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Take a glimpse
into Acorn Hall’s attic, closets, and drawers as the
Morris County
Historical Society exhibits
Collection Treasures at Acorn Hall. This
exhibit,
running from now through the end of this year, features
a vast variety of items
from the Morris County Historical Society’s extensive
collections, many of them
never displayed before. Visitors will see some of the
Society’s amazing artifacts,
chosen for this exhibit because of their value, their
beauty, or their eccentricity.
On display are nineteenth and early twentieth century
clothing and accessories,
household goods, documents, furnishings, and other
objects. The exhibit is open
to the public on Mondays and Thursdays (10-4) and
Sundays (1-4) and is included
in the price of a tour of Acorn Hall.
Among the widely varied items on view:
- An
elaborate 1870s brown taffeta walking suit. This
bustled dress
has layers of ruffles on ruffles, streamers, complex
fringes, and beading.
- An
original document signed by both President Thomas
Jefferson
and Secretary of State James Madison.
- Souvenirs
from the 1876 Centennial, the 1893 and 1904 World’s
Fairs, and the wedding of General Tom Thumb.
- Nineteenth-century
furniture by Morristown makers Hiram Frazee
and John Sutton.
- Artwork
by several prominent Morris County artists.
Past Exhibits (* indicates exhibit catalogue is available for purchase)
Behind Closed Doors:
Health, Hygiene and Sexuality Among the Victorians
Winter/Spring 2007
The exhibit is designed to answer questions that often go unasked by visitors to the 19th
century house museum. Questions like, “When was toothpaste invented?” and “How did
the Victorians go to the bathroom before indoor plumbing?” and “Were the Victorians
really as prudish as we think they are?” are addressed with text, graphics, and vintage
objects. Visitors will learn about the secret ingredients – alcohol and opium -- in many
popular medications of the time. And they’ll learn about the two doctors who lived at
Acorn Hall. Items on display included patent medicine bottles and ephemera, Victorian
underwear, and a jar of live medical leeches donated by Leeches USA Ltd.
The Jews of Morris County
Summer 2006
A traveling exhibit produced by the Jewish Historical Society of Metrowest. For
additional information visit http://www.jhsmw.org/.
Millionaires, Mansions
and Maids: Morris County's Gilded Age
Winter/Spring 2005-2006
This exhibition examined the many millionaires that called Morris County home during the
period known as the Gilded Age. On display were historic photographs of area mansions,
sumptuous costumes, jewelry, artwork and furniture.
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The Greens of Morris County: A Cultural History of Golf
The history of golf and its role in Morris County history were showcased in The Greens of Morris
County: A Cultural History of Golf . The Greens of Morris County featured golf courses of Morris
County past and present, the people who created them, and the people who played them. The
Morris County Park Commission’s courses were featured, as well as many other local public and
private courses. The exhibit included artifacts from the historical society’s own collection as well
as items from private collections, many being exhibited for the first time. A yearlong series of
programs, sponsored by both the Morris County Historical Society and the Morris County Park
Commission, coincided with the exhibition. The history of golf in America is mirrored by its
history in Morris County. It’s a story not just about sports, but about people. The first women's
amateur golf tournament sanctioned by the United States Golf Association was held at the Morris
County Golf Club, itself founded by women in 1894. The first African-American to hold a
Professional Golf Association card, Dewey Brown, was a pro at several Morris County clubs.
Multi-millionaire Otto Kahn built his own private course on the property of his Normandy Heights
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Just why so many people interested in the often vaguely defined time period known as the
Victorian era (1837-1901)? Using an encyclopedic format, this exhibit explored what makes
something Victorian, and provided an insight into nineteenth century life. In the nineteenth
century, the Industrial Revolution made the manufacture of all kinds of goods easier and more
affordable. This gave rise to a new kind of middle class, one which could afford all kinds of useful or
even purely decorative objects. In most cases, those two qualities overlapped, producing the most
ornamental types of otherwise mundane objects. Additionally, countless writers published books
advising readers on proper dress and home decoration. Armed with this knowledge, people could
easily acquire objects through department stores and catalogs — and they did. This exhibit will be
on display at the Mid Atlantic Center for the Arts in Fall 2006.
Then and Now: A View of Progress
The exhibit focused on the technological advances that have impacted our daily lives.
While life in 1400 was strikingly similar to life in 1300, life in 1900 had little resemblance to
life in 1800. From plumbing to fashion, the Industrial Revolution has created a tidal wave
of innovation. Using objects from the Society’s collection, the exhibit included categories ranging
from fashion to household items to toys.
* Forging the Future: Morris County’s Iron Industry
Its hard to imagine amidst today’s suburban homes, office buildings and shopping centers,
but nineteenth century Morris County was a major supplier of the iron that fueled America’s
Industrial Revolution. This exhibit explored why Morris County actually ranked third in
iron production in the United States. The iron age of Morris began in the 1700s. Iron mines
operated around Boonton, Rockaway and Dover. Many of the earliest immigrants to the area
were brought over from England to operate the mines. Robert Oram, who came to manage
the Swedes’ mines in Dover went on to create the village of Port Oram (now known as
Wharton), an iron mine factory town. Subsequent generations of immigrants kept not only
the mines in operation, but populated the area and became active citizens contributing to the
community. Although they are gone from view, the iron mines not only supplied the country
with an important resource, they helped create Morris County. Forging the Future was a
comprehensive look at the iron industry in Morris and the people who worked in it. A
companion publication to the exhibit is still available at the MCHS book shop.
From Plants to Pleasure: The Role of Gardens in Our Lives
This exhibit traced the history of gardening in Morris County and the influence of
horticultural design in all areas of life. It presented a chronology of pleasure gardens in
Morris County from the eighteenth century to the lavish gardens of the Madison Avenue
Mansions to current public gardens. Visitors gained an appreciation for the continued
European influence on garden design. The growth of the rose industry in Madison was
also highlighted. In addition, the exhibit presented the influence of horticultural designs on
clothing, jewelry, furniture and items of everyday use. Costumes from the Society’s
extensive collection were be on display. Ultimately, From Plants to Pleasure explored the
history of human interest in gardening and why it continues to be a past time that generates
an entire nursery industry.
* The Conflict, the County and the Citizens: Morris County During the Civil War
This exhibit examined Morris County during the Civil War. Letters, photographs and diaries
of Morris County residents who participated in the war provided insight into the lives of the
men who fought one of the bloodiest wars in American history. The exhibit also explored the
homefront, how citizens supported the war effort and the roles that women played in the war.
This exhibit at the Morris County Historical Society demonstrated the richness of Morris
County’s past. Day in the Life focused on individuals and their daily lives from different time
periods in our history. Drawn from oral histories and other materials from the MCHS archives,
the exhibit enabled visitors to learn more about the lives and times of our predecessors. It is
common know-ledge that Morris County was home to a Revolutionary War encampment, but
what did those soldiers do? What was life like working on the Morris Canal? Sometimes entire
families lived and worked on the boats. What were they hauling? How much did they make?
Compare the responsibilities of a fireman and policeman in the 1800s to the present day.
The iron ore mines and blast furnaces were important to the area’s development. What were
the workers’ lives like? Answers to these and many other questions about the lives of Morris
County residents were presented in this exhibit.
* Many Lands, One County: Immigration to Morris County
From its early days as a colony, the inhabitants of New Jersey have been among the most
dissimilar populations of the country. Many Lands, One County demonstrated why
immigrants of many backgrounds have come to this region of the country and why many
have settled permanently in Morris County, New Jersey. The exhibit followed the path
of a timeline from the colonial era to the present. Along the timeline the entrance of
various nationalities and their impact on the area were discussed in further detail.
Photographs, oral histories and artifacts were on display. The companion exhibit
publication is still available through the MHCS book shop.
County Fairs to Community Theater: A Look at Entertainment in Morris County
This exhibit explored the many ways the people of Morris County have entertained
themselves from Colonial times to the present. Visitors learned about the glorious past
and optimistic future of Morristown’s “Miracle on South Street” – the Community Theatre,
now attracting performers from around the world. Also featured was the Darress Theater
on Main Street built in Boonton in 1919 and still in operation today. It presented the
role that the Library and Lyceum played in the social life of Morristown and the
surrounding area. Once a centerpiece on South Street but destroyed by fire in 1914,
Lyceum Hall featured performances from classical to musical comedy; from society
balls to lectures. In Lake Hopatcong, entertainment was big business. A special
section focused on Bertrand Island Amusement Park and other lakeside entertainments.
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