OCEAN COUNTY – If you mention the words ‘historical society’ to someone, they might assume they are only concerned with the past. But the groups are constantly looking to the future, planning plenty of education and entertainment programs.
Many of them tabled at the Ocean County Historical Society’s “History Day.” Visitors could speak to historians, see what artifacts they brought, and learn about upcoming events.
There were presentations, with folks dressed in period attire, describing what life was like during olden times.
Andy Three Raven performed on behalf of the Do Something Good project, inspiring peace in modern times. This tracks all the way back to when five warring tribes made peace for hundreds of years – a tale that inspired Benjamin Franklin when forging what our nation would become.
You didn’t have to go to History Day to see presentations like this. Your local historical society is probably planning something similar very soon.
For example, the Island Heights Cultural and Heritage Association was giving out information about their speaker series and more, which can also be found at TheCottageMuseum.org.
The Ocean County Historical Society is planning a Masquerade Murder Mystery at the Mathis House in downtown Toms River at 3 p.m. on October 19. (Call 732-814-2979 for more information.)
The Berkeley Township Historical Society will soon have speakers about such topics as boardwalks and Ferris wheels. They’re active on Facebook, where you can learn more about their events.
One local author will be featured at one of those events.
Robert DeSando wrote a book called “A Titanic Loss For New Jersey.” It chronicles several state residents – some as local as Lakewood – who were on that doomed trip.
He sold a lot of books at the event and was “pleasantly surprised” by the interest.
To paraphrase his wife, Kathie, these stories might be from a long time ago, but “it never gets old.”
