Honoring Black history is important to the Durand-Hedden House, and over the years we have had many programs on important African Americans like abolitionist Harriet Tubman and Thomas Mundy Peterson, the first Black man to cast a vote in New Jersey, and topics like the sites of the Underground Railroad in our state.
On Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, we were honored to have local Chef Jesse Jones demonstrate and talk about African American foodways at our 18th-century hearth. Chef Jesse's culinary DNA was developed during childhood summers in North Carolina, where his grandmother's cast iron stove was the source of many memorable food experiences. Today, he continues to be influenced by her legacy, bridging past and present through interpreting classic southern dishes with French techniques. Visitors also were able to view an exhibit on African Americans who led the fight for women’s suffrage.