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Former Cowgirl
Citizen
Username: Formercowgirl
Post Number: 176
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 9:21 pm: | 
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Former Cowboy and i are heading for an overnight sans little cowboy to Morristown. We are staying at a hotel but have the whole day and the following morning to either be completely lazy or to explore. Any real gems we should check out? Or should we just wander around town and enjoy grown up time? I've been to the arboretum there. We would prefer something outdoors because it's supposed to be a beautiful day, so not considering the museum. |
millie amoresano
Citizen
Username: Millieamoresano
Post Number: 354
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 9:59 pm: |
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The Aboretum is actually in Whippany on Hanover Road about 5 minutes from The Green. There is an armory in Morristown which sometimes will have craft fairs,antique shows etc. Try calling them maybe they have something going on this weekend.Check out www.morristown-nj.org/todo.html |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1380
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 12:14 am: |
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Drive out on Speedwell Avenue (route 53) to Old Speedwell Village. It's an historic site, with old buildings and shops, where the telegraph was invented, among other things. It's only a couple of miles past the center of Morristown, before you get to Denville.
Or, you could take old route 24 (Washington Street) towards Chester, which is a cutesy town with a lot of antique shops and restaurants--nice for walking around. On the way, just outside Morristown, there's an early 19th century farm, whose name escapes me right now--not a restoration, it is untouched by modernism and is exactly the way it was then. There are farm animals, farm buildings, and the original house which you can visit. Further along on the same road, before Chester, is an old stone mill, which, I believe is also open to the public.
In Morristown itself there are a couple of historic mansions with gardens that you can visit--again the names have escaped me. If you stop at the Morristown Library, at the corner of Miller Road and South Street, they'll be able to tell you. Ask the reference librarian.
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Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1381
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 8:39 am: |
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I just remembered the name of the farm on route 24; it's Fosterfields living history farm. Another nice place to be outdoors is at Jockey Hollow, where Washington's troops spent a very cold and hard winter. Follow the signs to Morristown National Historic Park, off Washington Street. It's a few miles out of town. Within the park is the Wick farmhouse, home of Tempe Wick, a young girl who is a local legend because of the way she outwitted the British (or maybe it was the Continental army). Tempe Wick had a horse, and one day some soldiers saw her riding it and tried to take if for the army. But Tempe put the spurs to the horse, escaped the soldiers, got home and hid the horse upstairs in her bedroom. The house is sometimes open, and there's a beautiful herb garden where you can wander around and learn about the different herbs and other plants that were essential to a colonial household. |
tulip
Citizen
Username: Braveheart
Post Number: 3898
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 10:44 am: |
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Lizziecat, That's route 124 now, not 24. The mansions with gardens include McCullough Hall which is across from the Thomas Nast house, where the famous nineteenth century cartoonist lived. McCullough Hall has beautiful gardens in back. Proceed west on South Street (also route 124) and turn left at the Morristown Library. At the corner of the block behind the Library (which is undergoing renovation but is pretty cool inside, especially the old part) is the Thomas Nast House. Catty-corner across the street from the Nast House is McCullough Hall.
Lizziecat is right about the Wick House. It's fun. Go around the Morristown Green, heading west on 124. Follow 124 past the courthouse (another old and interesting structure) which will be on your left. Proceed past Burnham Park on your left, with a little pond, and beyond that, a community pool on your left. Just a couple yards down on the right is Fosterfields, which is a good hour or two of outdoor museum. Past that on 124, about four to five miles on your left, is a big brown sign for Lewis Morris Park. Enter there, follow signs to Jockey Hollow Park, and if you get lost in the park, there are lots of rangers around and folks to ask directions. Go down the main thoroughfare, and when you get to the top of the hill, you will see a nice picnic area. Follow the road to the end, turn left into Jockey Hollow, and follow the signs to the Wick House and soldiers' huts. This is tne area in which Washington's troops encamped during that horrible winter.
Another site is Washington's Headquarters, not far from the Arboretum. To get there, go 287 south from 80, watch for signs as you approach 124 exit. Turn left, over the ramp over 287, and follow the signs to Washington's Headquarters, which is really just on a continuation of South Street. There's lots of traffic through Morristown, especially there, at the end of town near 287.
You also might like the restaurants around the Green. as you follow route 124 to town, down South Street. It's become quite a "kicky" place. There's the Thirsty Turtle, Calaloo, lots of other places where the elite meet to eat.
Have fun. It's a nice mix of Victorian architecture and youthful exhuberance, and was my home for twenty years.
There's the Community Theater also on South Street, across from Morristown Library.
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tulip
Citizen
Username: Braveheart
Post Number: 3899
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 10:47 am: |
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Also, the Morris Museum is on Normandy Parkway, which you access from route 24, not 124, which links with 78 west out of Maplewood. Check Mapquest for the best route, but it is a great museum and always has great exhibits. It is actually down the road from Washington's Headquarters, and near another interesting site called "Acorn Hall" a true Victorian Mansion, now a museum.
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