Updated: Oct 10
The Montgomery News | October 9, 2025
Ten local historic sites are featured in the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission's 20th "Journey Through the Past" this weekend, Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12, 12-4 pm.
The Amy Garrett House in Rocky Hill, the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum in Skillman, and the Dirck Gulick House in Belle Mead, are just three of the more than 30 historic sites that will open to the public throughout Somerset County.
Amy Garrett House • A key building in Rocky Hill, located at 62 Washington Street, the vernacular Federal and Greek revival style house is believed to have been built by Benjamin Hatwick circa 1835. It now serves as the Rocky Hill Community Group's headquarters. Learn a little about Rocky Hill history, view old photos, meet some dedicated volunteers who will be serving fresh apple cider, view interesting artifacts, and watch a slide show this weekend.
Photo by Barbara A. Preston
The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) tells the African-American story of central New Jersey — from the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade to the present day. The museum is located in the Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and in the True Farmstead, located on Hollow Road in Skillman. The church was built in 1899 on land donated by Spencer and Corinda True.
Photo courtesy of SSAAM.
This event is open to the public at no cost, and offers an array of fun activities, educational programs, and exciting opportunities to learn how previous generations lived and worked.
Built in 1752, the Dirck Gulick House is located on Route 601 in Montgomery Township. The building conforms to 18th century Dutch construction. Its use of stone as a building material is rare. This site has been the headquarters of the Van Harlingen Historical Society (VHH) since 1973 and houses the society’s library, archives and artifact collection.
Photo courtesy of VHH.
Somerset County Commissioner Melonie Marano is the liaison to the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission. She says, “This annual program brings history to life by allowing visitors to interact with historical re-enactors and to freely enter historic sites that represent different time periods. With our nation’s 250th anniversary set for 2026, this event is a great opportunity for visitors to learn the impact our local history has had on our nation.”
The historic sites will all be open on the following dates:
Saturday, October 11, 10 am-5 pm and Sunday, October 12, 12-4 pm .
Each site will feature different family-friendly activities that visitors of all ages can enjoy including historical reenactments, colonial artisan demonstrations, period music, and more.
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To help plan your journey through the past, download the brochure at SCHistoryWeekend.com to discover which activities will be available at each historic site. To view an interactive map of historic sites visit tinyurl.com/yfv6zyv7.
1860 School House & Millstone Borough Hall - This one-room brick schoolhouse was built in 1860 on the west bank of the Millstone River in Millstone Borough, NJ and was used as a school until 1944.
East Millstone Bridgetender’s Home and Station - The Delaware & Raritan Canal operated from 1834 to 1932 and in one year carried more cargo than the more famous Erie Canal. The East Millstone Bridgetender’s Home was built in the 1830s. The job of the bridgetender was to swing open the bridge to allow the passage of canalboats.
Old Millstone Forge Blacksmith Shop - Constructed between 1828 and 1836 in Millstone, NJ, it has been open as a working museum since 1966. This two-story brick and timber building houses an unusual display of traditional metalworking and black-smithing equipment – demonstrations by docent-smiths.
Hageman House and Farm - Built in the early 19th century in Franklin Township, the house and farm were occupied by Benjamin Hageman and his wife Jane (a Van Wickle) in 1861. Their son, Garretson, graduated from Rutgers School of Engineering in 1868 and was responsible for the design and construction of the wagon, horse and dairy barns. Built in 1876-77.
Six Mile Run Reformed Church - The church, located in Franklin Park, NJ, began its service to central New Jersey in 1703, just a bit north of its present location. A ‘run’ was a brook in the days of the early Dutch settlers. In 1766 the congregation built a new house of worship at its present location. The present structure was built in 1879 in under one year. The church maintains its Harrison Tubular Pneumatic Organ, installed in and largely unchanged from 1892.
Griggstown Schoolhouse - Built in the 1830s, the schoolhouse was the first schoolhouse to serve Griggstown, NJ, residents on the east side of the Millstone River. Originally located along Canal Road, it was moved to a site behind the Griggstown Reformed Church in 1854 and then moved again in 1957 when the church built a new hall. The schoolhouse closed in 1932.
Griggstown Bridgetender’s House - The house dates to 1834 and was one of 67 such houses built by the Delaware & Raritan Canal Company. The house was a residence for the bridgetender’s family responsible to open the A-frame swing bridge to allow canal boats to pass. The boats carried coal, lumber, and many other products.
Amy Garrett House - A key building in Rocky Hill. The building consists of three sections, a low Dutch-framed east wing, a larger English-framed west wing, and a mid-20th century rear addition. The house, constructed in the vernacular Federal and Greek revival styles, is believed to have been built by Benjamin Hatwick circa 1835.
Dirck Gulick House - Built in 1752, the Dirck Gulick House is in Montgomery Township. The building conforms to 18th century Dutch construction. Its use of stone as a building material is rare. This site has been the headquarters of the Van Harlingen Historical Society since 1973 and houses the society’s library, archives and artifact collection.
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) - SSAAM tells the African American story in New Jersey from the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade to the present day. The museum is located at the Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and historic True Farmstead. Mt. Zion AME was built in 1899 on land donated by Black residents Spencer and Corinda True.
Somerset County’s annual Journey Through the Past is an initiative of the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners and the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, in collaboration with many county-wide local historical organizations, commissions, and other county organizations. It is made possible in part by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Historical Commission, and the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.
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Camp Meetings were the social and spiritual event of the year in the Sourland Mountain region from the 1800s until the 1930s. These enormous community gatherings brought people together across racial, socioeconomic, and generational differences.
SSAAM’s reenactment will take place at the historically African American-owned Reasoner-True House and National Historic Register-listed Mt. Zion AME Church. Visitors will enjoy a concert by the SSAAM Heritage Ensemble and all-day family activities will include horse and buggy rides courtesy of Howell Living History Farm, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, and ice cream making. At the museum, visitors can experience a special oral history presentation featuring the voices of camp meeting attendees from the early 20th century.
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum Will Hold an 1899 Camp Meeting Reenactment as Part of Journey Through the Past
Saturday, October 11, 12 pm - 4 pm
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, 189 Hollow Rd., Skillman, NJ
Picnic Lunch (bring your own or purchase a box while supplies last):
Noon - 1:30 pm Choir Concert
Speakers: 1:30 - 3 pm
All Day: bake sale, buggy rides, ice cream making, arts & crafts, scavenger hunt
Saturday, October 11, 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday, October 12, Noon - 4 pm
Free event. RSVP at ssaamuseum.org.
SSAAM’s mission is to tell the story of the unique culture, experiences, and contributions of the African American community of the Sourland Mountain region.
