UNION, NJ — For the second time this year, the public was recently invited to visit the 1780s Caldwell Parsonage and Tool Museum in its adjacent 1800s Carriage House.
“I’m honored to be here. It’s always a pleasure to visit and experience the history,” said Sally Strauss, of Union.
Barbara LaMort, president of the Union Township Historical Society, said, “We’re welcoming visitors from our town and other towns nearby, especially during the 250th anniversary of our country.”
It was the first time visiting the Caldwell Parsonage for Phillip Whyte, of Union. He said, “I like the information and history.”
Robert Amato, of Flemington, used to live across the street from the Caldwell Parsonage in the 1950s. He said, “It was always interesting to me. It’s a great place to come and look.”
Amato graduated from Union High School in 1963. He said that, back then, they had a live goat as a mascot. He borrowed the blanket the goat wore and had forgotten about it. Many years later, he found the blanket and didn’t want to give it back to the high school because he said their display case is all current. Instead, he donated it to the Caldwell Parsonage.
“I knew it would end up in a closet [at the high school],” he said. “Here, it’s history and appreciated.”
Kathy Arminio was volunteering in the children’s room, reading to them about different chores and activities. She said, “A baby wouldn’t be given a name until a year old because of the mortality rate.” She said, back then, there were no vaccines. “A woman would have 12 children and five would survive.”
Games played in the children’s room included marbles, pick-up sticks, jacks and church dolls. Arminio said, “Services would go on for hours. Children would play with dolls.” There were also Colonial clothes in which children could dress.
Anita Centeno was showing a display she made featuring a special exhibit of Newark State College, Kean University and the Union Public Library – Then and Now. She said, “We have a university right in this town. The public library made tremendous growth in expanding education and opportunity.” She further explained that her display showed how education helped the town with availability of learning. There were also photos of Union’s heyday of shopping in the 1960s and 1970s, featuring photos of Whitney’s Clothing and Thom McCann.
Volunteer Arianna, 16, was telling guests about a frosted mirror. She said, “Sometimes a maid would get distracted seeing themselves.” She also spoke about how jewelry was made with human hair, collected in a hair catcher.
Arianna said she’s really interested in history and seeing the advancements we made.
Dennis LaMort was in the Carriage House, explaining how items of yesteryear worked. There was a vintage ice cream maker. You put the ingredients in and turn the crank for 45 minutes. And there was a dog/sheep/goat treadmill, which churned butter, grinded stones and separated cream.
To learn more about the history of Caldwell Parsonage, visit: https://www.uniontownship.com/1063/Caldwell-Parsonage.
Photos by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta
