrait below is of the last member of the Bull family to live in the house before it was donated to the State of New York.

A portrait of the last family member to live in the house

The room was used by the family for entertainment, relaxation and for every evening activities. The room was used for pursuits such a sewing, needlepoint, conversation and with a piano in the room, evening activities with the family. With so much going on the farm, people retired in the evening early as the morning brought a lot of work on this working farm.

The spinning wheel by the fireplace

The Dining Room again was a former bedroom that was expanded for a formal eating as the both the house was expanded as well as the family. Breakfast and a late lunch/supper were served in this room. The Dining Room table, chairs, sideboards and china were pieces that part of the house donated back by the family.

The family dining room

The family China in the sideboard cub-bard in the Dining Room

The complete formal china set was displayed in the china closet as if ready to be used for a formal dinner party.

The sitting area in the Dining Room

The upstairs bedroom

We toured the master bedroom on the second floor of the home. Each of the rooms had fireplaces to keep them warm in the long winter nights with a canopy bed to keep the warmth inside. I could not believe how small people were at this time. This would have barely held one person today.

The canopy bed in the upstairs bedroom

The other bedroom would have been used by the children of the family. Now it contains sewing and weaving machines as well as spinning wheel to create the family clothing.

The second bedroom

The Sewing Room on the second floor with the oven/heater and family spinning wheels

Fabric and clothing was created in the home. Whether flax and wool, material was spun on the farm and the family wardrobe was created here.

The family spinning wheels

The sitting area on the second floor

The last part of the house tour was of the family kitchen in the main house. The Summer kitchen was on the other side of the garden outside. The main kitchen inside the house had the fireplace, cooking materials, the family pewter and everything you would need to cook a complete meal.

The family kitchen

The family table set for cooking

Items for bread and dessert baking, butter making, roasting and stewing and all the items needed to cook three meals a day. The bounty of the Spring, Summer and Fall had to supply the long winters when there was no grocery shopping available.

The equipment for washing clothes and other household chores

Wash Day was a whole day reserved for sorting, boiling, scrubbing and hanging clothing to dry. Until the more modern machines were invented in the 1920’s after WWII, this was the weekly ritual for the farm housewife or the staff.

The open hearth and cooking equipment

The cooking equipment

The family pewter set

After we finished the house tour, we explored the outer buildings which included a Summer Kitchen, a smoke house, the vegetable and flower gardens. These buildings were spread around the main house.

The Summer Kitchen

The inside of the Summer kitchen

This Summer Kitchen came from a different property but the use is still the same. As the warmer months of the Summer were upon them, cooking was done in a separate building to keep the house cooler.

Some of the cooking and baking equipment

The flower beds on the side of the house

The flower and vegetable beds on the side of the property and the smoke house

Outside the main house were the vegetable, fruit and flower gardens. Items used in the household for meals, decorations and entertaining.

The barn, the outhouse and the smoke house in the distance

The inside of the smoke house where meats once hung used for family meals

All the family meats were placed in here for cooking and smoking for the family meals. The process took much longer than it does today.

The well in the middle of the property

They also moved an old school house to the property and it was furnished as a complete turn of the last century school house. It was used until 1936.

The schoolhouse on the property

The inside of the school room

The classrooms of the 1700’s and 1800’s to today have not changed much. With the exception of modern heating and air conditioning, the class room set up has not changed much. There is still a board in the front of the room, chairs facing the teacher, who is in charge and books lining the walls.

The teachers desk and the furnace that kept the room warm in the cold months

Games and amusements that were used in recess

Wheels and bikes were part of the games children played at the turn of the last century

Before modern electronics took over starting in the 1970’s, bicycles, hoops and games such as tag and hopscotch were part of playground activities. Playing outside has not changed much throughout the centuries.

Looking over the grounds at the end of the tour

Before I left for the afternoon, I was able to tour the gift shop before the museum closed for the day.

The Goosetown gift shop at the museum entrance at the end of the tour

The Goosetown Gift Shop at Hill-Hold features books, gifts, toys, craft items, and souvenirs. The shop is operated by the Friends of Hill-Hold, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, which aids in the operation of Hill-Hold and Brick House museums (The Museum website).

It really is an interesting tour and a step back in time for a glimpse into the life of a Upper Middle Class farming family.

Day Three Hundred and Eighty-Seven Touring the Cloister Gardens and viewing Mythical Beasts at The Met Cloisters June 14th, 2026

June 28, 2026Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Inwood in Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring New York City Parks, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), MywalkinManhattan Experiences, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New York City, Walking around ManhattanAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, books, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, europe, Exploring Inwood, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art, history, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, MywalkinManhattan.com, nature, The Cloisters Garden Tour, The Cloisters Museum, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

The Cloisters Museum & Gardens: A Branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

99 Margaret Corbin Drive

Fort Tryon Park

New York, NY 10040

(212) 923-3700

Open: March-October 10:00am-5:15pm/November-February-10:00am-4:45pm

http://www.metmuseum.org

https://www.metmuseum.org/visit/plan-your-visit/met-cloisters

Fee: Adults $30.00/Seniors/Students $17.00/Children $12.00/Members & Patrons and Children under 12 are free (prices do fluctuate). NY, NJ and CT students and NY residents Pay as you wish.

Museum Hours:

Hours: Open 7 days a week

March-October 10:00am-5:15pm

November-February 10:00am- 4:45pm

Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25th and January 1st.

*Some galleries may be closed for construction or maintenance.

TripAdvisor Review:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60763-d106609-Reviews-The_Met_Cloisters-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

The Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park in the Inwood section of Manhattan

Touring the Cloisters for the Garden Tour:

https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/collection-areas/medieval-art-and-the-cloisters/met-cloisters-gardens

I went on the Spring Garden tour at the Cloisters Museum with a discussion on Spring plantings and the use of those plants during Medieval times. The museum studied what plants were used for religious and medical practices.

We started the discussion of the plantings out in the first Cloister by the Hudson River

The Tour of the Gardens at The Cloisters in the Spring 2026:

(From the Museum website)

The gardens of the Middle Ages included both real and ideal gardens. Poets and artists delighted in the depiction of fantasy gardens like the Garden of Love or of Paradise, but no real garden of the time remains to us. Historical records are rare and incomplete; the ninth-century plan for the monastery of St. Gall, with its carefully drawn and labeled garden beds, is unique. Archaeological excavations are yielding valuable new evidence, but we still know more about infirmary gardens of medicinal plants and aristocratic pleasure gardens than we do about humble kitchen plots of potherbs and vegetables (Met.org).

The gardens of the Museum, planted in reconstructed Romanesque and Gothic cloisters, evoke those that provided sustenance and spiritual refreshment within the medieval monastery. Designed as an integral feature of the Museum, the gardens have been a major attraction of The Cloisters since its opening in 1938, enhancing both the setting in which the Museum’s collection of medieval art is displayed and the visitor’s understanding of medieval life. The gardens are designed and maintained by a horticultural staff actively engaged in researching and developing the living collection (Met.org).

The plantings of the first Cloister we visited

We walked through the Cloister discussing how plantings were determined by medical and religious purposes

The flower beds in the Cloister

The view of the Hudson River was amazing

The flowers in bloom

Flowers in bloom

Flowers in bloom

Flowers in bloom

We moved the next Cloister looking over the medical plants and flowers

The Cloister in bloom

Walking around the Cloister

The plants around the sills of the Cloisters

Touring the Cloisters and admiring the flowers

Everything in bloom

We toured the last Cloister while the tour guide explained the plantings

The last Cloister we toured

The garden in full bloom

The growth of the hops growing on a trellis

The hops planting up close

The flowers in bloom in the Cloister

We ended the tour admiring the art in the Tapestry Room and having a discussion about the use of plants and flowers in Medieval art. The artists at that time thought of the natural world with awe and respect. They admired the beauty of the natural world where in some points was still feared,

‘The Hunt of the Unicorn’ tapestry discussion

I then visited the ‘Creatures of Myth and Imagination-European and the Americas’ exhibition.

This exhibition was an interesting look at mythical beasts of the era of great exploration from European to the Americas. It reminded me of the book “In Search of Ancient Astronauts” with many golden creatures that look like they are visitors from another planet, Ancient Gods to worship and one civilization’s outlook on the unknown. The artwork was a cross between mysticism and respect.

The exhibition sign for “Creatures of Myth and Imagination: Europe and the Americas”

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/creatures-of-myth-and-imagination-europe-and-the-americas

(From the museum’s website)

Set in the evocative atmosphere of The Met Cloisters, Creatures of Myth and Imagination: Europe and the Americas sheds light on a selection of works created on either side of the Atlantic Ocean between 500 and 1500 CE. The exhibition’s exploration of hybrid creatures deepens our understanding of their apparent necessity among diverse peoples. In the Americas, a complex gold pendant by a Tairona artist of northern Colombia, depicting a confrontational figure with hands on hips, a crocodile-like head, and an enormous headdress, would have reflected and expressed the wearer’s status and power. In Europe, ferocious dragons such as the one depicted on a monumental fresco from the monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza, Spain, took center stage to convey a multiplicity of meanings both sacred and profane (Met.org).

The exhibition gallery

Unusual mythical creature

(From the museum website)

For as long as humans have told stories, we’ve imagined creatures that transcend the natural world. Fantastical beings combining the features of animals, humans, and even plants appear across cultures, emerging in the most ancient myths and enduring in contemporary epics. The widespread presence of these supernatural beings, possessing the power to transform and be transformed, reflects a global impulse to make sense of both known and unknown worlds. Visual artists have given form to these imaginary creatures, resulting in some of the most fearsome, beloved, and extraordinary works of art ever made (Met.org).

Small gold ancient Gods

Ritual Knives

Double pendants

Earth Deity

I took one last tour of the museum gardens before I left for the afternoon. On the balcony overlooking the Hudson River offered beautiful views and beautiful potted plants.

Walking out of the back Cloister

The back Cloister

The beautiful white flowers

The balcony overlooking the Hudson River

The potted plants by the doorway

The view of the Hudson River

Looking north up the Hudson River

The tour of the Gardens was amazing and the exhibition on the Pre-Columbian art interesting. It was a wonderful tour of the Cloisters.

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.

John’s Caffe Pizza & Caterers 574 2nd Street Elizabeth, NJ 07202

May 18, 2026"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New Jersey, Exploring Elizabeth NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, 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, Interesting Pizzerias in New Jersey, Little Shop on Main Street in New Jersey, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Pizzeria's and Italian Restaurants for the budget-minded, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, Uncategorized, Walking Downtown Elizabeth NJAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, europe, Exploring Elizabeth NJ, food, italy, John's Caffe Pizza & Caterers, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, MywalkinManhattan.com, pizza, Reasonable Pizza in NJ, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Walking Downtown Elizabeth NJ, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

John’s Caffe Pizza & Caterers

574 2nd Street

Elizabeth, NJ 07202

(908) 354-5260

Open: Sunday Closed/Monday-Thursday 9:30am-9:00pm/Friday-Saturday 9:30am-9:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46414-d6556551-r1058235386-Johns_Caffe_Pizza_Caterers-Elizabeth_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

The front of John’s Caffe Pizzeria & Caterer at 574 2nd Street in Downtown Elizabeth, NJ

The inside of the restaurant

I enjoy coming to John’s Caffe Pizzeria & Caterer when I am visiting Elizabeth, NJ for various appointments. One of the office workers recommended the pizzeria for lunch and I look forward to eating there when I am in town. The food and the service are great.

The Pizza case of all the delicious pizzas

I know there are a lot of pizzerias in New Jersey and since 80% of the State has some form of Italian blood in them, there are different way s that people prepare their pies. This is the same with John’s Caffe Pizzeria & Caterers. There prepare pizza all different ways and each one of them is more delicious than the next.

The Chicken Parmesan and Cheesesteak pizzas

The location is just off Downtown Elizabeth NJ and around the corner from my doctor’s office so I stop there for lunch when I am in town. I love the pizza here. There are so many choices to select from in the pizza case.

The first time I selected a piece of the Trenton style pizza and a slice of Hot Honey Pepperoni with Ricotta Cheese on top. The woman at the counter highly recommended these and they were delicious.

The Hot Honey Pepperoni and Trenton style pizza

They have all different types of lunch specials and one of my favorites (as of 2026) is the Specialty slice special with a Coke for $7.99. That is a bargain considering you get to choose the slices you want for lunch.

My selection of pizza slices for the lunch special

On my most recent trip I tried the Trenton style pizza, which was made famous the Little Italy that was once located in Downtown Trenton. This is when the cheese is baked on the bottom and the sauce is ladled on the top.

The Trenton style with cheese on the bottom and sauce on the top

The tomato sauce is a traditional sauce of fresh tomatoes, olive oil and garlic. The taste was amazing.

The Hot Honey with Pepperoni and Fresh Ricotta Cheese

The second slice I had was the shot Honey with Pepperoni and fresh Ricotta Cheese. I love the contrast of textures and flavors on the slice. It also has a pinchiness of the taste of the spices.

Yum!

When I came a second time I came in for lunch, I eyed the Sicilian pizzas in the case and had to have a slice of plain Sicilian. This was a full meal on its own.

The Sicilian pizzas plain and with pepperoni

A slice of plain Sicilian pizza

The slice was nicely sized and it tastes wonderful

The Sicilian slice has a wonderful taste and consistency

When I visited again, I had to have another slice of the Trenton style pizza and a piece of Pizza Bianco, a white pizza slice with Mozzarella and Ricotta Cheeses topped with Pepperoni. The pizza slices were spiced well and tasted wonderful.

The pizza selection on a recent afternoon

The Pizza Bianca with Pepperoni and the Trenton Style pizza

The Pepperoni Bianco slice

On all of my visits for lunch, the food and the service have been wonderful, the staff really nice and the restaurant has a nice neighborhood vibe about it.

The food and the service are really good.

The history of the Pizzeria:

(From the John’s Caffe Pizza & Caterers website):

In April 1968, Giovanni Cerullo and family opened up an Italian Caffe shop in a small Italian section of Elizabeth, NJ called “Peterstown”.

Over 40 years Johns Caffe’ was a staple of the Peterstown community and played many roles for the local people. Italian specialties, food, and pizza were some of the items Johns Caffe had to offer over the 40 years. Johns Caffe was one of the few vendors that participated in the famous Italian street fair called St. Rocco’s.

After many years of serving his customers Giovanni Cerullo passed in February of 2009. His son Gerry and grandson Giovanni decided to honor his legacy and keep Johns Caffe going!

In April 2009 they renovated and re-opened Johns Caffe Pizza & Caterers! They created an innovative menu that included their famous Paninis and other Italian delicacies such as focaccia sandwiches, thin crust pizza, wraps, salads and dinners, just to mention a few.

Green Village Deli 536 Green Village Road New Vernon, NJ 07935

May 7, 2026"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New Jersey, 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, Gourmet restaurants for the budget minded, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, Hot Dog, Hamburger & Fries for the budget minded., Interesting Delis and Bodegas, Little Shop on Main Street in New Jersey, Little Shop on Main Street in New York City (LittleShoponMainStreet), My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), New Vernon, NJ, Sandwich and Deli's for the budget minded, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, Uncategorized, Walking Downtown New Vernon, NJAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, adventure, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, europe, Exploring Historic Morris County, NJ, Exploring New Jersey, Exploring New Vernon NJ, food, hiking, Interesting Delis and Bodegas in NJ, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, MywalkinManhattan.com, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, travel, Village Green Deli, VisitingaMuseum.com, Walking Downtown New Vernon, NJ, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

Green Village Deli

536 Green Village Road

New Vernon, NJ 07935

(973) 773-1709

https://www.greenvillagedeli.com/menu

https://www.facebook.com/GreenVillageDeli/

Open: Sunday 7:00am-3:30pm/Monday-Friday 6:30am-4:00pm/Saturday 7:00am-3:30pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46475-d4623019-r1058921757-Green_Village_Deli-Green_Village_Morris_County_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

The Green Village Deli at 536 Green Village Road

The sign that welcomes you to this local breakfast and lunch establishment

I was visiting New Vernon, NJ for the annual ‘Pathways Tour’ that the Morris County Historical Board sponsor’s twice a year. While visiting the Tunis-Eckllis House around the corner, I passed the Village Green Deli, a popular local sandwich shop while driving through this small downtown area facing the Village Green. I made note of it as it was getting closer to lunch time.

After the tour, I stopped by the deli, read the wonderful TripAdvisor reviews online in the parking lot and headed inside for lunch. I really liked the vibe of this small town deli where the owners knew everyone by name and I felt like an interloper at a private party.

The inside of the Village Green Deli

The deli has that small town feel to it, with local art and sports paraphernalia in the walls. The woman who worked the register was greeting everyone by name and the guys that worked the grill seemed happy to see me.

Looking at the menu at the grill

I looked at the extensive lunch menu of popular sandwiches and some wonderful combos. You could even still get breakfast as I saw some of the guys at the counter devouring as I decided on what I wanted to order.

The deli has a wonderful selection of sandwiches, hero’s and other delicious sounding items.

There were so many things I wanted to try that day that it was hard to choose. Was it a breakfast sandwich with local sausage? The Thanksgiving ‘Gobbler’ sandwich with turkey, stuffing and cranberry relish, that sounded so good? I decided on an Italian hero sandwich with a selection of deli meats with fresh lettuce, tomato and onion. The hero was excellent!

The Italian hero with a pickle

The sandwiches here are huge! One half of a sandwich a normal person could eat for lunch and save the rest for another meal. The sandwich was loaded with salami, bologna, ham, Swiss Cheese and fresh veggies. I could barely fit it in my mouth.

The sandwich was excellent

I was able to eat about half of the sandwich before I told myself I was finished and not to push anymore. I wrapped the rest up to go and went back to study the menu before I left. I definitely want to come back and try more. The food and the service were both excellent.

The historic Village Green sign

https://vernonhistoricalsociety.com/

After lunch was over, it was such a beautiful sunny day and I walked over to the historic Green across the street and looked over the artifacts in the park. New Vernon is a very picturesque and beautiful little town.

The New Vernon Village Green in the early Spring

It was nice to have a place to walk and digest after that wonderful meal. It is worth the trip to visit this wonderful little deli in the small town. I really enjoyed my meal and the afternoon that followed.

The New Milford Village Green

I have to come back. There are so many sandwiches to try and I want to visit the Great Swamp which is a mile away. Until the next time.

Central Park Conservatory Garden Located between 104th and 106th Streets by Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10029

May 1, 2026Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Central Park, Exploring East Harlem in Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring New York City Parks, Exploring NYC Parks, Exploring Spanish Harlem, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring The Upper East Side of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, Interesting Zoos and Parks in New York City, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New York City, Walking around Manhattan, Walking in Central Park, Walking on the Upper East SideAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, Central Park Conservatory Park, Central Park in the Spring, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, europe, Exploring Central Park, Exploring East Harlem, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring NYC Parks, Exploring Spanish Harlem, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Upper East Side, gardening, history, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, MywalkinManhattan.com, nature, NYC Parks, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Walking in Central Park, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

The Central Park Conservatory Garden

Located between 104th and 106th Streets off Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10029

https://www.centralparknyc.org/

https://www.centralpark.com/visitor-info/central-park-conservancy/

Hours: Depends on the season and the Dawn to Dusk rule

Hours of Operation:

November-February (8:00am-5:00pm)

March (8:00am-6:00pm)

April (8:00am-7:00pm)

May (August 14th 8:00am-8:00pm)

August 15-31 (8:00am-7:30pm)

September (8:00am-7:30pm)

http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/#what_lawns-and-landscapes

Fee: Free

TripAdvisor Review:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60763-d272517-Reviews-Conservatory_Garden-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

The entrance to the Central Park Conservatory Garden in Winter 2023 (The Vanderbilt Gates)

I love walking around the Central Park Conservatory at any time of the year especially in the early Spring when all the flowers are in bloom. It is a wonderful experience to go in the early morning when it is quiet and you have the park to yourself (which is very rare). The whole garden just went through a major restoration and it has really changed. The whole Conservatory is refreshed and in bloom. It is quite a site!

The sign at the entrance of the Gardens

The entrance to the gardens

This time of the year (Spring) the Central Park Conservatory is in full bloom and its magnificence is at its finest in the Spring and Summer months. In May, the tulips and daffodils are just finishing their flowering and the lilacs are just finishing their blooming and still fragrant the garden. The lawns are all a deep green and the dogwood trees are just starting to bloom around the rings of the gardens.

The newly renovated pathways

Don’t miss walking around the Gardens off to the side closest to the Harlem Meir as they are open through the renovation. You will see beds of flowers along the fountain’s edge and can admire all the sculpture. What is most impressive is that in-between the Gardens is a vast green lawn surrounded by trees. The lawn of the Conservatory is nice to just admire with the trees lining it on all sides.

Central Park Conservatory Garden Spring 2025

The best time to come to the Conservatory Gardens is in early to late Spring and the early Summer when everything is in full bloom. This is when Mother Nature shows us her great magic.

The beauty of the Central Park Conservatory is that it blooms all year around except the winter and even then, there is a quiet elegance to the garden.

The gardens in full bloom in Summer 2025

The restored fountain in all of its glory

History of The Central Park Conservatory:

(Information comes from a combination of NYC Parks.org and Wiki)

The Central Park Conservatory Garden is the only formal garden in Central Park, New York City and is located approximately between 104th and 106th Street on Fifth Avenue in NYC. The Garden consists of about six acres of formal landscaping of trees, shrubs and flowers. The formal garden is divided into three smaller gardens each with a distinct style: Italian, French and English. The Central Conservatory Garden is an officially designated Quiet Zone and offers a calm and colorful setting for a leisurely stroll and intimate wedding.

The Central Park Conservatory in the Spring 2025

It takes its name from a conservatory that stood on the site from 1898 to 1934. The park’s head gardener used the glasshouses to harden hardwood cuttings for the park’s plantings. After the conservatory was torn down, the garden was designed by Gilmore D. Clarke, landscape architect for Robert Moses, with planting plans by M. Betty Sprout and constructed and planted by WPA workers, it was opened to the public in 1937.

The Garden is composed of three distinct parts, skillfully restored since the 1980’s and is accessible through the Vanderbilt Gate at Fifth Avenue and 105th Street, a quarter south of the park’s northeast corner.

The Vanderbilt Gate at the Central Park Conservatory

The Vanderbilt Gate once gave access to the forecourt of Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s chateau designed by George Browne Post, the grandest of the Fifth Avenue mansions of the Gilded Age, at 58th Street and Fifth Avenue, sharing the Plaza with Plaza Hotel. The wrought iron gates with cast iron and repousse details, were designed by Post and executed in an iron foundry in Paris.

The fountain at the Central Park Conservatory

To the left of the south side is the garden of mixed herbaceous borders in wide concentric bands around The Secret Garden water lily pool, dedicated in 1936 to the memory of Frances Hodgson Burnett with sculpture by Bessie Potter Vonnoh.

The Fountain in the Spring of 2025

Some large shrubs, like tree lilac, magnolias, buddleias and Cornus alba ‘elegantissima’ provide vertical structure and offer light shade to offset the sunny locations, planted by Lynden Miller with a wide range of hardy perennials and decorative grasses, intermixed with annuals planted to seem naturalized. This garden has seasonal features to draw visitors from April through October.

To the right of the central formal plat is a garden also in concentric circles, round the Untermyer Fountain, which was donated by the family of Samuel Untermyer in 1947. The bronze figures, Three Dancing Maidens by Walter Schott (1861-1938) were executed in Germany about 1910 and formed a fountain at Utermyer’s estate “Greystone” in Yonkers, New York.

The Untermyer Fountain

https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/untermyer-fountain

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Untermyer_Fountain

This section of the Conservatory Garden has two dramatic seasons of massed display of tulips in the spring and Korean chrysanthemums in the fall. Beds of satolina clipped in knotted designs with contrasting bronze-leaved bedding begonias surround the fountain and four rose arbor gates are planted with reblooming ‘Silver Moon’ and ‘Betty Prior’ roses.

The French Gardens at the Central Park Conservatory in Summer 2025

After the Second World War the garden had become neglected and by the 1970’s became a wasteland. It was restored and partially replanted under the direction of horticulturist and urban landscape designer Lyden Miller to reopen in June 1987. The overgrown, top-heavy crabapples were freed of water shoots and pruned up to a higher scaffold for better form. The high-style mixed planting was the first to bring estate garden style to urban parks, part of the general of Central Park under Elizabeth Barlow Rogers of the Central Park Conservancy.

The Conservatory in the early Spring of 2025

This is the fountain up close

The Central Park Conservatory Gardens in the Summer of 2026:

I revisited the Gardens again in the Summer of 2026 after a walking tour and Members Morning at the Museum of the City of New York. The Gardens were in full bloom and the care and dedication of caring for the Gardens really showed in the dazzling colors while walking amongst the beds.

The entrance of the Central Park Conservatory lawn and fountain

The fountain and the geometric garden

Central Park Conservatory gardens at the entrance

The entrance of the gardens from the Harlem Meer area

The entrance to the flower gardens from the Central Park Conservatory lawn

The Central Park Conservatory garden beds

The gardens in full bloom in the Summer of 2026

The flower beds in the central of the gardens

The Central Park Conservatory Fountain and Lotus pools

The Fountain statues

The flowers beds around the paths

The orange flowers that line the paths

The vibrant purple flowers

The gardens that line the paths

The beautiful flowers that line the paths

The flowers are lining the paths

The flowers lining the paths

The flowers were so vibrant in the Summer of 2026

The gardens were spectacular that afternoon and I took my time to walk all the beds and enjoy all the beautiful flowers.

(This information directly from Wikipedia and has many sources)

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.

The African Art Museum of the SMA Fathers (Society of African Missions) 23 Bliss Avenue Tenafly, NJ 07670

March 14, 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 Jersey, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring Tenafly, 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), Small museums in New Jersey, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New JerseyAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, art, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, DiningonaShoeString@Wordpress.com, europe, Exploring Tenafly, NJ, history, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, museums, MywalkinManhattan.com, Small Historical Societies in New Jersey, Small museums in New Jersey, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, The African Art Museum of the SMA Fathers, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Walking in Tenafly NJ, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

The African Art Museum of the SMA Fathers (Society of African Missions)

23 Bliss Avenue

Tenafly, NJ 07670

(201) 894-8611

http://www.smafathers.org/museum

https://smafathers.org/museum/

https://smafathers.org/museum/about-us/

Open: 8:00am-5:00pm Seven Days a week

Please contact us for group tours.

Fee: Free admission but a donation is suggested.

TripAdvisor Review:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g46863-d3967225-Reviews-African_Art_Museum_of_the_Society_of_African_Missions-Tenafly_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

I recently revisited the African Museum of Art on the SMA Father’s and on this trip really took my time to learn about the Mission and study the art in the various displays. Each country that the Mission is involved with is represented here with detailed information on the meaning of the art and its purpose. It is an interesting approach to understanding the culture of each of these countries.

The beautiful stained glass windows line the ceiling and walls and has a beautiful effect in the room on a sunny day.

The sculpture in the middle of the main hall

The History of the Museum:

(From the museum website)

This museum was established in 1980 and is one of the only rare few in the United States dedicated solely to the arts of Africa. Its permanent collections, exhibited on a rotating basis, offer a unique advantage in the study and research of sub-Saharan sculpture and painting, costumes, textiles and decorative arts, religion and folklore.

The main hall of the museum

The history of the Mission

The history of the Mission

The history of the Mission

The African Art Museum of the SMA Fathers is one of five museums around the world founded and maintained by the Society of African Missions, an International Roman Catholic missionary organization that serves the people of Africa.

The display case that line the main hall

The display case that line the main hall

The art works up close

The descriptions of the works

The display case that line the main hall

Some of the works up close

The description of the masks

The display case that line the main hall

The museum is the continued vision of SMA’s founder, Bishop Melchior de Marion Bresillac (1813-1859). The French-born clergyman urged his Society to respect and preserve the culture of the peoples they serve, the unique among the missionaries of his time. (This information is provided by the museum).

Some of the works being featured in the exhibition

Their current exhibitions is on the “Africanizing of Christian Art” which shows the 20th Century encounter between Catholic Christianity and the visual culture of the Yoruba, a prominent west African people of southwest Nigeria under the conditions of late colonization (This information provided by the museum).

The hallway off the main room

Linking the walls of the main room are wooden carved doors from a palace in Africa. The interesting detail work tells it own story.

The description of one of the doors

Panel One

Panel Two

Panel Three

Panel Four

The collection contains many works in the form of masks, textile work, religious figurines and decorative arts. Each display case shows a different theme in the art.

The works of art in the cases

The puppets in the case

The works of art lining the cases

The engaging Mask collection

The museum is the main hallway of the church. I found it a quiet place where you could really concentrate on the beauty of the art. It grounds are also nice to walk around in in the nice weather.

The Chapel just off the museum is interesting to visit. I wondered how many people came to serve here and how the service was performed.

The main chapel of the mission

The beautiful stained glass windows in the chapel

The museum is a true hidden gem of wonderful and interesting testimonial and contemporary art. An inspiring museum if you take the time to really enjoy it.

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

February 24, 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, Met After Hours event, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), MywalkinManhattan Experiences, 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, egypt, europe, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Exploring the Upper East Side, history, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com, Met After Hours, Metropolitan Museum of Art, MywalkinManhattan.com, travel, VisitingaMuseum.com, Walking the Upper East Side, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

One of the things I love about being a member the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the private Member’s Night ‘Met After Hours’ they hold about four times a year. The museum is open after the closing hours and it is a night of wondering the museum galleries, great music and entertainment and wonderful tours and talks in the galleries. You really experience the museum at its best and it does shine.

The outside of The Met at night

https://www.metmuseum.org/

My review on TripAdvisor:

My ‘Met After Hours’ reviews on MywalkinManhattan.com:

https://mywalkinmanhattan.com/category/met-after-hours-event/

The lines move very quickly to get into the museum and with traffic getting into the City that night, I arrived about twenty minutes after opening and there were no crowds to face and I got right in. There’s always a sense of excitement on these nights.

The Grand Hall in the front of the museum decorated with Spring flowers

The beautiful Spring flowers lined all the urns around the Great Hall

The museum welcoming all the members of the museum at ‘The Met After Hours’

I started my walk around the galleries in the Greek Wing touring the main hallway. It still boggles my mind how old these statues are and I am looking at something almost two thousand years old.

The Greek Gallery wing

https://www.metmuseum.org/departments/greek-and-roman-art

(From the Metropolitan Museum of Art website):

The Museum’s collection of Greek and Roman art comprises more than thirty thousand works ranging in date from the Neolithic period (ca. 4500 BCE) to the time of the Roman emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity in 312 CE. It includes the art of many cultures and is among the most comprehensive in North America. The geographic regions represented are Greece and Italy, but not as delimited by modern political frontiers: Greek colonies were established around the Mediterranean basin and on the shores of the Black Sea, and Cyprus became increasingly Hellenized. For Roman art, the geographical limits coincide with the expansion of the Roman Empire. The department also exhibits the art of prehistoric Greece (Helladic, Cycladic, and Minoan) and pre-Roman art of Italic peoples, notably the Etruscans (Metropolitan Museum of Art website).

One of the statues that stood out that evening

I spent some time admiring the statues and the craftsmanship of the works along the hallway. The only problem is that most of the Greek and Roman Galleries were closed for the evening so I headed off to the Renaissance Wing. I love the luxury objects in the collection of silver and gold and again their craftsmanship is still unrivaled today. To make these objects takes intensive work and talent.

The historic collection of luxury items

The time pieces of the Renaissance period

https://www.metmuseum.org/learn/educators/curriculum-resources/the-art-of-renaissance-europe

The timepieces show how advanced science had become and the importance of it in not just measurements but in beauty.

The lobby of the American Wing with the facade of what was a former bank and a Wall Street private mansion. I love the quiet elegance of this building and to think they moved it here piece by piece. The American Wing Cafe was open for the evening and the area was busy throughout the evening. It is nice to just sit and enjoy the views by the fountain. The artwork is beautiful.

https://www.metmuseum.org/departments/the-american-wing

(From the Metropolitan Museum of Art website):

Visitors to the American Wing will experience in more than 75 galleries on three floors varied art, design, and culture from the mid-seventeenth to the mid-twentieth century, with some contemporary expressions, by a diverse array of artists from across North America. Since our founding in 1924, this curatorial department has evolved its collecting to include some 20,000 artworks in many mediums by African American, Asian American, Euro-American, Latin American, and Native American makers, affirming ever more inclusive definitions of American art and identity. These dynamic holdings include painting, sculpture, drawing, furniture, textiles, regalia, ceramics, basketry, glass, silver, metalwork, jewelry, as well as historic interiors and architectural fragments, produced by highly trained and self-taught artists, both identified and unrecorded (Metropolitan Museum of Art website).

The evening then moved to the Egyptian Wing and the Temple of Dendur, where the entertainment and the cocktail bar was located.

The Temple of Dendur is the hub of activity on Members Nights

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/547802

(From the Metropolitan Museum of Art website):

This small temple, built about 15 B.C., honored the goddess Isis and, beside her, Pedesi and Pihor, deified sons of a local Nubian ruler. On the outer walls between earth and sky are carved scenes of the king making offerings to deities who hold scepters and the ankh, the symbol of life. The figures are carved in sunk relief. In the brilliant Egyptian sunlight, shadows cast along the figures’ edges would have emphasized their outlines. Isis, Osiris, their son Horus, and the other deities are identified by their crowns and the inscriptions beside their figures (Metropolitan Museum of Art).

These scenes are repeated in two horizontal registers. The king is identified by his regalia and by his names, which appear close to his head in elongated oval shapes called cartouches; many of the cartouches simply read “pharaoh.” This king was actually Caesar Augustus of Rome, who, as ruler of Egypt, had himself depicted in the traditional regalia of the pharaoh. Augustus had many temples erected in Egyptian style, honoring Egyptian deities (Metropolitan Museum of Art).

The area was packed with patrons enjoying music and talking by the bars. The crowds were so large at the beginning of the evening that I waited until after 9:00pm for the second performance of the group playing. So I headed into the section of the Egyptian Wing to look at the galleries that were open. I love walking around the Egyptian Wing of the Met. It is one of the most extensive collections outside of Egypt and the most fascinating Mummy exhibition.

Admiring one of the Mummy exhibits in the Egyptian Wing

https://www.metmuseum.org/departments/egyptian-art

(From the Metropolitan Museum of Art website):

The Department of Egyptian Art was established in 1906 to oversee the Museum’s already sizable collection of art from ancient Egypt. In the same year, the Museum’s Board of Trustees voted to establish an Egyptian Expedition to conduct archaeological excavations in Egypt. Between 1906 and 1935, The Met’s Egyptian Expedition worked at a number of important sites, including Lisht in the north and Thebes in the south, and the objects gifted to The Met by the Egyptian antiquities service form the core of our collection. Over the years, the Department of Egyptian Art has also been able to acquire, through purchase and bequest, several important private collections (Metropolitan Museum of Art website).

The ancient tablets outside of the Mummy Exhibition

The Egyptian artwork outside the Mummy Room

The tablets outside the Mummy Room

When the whole gallery is open, it is a treasure trove of objects and information from each Dynasty. I have been mind-boggled by these galleries since I first visited the museum in the third grade for a class field trip. I remember sketching artifacts for a class project and am still fascinated about how old some of these objects are and condition they are still in after thousands of years. It is my favorite part of the museum.

By 9:00pm, the entertainment was starting again, so I joined other members for a cocktail and enjoyed the music in the Temple of Dendur Gallery.

The Temple of Dendur fully lit for the evening before the start of the entertainment

The signature cocktail of the evening, the Starlight Spritz

Enjoying a Starlight Spritz while listening to the music

The bartenders can mix a drink

After a long week at work, it was nice to relax and enjoy the music. The music that night was performed by artist Jasim Perales and Friends, an Afro-Latin Jazz performance. The music was relaxing and soulful and the crowd had a wonderful time.

The start of the music again at 9:00pm

The trio performing

A clip from the entertainment that night

The Master of Ceremonies that night, Jasim Perales

https://www.instagram.com/jasimperales/?hl=en

Tweets by JasimPerales

All good things come to an end and it was time leave. The night was dark and the winter air was crisp creating the perfect Winter evening to set out into for the walk back to Port Authority. The Upper East is so beautiful at night.

The front of the Met that night

The artwork is always so impressive outside the Met

It was in the low 40’s that evening and the perfect night for a walk around the Upper East Side and Midtown. It still surprises me after all these years of walking around Manhattan how beautiful the City really is at night.

The beauty of Carnegie Hall in the evening

https://www.carnegiehall.org/

Passing the front of a quiet Carnegie Hall that evening

Looking up Fifth Avenue at night

Looking up Sixth Avenue and West 35th Street by Herald Square

The New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue at night

https://www.nypl.org/

It was another spectacular evening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Thank you to the Membership and Special Events Departments for hosting another wonderful evening.

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