On Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21, re-enactors from across the northeast will arrive at Jockey Hollow for Morristown National Historical Park’s Spring Encampment. The special event focuses on the lives of soldiers and civilians during the Revolutionary War. It’s an event full of activities for the whole family.
Highlights for the weekend include demonstrations in camp of cooking, sewing, and other camp chores; military maneuvers and musket firing; and a special “children’s muster,” where children can learn to drill and march like Revolutionary soldiers.
The Friends of Jockey Hollow is sponsoring additional re-enactor demonstrations during the weekend. Carpenter Scott Lance, from At the Sign of the Adze, Axe, and Chisel, will be using original and reproduction tools and hand-made equipment to demonstrate 18th-century woodworking and construction techniques. Furthermore, Nelson Abrams, a member of the Department of Geographers, will join the Encampment and demonstrate surveying techniques used by the Continental Army. Scott and Nelson are members of the Second New Jersey Regiment, Helms’ Company, which is a group of volunteers dedicated to portraying the men and women of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment during the War for American Independence.
The event opens at 11:00 a.m. On Saturday, camp concludes at 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday camp concludes at 3:30 pm.
The schedule is as follows:
Saturday, April 20
11:00 a.m.- Camp Opens
11:30 a.m.- Inspection of the Troops
1:00 p.m.- Firing Demonstration and Drill
1:30 p.m.- Children’s Drill
3:00 p.m.- Firing Demonstration and Drill
3:30 p.m.- Children’s Drill
4:00 p.m.- Camp Closes
Sunday, April 21
10:00 a.m.- Pre-camp opening event: Hike to the Huts with Soldiers – meets behind the Wick House
11:00 a.m.- Camp Opens
12:30 p.m.- Inspection of the Troops
1:00 p.m.- Firing Demonstration and Drill
1:30 p.m.- Children’s Drill
3:00 p.m.- Firing Demonstration and Drill
3:30 p.m.- Camp Closes
The Wick House will be open each day 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center will be open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
All activities are free and take place at Jockey Hollow. The GPS Address is 586 Tempe Wick Road Morristown, NJ 07960.
For more information call 973-539-2016 x 210 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.
