Colonial Christmas Kicks Off With a Bang

The holiday season started off with a bang in Bedminster today.  Re-enactors from John Lamb’s Artillery visited the historic Jacobus Vanderveer House for the first day of the museum’s Colonial Christmas fundraiser.

Visitors got a chance to see what a Revolutionary War encampment looked like, complete with cannon blasts, musket drilling and open fire cooking. 

They also stepped back in time – to the winter of 1778-79 – and toured the historic home, which is festively decorated for the holidays by Rose and Radish Floral Design in Whitehouse Station.  The 1772 Dutch home was once the headquarters of Gen. Henry Knox.  Knox, who was Chief of the Continental Army Artillery, established the nation’s first military training academy in nearby Pluckemin.  It was the precursor to West Point Military Academy.

The 11th annual fundraiser also features holiday shopping, performances by Colonial musicians and re-enactors, and Santa visits.

Colonial Christmas continues tomorrow at the Jacobus Vanderveer House in Bedminster’s River Road Park.  It will be open again next Thursday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.  For a schedule of events and directions, visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org.

Admission at the door is $10 (children 12 and under, free).

The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located at 3055 River Road (in Bedminster’s River Road Park), Bedminster, NJ 07921.  For tickets and information about Colonial Christmas, phone (908) 396-6053 or visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org.

Proceeds from Colonial Christmas benefit exhibit development, historical interpretations, and educational programs at the Jacobus Vanderveer House.

Schedule of Events

Sunday, December 1                     

•             10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

                House Tours

                Holiday Shopping

                Colonial Re-Enactors

•             1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

                Santa Visit

•             3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

                Harmonium Choral Group

Thursday, December 5 

•             10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

                House Tours                                

                Holiday Shopping

                Colonial Re-Enactors

•             10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

                Group Tours with “Benjamin Franklin”

Friday, December 6                       

•             10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

                House Tours

                Holiday Shopping

                Colonial Re-Enactors

•             6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

                Champagne Tour for Gala Attendees

•             7:00 p.m.

              Gala at Trump National Golf Club Sponsored by Investors Bank

              Performance by Bernards High School Madrigals at Trump National 

              Golf Club

               Premier of “In Quarters Comfortable and Clever:  The           

               Continental Artillery, Pluckemin, New Jersey 1778-1779, a         historically accurate animation of the Pluckemin Cantonment, created and narrated by students and scholars at Washington College, Chestertown, MD

Saturday, December 7  

•             10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

                House Tours

                Holiday Shopping

                Colonial Re-Enactors

•             11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

                The Enslows perform Colonial American Christmas Music

•             1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m

                Santa Visit

Sunday, December 8      

•             10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

                House Tours

                Holiday Shopping

                Colonial Re-Enactors

•             1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

                Santa Visit

•             3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

                Purnell Show Choir

•             4:00 p.m.

                 50/50 Raffle Drawing, House Raffle Drawing

The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

Download the movie