KIDZ CONNECTION PAGE 40 theconnectionsnj.com Quality Musical Instruction for All Ages and Abilities voice, and orchestral. • • • Repairs Rentals Sales Accessories Sheet Music • 908.595.9023 60 W. Somerset St., Raritan, NJ 08869 raritanmusicstore@yahoo.com By Joanne Kleinle Historical Visits in the Somerset Hills The Somerset Hills area is such a beautiful, country-like location, steeped in history, especially from the Revolutionary War period. The fall is one of the best times to explore our colorful landscape and the tales of what took place here. So now that the kids are back in school and the days are getting a little shorter and cooler, why not plan a few activities with the kids on the weekends that will help them to appreciate the beauty and history of where they live? I find that one of the best ways to get kids (and adults) interested in a place is to know anecdotes about it before going. Here are the stories behind some cool local places that you should visit with the family this fall. The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge-The Great Swamp, as locals call it, is almost 8,000 acres of protected land sheltering a wide range of habitats and almost 12 miles of hiking trails. It spans both Morris and Somerset Counties and is a popular place to get away and take a walk in nature in any season. But did you know that it also is the site of a local ghost story and inspiration for one of America’s most beloved books? The legend of the Headless Horseman, which was immortalized in 1820 by Washington Irving’s short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and has inspired countless movies and theater productions, actually took place in our own Great Swamp. In the late 1770s, at the height of the Revolutionary War, Basking Ridge was at the heart of the conflict. Legend has it that one night, three Hessian soldiers were passing through Basking Ridge, probably on what is now Maple Avenue, when they were attacked by village Patriots. One of the soldiers was on horseback and had his head almost severed from his body, but his lifeless body stayed on the horse as it ran into what is now the Great Swamp. The horse later reappeared, but the Hessian’s body was never recovered. There have, however, been sightings of his ghost in the Swamp on moonlit nights. Morristown National Historical Park-This beloved National Park, which is right on our doorstep, turns 90 this year! It includes Ford Mansion, which was Washington’s Headquarters during the harshest winter of the war, and Jockey Hollow-the encampment where the American soldiers encamped during the coldest, snowiest winter on record. Tours of the mansion are available with a guide and are free, but limited in number. They are available at the front desk of the Headquarters Museum on a first come first serve basis. Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/ morr/index.htm. If you go to Jockey Hollow, be sure to learn about the family that owned the largest farm in that area at the time of the encampment-the Wick family. Their farmhouse is still there. They had five children. One of them was Tempe. She was a young girl who was an amazing rider and loved horses. The story goes that she had an impressive horse. One day when she was out riding, some soldiers tried to take her horse from her. She not only outrode them, but she also outsmarted them. They followed her to her house. Instead of putting the horse in the barn, she walked him right into her house and kept him there for days until all was clear. They never found the horse, never thinking to look in the house! See more about her story at the following link: https://www.usgenwebsites.org/NJMorris/history/tempewick The best way to explore Morristown National Park with kids is to take advantage of the Junior Ranger Program. There are activities divided into three groups to cater to different ages. The program offers fun activities for the kids to complete while exploring the Park, and when completed, they earn their “Junior Ranger” badge. It is a great way to learn about the park and have fun at the same time! Go to https://www.nps. gov/morr/upload/MORR-Junior-Ranger-Web. pdf for more information. There are lots more interesting stories about the places that we drive by every day. If ghost stories are your thing, check out the Top Ten Haunted Tales from the Somerset Hills on the Mr. Local History website at https://www.mrlocalhistory.org/haunted/ and drive around to see them during the day or at night-if you dare!! Who says history has to be boring? Sometimes the stories about the places around us just make everything more interesting! I find that one of the best ways to get kids (and adults) interested in a place is to know anecdotes about it before going. ADVENTURES FAMILY
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