The Kingston Historical Society
Kingston, New Jersey
News or events in Kingston which we participate in or promote
The History Room at the Delaware and Raritan Canal Kingston Lock will re-open for the season on April 1st.
Hours are 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
The displays in the History Room include a tribute to the Kingston Presbyterian Church– a vital part of the village for 300 years.
HERE is more about KPC’s celebration year
And HERE is a link to the June 3 community celebration
To promote interest in the history of Kingston, NJ and to foster research skills, we present our first “Kingston History Mystery” at our dedicated webpage. All are welcome to propose answers. To propose an answer, fill out the form on that page. We will verify identities before posting results at the end of the month.
Our first mystery involves dating a photograph of Kingston. Good luck!
Last fall Markus McParland came to the Kingston Historical Society with a proposal. As a school project he wanted to do research on Kingston’s history.
Since that time he’s found hundreds of new items and stories related to Kingston’s past. He recently put out a call to the community, placing these posters around town:
He recently visited a trustee’s meeting and shared some of his work. We at the historical society wish him luck as he completes the project!
And his dad, Glenn McParland, has joined the Kingston Historical Society as a trustee!
Take a look at this article in the Franklin Reporter!
http://franklinreporter.com/kingston-teen-searching-for-village-history/
2023 is an anniversary year.
Along the trading routes of the Lenape people, the village of Kingston began to be home to some Dutch, English, and Scotch-Irish settles around 1675.
It wouldn’t be until 1723 that there would be a formal declaration of a village church.
Settlers gathered in faith inside homes, and then in a log cabin along the Millstone river. The faithful grew into a gathered community and took a charter to affirm publicly what it had grown into—the worshipping body of the Kingston community.
By the time of the church’s official charter, January 21, 1723, the church had already moved up from the river, having acquired land from Jedediah Higgins sometime before his death in 1715.
The church was built on land which is now Kingston Presbyterian’s cemetery; the graves grew in number around it, as was the custom of the day.
In 1852, the community moved from the cemetery to its present position. For three centuries Kingston Presbyterian Church has sought to love God and love their neighbors, all to God’s glory.Throughout 2023 the church will celebrate. The whole Kingston community and neighbors are invited to share in the festivities.
Rev Sharyl M Dixon Kingston Presbyterian Church
Public access to the Kingston Locktender’s House is available from April to November each year. In the winter months of December, January and February we are open only for special events and for members and archivists to work on research and improvements.
If you’d like to help with archiving or helping with display areas, please contact us, we are glad to have the help!
For interest in the Archiving team use our interest form LINK HERE
Come to the Holiday Tree Lighting LINK HERE (or other winter events to-be-announced)
Contact us via mail or email LINK HERE
Until Spring, enjoy our web pages and browse our posts archive:
The 2022 Kingston Historical Society Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 6 at 7 O’Clock PM. The meeting will be “hybrid” – in person at the Kingston Firehouse and also virtually by Zoom.
After a very brief business meeting including reports and election of Trustees, there will be an illustrated program:
The D. & R. Canal State Park: Sustaining a Key New Jersey Asset.
The program includes two Powerpoint presentations, one prepared by Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition (MVPC) members and one by the Canal Park Historian of NJ DEP Division of Parks, Forestry and Historic Sites.
The D&R Canal played a significant role in Kingston’s history. Today the canal and its State Park is a key part of the Kingston Greenway and a major recreational resource for Kingstonians. KHS’s headquarters are in one of the State Park’s historic canal houses.
The presentations were originally prepared for a Millstone Valley Scenic Byway Stakeholders meeting. KHS is a partner in the Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition, the sponsor of the Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway. The Byway includes Laurel Avenue, part of Main Street/ Route 27 and Church Street as well as River Road. The D&R Canal State Park is the core and unifying element of the Byway Corridor. The Corridor is a mix of preserved natural areas, farmland, historic villages (of which Kingston is the most significant), sites and districts and a major recreational resource for Central New Jersey.
The meeting is free and all are welcome; those wishing to attend virtually should request a link at https://www.khsnj.org/talk/ Access to the meeting begins at 6:45 PM, fifteen minutes before the meeting starts. Please mute audio and video during the presentation.
– RvZ
Kingston Webmasters Roundtable forming
The web team for khsnj.org and web developers for other Kingston area, volunteer run websites are forming a roundtable group to share ideas and progress.
Kingston Archivist Team forming
The archiving group has a backlog requiring entry, and would welcome careful volunteers to help preserve and catalog items.
For details, current status, and how to join either of these teams, visit our groups page at THIS LINK
Thank you to all who attended the Kingston Picnic on August 27,2022. As evening fell the Kingston Park, behind the Laurel Avenue school, was filled with conversation, community and music.
We ended the event with a showing of KINGSTON:Crossroads to History (see end of post)
Continue reading “Kingston Picnic Photos and Video”At the Kingston Village Picnic in August 27, 2022 we showed:
KINGSTON: Crossroads to History (2001)
Here is a link to the full video (this takes about 20 seconds to load… please have patience. You may have to tap the video once it loads.)
You can also view the video directly on Archive.org by clicking HERE
(and consider supporting archive.org with a donation! They provide free hosting for our videos.)
also, you can read all about the picnic at this blog post
Allthough the event has passed, you can review the event invitation and view video shown at the picnic. Hope to see you next year!
Allthough the event has passed, you can view the video shown at the picnic HERE
Kingstonians from near and far.
Newcomers and friends of General Washington.
Families, Frisbees, and Fans of Jazz.
If the weather cooperates on Saturday, August 27, come end the summer with a community celebration.
Bring a chair, blanket, and a picnic and enjoy live music and the delightful company of your neighbors and friends (and meet some new ones!)
While we have not had a village picnic in several years, the KHS and KVAC are ready to say “we are back!” It won’t be the full extravaganza of years ago, but we will have the usual Kingston things…. Fire Trucks, fine music, and even a movie at 8 PM
Local churches will have tables, and local organizations too, so come meet everyone in town. Yes, you can even learn about volunteering with the Kingston Volunteer Fire Company!
We are proud to announce that music will be provided by Phil Orr & Steve Hiltner, both members of Sustainable Jazz Ensemble (link).
STEVE HILTNER is a longtime jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and leader of Sustainable Jazz. A 2018 CD, “Until I Find the Words”, features his original compositions across a broad range of jazz and Latin styles.
(from their website)
Pianist/composer PHIL ORR has been interpreting Steve Hiltner’s very personal music since 2006—a good, long ride…
(from their website)
Where: Kingston Park (Lauel Ave. Schoolyard)
5:30 or so: Bring a picnic and a blanket/chairs
6 PM Music By Phil Orr & Steve Hiltner
8 PM Movie: Kingston: Crossroads of History
Sponsored by the
Kingston Historical Society
and Kingston Village Advisory Committee