Ben Franklin and Colonial Soldiers Will Visit the Deserted Village During Union County’s “Four Centuries in a Weekend” Event, October 17th & 18th

The Union County Board of County Commissioners announces that the Deserted Village of Feltville will once again host an annual open house featuring old-fashioned children's games, apple cider pressing, an archaeological activity, and guided tours as part of Union County's Four Centuries in a Weekend event this Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18, from noon to 5:00 p.m. each day.

"The Deserted Village of Feltville is a treasure, with a rich history that dates back to 1720," said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph Bodek. "As we celebrate the 250^th Anniversary of the founding of our country, this is one of Union County's best sites to visit with family and friends and see how that history has unfolded. I hope to see you there!"

All activities for the Four Centuries weekend are rain or shine, and are free of charge. Enter the Deserted Village parking lot from Glenside Avenue (use GPS address 1 Cataract Hollow Road, Berkeley Heights). A haywagon provides barrier-free access to key sites within the 130-acre historic district. Visitors can pick up a free self-tour guidebook at the parking lot, or use their cell phones to take an audio tour.

The Deserted Village of Feltville is located in Union County's Watchung Reservation. It was established in 1845 by entrepreneur David Felt, who built a printing mill, housing for his workers, and other buildings for communal use by Feltville's 175 residents. As part of the weekend's festivities, the "ghost" of David Felt will stroll the grounds of the Deserted Village and converse with visitors, telling tales of the factory town he built and recounting memories of the people who worked in his mill, on his farm, and in his store and school. At 12:30 pm each day, Mr. Felt will offer an armchair tour from the porch of his general store, with an interactive opportunity for children.

Other activities for children will include old-fashioned games on the Deserted Village's grass tennis court, writing with a quill pen and ink, and searching for artifacts at the site of David Felt's house. A garden and a small apple and peach orchard has been recreated to recall the 600-acre farm established by Mr. Felt to provide food for the villagers. Visitors can taste the apple cider being pressed by Scout Troop 23 of Elizabeth.

Visitors can also bring their National Parks Passport to the general store and get it stamped, thanks to Union County's inclusion in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area. While at the General Store, visitors are invited to view exhibits of artifacts, photographs and maps depicting the history of the Deserted Village across four centuries. Photos from the late 1800's that were found just last year will be on display. Nostalgic candy, snacks, toys and games will be sold at the store. Families are also invited to pack a picnic and use one of the nearby picnic tables.

The beautifully restored circa-1882 Masker's Barn carriage house will be open for the weekend. Visitors can tour the building and then linger outside to roast marshmallows around a campfire with the ghost of Anna Malloy, wife of an early caretaker. Inside the Barn, visitors can meet historian Priscilla Hayes and real-life archaeologists Matt Tomaso and Carissa Scarpa. A curated collection of artifacts from an 18th century homestead, the Raddin-Badgley house site, will help illustrate what life was like in rural New Jersey during the Revolutionary War and the years that followed!

Visitors can take a short walk to a small family graveyard on a hillside just behind the church and general store. John Willcocks, a New Jersey militia soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War along with General George Washington's regular army, will greet visitors. He died 250 years ago, on November 22, 1776, just a few months after the Revolutionary War began.

He will explain how the discovery of a human tooth started a quest to find the unmarked graves of two dozen members of the Willcocks and Badgley families. Archival research and non-invasive archaeological investigation revealed the site of the missing cemetery, which has been cleared and marked. An historically accurate fence was erected on two sides of the cemetery this past summer.

The Deserted Village has seen many changes since its origin as David Felt's business enterprise. Over the years, it has been used as a farm for fancy cattle, a summer resort called Glenside Park, relief housing during the Great Depression, and an outdoor education center. By the 1970's, the Deserted Village was all but forgotten. David Felt and the historian and archaeologists will recount how research, archaeology and dumb luck has helped reveal that history as they lead a tour of the Village, starting from Masker's Barn at 2:30 pm each day.

Fortunately, restoration work has been ongoing since 1985. Felt's general store now serves as a visitor center. Masker's Barn is a rental venue that hosts 100 events each year. Plans are progressing for projects authorized by the Union County Board of County Commissioners for new roofs, building restoration work, museum exhibits, and improvements to the Barn.

Special programming on Sunday of the Four Centuries weekend will focus on the events of 250 years ago. Benjamin Franklin, whose son, William, was the last Royal Governor of New Jersey, will be visiting with the Willcocks and Badgley families while on a trip to New York City. Feel free to converse with him and hear some of his famous wit and wisdom.

Also on Sunday, Joseph Badgley will be on site. Like his cousin Joh Willcocks, Joseph served in the New Jersey Militia. He will instruct children in military drill and will fire his musket for them.

For more information about the Deserted Village of Feltville, visit the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation online at ucnj.org/dv or follow Priscilla Hayes' monthly posts on her website, www.feltvillefeatures.com.

"Four Centuries in a Weekend is one of Union County's most popular annual traditions, bringing families back year after year to explore the history in their own communities," said Union County Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca L. Williams, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. "Throughout this year, we have celebrated our nation's 250th anniversary through programs that highlight Union County's place in America's story. This weekend continues that celebration at the historic sites where those connections come to life, thanks to the staff and volunteers who preserve these places and share their stories with each new generation."

Four Centuries in a Weekend is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, part of the Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State, and is organized by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, in collaboration with staff and volunteers at the sites and is sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

For locations, hours, special events, and other details about more than 30 other historical sites participating in Four Centuries in a Weekend this year, visit the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs, www.ucnj.org/4c or call (908) 558-2550.