Dover Area Historical Society

Stop by the Museum on your way to the celebration at Hurd Park or before moving on to other holiday activities.  Enjoy a cool drink and a snack.  All are welcome!

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Calling all current and former Boy Scouts and their families to join us for an evening with Mr. Leroy Varga and Mr. Bob Bahrs to see a presentation about the history of the Boy Scouts in Dover.  Reconnect with some former friends from scouting, share stories about your experiences.  Meeting will take place at the Museum House, 55 W. Blackwell Street, Dover beginning at 7:00 PM.  All are welcome, refreshments will be served.

Ms. Andrea Proctor, the Resource Interpretative Specialist for Waterloo Historic Village, will be the guest speaker at Dover Area Historical Society’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Dover Community Center, 37 N. Essex Street, Dover, beginning at 7:00 PM.  Ms. Proctor will give a presentation on two subjects: Waterloo Village Historic Village, and the Lenni-Lenape Indians, who inhabited North Jersey and Morris County centuries ago. 

Ms. Proctor is responsible for developing and overseeing the educational programs at Waterloo Village, including school programs, walking tours, scout programs, public presentations and outreach.  Come spend an evening with us and learn about the history of the region.  Admission is free, all are welcome! 

2017 is the 100th anniversary or the U.S. entry to World War I.  To commemorate that date, a number of our events this year, including our annual tea, Pathways of History, the Hurd Park Walking Tour, etc.  have had themes related to World War I.  If you missed any events, come see our collection of memorabilia and publications, view our newest DVD highlight Dover during WWI, and see a movie from that time period.  Our entire collection of DVD’s including historical topics related to Dover and Dover High School yearbooks will be available for a small donation.  Refreshments will be served.  All are welcome!

On Saturday, October 7, 2017 from 10:00AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday, October 8, 2017 from 12:00 noon until 4:00 PM, for the eighth year in a row, 20 historic sites in northern Morris County will be open so your family can experience a warm welcome and an enlightening historical experience.   Begin the tour at any point, pick up a map and brochure and visit as many sites as you wish.  Our museum, the Condict House, 55 West Blackwell Street, Dover will offer a tour, Power Points, lots of memorabilia supporting the theme, World War I, which commemorates the U.S. entry into WWI 100 years ago.  Stan’s famous clam chowder and other snacks will be available.  Event is free. All are welcome! Go to www.PathwaysofHistoryNJ.net for a complete list of historic sites which will be open.

Please join us for our Tenth Annual Tea!  This year’s theme is “Dover During World War I”.  Donation – $20.00.  Limited number of tickets still available….Call Phyllis at (973) 366-4276 for a reservation.

 Saturday, September 30 – 

Put on your Walking Shoes!

Please join our curator, Rick Kelly, for a walking tour of Hurd Park on Saturday, September 30, 2017….see the Jackson Brook, the Doughboy statue, and hear about the history of this area of Dover.  Meet at the Park Heights Avenue corner of the Park.  Walk begins at 12:00 noon and will last about 1 1/2 hours. Narration in Spanish available for those who are more comfortable speaking Spanish.  Rain or shine, all are welcome, event is free.

Get out of the heat and join us for a museum visit and some ice cream.  We’ll be open from 2:00pm until 4:00pm.  Admission free.  All are welcome.

Our walking tours are back! Get out you walking shoes because two are planned for the near future.  On Saturday, July 15, at 10:30am our enthusiastic museum curator, Rick Kelly, will lead a tour of the historic sites and buildings downtown, starting at the Dover Public Library across from the JFK Park, which was the turning basin for the canal boats in times past.  Rick will tell  you about the canal and guide you along Bergen Street to St. John’s Church, the train station, and Stone Academy, then onto Blackwell Street to see and hear about the George Richards building, Mansion House, Baker Theater and the Memorial site. After a short break at the Museum House, you’ll see the Presbyterian Church, walk to Bassett Highway to learn about the Ulster Iron Works, venture down to the Post Office, visit the Dover Dogs, Central Railroad, Dutton Hotel, and back to the library.  Tour will last about 1 hour 3o minutes to 2  hours. Rain date is July 22.  Tour is free, all are welcome! A tour of Hurd Park, the Jackson Brook and the Doughboy is scheduled for Saturday, Sept 30.  Watch for more info about that one. We hope you can join us to learn more about Dover’s historic past.