The Hill Memorial Museum in Newton is home to the Sussex County Historical Society.
One of the highlights of our history in Sussex County is the annual Heritage Weekend. This takes place in mid-October. This year, it is Oct. 11-12.
For information about the weekend, go online to scahc.org/HeritageWeekend
The sponsor for the event is the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council (SCAHC). It has been running the event since 2011. Joe Fontana became executive director of SCAHC in the summer of 2024.
As usual, quite a number of sites are participating. These places are throughout the county. They represent different and sometimes unique aspects of our heritage.
Among the sites are a couple very large attractions, places that bring in many thousands of visitors a year from around the region and, in fact, from around the world. They include Sterling Hill Mining Museum and Space Farms Zoo & Museum.
The Hill Memorial Museum has many artifacts from the county and is the home of the Sussex County Historical Society.
The beautiful Clove Church recently had its annual church service, a notable experience that you might find interesting on the tour.
Ogdensburg Museum is always jam-packed with artifacts and children may see antique firetrucks there.
The Franklin Heritage Museum is a favorite of mine.
Looking at the buildings is impressive if you go to the Ludlum-Mabee House and Van Kirk Homestead Museum in Sparta.
I always love the autumn ride in the countryside to visit the huge stone Van Campen Inn.
The Daughters of the American Revolution are among the most active in recognizing the Revolutionary War. Their lovely homestead, steeped in history, is at the Van Bunschooten Museum.
Lusscroft Farm is participating on Sunday. High Point Park will close at 6 p.m.
Check ahead so you can to make sure that the facilities are open with their well-dressed and knowledgeable docents.
At the time of this writing, this looks to be a great autumn outing for the family to learn about Sussex County and her heritage.
Bill Truran, Sussex County’s historian, may be contacted at billt1425@gmail.com He is the author of “Lewis Morris and the Declaration of Independence.”