Celebrating Black History Month.
Award Winning Program for Excellence in History & Education Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission.
This program is proudly presented by the Friends of Abraham Staats House, Inc., in conjunction with the South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission.
The annual event, held each February in honor of Black History Month, celebrates the contribution and sacrifices of Afro-Americans in the foundation of our nation. The featured presenter is Mr. Joseph Becton, retired National Park Service Interpretive Park Ranger, recognized with the Community Service award for setting a standard of excellence in interpretation and for his role in connecting Americans to our national parks.
Schedule
The Friends of Abraham Staats House and South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission are delighted to bring back the live “Tory Jack Day” program at the Abraham Staats House.
This annual event, held each February in honor of Black History Month, celebrates the contribution and sacrifices of Afro-Americans in the foundation of our nation. The featured presenter is Mr. Joseph Becton, retired National Park Service Interpretive Park Ranger. Mr. Becton has set a standard of excellence in connecting Americans to historic sites and national parks through his inspiring narrative and music.
This year the program, “USCT US Colored Troops & Juneteenth,” offers Joe’s unique presentation on the United States Colored Troops ~ Civil War to Reconstruction.
Seating limited; house opens 10:30AM, program begins at 11AM. After, tour the historic Abraham Staats House until 1:30PM. Light refreshments. This year’s program will also offer the option to view the program remotely via Zoom.
At the Abraham Staats House, we have long enjoyed hosting our Tory Jack Day event each February, in commemoration of the lives and contributions of the enslaved and freed blacks who were part of the Staats’ family household, and offering with each annual event, information about how African Americans played a part in American’s evolution as a nation. This year, our Tory Jack Day program is on hiatus, due to ongoing COVID restrictions. We look forward to resuming the program next year.
Instead, this year we are proud to debut a special video produced for the Abraham Staats House. The short video “The Old Kitchen at the Abraham Staats House: A Window into Slavery in New Jersey,” not only provides a visual access to the Old Kitchen and Slave Quarters above the kitchen, but gives a glimpse into the reality of slavery in New Jersey and the lives of the enslaved people who were part of the living history of the homestead, during the 18th and 19th century.
This video was created by Stepping Stone Strategies made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey Historical Commission and funds from the Borough of South Bound Brook.
The Friends of Abraham Staats House and South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, presents the 18th edition of the award winning “Tory Jack Day” program on February 8, 2020. The program, “Nothing but the Blues,”, featuring performer Joseph Becton , playing and singing his favorite blues song and composers. You have never heard him like this since the Cobalt Blues band. He has played guitar and harmonica for 40 years. Group participation is encouraged.
Mr. Becton, retired National Park Service Interpretive Park Ranger and owner of Joe Becton Tours and Historical Services (Certified Master Guide/Assoc. of Philadelphia Tour Guides), is recognized for setting a standard of excellence in interpretation and in connecting Americans to our national parks through narrative and music.
Ticket are available on Eventbrite – Tickets
Click here for the Tory Jack Day flyer
The Friends of Abraham Staats House and South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, presented the 17th edition of the award winning “Tory Jack Day” program on February 9, 2019. The program, “Music of the Civil War,”, featuring performers Joseph Becton and Antoine Watts, illustrated through words and performance the development of this American art form.
Mr. Becton, retired National Park Service Interpretive Park Ranger and owner of Joe Becton Tours and Historical Services (Certified Master Guide/Assoc. of Philadelphia Tour Guides), is recognized for setting a standard of excellence in interpretation and in connecting Americans to our national parks through narrative and music. Mr. Watts, historical interpreter, performer, and musician, accompanies Mr. Becton in the presentation.
Joe Becton
The Friends of Abraham Staats House, Inc., in conjunction with South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, and in partnership with the Women’s Guild of South Bound Brook, presented the 16th edition of the award winning “Tory Jack Day” program on February 10, 2018. Eminent historian Mr. Joseph Becton presented “Music of the Underground Railroad.”, explaining through words and performance about the development of this truly American art form.
Mr. Becton, a retired National Park Service Interpretive Park Ranger, has been recognized with the Community Service award for setting a standard of excellence in interpretation and for his role in connecting Americans to our national parks through wonderful stories and varied media. Mr. Becton now directs Joe Becton Tours and Historical Services and most recently has been proclaimed a Certified Master Guide by the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides.
Following Mr. Becton’s presentation, the public was invited to tour the historic Abraham Staats House. and view an exhibit “The Underground Railroad” presented by local historian and Women’s Guild member, Mrs. Joyce Smith.