Children’s Basket Making Workshop

The Museum will host a hands-on basket making workshop for children on Thursday, November 7^th at 4:00pm.

Join artist Elisabeth Kessler-Caporale as she leads a workshop just for children in the art of basket making.   Students will learn the techniques needed to weave a basket and will go home with a reed basket.  

Open to ages 7 (accompanied with an adult) and up.  All supplies will be provided.  Pre-registration required by Thursday, October 31^st.  Space is limited. Call 973-377-2982 x14.  Admission is $25 for non-members & $15 for Members (includes all supplies).

Workshops, Lectures, Tours, Fundraisers and more!

Bottle Hill Day

Saturday, October 5^th  11 AM - 4 PM

Go back in time with the New Jersey Frontier Guard and learn about life during the French and Indian Wars (1754 - 1765).  Stationed on the front lawn of the Museum, members of the New Jersey Frontier Guard will recreate and demonstrate the crafts, skills, military activities and daily life of the mid-eighteenth century New Jersey resident.  In addition, visitors are encouraged to explore the Museum and it's many exhibits.  For more information visit our website at www.metc.org or call 973-377-2982.  FREE!

 

Tricks-N-Treats

Family Fun Day, Saturday, October 12^th  1 PM - 3 PM

Once again the Museum will host a hauntingly fun Halloween themed afternoon.  Come in costume and participate in a number of activities, including games and crafts.  Pre-registration recommended.  For more information call 973-377-2982 x12.  Regular Admission. 

 

Cemetery Tour:  

Revolutionary Madison

Saturday, October 12^th  2pm

Join Robert Garman as he gives a tour of Hillside Cemetery in Madison, NJ.  Please meet at the cemetery.  Advance registration recommended, call 973-377-2982 x13.  Admission $10 for Non-Members & $5 for Members (includes Museum admission).

 

Exhibit Lecture

Sunday, October, 13^th  1 PM

“Both Corpses to the Grave:”The History of the American Hearse presented by Mark Nonestied.  Come learn about the history of the hearse and other funeral conveyances.  Pre-registration recommended, call 973-377-2982 x13.  Admission $7 for 

Non-Members & $3 for Members.

Needlepoint Workshop

Thursday, October 10^th 6 PM

Join owner of Foxview Needlepoint and Rug Hooking, Susan Hoekstra, as she conducts a Needlepoint Basics workshop.  Open to all beginners, participants will learn six different basic stitches & how to read a diagram.  All supplies will be provided.  Pre-registration required by Thursday, October 3^rd.  Space is limited. Call 973-377-2982 x14.  Admission is $30 for non-members & $20 for Members (includes all supplies).

 Terrarium Workshop

Sunday, October 20^th 2 PM

Join artist Tica Martin as she teaches an interactive workshop in the art of terrarium making.  Participants will learn about the history of the terrarium and then create one to take home.  All supplies will be provided.  Pre-registration required by Sunday, October 13^th.  Space is limited. Call 973-377-2982 x14.  Admission is $30 for non-members & $20 for Members (includes all supplies).

Ghosts & Ghouls

Friday, October 25^th 7 PM

Join us for an evening of filled with haunting ghost stories, enchanting music, delicious foods & spooky punch.  A silent auction will also take place.  Black & White attire suggested, costumes welcome.  Call 973-377-2982 x14.  Admission is $75.

New Exhibit Opens

On Tuesday, September 10^th during Regular Hours, the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts will open the new exhibit Ghosts, Ghouls, & Gravestones: The Trades of Burial.

The exhibit examines the progression of the burial trade.  Passing away from this world was once a family affair, with immediate members attending to the dying and any funerary arrangements needed.  Over time, the process spread through the social and economic ties of the community.  By 1900, a robust funeral industry had developed that saw to a family’s every need, providing mourning clothes and other accoutrements; funeral  services including preparation of the body, coffin or casket; and even digging the grave, and carving the memorial gravestone.  Meanwhile society had developed strict protocols that dictated the mourning, though not the grieving, process.

Visitors will also learn about the different trades that developed around the funeral industry, including artistic gravestone carving and coffin makers.

This exhibit will remain open until February 2014.  Throughout the exhibit’s duration, various public programs will take place including cemetery tours and lectures.  For more information visit our website at www.metc.org or call 973-377-2982.  Regular Admission.

Coming Up:

Cemetery Tour: Madison and the Civil War,  Saturday, September 14^th   2pm

Join Robert Garman as he gives a tour of Hillside Cemetery in Madison, NJ.  Please meet at the cemetery.  Advance registration recommended, call 973-377-2982 x13.  Admission $10 for Non-Members & $5 for Members (includes Museum admission).

Cemetery Tour: Famous Figures of Madison,  Saturday, September  21^st   2pm

Join Robert Garman as he gives a tour of Hillside Cemetery in Madison, NJ.  Please meet at the cemetery.  Advance registration recommended, call 973-377-2982 x13.  Admission $10 for Non-Members & $5 for Members (includes Museum admission).

FREE Exhibit Lecture & Reception,   Sunday, September 29^th  2 PM

‘Pushing up Daisies’: American Culture and Death presented by folklorist Elinor Levy, PhD.  Come learn why Americans use euphemisms historically and in contemporary culture when discussing death.  Join us afterwards for the opening reception of the exhibit Ghosts, Ghouls & Gravestones.  Advance registration recommended, call 973-377-2982 x13.  FREE!

 

Rosewood to Perform for the Downtown Concert Series

On Friday, August 9^th from 6-8pm the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts invites guests to the Downtown Concert Series, presented by Morris Arts, the Madison Downtown Development Commission and Investors Bank featuring the eclectic band, Rosewood.

Rosewood is made up of a group of local Madison residents including Mary McManus (vocals, percussion), John McManus (vocals, guitar), Bill Meyer (bass, piano) and Leo McClusky (vocals, guitar).  The band brings their mutual love for music to the community with a natural beauty and sincerity. Rosewood's song choices evolve from their diverse range of musical roots – pop, rock, jazz, classical, blues, spiritual and many originals. Rosewood has a synergy that unites an audience, young and old, with a powerful spirit of friendship and family fun.

This is one concert you won’t want to miss!

For more information please call 973-377-2982 x14 or visit our website at www.metc.org.  Rain or Shine!  In case of inclement weather concert will be held inside the Museum with first come first serve seating.  FREE! 

Summer Camp for a Day Sign-up Today!

Summer Camp for a Day

 

The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts will host eight unique one day summer camps for children ages 7-12. Camp will take place Tuesday, July 9^th - Wednesday, August 28^th. Each

Camp for a Day session will run from 10am to 2pm. 

  

DATES & THEMES:

Camp #1 - Tuesday, July 9 - Caleb the Carpenter 

Campers will learn about early Madison resident Caleb Burroughs (1799-1885), a carpenter & cabinet maker. They will examine the tools of the trade Caleb practiced, learn how to use a variety of different tools, and make several crafts with wood and other materials.

  

Camp #2 - Wednesday, July 17 - The Work of Play, Part I

Campers will tour the current exhibit of Early American toys and games, comparing how Early American people's recreation with play activities of today. They will play with toys, make toys to take home, and create games of their own.

Camp #3 - Thursday, July 25 - Spinning Tales

Campers will learn the importance of fabric and fabric crafts both during Early American times and today. After learning about the tools associated with spinning and weaving, they will meet a guest presenter who will demonstrate the craft of spinning. Other craft activities will include quilting, rug-braiding and weaving.  

Camp #4 - Wednesday, July 31 - Sand, Sea & Shells

Campers will engage in a variety of activities connected with a maritime theme, including decoding nautical flags, sailors' lore and crafts including sand and shells.

 

Camp #7 - Tuesday, August 20 -Bookin' It

Campers will learn the importance of books for all ages, and how books were originally made. They will tour the Museum's printing press exhibit to learn about early information reproduction, and will make a variety of personal books, from original folios to creative and different shape books. Practicing the style of our forefathers, they will write in their books with real quill pens.

Camp #5 - Wednesday, August 7 -What's Cookin'?

Campers will examine artifacts from the Museum's collection that deal with food processing and preparation. They will also churn their own butter and create their own herbal tea recipes to taste at an end of the day party to which the adults are invited. Other crafts include making a personal cookbook.

  

Camp #6 - Thursday, August 15 - The Work of Play, Part II

Since one can never have enough fun playing, this popular camp will be repeated, with additional toys and games. They will also be some of the last visitors to see the "Work of Play" exhibit before it closes at the end of August. 

Camp #8 - Wednesday, August 28 - Dolly & Me Tea Party

Campers are invited to bring their favorite doll (or bear, or dinosaur, or ...) to the Museum to learn about dolls, food preparation, and Victorian manners. They will make a variety of dolls and action figures and end the day with a real tea party, to which the adults are invited.

Camp for a Day offers a fun-filled day of camp activities without the long term commitment. Campers will learn about different aspects of history and participate in a variety of hands-on craft projects based on the Museum's exhibits.

Campers may pick and choose as many camp sessions as they please.

   

Register Today!  Call 973-377-2982 x12  

Members: $25 for any 1 session & $65 for any 3.  
Non-Members: $30 for any 1 session & $80 for any 3.

Appropriate for children ages 7 to 12.
Space is limited. 

Pre-registration is required!