The Deserted Village of Feltville is one of more than 30 historical sites featured in the 2022 Four Centuries in a Weekend event, Oct. 15 and 16.County of Union
Union County’s “Four Centuries in a Weekend: A Journey Through Time” countywide history event is back this year on Saturday, Oct. 15 and Sunday, Oct. 16 from noon to 5 p.m. each day. Each day is packed with special exhibits and activities at more than 30 house museums and historic sites in Union County, all open to the public free of charge.
The annual event is sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners and coordinated by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, in collaboration with staff and volunteers at the sites.
“Every year brings new insights that enrich our knowledge of the past, that inform our experience of the present, and that enable us to see more clearly into the future of our community,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “We encourage everyone to come and enjoy the activities and exhibits, and walk in the footsteps of those who lived here through the centuries.”
Visitors will be able to stop by a restored mansion and church, Revolutionary War burial grounds, the county’s oldest railroad station, quaint house museums, special exhibitions, and more.
Each site will provide visitors with a free Union County Passport to stamp. Visitors can also pick up free Union County History trading cards at many of the sites.
For more details, including updates and late-breaking schedule changes, visit ucnj.org/4c or contact the individual site.
The featured sites with activities this year include:
Deserted Village of Feltville / Glenside Park
1 Cataract Hollow Rd., Berkeley Heights, 908-527-4900, http://www.ucnj.org/dv
Most buildings and activities in the village are wheelchair-accessible via visitors’ own vehicle or golf cart, provided on site. Historic buildings and activities are spread out over a large area.
Parking available in three areas on site. Attendants will direct you as you turn onto Cataract Hollow Rd. Inform attendant of accommodations needed for people with disabilities.
Dr. William Robinson Plantation Museum, 593 Madison Hill Rd., Clark, 732-340-1571, www.DrRobinsonMuseum.org
Saturday: open 11 am–4 pm and 8–10 pm *
1st floor of building is wheelchair-accessible. Video shown on 1st floor is a virtual tour of basement and attic levels.
Crane-Phillips House Museum, 124 North Union Ave., Cranford, 908-276-0082, www.cranfordhistoricalsociety.org
Park in the Police Dept. lot (behind museum) or the nearby municipal lot.
William Miller Sperry Observatory, Union College, 1033 Springfield Ave., Cranford, 908-709-7000, www.asterism.org
Sperry Observatory is located towards the back of the Union College campus, between Springfield Ave. and Gallows Hill Rd. Ample parking is available in the large lots on the college campus, including spaces near the Observatory.
Boxwood Hall State Historic Site, 1073 E. Jersey St., Elizabeth, 908-282-7617, https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/historic/boxwoodhall.html
First floor is wheelchair-accessible via the back entrance.
Parking lot behind building (via driveway between Boxwood Hall and Efficiency Inn).
Elizabeth Public Library, 11 S Broad St., Elizabeth, 908-354-6060, www.elizpl.org
Library building and restrooms are fully ADA-compliant. For the Scavenger Hunt, see the brochure to contact sites before visiting to inquire about accessibility.
Free parking on site while using the Library only. For the Scavenger Hunt, use either Bollwage Parking Garage at 37 Caldwell Place or Jefferson Ave. Parking Garage at 28-56 Jefferson Ave. (at corner of Dickinson).
Nathaniel Bonnell Homestead & Belcher-Ogden Mansion, 1046 East Jersey St., Elizabeth, 908-581-7555
• Exterior tour about “the corner that history made”
• Picnic tables available for litter-free carry-in lunch in Belcher-Ogden back yard
Siloam Hope First Presbyterian Church & Snyder Academy, 42 Broad St., Elizabeth, 908-353-2131
Church building is wheelchair-accessible via ramp at the entrance. Snyder Academy is wheelchair-accessible by elevator located on the Caldwell Ave. side (north side) of the building.
Convenient parking available at the parking garage on Caldwell Place, across from Snyder Academy.
Historic Fanwood Train Station Museum, 230 North Ave., Fanwood, 908-322-8236, www.fanwoodnj.org
Evergreen Cemetery, 1137 North Broad St., Hillside, 908-352-7940
Woodruff House, Eaton Store Museum & Phil Rizzuto All Sports Exhibit, 111 Conant St., Hillside, 908-353-8828, www.woodruffhouse.org
Oswald J. Nitschke House, 49 South 21 St., Kenilworth, 908-276-9090, www.kenilworthhistoricalsociety.org
Grounds and building are wheelchair-accessible; elevator on site.
Free parking in front of building, on the street and in municipal lot across the street.
Deacon Andrew Hetfield House, Constitution Plaza, Watchung Ave., Mountainside, 908-789-9420, www.mountainsidehistory.org/contact-us
Main house is not wheelchair-accessible.
Salt Box Museum, 1350 Springfield Ave., New Providence, 908-665-1034, www.newprovidencehistorical.com
Guided Cemetery Tour (free) at New Providence Presbyterian Church, across from Salt Box at 1307 Springfield Ave., departing 1 pm and 2 pm (registration required): Learn the history of this cemetery and visit the graves of founding families and Revolutionary War soldiers on this guided 45-minute tour. Limit 20 per tour. To register and request confirmation, email NPcemeterytours@gmail.com, with name, preferred time and number of people. Meet 10 minutes before start time on the sidewalk by church parking lot. Sturdy shoes recommended, due to uneven ground.
Explore the Mason Room Archives of New Providence Historical Society: View local maps, photos, newspapers, personal journals and records in the Mason Room, located at the rear of New Providence Memorial Library, 377 Elkwood Ave., New Providence.
Park on the street for Salt Box; in church lot for Presbyterian Church cemetery tour; or in the Library lot for visiting the Mason Room.
Drake House Museum & Historical Society of Plainfield, 602 West Front St., Plainfield, 908-755-5831, www.drakehouseplainfieldnj.org
Masks required indoors and will be available on site.
Grounds and 1st floor of building are wheelchair-accessible.
Parking lot on site; enter lot at traffic light.
Two exhibits on view nearby at Plainfield Public Library, 800 Park Ave.:
• “A Photographic Journey through Union County History,” photographs by Nancy Ori, on view in the Anne Louise Davis Room
• “Beef, Iron and Wine: Late 19th- and Early 20th-Century Pharmacy & Medicine in Plainfield,” an exhibit of bottles from the Historical Society of Plainfield’s collection, on view in the main lobby
Plainfield -- duCret School of Art
• Tours of this 1896 building, formerly the George Strong residence
• Exhibit of artworks from the school’s permanent collection
Plainfield Quaker Meeting House, 225 Watchung Ave., Plainfield, 908-757-5736, www.plainfieldquakers.org
Building is wheelchair-accessible. Accessible parking spaces on site.
Park in lot on site or on street (meetinghouse is across from Plainfield train station).
African American History & Heritage Learning Center, 261 Central Ave., Rahway, 732-382-0541, www.ebenezeramechurch.com
Park in the church lot at 253 Central Ave. or on local streets nearby.
Merchants & Drovers Tavern Museum, 1632 St. George Ave., Rahway (corner of Westfield Ave.), 732-381-0441, www.merchantsanddrovers.org
Museum building and bathroom are wheelchair-accessible.
Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving St., Rahway, 732-499-8226, www.ucpac.org
Building is wheelchair-accessible. Accessible parking spaces at rear of building.
Parking available on street or behind the theatre. Or use spacious parking lot nearby at Hamilton Theater on Hamilton St.
Abraham Clark House, 101 W. 9th Ave., Roselle, 732-221-7211
Roselle Park Historical Society & Museum, 9 W. Grant Ave., Roselle Park
Ground-level building entrance is wheelchair-accessible (no steps).
Free street parking available nearby, and metered parking across the street.
Frazee House, 1451 Raritan Rd., Scotch Plains, www.frazeehouse.org
Osborn Cannonball House Museum, 1840 Front St., Scotch Plains, Weekends: 908-757-1885, www.historicalsocietyspfnj.org
Park in the Municipal lot behind town hall or on street.
Shady Rest Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Rd., Scotch Plains, 908-490-1577, www.preserveshadyrest.org
Building is wheelchair-accessible. Accessible parking spaces on site.
Cannon Ball House/Hutchings Homestead, 126 Morris Ave., Springfield, 973-912-4464, www.springfieldhistoricalsociety.webs.com
• Members of the Brigade of the Revolution will tell stories of life as a colonial-era soldier in the days leading to the 1780 Battle of Springfield during the Revolutionary War
Entrance via rear door is just one step up, but building is not wheelchair-accessible by ramp.
Limited on-site parking; enter building via rear door.
Carter House, 90 Butler Parkway, Summit, 908-277-1747, www.summitnjhistory.org or www.summithistoricalsociety.org
Research room and entire archives are wheelchair-accessible via ramp from gravel parking lot; remainder of the museum is one step up.
Ample free parking on the street, or park in the gravel lot on site.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave., Summit, 908-273-8787, www.reeves-reedarboretum.org
Saturday only: open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Buildings are wheelchair-accessible. Gardens and grounds are wheelchair-accessible in some areas. Map and Guide available at Visitors Center provides details.
Park on site, across the street or in surrounding residential area (observe parking regulations).
Twin Maples, 214 Springfield Ave., Summit, 908-273-0301, www.twinmaplessummit.org
Wallace Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, 138-142 Broad St., Summit
Parking lot at rear of church. Street parking also available.
Caldwell Parsonage, 909 Caldwell Ave,. Union, 908-687-7977, www.unionhistory.org or www.uniontwphistoricalsociety.webs.com
Building is wheelchair accessible. On-street parking and municipal lot one block away.
Connecticut Farms Church, 888 Stuyvesant Ave., Union, 908-688-3164, www.ctfarms.org
Liberty Hall, 1003 Morris Ave., Union, 908-527-0400, www.kean.edu
The main house will not be open, due to a special event.
Visitor Center and Firehouse Museum are fully wheelchair-accessible.
Congressman Donald M. Payne Vauxhall Meeting Center, 333 Russell St., Vauxhall (Union), 908-688-2797, mvhs1860@yahoo.com
Building is wheelchair accessible and fully ADA-compliant.
Parking lot is across the street from Jefferson School, which also has a parking lot.
Miller-Cory House Museum, 614 Mountain Ave., Westfield, 908-232-1776, www.millercoryhouse.com
Park in lot or on surrounding side-streets.
Reeve History & Cultural Resource Center, 314 Mountain Ave., Westfield, 908-654-1794, www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org
Many activities are outdoors and wheelchair-accessible, however the building interior is not wheelchair-accessible. Interior can be seen online via a virtual tour.
Four Centuries in a Weekend is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.
The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs is a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. For information about all Cultural and Heritage programs, including grant opportunities, visit ucnj.org/cultural.
For information about all programs and activities in Union County parks, visit ucnj.org/parks or call 908-527-4900.
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