Full Steam Ahead! Sold-Out Seats and Standing Room Only for the Rahway Valley Railroad

Last Sunday's lecture, "Three Miles to Maplewood: The Rahway Valley Railroad," presented by historian and author Richard J. King, was a big hit with train enthusiasts and local history buffs.

Originally intended to be just one lecture in our small space, we quickly ran out of seats and added an additional lecture time. Both seatings were overflowing with standing room only. Participants were riveted by Mr. King’s presentation, and each talk sparked a lively discussion.

Seton Hall intern Brooke Hurrell organized a children's activity in which our young visitors were asked to imagine travelling on the rail line through early 20th-century Maplewood.

As always, we thank the community for supporting our programming and helping to preserve Maplewood’s historic treasure, the Durand-Hedden House.

Durand-Hedden signs PNJ letter supporting funding for Historic Preservation Fund

Over 300 organizations, businesses, agencies, and entities from 46 states and the District of Columbia have signed on to a bipartisan letter urging Congress to reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). Preservation New Jersey has brought New Jersey history organizations together to support this initiative and Durand-Hedden House & Garden is a proud signatory.

Durand-Hedden connects with the future of museums with Seton Hall University

Photo credit: Seton Hall

On August 28, six students and two professors from the Seton Hall University Museum Professionals Master’s Program met with DHH President Gail Safian and Board Member Anita Dennis. The program’s director, Professor James Kimble, was eager for the students to learn about the management of a house museum and how we develop our programming. Professor Nadzeya Charapan, who teaches a course on the Anatomy of a Museum, also participated.

The students were eager to explore the house and learn about how our group of dedicated trustees manages to put on so many inspiring and well-researched programs during the year, all while tending to the maintenance and preservation of the buildings, Grasmere Park, and our collections.  We are looking into the possibility of working with Seton Hall on an internship.