Yesterday we finally did something that we should have done years ago. We went to a Pinkster Festival at the Campbell-Christie House in historical New Bridge Landing. Pinkster is a colonial celebration of spring. This is one of the advantages of living in the north eastern seaboard of United States. The four seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter are all unique in its on way with myriad of activities to participate and enjoy.
Folk painting of the New Bridge hamlet(borrowed from the Bergen Historical Society website)
And, NO. I didn't make this up. The local historian a.k.a. Professor Mike gave us a very informative lecture in the tavern at Campbell-Christie House complete with cold lemonade and cookies. Not bad for a lazy Sunday afternoon activity.
The Dutch influence is an important and integral part of Bergen County's local history as evident in the Dutch colonial sandstone houses found in northern New Jersey including the three houses at New Bridge Landing i.e. Campbell-Christie, Demarest and Steuben.
Map of New Bridge Landing Campbell-Christie House (late 18th. century)
This house was saved from demolition and moved from its original site near the present Wine & Roses store in New Milford to New Bridge Landing. Can you imagine how they moved this 200-ton house for 2 miles across the Hackensack River to its present location?
A May Pole outside the Campbell-Christie House
Clogs and copper ware by the fireplace
A lantern, a plate of walnuts and a nutcracker by the tavern windowA traditional dance performed by costumed dancers with traditional music played by Ridley & Anne Enslow on the fiddle and hammered dulcimer respectively.
Anne sang a Dutch folk song about a woman getting on a horse carriage hence the horses' hooves sound effect ("click, clock, click, clock") produced by Ridley using his little percussion instrument.
Campbell-Christie Out-Kitchen
Fresh produce by the window
Chestnuts and potatoes
Open hearth cooking - carrot stew, perhaps?
Brick oven
Old-fashion crumb cake baked traditionally using the
brick oven (see above) & 18th. century bake ware
Just like the Campbell-Christie House, Demarest House was also dug-up and moved from its original site near the Huguenot or French protestant cemetery (next to the Borough Hall) off River Road at New Milford.
Westervelt-Thomas Barn (mid-18th. century)
This barn was originally in Washington Township. The main frame was brought to New Bridge Landing in 1958.
I could almost picture Clark Kent standing by this barn in Smallville ;)
Steuben House (mid-18th. century)
This is the only house built on New Bridge land. It originally belonged to the Zabriskie family who owned and operated a prosperous grist mill. But, Zabriskie was a loyalist and fled to the British area of Manhattan after escaping arrest.
Zabriskie's house and assets were confiscated and given to Major General Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a Prussian recruited by Benjamin Franklin to train and prep up the crumbling Continental army during the Revolutionary War. Ironically, Steuben put this house up for auction and sold it back to Zabriskie's son.
New Bridge Landing (left) and New Bridge (right)
All that is left of New Bridge Landing... site of the grist mill and wharf. The grist mill burned down in the mid-19th. century.
New Bridge on the one hand, played an important role during General Washington's famed 1776 winter retreat. Steuben House was also used as Washington's headquarters. He slept in the House while the emaciated Continental troops camped outside.
Want to know more about New Bridge Landing? Check out:
Bergen County Historical Society
Open hearth cooking - carrot stew, perhaps?
Brick oven
Old-fashion crumb cake baked traditionally using thebrick oven (see above) & 18th. century bake ware
We sampled a slice of it and it was divine. Moist and fruity. Delish!!!
Demarest House (18th. century)
According to Professor Mike, this is possibly the oldest house in the whole of New Jersey. Unfortunately, the Demarest and Steuben Houses are closed for restoration as a result of the Nor'Easter flood last month.
According to Professor Mike, this is possibly the oldest house in the whole of New Jersey. Unfortunately, the Demarest and Steuben Houses are closed for restoration as a result of the Nor'Easter flood last month.
Just like the Campbell-Christie House, Demarest House was also dug-up and moved from its original site near the Huguenot or French protestant cemetery (next to the Borough Hall) off River Road at New Milford.Westervelt-Thomas Barn (mid-18th. century)
This barn was originally in Washington Township. The main frame was brought to New Bridge Landing in 1958.
I could almost picture Clark Kent standing by this barn in Smallville ;)Steuben House (mid-18th. century)
This is the only house built on New Bridge land. It originally belonged to the Zabriskie family who owned and operated a prosperous grist mill. But, Zabriskie was a loyalist and fled to the British area of Manhattan after escaping arrest.
Zabriskie's house and assets were confiscated and given to Major General Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a Prussian recruited by Benjamin Franklin to train and prep up the crumbling Continental army during the Revolutionary War. Ironically, Steuben put this house up for auction and sold it back to Zabriskie's son.During the Nor'Easter storm, the sub-power station opposite Steuben House "exploded" and the House was half submerged in flood waters. A pretty scary situation.
New Bridge Landing (left) and New Bridge (right)All that is left of New Bridge Landing... site of the grist mill and wharf. The grist mill burned down in the mid-19th. century.
New Bridge on the one hand, played an important role during General Washington's famed 1776 winter retreat. Steuben House was also used as Washington's headquarters. He slept in the House while the emaciated Continental troops camped outside.
Want to know more about New Bridge Landing? Check out:
Bergen County Historical Society
--------------------------------------------------------------
Newsflash: I just read on MSNBC that the Cutty Sark is gone. This prominent British maritime relic was burnt to the ground earlier today!!! I saw this famous tea clipper about 7 years ago in Greenwich. I can't believe it :(
No comments:
Post a Comment