My Historic New Jersey: August 2010

Why this blog...

I grew up in Camden County, across the river from Philadelphia. Down the street from my home was a historic 18th century tavern. Back then it was just Old Man Schuck's house. At least once a year, my paternal grandfather would take my brother and me to visit Fort Mercer-Red Bank Battlefield in National Park, NJ. Today, I live in Central Jersey and across the street is an 18th century Dutch farm house.

New Jersey is jam-packed with history. For example, more revolutionary war battles and skirmishes were fought in New Jersey than in any other state! The Continental Army spent more time camped in New Jersey (Morristown and Middlebrook) than in Valley Forge. If you live in New Jersey, there's a very good chance that George Washington slept somewhere within a few miles of your home.

Unfortunately, most of this history is overlooked. That old tavern down the street was an integral part of my childhood, not because it was "historic" but because it was a living, tangible connection to our heritage as New Jerseyans.

One of the major obstacles is that New Jersey does little to celebrate its history. In a state lacking a cohesive identity, most people don't know the history that's sitting, literally, in their backyards.

In fact, I was unaware until recently of exactly how vast the wealth of revolutionary war era history is in this state. So, starting in the summer of 2009, I vowed to visit as many of New Jersey's revolutionary war era sites as I could and to chronicle those visits here. The blog is called "my historic nj" because it's as much about a 21st century individual's personal interaction with history as it is about the history itself.

I may veer off into other eras from time to time - the light bulb was invented here, after all - but for now I'll be focusing on the 1776-1783 period. [Note: Any errors of fact in this blog are my own.]

Who am I?
Patrick Murray is the director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute and also a board member of the Crossroads of the American Revolution Association. The Association is charged with promoting the federally recognized Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area which encompasses 213 cities and towns in New Jersey from Bergen County to Gloucester County.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Sunday: No Visitors Wanted

I woke up on a rainy Sunday morning and wondered what I could do. Hmm let's go online and see what's open.

How about Liberty Hall, home of New Jersey’s first elected governor and signer of the Constitution, William Livingston? Nope, closed on Sunday.

Boxwood Hall, home of Elias Boudinot, president of the Continental Congress? Closed on Sunday.

And the list went on and on.

So what did I do on a wet summer Sunday?

Not visit any of New Jersey's Revolutionary War sites, that's what.

My Historic New Jersey

Why this blog...

New Jersey Revolutionary War History Links

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Sunday, August 1, 2010

Sunday: No Visitors Wanted