Celebrate Mendham Townships' 275th Anniversary!

Join us for an extraordinary celebration of Mendham Township’s rich history as we mark 275 years since its founding in 1749! In partnership with the Ralston Historical Association, the Mendham Township Historic Preservation Committee invites the community to a day of discovery and festivity. Event Details:

Date: Saturday, October 26th

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location: Ralston’s Wysong Park & Ralston Museum

Free fun for the whole family!

Here’s what you’ll find at the 275th Anniversary Festival.

Take a guided tour of the historic Ralston Museum, Ralston Manor House and Ralston Mill House.

Built in the 1780’s the Ralston Museum was originally the Ralston General Store run by John Ralston and his partner Hugh Nesbitt. From 1893-1941 it served as the Ralston Post Office. Ralston Historical Association renovated and opened the Museum in 1964, which highlights local history and displays a collection of vintage artifacts.

Ralston Manor House was built in 1781 for John Ralston and his wife, Margaret, after he took over his father-in-law’s grist mill. After Ralston’s death the Manor was purchased by John Wick Leddel in 1833 and remained in the Leddel family until the 1950s. Built in the Federal style, it retains many of its original features.

Ralston Grist Mill operated as a grist and sawmill as early as 1742. During the winters of 1779 and 1780 its ground flour helped feed the Continental Troops at Jockey Hollow. It was a working mill until 1900. In the 1940s it was transformed into a residence.

Brusco & Son will give live demonstrations of traditional blacksmithing, so essential to early Mendham living.

The Anniversary celebration extends across the road at Ralston’s Wysong Park and the Ralston Engine Co. Firehouse, featuring a diverse array of activities.

The 27th Regiment New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Co. F Civil War reenactors will set up a camp of soldiers from the 1860s including an Officer, Sgt. Major, Army Surgeon and Enlisted Men. John Covert will display items that his Great-Great-Grandfather used during the Civil War. Men from the Mendhams enlisted in the 27th NJ, the largest regiment from New Jersey.

Descendants of Founding Families Clark, Loree and Pitney will talk about their family history and display original artifacts.

Pleasant Valley Mills Farm is an important site in the Ralston District for its historic 18th and 19th c. structures, location of the former mill, mill pond and forges. On display will be products from the working farm it is today.

Hometown History: NJ. Ryan Ross and Katie Feather are residents and parents in Mendham, and co-producers of the Hometown History Podcast, a narrative series on 6 icons in Mendham. You’ll be able to share your Mendham memories at their recording booth in short (1-3 minute) audio.

Community of St. John Baptist will highlight their efforts for historic restoration of the Convent and other facilities on their site. Built in 1915, the Convent was recently named one of the top ten endangered historical sites in New Jersey.

Boy Scouts Troop 1 will highlight their outdoors, community service and scouting ideals. Troop 1 has been an important part of Mendham history since its founding by “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt in 1935, at what is now the Schiff Preserve. Since its founding, it has produced 122 Eagle Scouts. They will be joined at the Festival by Cub Scouts Pack 3.

Schiff Natural Lands Trust is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year. At the Festival they will highlight the animal and plant artifacts that help represent the natural history of our area, scouting artifacts and memorabilia from the nearly 50 years the Schiff Reservation served the national Boy Scout Training Camp. They will have membership/programs/event information for Schiff Nature Preserve.

Two Township committees will be on hand to demonstrate how Mendham’s natural environment and open space are being preserved. The Open Space Trust Committee (OSTC) works on behalf of the Township Committee to preserve, protect, manage, and enhance Mendham Township's valuable open spaces. The Environmental Commission provides support and drives projects on environmental matters of community impact, sustainability of our local environment and information sharing.

The Sharing Project a student-run 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization, will demonstrate their program of community gardens which produces harvests for donation to local food pantries.

Food, Music, Craft and Children’s Activities

The Black Horse Tavern and Pub will provide hearty homemade soup along with stories of its own illustrious history dating back to 1740s when Ebenezer Byram renovated an old farmhouse into the Black Horse Inn.

Stuf’d Food Truck will be there with their gourmet street eats.

Mendham Mud Clay Studio will have supplies and tips for how to decorate clay tiles, which will be added to their community wall.

Music will be provided by Kris Lamb playing colonial tunes on the fife and flute, and the jazz combo Kurt Rehm Quartet.

There will be a games and activities area for children’s enjoyment.

At the Festival you’ll be able to purchase a 275th Anniversary T-shirt, the Rotary Club’s 275th Anniversary mug and the Mendham Township-themed tapestry blanket by Brookside Ladies Auxiliary of Fire Engine Co. 1.

Parking: Parking for the Festival is available in the lot for Wysong Park.

Don’t miss this free event that honors the heritage and community spirit of Mendham Township. Join us for a memorable day celebrating our past and embracing our future!