Wagon House dedication Aug. 25

The Van Kirk Homestead Museum invites all to their Dedication of the Nicholson Family Wagon House and grand opening of their new permanent transportation exhibit as well as easy listening music by local band “Hip-Gnosis."

The public is invited to attend the Van Kirk Homestead Museum’s grand opening and dedication on their multi-year restoration project of the Nicholson Family Wagon House. Despite receiving a recommendation to tear down the leaning small red barn, the Sparta Historical Society decided to restore it by first straightening its walls in December 2016. Next came the roof replacement and over the following three year period, many donors and volunteers has given rise to Sparta Historical Society’s next new permanent transportation exhibit called ‘Travel in and Around Sparta.

On Sunday, August 25th, the Dedication of the Nicholson Family Wagon House with its side performance deck will begin at 1 p.m. as well as acknowledging all donors and volunteers who made this possible. Then at 1:30 p.m., there will be a talk and showing on the new permanent transportation exhibit.

Afterwards, at 2 p.m., all are invited to listen to the music of Hip-Gnosis, easy listening sounds with Dr. Fred Van Keuren on drums and Friends with our annual music day on Sunday, Aug. 25 at the Van Kirk Homestead, at 336 Main Street, Sparta, NJ 07871 (use Route 517 Sparta Middle School Driveway). Bring a lawn chair for an afternoon of easy listening. There will be no rain date.

The Van Kirk Homestead will also be open and hosting the newly open kitchen exhibit entitled “What’s cooking at the Van Kirk Farm: 1780-1920”. Stay tuned for more news regarding our fall exhibit entitled “NJ Glass: Earth, Wind, and Fire” opening on Sunday, September 22th.

The Sparta Historical Society is proud to display a small portion of the Museum of American Glass NJ historical glass collection as well as a few of their NJ contemporary artist statement pieces.

This fall exhibit will continue second and fourth Sundays October through December 8, at 1-4 p.m., with a special gallery talk at 2 p.m.

Additional information including group tours, call 973-726-0883 or by email at spartahistoricalsocnj@gmail.com.

Funding has been made available in part by the NJ Historical Commission through the County History Partnership Program, as administered by the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council.