210 Main Street, Boonton, N.J November 2014

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1 Boonton Historical Society & Museum at the Dr. John Taylor House 210 Main Street, Boonton, N.J November 2014 Boonton Historical Society Joins The Pathways Of History Historic Places Tour Small museums continually search for innovative ideas to promote history as well as entice the public to visit their museums and historic places. In 2010 five enthusiastic Morris County groups conceived an idea designed to highlight their distinctive museums and historical properties of local significance. Each had a unique and fascinating story to share. Aptly called The Pathways of History Links to Each Other and to the Past, this two-day tour was a huge success. Now in its fifth year, the Pathways of History Tour has grown to include 21 historic locations. Each participant on the tour planned something extra special for this extraordinary event. Visitors can start at any point on the tour and admission is free. attendees for Boonton Historical Society and the 2014 Pathways tour overall. Gretchen Longo & Eric Wallin explore Mrs. Taylor s parlor Our museum exhibit, Mrs. Taylor s Victorian Parlor, replete with period furniture, Victorian artifacts, clothing and art work was very well received. A continuing exhibit, we welcome visitors to come in and sit on the furniture while enjoying the wonderful ambience provided by this recreation of the original parlor of Doctor and Mrs. John Taylor s home. You can sit and enjoy the ambience in Mrs. Taylor s parlor Two outstanding exhibits enabled the Boonton Historical Society to welcome 323 visitors to our museum and to the Miller-Kingsland House over the tour weekend. This was a record number of tour Trustee Jenny Darlington greets guests at the Miller-Kingsland House

2 At the Miller-Kingsland House we honored the Kingsland Marionettes. The last Kingsland descendants to live in the house, Mabel Kingsland Head and her husband, Cedric Head, were nationally known puppeteers who made their home and studio in Boonton s oldest recorded house. Beginning in 1930, the Kingsland Marionettes were famous for their adult and children s performances, the school of puppetry they ran in Vermont during the summer months and for Cedric Head s collection of antique and museum quality marionettes and books. He kept his collection of over 700 marionettes, both from performances and from his private collection, in the barn which is now on adjoining property. Some artifacts from the barn (pictured) were generously given to the Society by the current owners. Original advertising sketches for Kingsland Marionette performances of Shakespeare s As You Like It and Hans Christian Anderson s The Tinderbox with photograph of Kingsland Marionettes performing The Tinderbox. Rod puppets from Indonesia This exhibit featured antique and international marionettes as well as live demonstrations by Penny Rapicano and the Fun on a String Marionettes. Young and old alike were given the opportunity to try their hand as puppeteers. Our exhibit featured a DVD about the life and accomplishments of puppeteer Margo Lovelace, one of the many puppeteers influenced by Cedric Head and the Kingsland Marionettes. The Lovelace Marionette Theatre in Pittsburgh was the first professional puppet company in the United States to stage performances on a regular schedule We were thrilled to hear from Margo, who spends her retirement in New Jersey. Thank you for inviting me to the reception honoring the Kingsland Marionettes. I hope it was a great success for Cedric Head and Mabel Kingsland established a truly great marionette theatre which delighted both children and adults for many years. I worked with Cedric for six summer seasons where we played for throngs of people, who looked forward to the annual series of plays. I never knew Mabel but I know she and Cedric helped many puppeteers set up their own companies during the depression when people were searching for any way to earn a few dollars. When Cedric took me on, I was a novice but after working with him I learned enough to set up my own theatre in Pittsburgh which was a great success. When I retired I wrote a few stories about my experience with the Kingsland Marionettes, which I am giving to the University of Pittsburgh, where the archives of our theatre are stored. So you see why I am happy to know that the Historical Society is honoring The Kingsland Marionettes. Keep up the good work. Sincerely, Margo Lovelace Margo Lovelace Volunteer Claire Hance: budding puppeteer

3 Music At The Opera The second in our lecture series with Dr. Robert Butts was held in October. Again, a most appreciative audience heard a lecture by Dr. Butts with opera singing of pieces from the era. Mad Hatter s Tea Party At The Miller-Kingsland House Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat and The Mad Hatter himself graced our festive tea party. Verses from the Jabberwocky, the March Hare, and Alice herself were presented as our guests enjoyed a delicious tea of sandwiches, scones, and a variety of cakes and cookies. Emily Schweer and Dr. Robert Butts Our bunny-eared hostesses Card reading and tea tasting, charming hosts and hostesses made for another successful event on our Fall calendar. ( l to r) Amy Suznovich, Mike Markwis, Dr. Robert Butts, Cassandra Lambros, Emily Schweer Boonton Historical Society s Fall Calendar Music in the Age of the Darress Theatre (Membership Meeting) Wednesday, November 19 th 7:00 PM at the Boonton Senior Center Cups, saucers and plates aplenty to serve our guests Annual Holiday Open House Sunday, December 7 th 1:00-4:00 PM at the Boonton Historical Society

4 return to the third floor serving a variety of soups, sandwiches, as well as hot and cold drinks. All proceeds from this fundraiser benefit the Passaic County Historical Society. The New England Players entertaining the Tea guests For more information on special events such as this one, visit the Passaic County Historical Society's website at lambertcastle.org or call Saturday, November 8 th - Mercer County Historical Society of Princeton 2014 House Tour Your table awaits!! The Historical Society of Princeton is hosting its 13 th Annual House Tour from 10 to 4 on Saturday, November 8 th This signature event celebrates architecture and design in the homes of our supportive community! What s Happening New Jersey November 8 th - 30 th - Passaic County Lambert Castle (home of the Passaic County Historical Society) 3 Valley Road, Paterson NJ, The Passaic County Historical Society will be presenting the 27 th annual Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique. Open Wednesday through Friday from 10 to 8, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 5, enjoy shopping for this year's assortment of festive holiday gifts, jewelry, seasonal decorations, crafts, collectibles and gourmet food in the historic atmosphere and ambience of Lambert Castle. Admission to the Boutique is $6, which includes two return visits. Children under 12 years are admitted free of charge. No child strollers or carriages are permitted inside the Castle. Visa and Mastercard are accepted for purchases. This year the café will Photograph of 906 Great Road is courtesy of Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty The tour has expanded to feature six extraordinary homes, from modern to traditional designs. This year will feature: 11 Cleveland Lane, 1 Ober Road, 45 Linden Lane, 906 Great Road, 89 Cleveland Lane and 11 Newlin Road. Advance tickets are $45 for HSP members and $50 for non-members. All tickets purchased the day of

5 the tour are $50. Proceeds help fund the Historical Society's core mission activities throughout the year, including exhibitions, collections care and educational programming for schools and families. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call x105. Tickets may also be purchased online at On the day of the event, tickets may be purchased at Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, or at any of the six homes on the tour. The society is grateful to Lead Sponsors Charles Schwab and Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty for their generous support of this event. Sunday, November 9 th Pascack Historical Society 19 Ridge Avenue, Park Ridge, NJ In honor of Veterans' Day, the Pascack Historical Society will present a talk by John J. McLaughlin, Esq., "General Albert C. Wedemeyer: America's Unsung Strategist In World War II" on Sunday, November 9 th, 2 PM in the barrier-free Ellen Berdais Hall at the Pascack Historical Society, Park Ridge. Admission is free. McLaughlin is a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law and in 2008 received his doctorate in history from Drew University, writing his dissertation on General Albert C. Wedemeyer. The speaker is the founder and moderator of the New Jersey World War II Book Club. the German Kriegsakademia, the Nazi equivalent to the US Command and General Staff School. As the only American to attend, he was thus the only ranking officer in the US who recognized the tactics of blitzkrieg and he knew how to respond. Complimentary coffee and cake will be served. A question & answer period will follow Dr. McLaughlin's presentation. For further information or directions log onto or call Thanks For Your Help! The request for donations to our annual Tea fundraiser was met with an overwhelming response! THANK YOU! Members and friends of the Boonton Historical Society generously supplied us with numerous cloth napkins, lace curtains, ramekins, table cloths, tea cozies, tea pots, tiered servers, china hutches, coffee urns, floor lamps, lamp shades, and plate holders just to mention a few! The only things left on our wish list are: Sugar bowls and creamers Candle stick tables Please feel free to bring the above donations to the Museum during our normal operating hours of 1 to 4 PM on Sundays. Like many heroes of the Second World War, General Albert C. Wedemeyer's career has been largely overshadowed by such well known figures as Marshall, Patton, Montgomery and Bradley. Wedemeyer's legacy as the main planner of the D-Day invasion is almost completely forgotten today. Wedemeyer was the primary author of the "Victory Program" that mobilized US resources and directed them at crucial points in order to secure victory over the Axis. In the late 1930s he had the unique experience of being an exchange student at

6 The Boonton Historical Society Annual Membership Meeting will be held November 19th 2014, at 7:00pm at the Boonton Senior Center (126 N. Main Street) featuring Boonton: Music of an Era Music in the Age of the Darress Theater Presented by Dr. Robert Butts Refreshments will be served Boonton Historical Society and Museum 210 Main Street Boonton, NJ

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