Osborn Cannonball House Part of County Historical Tour

The county has announced that the Osborne Cannonball House in Scotch Plains will be part of its 12th annual "Four Centuries in a Weekend: A Journey through Union County History."

The event, which is being held the weekend of Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18, features 25 historical sites throughout the county, all grouped into five historic themes that describe periods of major changes from colonial times until the early 1920s.

The 25 sites are open to the public free of charge. Visitors can select a cluster of sites to tour, or mix and match from all 25 locations that include the grand homes of the Early Aristocracy; the settings for the dangerous Revolutionary War years; modest examples of hard Farm Life; the successful undertakings of Commerce and Industry; and the grandeur and comfort of the Victorian Resorts and Suburbs.

The following are just a few of the sites that will be open:

-         The First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth will honor President Abraham Lincoln on Oct. 18 with a re-enactment of the 100th birthday celebration that was held at the church and sponsored by the Lincoln Association of Union County in 1909;

-         The Osborn Cannonball House in Scotch Plains will host “The Civil War Marches through Union County” with a re-enactment of memorial services for artist Julian Scott of Plainfield, recipient of the Army Medal of Honor, and William Perrine, the last Civil War veteran who is buried in Hillside Cemetery;

-         Liberty Hall Museum in Union will feature an exhibit, “Once Upon a Time: The Story of the Children of Liberty Hall,” that includes photos, clothes, toys and furniture circa 1899 and hands-on activities for children;

-         The Springfield First Presbyterian Church will exhibit artifacts from the nearby Cannon Ball House, including relics from the Battle of Springfield and an original Watts Hymnal. The statue of a Continental Soldier out front is the smallest state park in New Jersey;

-         The Oswald J. Nitschke House in Kenilworth will feature an historic interpreter who will appear as Eleanor Roosevelt of 1933 visiting Mayor Nitschke. The First Lady will deliver a message of goodwill and encouragement to residents living through the challenging times of the Great Depression.

“Four Centuries in a Weekend” is a recipient of the New Jersey Governor’s Heritage Tourism Award. The two-day event is made possible by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

Free copies of the Historic Sites Tour booklets containing brief descriptions of the sites and illustrated maps can be obtained by contacting the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, at 908-558-2550 or by e-mailing Culturalinfo@ucnj.org. The contact information is the same for schools and other groups requesting lesson plans and activity kits.