History Day will include Civil War encampment

NEWTON — A Civil War encampment will welcome visitors to the annual Day of History, which will be held from 9 to 3 on Saturday, May 4, in the gymnasium at Sussex County Community College (SCCC).

In observance of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, this year’s event, co-sponsored by Sussex County Historical Society, the New Jersey Herald and SCCC, focuses on life in Sussex County during the Civil War years (1861 to 1865).

Over 20 history exhibitors will tell the story of their community during these years.

Re-enactors from the 27th and 15th New Jersey Veteran Volunteers will set up camp outside of the main entrance to the college gymnasium. The Third New Jersey Veteran Volunteers will have a display table inside the gym with information about their unit’s history.

At both locations army recruiters will be on the look-out for people to sign up for wartime service. Musician Bucky Dent will play music of this time period.

Another centerpiece at this year’s History Day dates to a pre-Revolutionary War period.

An iron �pig� marked Andover, from 1761, which was recently rediscovered at the Hill Museum, will be displayed by the Sussex County Historical Society.

Historian Kevin Wright said this piece of pig iron is 2’ 9” in length, weighs 56 pounds and is probably one of the oldest specimens of iron ore in the county.

Ron Mishkin, Sterling Hill Mining Museum, was an underground miner in Franklin Mine and will give a presentation focusing on the history and dangerous environments in metal and coal mines.

Ruth Walker, of the Vernon Township Historical Society, will give a presentation about the Black Creek archaeological site, which had been at the center of controversy for several years, and is now a protected site with a rich history.