Eleanor Roosevelt: The First Lady of Today’s First Ladies with Mark Mutter, Toms River Historian Learn about the remarkable life of Eleanor Roosevelt, who served as the “eyes and ears” for President Roosevelt. Eleanor was the first lady from 1933 until 1945. Through her travels throughout the country, as an early advocate for human rights, and her public engagement, she redefined the role of First Lady. This remarkable person even served as the United States Delegate to the United Nations. Presented by Mark Mutter, who spent summer months working as a docent at Campobello Island, where the Roosevelts had their summer cottage. During his time there Mark did extensive research on Eleanor Roosevelt. Mark has been historian and business administrator for Toms River Township, serves as the official Toms River historian, and is currently adjunct professor of law at Ocean County College. These events take place at our museum at 26 Hadley Avenue in Toms River. Our speaker series is always free; but donations are appreciated. SEATING IS LIMITED so reserve your seat early by sending your name, zip code, email address,  telephone number, and the name and date of the program (October 20, 2024) to:  oceancountyhistory.programs@gmail.com  

The Fourth Annual Ocean County History Day will take place on Saturday September 14th, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with a rain date scheduled for Sunday, September 15th. The Ocean County Historical Society will be co-sponsoring this fun day with the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Joshua Huddy DAR Chapter. Numerous Ocean County Historical Societies and museums will be setting up displays to help tell the rich history of Ocean County. There will be historic reenactors, and free tours of our newly renovated Elizabeth Sculthorp Force Victorian Era house and museum. For additional information, please contact Jeff Schenker at 609-339-9134 or jeffschenker@myyahoo.com

Location:  Ocean County Historical Society Time:  2:00 PM Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 This event takes place at our museum at 26 Hadley Avenue in Toms River. Our speaker series is free, but your donations in support of our programs are greatly appreciated. SEATING IS LIMITED so reserve your seat early by sending your name, zip code, email address, and the name and date of the program (May 5, 2024) to:  oceancountyhistory.programs@gmail.com The Battle of Monmouth Courthouse: The Last Great Revolutionary War Battle in the North – Victor Pidermann The Battle of Monmouth Courthouse (June 28, 1778) was the largest field artillery battle of the Revolutionary War, and was the last significant battle fought on northern soil during that conflict. More widely known for the legend of Molly Pitcher and the dispute between Generals George Washington and Charles Lee, the battle is, to this very day, often misunderstood and overlooked in its significance. This presentation will provide an overview of the Battle of Monmouth, placing it in context within the wider war, and will conclude with a discussion of the latest research being done by the current custodians of the battlefield's historic legacy. Victor Pidermann is one of the historic interpreters at Monmouth Battlefield [...]

OCHS’s Victorian Era Holiday Open House On Saturday, November 25, 2023, the Ocean County Historical Society, 26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River will be hosting a Victorian Era Holiday Open House from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Bring your camera, children, and grandchildren to meet and take pictures with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus from 11:30 AM until 1:30 PM. Take a tour of our holiday decorated Victorian Era house and museum complete with holiday music. Enjoy holiday drinks and treats. Also, there will be Holiday gifts for the children. Best of all the event is free!  For additional information, please call Jeff at 609-339-9134.  

Dr. Richard Veit Sunday, October 15, 2023, at 2:00 PM “Stranger Stop and Cast an Eye: An Introduction to New Jersey’s Historic Burial Grounds”  Far from being scary, spooky places, New Jersey’s historic burial grounds are treasure troves of information for historians, genealogists, archaeologists, and art historians. This richly illustrated presentation examines New Jersey historic cemeteries from High Point to Cape May. It provides a chronological overview of New Jersey’s historic burial places from the colonial period to the present. Exceptional examples of colonial, Victorian, and modern memorials are all presented and discussed. Audiences leave with a new appreciation for grave markers and burial places as important sources of information about local history. Richard Veit, Ph.D. is Professor of Anthropology and Associate Dean of the Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University. A North American historical archaeologist, his research focuses on the colonial Middle Atlantic Region. He is the author of eight books and has been the recipient of Monmouth University’s distinguished teacher award. These events take place at our museum at 26 Hadley Avenue in Toms River. Our speaker series is free; however, SEATING IS LIMITED! To reserve your seat, send your name, zip [...]

Jeff Schenker as George Washington Sunday, September 24 at 2:00 PM “Meet George Washington - First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of our Countrymen.” President Washington will be addressing you in December of 1799, as he reflects on his life. He will discuss his early life, service in the French and Indian War, his service as commanding general in the American Revolution, his role in the Constitutional Convention, his two terms as president, and his views on slavery. Dr. Jeff Schenker portrays President Washington. Jeff taught history for many years at Toms River High School South and is currently serving as an adjunct professor of history at Ocean County College. In addition, Jeff is the president of the Ocean County Historical Society. Jeff has addressed numerous organizations in topics as diverse as the D-Day Invasion, New Jersey in World War I, the Civil War, Joshua Huddy, and Abraham Lincoln. This event takes place at our museum at 26 Hadley Avenue in Toms River. Our speaker series is free; however, SEATING IS LIMITED! To reserve your seat, send your name, zip code, email address, and the date of the program to oceancountyhistory.zoom@gmail.com.  

Ocean County History Day – September 16, 2023 Location: Ocean County Historical Society, 26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River The Third Annual Ocean County History Day will take place on Saturday September 16th, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with a rain date scheduled for Sunday, September 17th. The Ocean County Historical Society will be co-sponsoring this fun day with the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission. Numerous Ocean County Historical Societies and museums will be setting up displays to help tell the rich history of Ocean County. There will be live entertainment, historic reenactors, history books to purchase, and free tours of our newly renovated Elizabeth Sculthorp Force Victorian Era house and museum. For additional information, please contact Jeff Schenker at 609-339-9134 or jeffschenker@myyahoo.com    

Location – Ocean County Historical Society – 26 Hadley Ave., Toms River, NJ Sunday, February 5th at 2PM, “New Jersey's Lost Piney Culture,” by William J. Lewis Deep within the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the Piney people have built a vibrant culture and industry from working the natural landscape around them. Foraging skills learned from the local Lenapes were passed down through generations of Piney families who gathered many of the same wild floral products that became staples of the Philadelphia and New York dried flower markets. Important figures such as John Richardson have sought to lift the Pineys from rural poverty by recording and marketing their craftsmanship. As the state government fought between preserving the Pine Barrens and developing the region, Piney culture was frequently threatened and stigmatized. Author and advocate William J. Lewis charts the history of the Pineys, what being a Piney means today and their legacy among the beauty of the Pine Barrens. William J. Lewis is a lifetime resident of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, as were multiple generations of his family before him. He shares his Piney adventures on social media networks under “Piney Tribe.” He preaches exploration without exploitation and [...]

Join the OCHS, at 26 Hadley Ave., Toms River, NJ as Arthur C. Liese presents the story of Bill Cranmer, an expert carpenter, home builder on LBI, and classic New Jersey Museum quality decoy carver. Mr. Cranmer was a well read, scholarly gentleman. Most importantly, he was a man of character, pride, and integrity. Arthur C. Liese is the President and Managing Director of the Sporting Gallery and Book Shop, Inc. Founded in 1933 in New York City, it is the oldest gallery of this unique specialty in this country. He is the leading expert on 20th Century American Sporting Art during the Golden Era of Sport (1927-1941). He is an appraiser and well published author and lecturer on this subject. To register for this free program, send your name, zip code, email address, and the date of the program (January 22, 2023) to oceancountyhistory.zoom@gmail.com.

The Longest Day:  The Heroes of D-Day On June 12th, you are invited to join Dr. Jeff Schenker at Ocean County Historical Society, 26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River, as he discusses the individual heroes of June 6, 1944, and what led to an Allied Victory during World War II.  Jeff is a popular Adjunct Professor of History at Ocean County College, having earned a Master’s Degree in History from Monmouth College and a Doctorate in History from Drew University. Jeff was fortunate to spend eight days in France studying the Normandy Invasion on a Stephen Ambrose tour. He is a dynamic speaker, well versed in the details of D-Day. You will learn about General Dwight Eisenhower and the men directly involved in the battle. The in-person program begins at 2:00 PM in the OCHS museum. There is no admission fee. No refreshments will be served. To register for an in-person audience limited to 50, email us at oceancountyhistory.zoom@gmail.com stating: Your name,  D-Day, your zip code, and your email address (so we can contact you with confirmation).  Masks are optional.    

Composting in Ocean County Your Grandparents Did it and So Can You! Travel back to a time when nothing went to waste, “garbage” became “black gold” and farms and gardens flourished in every backyard. New Jersey is called the “Garden State” for a reason and Ocean County has a long agricultural history. Take a lesson from your grandparents and great-grandparents. Stop throwing your “garbage” away and start composting! Learn how easy it is to turn “waste” into a free-soil amendment for your garden! Join Sandra Blain-Snow and Tanara Hall from Ocean County Solid Waste Management and Master Composters to learn about composting and gardening in Ocean County. As advocates for the environment, they oversee the County’s public outreach and education on all aspects of recycling, composting, gardening, and sustainability issues. This program will include classroom and hands-on training in the museum’s garden. The Ocean County Historical Society’s hybrid (in-person and zoom) presentation is Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 2:00 PM, 26 Hadley Ave., Toms River, NJ 08753. In-person attendance is limited to 25 persons. Individuals attending the in-person session will receive a free compost bin. To register for the program, in-person or Zoom, email us at: oceancountyhistory.zoom@gmail.com stating: 1) your [...]