Did you know that the Homestead Farm at Oak Ridge historic site probably includes the remains of slave quarters? And that there has also been an identified slave burial site across Oak Ridge Road in Edison? Most people do not know. (This Homestead Farm is commonly known as the former Oak Ridge Golf Pro Shop.)
Centuries earlier at this Historic Homestead at Oak Ridge, then known as the Smith Farm in the area then known as Ash Swamp, in December 1776 the Hessians literally left William Smith bleeding on the floor. Mr. Smith shot the Hessian officer who was “ravishing” his daughter Isabel. Other Hessians came in and shot William Smith, leaving him bleeding on the floor, expecting him to die. Did he?
Come to the opening meeting of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood on Tuesday evening September 24th to find out the answer to this question and to hear the latest details of the slave burial quarters and grounds from Historian William Fidurski. His program will include slides of Oak Ridge and copies of the Smith family & other important information.
Fidurski wrote the application to put the Homestead Farm at Oak Ridge on the State and National Registries. He effectively argued that the entire 208-acres as well as the Homestead and its dwellings be included. And it was: on October 25, 1995 it was approved and placed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Biologist and Historian Fidurski, a graduate of Rutgers University, completed additional studies at Columbia University and Cornell University and the U of Wisconsin at Madison. During the Vietnam War, he served in the civilian military. He spent two decades as the Senior Investigator for the Federal Drug Agency before retiring. During that time he again wrote an important document on NJ’s Natural areas. Fidurski specializes in the early history of the Stars and Stripes and the New Jersey campaign of 1777. He has been involved in historic preservation efforts such as Bass Farmstead in Hardwick Township, Mount Farm in West Windsor and the Victorian row houses along Essex Street in the Paulus Hook Historic District in Jersey City. Now he is currently investigating the role of the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad in Central NJ as well as being deeply involved in preserving the Homestead Farm at Oak Ridge.
The Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood is thrilled to have Bill Fidurski as the opening speaker for the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood at our upcoming meeting on Tuesday September 24th. Come to this free, open to the public, meeting to learn about the history of the Homestead Farm at Oak Ridge, more recently known in this area as the Oak Ridge Golf House. Learn about the present needs for preserving not only the Homestead but the slave quarters and burial site. The meeting begins at 7:30 PM and is held at the historic Shady Rest Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Road (at the corner of Plainfield Avenue) in Scotch Plains. Refreshments and fellowship follow the presentation. For questions, please email Info@HistoricalSocietySPFNJ.org or call 908/322-6700 Extension 230.
