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Saturday, September
12th & Sunday, September 13th, 2009
10:00 am ~ 4:00 pm both days
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.
Admission
to “Canal Days” Abraham Staats House tours and exhibits: $5 (free
for children under age 12.) Grounds admission and parking is free.
“Canal Days at the Abraham aats House”
is part of a year-long celebration of the 175th anniversary of the Delaware
& Raritan Canal and features a Civil War-era theme.
Two regiments of Civil War reenactors, the 7th Virginia Cavalry and the
First New Jersey Light Artillery, Battery C, will be encamped on the grounds
for the weekend.
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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Throughout the weekend,
the soldiers will drill, fire artillery, and portray camp life.
A large exhibit of Civil War relics and artifacts, including a medical
exhibit, will be on display inside the Abraham Staats House.
Reenactors in period dress will portray civilian life of the era through
such activities as cooking, sewing, spinning, and playing period music.
Tours of the Abraham Staats House will be conducted both days.. |
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Learn about the D&R Canal
on this 175th anniversary year: |
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Saturday ~
1 pm: 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.
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Meet President Lincoln (Saturday only):
Throughout the day, President Abraham Lincoln will stroll the grounds, inspect the troops,
and mingle with the citizens. Historic
interpreter Christian Johnson, who portrays the former president
as well as other historic figures for a variety of events,
captures the essence of our 16th American
president. In the persona of Abraham Lincoln, Johnson has appeared at
the National Archives, the National Portrait Gallery, 4th of July Parades
in Washington, D.C., and at the White House. |
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Artillery demonstrations:
First New Jersey Light Artillery Battery C will be firing the
cannon! |
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Don't forget to stop by and visit the Friends of the Abraham
Staats House table for information.
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About the Delaware and
Raritan Canal:
Construction of the D&R Canal began in 1830. Laborers - the majority of
whom are believed to have been migratory Irish immigrants - were hired
to dig, mostly by hand, the main canal and its feeder. The main canal
was 44 miles long, 75 feet wide and 7 feet deep. The feeder was 22 miles
long, 50 feet wide and 6 feet deep. The canal system was completed in
1834 at an estimated cost of $2,830,000. For nearly a century after it
opened, the D&R Canal was one of America's busiest navigation canals.
Its peak years were the 1860s and 1870s when Pennsylvania coal was
transported through the D&R Canal to feed the city of New York's
industrial boom. During this period, 80% of the total cargo carried on
the canal was coal. By the end of the 19th century, canal use was
declining throughout the country. The speed and power of the railroad
overtook the romance of the canal era. The D&R Canal's last year of
operation at a profit was 1892, but is stayed open through the 1932
shipping season. [Source:
Delaware and Raritan
Canal State Parks web site:
http://www.dandrcanal.com/history.html |
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Click on the Canal Boat for
2007 Canal Day Photos
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Click on camera below
to see the video taken at Canal Day 2007
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Click on the Canal Boat for
2006 Canal Day Photos
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Saturday, September 10th, 2005
The event was a great success, we had a very
nice turn out and beautiful weather, here are a few photos of the day:
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firing the cannon |
Guard, Dennis Quinlan & Pres. Lincoln at
Flag Ceremony |
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One of the several displays inside the house
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The Canal Society of NJ's booth
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Vicki Chirco giving her presentation |
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Ron Tolles: Canal “Ratter”
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Pres. Lincoln, Kels Swan & Gov.
Olden |
FASH Bake Sale, Raffle & Information Tent
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Our Canal Day at the Abraham Staats House
was a big hit, with the many visitors who strolled the grounds and
house. They came to enjoy a day of activities, including a
touching address by our own Dennis Quinlan at the opening ceremony,
followed by remarks by President Lincoln (portrayed by historic
renenactor Christian Johnson ). Visitors also enjoyed meeting
Gov. Olden (portrayed by Bruce Sirak), viewing and hearing! the
artillery and other demonstrations provided by our Civil War
reenactment unit members, poring over the collections and artifacts
inside the house and listening to the history of the D&R Canal
presentation by Vicki Chirco of the State Parks.
Special thanks to our tireless volunteers (Jody, Carol,
Marilyn, Kathy, Rustin, Tom, Ron to name just a few!), event
contributors: collections specialists Kels Swan, John Krasnansky,
John Tracy, Al Green, David Goliger and Deb Pomerantz--and Dr.
Richard Veit, for displaying items from those uncovered at the House
during Dr. Veit's archeological dig project in recent
months; harpist Lynda
Lowell-Mullusky, all those who donated yummy baked goods for
the event -- and who could forget master of cookery and jack of all
trades, Brian Faulks!
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