The weekend of October 17-18 marks Union County’s Four Centuries in a Weekend event. Each year, Union County celebrates its important place in history by featuring many historic sites throughout the County. Mountainside’s historic Hetfield House will be open for visitors on Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18 from 12-5pm.
During Saturday and Sunday, back by popular demand, there will be miniature diorama simulation of the Revolutionary War Battle of Bunker Hill. Fought early in the Revolutionary War in 1775 in Massachusettes, the Battle of Bunker Hill was a confidence booster for the Patriot army. While they lost the battle, the put up a good fight. Mountainside’s own, John Sileo, a member of the Tri-State Historical Education Simulations, Inc. will be present to engage in a lively discussion on this battle. The discussions will be augmented by a diorama of the military actions with hundreds of hand-painted soldiers.
While there, stop by next door, at the renovated and restored, circa 1818, Levi Cory House which will be open for visitors and for shopping.
Tours of the Hetfield House will be available throughout the weekend. The open house and activities are free to visitors and fans of Union County history.
The Hetfield House will be participating in Union County’s History Trading Card program. Be sure to pick up MacKinlay Kantor, Mill of the Watchungs, and other cards from the Hetfield House to add to your collection from other Union County sites. Each card depicts a person, place or event in Union County history.
The Deacon Andrew Hetfield House is located at Constitution Plaza (Watchung Ave., off Birch Hill Rd.) adjacent to the Mountainside Library. The Mountainside Restoration Committee is a committee of volunteers whose purpose is to restore and maintain the Deacon Andrew Hetfield House and Levi Cory House and collect and save historic information and items from destruction. For further details, please call (908)233-3135.
