Florham Park Historical Society Looks Ahead to History Talk and Holiday Tea

The upcoming events follow Joel Farkas’s October 13 presentation, “The American Revolution (and Beyond) In One Hour,” at the Florham Park Library on Ridgedale Avenue. Farkas has presented programs with the Historical Society since 2019.

His latest talk connected the French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the War of 1812, combining familiar events with lesser-known details. He described Samuel Adams as an early “influencer,” long before TikTok, and explored the differences between historical events and their popular portrayals.

The program included a discussion of Paul Revere and the liberties taken in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Farkas also examined the imagery and symbolism in the painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware.

A History of Florham Park — November 19

Peter Nicolas will present “A History of Florham Park” on Thursday, November 19, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Florham Park Library. Refreshments will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The free presentation will explore historic properties, significant dates and details of the community’s past that may not appear in history books.

Holiday Tea — December 13

The Historical Society’s Holiday Tea will take place Sunday, December 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Lenfell Hall at the Vanderbilt Mansion on Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham Campus.

Hosted by Carol Baumgartner, the gathering will celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday and feature local historic sites. Guests will enjoy tea, scones and finger sandwiches, a presentation about historic Florham Park properties, a mini walking tour of the mansion and a basket raffle.

Lenfell Hall once welcomed guests at parties hosted by Florence Vanderbilt Twombly. Today, the mansion serves as university classroom and administrative space while preserving features of its Gilded Age setting.

Admission is $40 with preregistration by December 6, increasing to $45 afterward and at the door. Organizers strongly encourage purchasing tickets by December 10 because walk-in availability is limited.

The Historical Society was founded in 1935 by a group of women seeking to preserve the Little Red Schoolhouse. Built in 1866, the former school at Columbia Turnpike and Ridgedale Avenue now serves as a museum and a symbol of Florham Park.

Refreshments at the society’s 2026 presentations are sponsored by Delaney at the Green, and presentations are supported by OneCareHarmony Home Health Care. Annual membership is $20 per person or $35 per family.

For program information, holiday tea registration details or membership inquiries, contact Peter Nicolas at pnicolas@optimum.net or 973-520-8654.