Hannah Till and Black History in the Age of Revolution

Durand-Hedden House & Garden and the SOMA Community Coalition on Race will host reenactor Leslie Bramlett on Sunday, February 1, at 1 pm, at The Woodland in Maplewood

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – February 2026 – As we look back 250 years to our nation’s founding, Black History Month provides an important opportunity to highlight the lives and contributions of African Americans.

Durand-Hedden, in partnership with the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race, is delighted to welcome educator and historical reenactor Leslie Bramlett. Ms. Bramlett, in this one-woman performance, will appear as Hannah Till, an enslaved cook and servant to General George Washington during the War for Independence.

Born into slavery in Delaware, Till was leased to cook for Washington during the harsh Valley Forge encampment in 1777-78. She eventually purchased her freedom and continued to work as a paid cook, serving both Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette throughout the war. Till's incredible journey of resilience and strength is a powerful reminder of the often-overlooked historical contributions of African American women.

This event will take place at The Woodland Parlor in Maplewood at 1 pm. The program will continue at Durand-Hedden House following the performance for refreshments and conversation with Ms. Bramlett. An art exhibit by Beverly McCutcheon in the House will feature McCutcheon’s mixed-media work, assemblages, and fiber collages, exploring themes of women, domestic workers, and beauty. Complete details on both events, as well as registration, are available at DurandHedden.org.

While our events are free, we ask those able to do so to support the House and our programming by purchasing a donation ticket. All donations are welcome, appreciated, and support Durand-Hedden's mission, upkeep, and community events. Both complimentary and donation tickets are available at DurandHedden.org. Parking for the Durand-Hedden House is available on nearby streets.

About Durand-Hedden House and Garden

The Durand-Hedden House and Garden Association is Maplewood’s historic house museum, dedicated to creating engaging and informative educational programs and materials about the local history of Maplewood and surrounding communities, natural history, and other related topics. The House, at 523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, is open once a month between September and June. For more information, visit our website at durandhedden.org. To arrange group tours, write to info@durandhedden.org. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Join Durand-Hedden for a Revolutionary Dining Experience on Sunday, January 25

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – January 2026 – If you have visited the Durand-Hedden House (and we hope you have), you may remember the large open-hearth in our historic 18th-century kitchen.

Perhaps you have paused there and imagined what life might have been like for the home’s original inhabitants on Ridgewood Road—cooking, eating, and talking together around an open fire.

As we approach 2026, the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, it is a fitting moment to look back and consider what the world may have felt like during that tumultuous era.

On January 25, be one of only 18 guests who will visit that past

We warmly invite all members of our community to step back in time for an intimate and immersive evening at the hearth. On Sunday, January 25, from 2 pm to 5 pm, expert hearth cook Margaret Quinn will prepare an authentic 18th-century meal, cooked entirely on the original hearth. You’ll share this rare dining experience with a small group of like-minded neighbors (limited to just 18)—gathered to reflect on our shared past and to support the future of the Durand-Hedden House.

Your support will help to ensure the future of the Durand-Hedden House

Proceeds from this event will support the replacement of Durand-Hedden’s 100-year-old roof, a critical project that protects both the house and the historic collections it shelters. Restoring the roof ensures that we can continue to preserve this remarkable place and offer community programming rooted in our shared history.

We hope you will consider joining us for this very special event on January 25 —an opportunity to truly experience the past while helping to preserve the future of a community treasure. Tickets are available at DurandHedden.org.

About Durand-Hedden House and Garden

The Durand-Hedden House and Garden Association is Maplewood’s historical house museum, dedicated to creating engaging and informative educational programs and materials about the local history of Maplewood and surrounding communities, natural history, and other related topics. The House, at 523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, is open once a month between September and June. For more information, visit our website at durandhedden.org. To arrange group tours, write to info@durandhedden.org. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Durand-Hedden to host popular annual Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration and Tastings on Sunday, January 11

Expert hearth cook Margaret Quinn (left) at Durand-Hedden's historic hearth

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – January 2026 – Durand-Hedden is pleased to welcome back skilled cook Margaret Quinn to our annual historical cooking program on Sunday, January 11, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Visitors can enjoy learning about the history of the dishes and Margaret's fireside cooking techniques while sampling food straight from the hearth.

This program continues to be one of the most popular events hosted by Durand-Hedden each year. Tickets are required for all and are available at DurandHedden.org. Seating times are 1pm, 2pm, or 3pm. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly.

There is a minimum requested donation of $5 per seat for this event. All proceeds directly support Durand-Hedden House & Garden and its community programs. The Country Store and surrounding Grasmere Park will also be open for visitors. Parking is available on nearby streets.

Tickets are available at DurandHedden.org.

About Durand-Hedden House and Garden

The Durand-Hedden House and Garden Association is Maplewood’s historical house museum, dedicated to creating engaging and informative educational programs and materials about the local history of Maplewood and surrounding communities, natural history, and other related topics. The House, at 523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, is open once a month between September and June. For more information, visit our website at durandhedden.org. To arrange group tours, write to info@durandhedden.org. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

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