Public Invited Sat. & Sun., Sept. 9 ~ 10, 2006 to “Canal Days at the Abraham Staats House” in South Bound Brook
Enjoy a Civil War-era weekend at the historic Abraham Staats House, located on the scenic D&R Canal. Learn about the Canal and experience a variety of programs, exhibits, living history demonstrations and special guest speakers during this family friendly event.
South Bound Brook, NJ – The historic Abraham Staats House will be the site of a great weekend program this Sept. 9 – 10, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., that celebrates the history of the Delaware & Raritan Canal and features a Civil War-era theme. Activities during the two-day event, hosted by the South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission and the Friends of the Abraham Staats House, Inc., include:
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Civil War-era activities, clothing, weapon and artifact collections, music, living history and demonstrations:
Hosted by the 9th Virginia, Co. K, Old Dominion Guard, Southern Legion. These Civil War re-enactors portray the era and are dressed in period clothing. Visitors can view a fascinating collection of Civil War-era items on display in the Abraham Staats House throughout the weekend.
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Meet President Lincoln (Saturday only):
Throughout the day, President Abraham Lincoln will be available to answer questions from the public and press. Historic interpreter Christian Johnson, who portrays the former president as well as other historic figures for a variety of events, captures the essence of this beloved American president.
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Artillery demonstrations
: First New Jersey Light Artillery Battery C will be firing the cannon!
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“Sutlers”-
Civil War merchants selling a variety of goods.
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Quilting amd spinning
demonstrations.
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Learn about the D&R Canal, two special programs:
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(Saturday 11 a.m.):
Join Vicki Chirco, Historic Preservation Specialist of the D & R Canal State Park, as she talks about this fascinating waterway’s past and present life, during a PowerPoint presentation featuring historic and modern photographs that illustrate the history of the canal. The presentation is approximately 40 minutes.
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(Saturday ~ 1 p.m. )
Noted D&R Canal historian and author Linda Barth will present a special slide show about the Canal, with additional information available at tables hosted by the Canal Society of NJ and the D&R Canal Watch.
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Free Boat Ride:
Enjoy a free cruise along the D&R Canal aboard the Canal Society's Canal Explorer. Experience this historic waterway as the old canalers did in a ride from the Staats House to Lock 12 and back.
Admission to “Canal Days” Abraham Staats House tours/collections/program: $2 (free for children under age 10.) Grounds admission and parking is free.
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 9 & 10.
For information: http://wwwstaatshouse.com
About the Abraham Staats House:
The Abraham Staats House is one of the finest surviving buildings from the Dutch settlement of the Raritan Valley in the 18th century. The original core of the home, c. 1740, was built by the Staats family. They occupied the house for nearly 200 years, expanding the home several times. During the American Revolution, Abraham Staats’ home served as headquarters for General von Steuben in the Second Middlebrook Encampment of 1778-1779. In the early 19th century, the launching of the D&R Canal coincided with the addition of a fine late Federal/Greek Revival section, built c. 1825 and updated in 1840. Today the home is owned by the Borough of South Bound Brook. It is located beside the D&R Canal, which was an integral part of the Staats’ family home and work life during the commercial life of the canal, from 1830-1932.
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