What was it like the night the Martians “invaded” New Jersey in 1938? How did Princeton residents feel about having Albert Einstein as a neighbor? What inspired young Charles Addams from Westfield to come up with his ghoulish cartoon creations? How did a teenage Bruce Springsteen from Freehold get his high school band into a recording studio?

Have you ever heard of Mundy Peterson from Perth Amboy, who cast an historic vote 150 years ago? How about Garret Hobart from Paterson, who was almost president of the United States? What about Col. Robert Johnson from Salem County and the legend of the poisonous tomato?

Local author Fred T. Rossi literally wrote the book on lesser-known stories about interesting people and unusual events from Garden State history.

Join Rossi, a writer and journalist for 30 years, at the November meeting of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood as he recounts some of the fascinating tales in his book, Jersey Stories: Stories You May Not Have Heard About People and Events in New Jersey History.

“There’s something for everyone in Jersey Stories,” Rossi said. “History, politics, entertainment, lots of trivia and plenty of interesting characters and events. I think whether you’re a New Jersey resident or an expatriate, you’re sure to find something of interest in Jersey Stories.”

The upcoming meeting is free and all are welcome. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23, at the Shady Rest Scotch Hills Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Rd. (at the corner of Plainfield Avenue) in Scotch Plains. Note that in accordance with township policy, masks will be required in common areas of the building. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the presentation.

The forecast calls for heavy rain starting about 7:00 p.m. tonight.  Therefore our meeting is being cancelled so that everyone will be safe.

Have you ever wished you could meet a suffragette? Come meet Lillian Feickert—portrayed by professional storyteller Carol Simon Levin—at this month’s meeting of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood. Feickert, who lived in Plainfield, was president of the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association from 1912-1920.

The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 26, at the Shady Rest Scotch Hills Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Rd. (at the corner of Plainfield Avenue) in Scotch Plains.

In her role as Feickert, Levin, an independent historian who specializes in recounting the “lost stories of fascinating and forgotten women” through first person portrayals, will illustrate the role of New Jersey women in the long struggle for women’s suffrage. Her presentation, “Reclaiming Our Voice: New Jersey’s Central Role in the Fight for Woman Suffrage,” was published as an article in the March 2020 issue of the online New Jersey history magazine, Garden State Legacy.

Levin also is the author of Remembering the Ladies: From Patriots in Petticoats to Presidential Candidates, which profiles 69 women—well-known and unknown—who worked tirelessly for women’s rights in America. Levin holds a bachelor’s degree focusing on women’s history and history of technology from Cornell University and a master’s degree in library services from the University of Arizona. She is also the founder of the website tellingherstories.com.

The upcoming meeting is free and all are welcome. Note that in accordance with township policy, masks will be required in common areas of the building. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the presentation.

Scotch Plains & Fanwood:

Do you know when Memorial Day became a National Holiday? Do you know who proposed May 30 as the day to celebrate or memorialize soldiers? What was the difference between the North (Union States) and the South Confederate States? What is the significance of Waterloo, NY? If you know the answers to these and other questions on the Holiday you will do well on the quiz to be given at the monthly meeting of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood on Tuesday evening May 28th. Afterwards we encourage people to talk about their memories of Memorial Day parades and celebrations as well as family members who served in the military. Pictures are encouraged.

This program takes place on Tuesday evening May 28th beginning at 7:30PM, at the Shady Rest Scotch Hills Country Club located at 820 Jerusalem Road (and corner of Plainfield Avenue) in Scotch Plains. It is free and open to all. Please bring your family and friends. Fellowship and refreshments follow the meeting.