Bordentown Historical Society’s History in Bloom garden tour is this Saturday! As in previous years, not only will fabulous private gardens be on display, but we will also be celebrating Bordentown’s artistic side! This year, we are thrilled to share that Ricky Ellis, Bordentown third-generation resident, will be demonstrating the Ukrainian/Hungarian folk art of pysanky (egg decorating) inside the Clara Barton school house between 12:30 and 3 on the day of the garden tour. Using a method similar to batik - patterns are drawn on the egg with wax, which then protects the covered areas from the dye applied. By repeating the process with different colors of dye, a multi-colored pattern is built up with the final reveal showing the eggs in their full glory! Although associated with Easter, pysanky making actually predates Christianity in Ukraine and other Slavic countries and we’re delighted to have the chance to share this ancient tradition in current day Bordentown! Don’t forget early bird tickets are in sale now on our website: https://bordentownhistory.org/shop/ #bordentownhistoricalsociety #bordentownhistory #njhistoricalsociety #pysanky #pysanka #pysankaeggs #bordentowncity #bordentownnj #bordentown #historyinbloom (fb)

Thank you to everyone who came out to our #Rev250 kick off event yesterday. With a great turnout of 35 people, it was standing room only as Joella Clamen shared tales of the inimitable Patience Lovell Wright and her son Joseph. We can’t wait to share more revolutionary moments with you all as we build up to the 250th anniversary of July 4th, 1776, next year! Yesterday was also the birthday of American poet, Walt Whitman, who is linked to Bordentown through his relationship with Richard Watson Gilder. Although a household name today, when Walt Whitman published Leaves of Grass in 1855, aged just 36, it was not a success. Self-published, most of the 800 copies printed went unsold and were given away for free. One publisher that did rate Whitman was Richard Watson Gilder. After meeting Whitman in 1877 at a reception, Gilder took Whitman under his wing and helped him build social connections in New York City. In fact, from 1887 until 1891, Whitman’s work appeared once a year in Century, making Gilder the editor most receptive to Whitman - including a piece about Whitman’s work as a volunteer nurse for the Union armies. Gilder was also instrumental in ensuring Whitman was included in a series on American poets despite the objections of Scribner’s editor. Gilder admired Whitman’s poetry and praised its “magnificent form” and spirit. Who knows, if it wasn’t for the support of a Bordentonian, maybe High School students across the country wouldn’t be studying Whitman’s work each year…. Just think what what we could achieve next as we continue to promote the rich history of Bordentown and its residents! #bordentownhistoricalsociety #bordentownhistory #njhistory #njhistoricalsociety #bordentowncity #bordentown #bordentownnj (fb)