Tri-County History Fair

The Plainfield Public Library and the Historical Society of Plainfield / Drake House Museum are excited to announce the 2023 Tri-County History Fair for Middlesex, Somerset, and Union Counties. Join your colleagues, friends, and neighbors for a fun day of historical discovery, resource sharing, raffles, and more!

On Saturday, May 6th from 11AM to 2:30PM at Plainfield Public Library, New Jersey local history organizations, museums, and libraries will be exhibiting and promoting their historical collections and programs on the Library’s lower level around the fountain.  There will be two exhibitions running at this time: the Muhlenberg Hospital School of Nursing Historical Collection (upper level) and the Union County Teen Arts traveling exhibit (Anne Louise Davis Gallery Room, lower level).

This year’s program includes,

11:30AM to 12:30PM – David Emerson, living-history storyteller, will present, “The Lure & Lore of Liquor: Tavern Beverages of the American Revolution”. David will discuss the various types of beverages available to the 18th-Century tavern tippler, how they were made, and even some recipes that you can try on your own (if you dare). Discover the Colonial alternatives to the modern Mojito and Martini, and what Ben Franklin considered “The Proof of God’s Love.” Program attendees will get to sample of one of the (non-alcoholic) recipes!

1:00AM to 2:00PM – Ethel M. Washington, noted historian and author, will present, “Union County Black Americans.” Ethel will discuss and answer questions about her book. A  signed copy of the book will be raffled off to program attendees.

Throughout the Day

• Find Your Family in 1950: One-on-One Lookups in the U.S. Census. Meet with staff genealogists to discover your family history.  Visitors can register for a short consultation session when they arrive at the fair.
• Raffles will be drawn for door prizes, including one grand prize Newspapers.com Publishers Extra subscription! Upon entry, each attendee will receive one free raffle ticket.

All activities will be indoors on the Library’s lower level and are FREE to the public.  Plainfield Public Library is an ADA-accessible facility. Contact the Local History Department for details.

SEE YOU AT THE FAIR!

The Local History Department and the Drake House Museum are supported, in part, by operating support grants from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State - additionally through a grant administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, Department of Parks and Recreation; a 2023 HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant from the Union County Board of County Commissioners, and by a grant from the Plainfield Foundation.