Before 1900 approximately 3,000 different photographers were active in New Jersey. A substantial number worked in Union County. One of them, Guillermo Thorn, took many photographs of Plainfield and Scotch Plains.  His photographs captured Victorian New Jersey.  At the monthly meeting of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood on Tuesday evening March 22nd, Gary D. Saretzky will profile Guillermo Thorn, Alfred S. Campbell and other Union County pioneers. He will discuss them within the larger context of New Jersey photography in the Nineteenth Century.

Gary D. Saretzky is a professional photographer who is also the Monmouth County Archivist since 1994. Saretzky has taught the history of photography at Mercer County Community College from 1977 through 2012.  He has served as coordinator of the Public History Internship Program for the Rutgers University History Department since 1994.  Under the auspices of the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, he lectures around the state on topics related to the history of photography. Additionally, Saretzky has published more than 100 articles and reviews on the history of photography and photographic conservation. In the Macmillan Biographical Encyclopedia of Photographic Artists and Innovators he is profiled.

Everyone is invited to this special meeting on Nineteenth century photographers. The Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood is pleased to have one of the Guillermo Thorn experts, Gary Saretzky as our presenter due to the funding by the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The meeting is free and open to everyone. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the program. The meeting starts at 8:00PM on Tuesday, March 22rd, 2016. The meeting is held at the Scotch Hills Country Club located at Plainfield Avenue and Jerusalem Road in Scotch Plains.

For more information about this meeting, contact Connie Klock at 908-232-9489 or write to us.

Frank Terry was one interesting man!  He was born in Scotch Plains and chose to live in his home town most of his life after being 1 of the 10% in his World War II Company who came home after serving in military bombing missions.  He always loved animals as did his wife Lou(ise).  They loved Palomino horses and in order to pay for the farm they purchased for their prized horses, they started pony rides.  Then they started taking in injured animals from zoos and other people and thus was born The Terry Lou Zoo.

Pete Terry is also a local, interesting man who grew up friends with Frank.  Despite the shared last name, they are not related.   On Tuesday evening, February 23rd Pete will share remembrances of his colorful friend Frank at the monthly meeting of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood.  Come hear about the tiger that got loose in the parking lot during the Memorial Day Parade.  Learn why the Terry Lou Zoo had so many American Bison in the 60’s and 70’s.  Many other stories will be told so come to the meeting to get an appreciation for this local character and his wife.

The meeting is free and open to everyone.  Refreshments and fellowship will follow the program.  The meeting starts at 8:00PM on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016. The meeting is held at the Scotch Hills Country Club located at Plainfield Avenue and Jerusalem Road in Scotch Plains.

For more information about this meeting, contact Connie Klock at 908-232-9489 or write to us.

The Osborn Cannonball House Museum 1840 East Front Street in Scotch Plains, NJ will be open on Sunday, December 6, 2014 from 2-4pm.

Featured is our Victorian Christmas tree and 1800’s winter clothing display.

This will be the last open house of the Museum for 2016.  It will be closed for the winter and reopen the first Sunday in March 2016.