Vernon Township Historical Society
Founded in 1970, the Vernon Township Historical Society has been instrumental in the preservation and protection of many historic sites, archives, and other resources. The Society currently consists of members, a Board of Trustees, a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer. The Society meets once a month on the third Friday at 7 p.m. by Zoom. The public is invited to participate in meetings and all events and is encouraged to join the society.
The Society is also instrumental in preserving and protecting historical sites. Vernon Township has two sites that are listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, both of which the Society was instrumental in nominating and preserving.
The Society maintained an office in the Vernon Township Municipal Building on Church Street in Vernon from the late 1980s until January 2012 when it moved into its new museum headquarters and permanent home the Vernon Township Board of Education gave to the society at 293 Route 94 in Vernon, New Jersey. The BOE deeded the building to the Township of Vernon for the express purpose of dedicating the building for the Vernon Township Historical Society. This is a long time and well-respected tradition of Boards of Education and governing bodies throughout our neighboring communities where their history and historical societies are valued for generations to come. However, the Vernon Board of Education then sold the building and the society is in need of a new home.
The society’s many programs are held throughout the year. The society has monthly trustee meetings and monthly scenic byway management plan committee meetings. The public is welcome to participate in our meetings. We are also available by appointment and for genealogy.
The Society also maintains the one-room schoolhouse on Price’s Switch Road in Vernon and sponsors educational programs there and in Vernon Township Schools. Our Barrett House Museum is now closed, as the building is not suitable for housing sensitive archives.
Our Education Committee, consisting of Fran Boltz, Jessi Paladini, Nancy Adam, and Jodi White Bearnster, goes into township schools for special presentations and also upon special request of the schools. Each year, the Society does a hands-on archaeology program for township students and adults and in August a hands-on program at the one-room Price’s Switch Schoolhouse.
All of our members are volunteers who are dedicated to the preservation of our historic and cultural resources and in educating the public on Vernon Township’s rich history.
Officers
President - Jodi White Bearstler
Treasurer - Nancy Adam
Secretary - Jessi Paladini
Genealogy – Lisaann VanBlarcom Permunian
Board of Trustees
Fran Boltz
Nancy Adam
Jodi White Bearstler
Jessi Paladini
Lisaann VanBlarcom Permunian
Vernon Township Historical Society
P.O. Box 387 Vernon, NJ, 07462
973-764-6545