ATTENTION: THIS EVENT IS FULL. REGISTRATION IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

Come and have a fascinating and revealing Q&A with Yogi Berra’s oldest granddaughter about her beloved grandfather. A presentation by Lindsay Berra, a journalist and executive producer of the documentary film It Ain’t Over.

The heart of this presentation is a terrific documentary film by David Coultas on the rose industry in Madison. David’s mother, Cathie Coultas, was granddaughter of of Joseph Ruzicka, a major force in the industry.

Adrian Scharff Roberts III is speaking about his grandfather’s sister Amabel Scharff Roberts, the first American nurse to die in World War I.

Madison Historical Society Annual Membership Meeting

Join us on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 6:30 PM in the Chase Room at the Madison Public Library!

Members are invited to vote on the 2026–2027 leadership slate and hear updates on an exciting year ahead—including progress on the Madison History Museum, new leadership, grants, and more.

Stay for a captivating presentation by historian Joel Farkas:
“America’s Birth Certificate: The Declaration of Independence”—a sweeping look at the events that shaped our nation.

When tragedy struck on April 14, 1912, (114 years ago this month) in addition to the incredible loss of life, a nearly incalculable amount of goods plummeted into the ocean, never to be seen again. This lecture takes a closer look at and tells the stories of some of the more interesting and valuable treasures lost on that fateful night.

Join us for an evening of celebration honoring longtime Madison resident Martin Heller. His extraordinary $1 million gift helped save the historic Masonic Lodge at 170 Main Street from almost certain demolition. The building will serve the community as a senior center named in honor of the late Peggy Heller, and a home for nonprofits and other initiatives that support Madison.

Proceeds from the evening will support the Madison History Museum, currently under construction in the East Wing of the Hartley Dodge Memorial.

Scott Morris is speaking about and showing his documentary, Saving The Great Swamp: Battle to Defeat the Jetport on Tuesday, March 17th at the Madison Public Library Chase Room. This is a Madison Historical Society Program.

It takes a village to raise a child, and it nearly took a village to create the new, exciting, and complete history book, Portrait of the Rose City: A History of Madison, New Jersey, published just this April. Dr. David Luber, a long time board member of the Madison Historical Society, earned a doctorate in systems engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Join us as he recalls the 1985 Madison Heritage Trail book and the need for a thorough update to the history of Madison by Dr. Frank Esposito.

Click on picture for more information

On October 22, 1777, Patriot forces prevailed in the Battle of Red Bank in Gloucester County, which Dr. Janofsky calls “the greatest upset of the American Revolution.” Some 2,000 soldiers strong, the Hessians suffered heavy casualties — approximately 377. The Americans, integrated regiments of Black and white soldiers fighting for freedom side by side, numbered 500.

Come join us as we celebrate the unveiling of the marker commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Farewell Tour of the Marquis de Lafayette. The original celebration during his tour in 1825 which was held in Madison House on the corner of Waverly Place and Main Street will be reenacted. Ceremony will begin at 10:00 am.

Join us for a talk on “Framing the Constitution” by Walter Choroszewski on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 7:00pm in the Chase Room of the Madison Public Library. He will talk about the genesis of our Constitution, and the pivotal 1787 Convention.

Click on picture for more information

The annual general meeting of the Madison Historical Society will take place on May 13, 2025 in the Madison Community House 25 Cook Avenue. At the meeting, there will be a vote for the Officers and Trustees for 2025-26. All Society members are invited. There will be a guest speaker, David Hanna speaking about his new book, History Nation: A Citizen’s Guide to the History of the United States.

Click on picture for more information

Marty Kane will be speaking at the Community Arts Center about a major northeast resort, Lake Hopatcong. It was called the “Jewel of the Mountains.”

Click on picture for more information.

The Madison Historical Society is hosting a fundraising gala to honor Cathie Coultas, our Past President and Trustee Emerita. Cathie, born and raised in Madison, has spent much of her life dedicated to serving Madison through her work with town committees, other non-profit service organizations and informal clubs and interest groups, Cathie’s contributions as a volunteer have benefited our town over many decades.

The Historical Society is currently fundraising to build a Madison history museum in the East Wing of the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building. The Historical Society has been serving Madison for over 100 years and the museum will allow the society to showcase material it has collected from Madison’s past.

The gala will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Grace Episcopal Church Hall from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person. Tickets can be purchased by printing the Response Form and mailing it with payment to the Historical Society.

For Information to Purchase Tickets Click Here

We are all quite aware of the upcoming, and hotly debated presidential election in November. What has happened in New Jersey in prior elections? How does New Jersey handle them? What can we learn from them? Join us Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 7 pm, when Brian Armstrong tells us all we ever wanted to know about New Jersey's fascinating and unique Federal election history.

Brian Armstong is an independent historian, researcher, and author. Born in Flemington, he received his bachelor's degree in history and political science from American University in Washington, D.C. He served as the president of the South River Historical & Preservation Society and is the current president of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey. He is the author of several books, including The Franklin Park Tragedy: A Forgotten Story of Racial Injustice in New Jersey. It won the 2020 New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance Author award.

This is an in person meeting and will be held at the Madison Community Arts Center, 10 Kings Rd., Madison

Emanuel Leutze’s C. 1850 painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware, created to arouse feelings of patriotism and dedication to a cause, is perhaps the most iconic image of the American Revolution. Three days before the crossing, Washington was told that New Jersey was totally deranged, without government, or officers civil or military in it that ill act with any spirit.” Learn all about the crossing, the painting, the painter, and what it all meant for the Revolutionary War.

William (Larry) Kidder has been president of historical societies in Ewing and Hopewell. He received his master’s degree from Allegheny College and taught history for forty years in both public and private schools. Larry has been a volunteer at the Howell Living History Farm and is also a consultant and battlefield tour guide for the Princeton Battlefield Society. He is the author of five books focusing on the American Revolution. He has worked on several projects for Crossroads of the American Revolution, including as editor for its Meet Your Revolutionarry Neighbors project and consultant for the creation ofthe Ten Crucial Days Audio Tour.

This is an in-person meeting and will be held at the Madison Community Arts Center, 10 Kings Rd., Madison

The historical society will hold its Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 6:45 PM at Madison Community House, 25 Cook Avenue. The meeting will be a way to update members on the society’s activities and vote on a slate of officers and trustees for 2024- 25. All members are invited to attend. There will be a guest speaker, Janet Foster, whose topic will be: “Black, White, and Yellow Taxis: Madison and the Green Book”.

Although Abraham Lincoln was not 9 feet tall, his portrait in Madison’s council chamber was. Join us when Mallory Mortillaro, art historian and curator of collections for the Hartley Dodge Foundation, tells us about this famed and unique portrait, its history, how it got to Madison and where it is now.

There is a rich history of movie making in New Jersey and who better to tell it than Stephen Whitty, former movie critic of the Star Ledger for many years and well-known lecturer. Join us for this look back at our state’s major role in the movie industry and some of the New Jerseyans who helped shape it.