Dover Area Historical Society

Please join us for a presentation, “My Dover-A Memoir”  by Robert Kelly, presented by his son, Rick Kelly, plus a power point, History of the Dover Fire Department.  This event will take place in the First Memorial Presbyterian Church, in Deck Hall.  Robert Kelly wrote a very interesting memoir of growing up in Dover, and the presentation will include lots of photos of life in Dover back in the day, and the variety of fire equipment used by DFD, major fires, etc.  Come and share your memories.  All are welcome.  Event is free, refreshments will be served.

Please join our curator, Rick Kelly, for a walking tour of Hurd Park on Saturday, September 29, 2018….see the Jackson Brook, the Doughboy statue, and hear about the history of this area of Dover.  Meet at the Park Heights Avenue corner of the Park.  Walk begins at 12:00 noon and will last about 1 1/2 hours.  Rain or shine, all are welcome, event is free.

This has become  one of our most popular annual events-Hope  you can join us.

Do you have fond memories of shopping in downtown Dover during the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s?  Did your family own a business or work in Dover stores during those years?

Please join us at our museum at 55 W. Blackwell Street, Dover (next to First Memorial Presbyterian Church)  for an open house on Sunday, August 12, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, to celebrate past local businesses and the shopping experience.  Dover’s  own, Henry Shapiro, “The Piano Man,” will entertain us while we share our memories of Dover and renew old friendships.

Born and raised in Dover, Hank began playing the piano when he was five years old and by the time he was 13, he started playing professionally. He has his own band at the age of 16.  Hank studied jazz improvisation and music theory in New York under Herman Wasserman, an arranger for George Gershwin.  His band was well known especially around Lake Hopatcong and throughout Northern New Jersey.

Henry, who is now 97 years young, will share his memories of what Dover what like in his earlier days.  He has great memories of the stores in the downtown area, including Shapiro’s Modern Economy Store, his family’s business on Blackwell Street.  Henry and his four children are all graduates of Dover High School.

You will be able to tour our museum, listen to timeless music, interact with other guests who remember Dover back “when,” and enjoy some light refreshments.  All are welcome!

DAHS is planning two summer events to highlight the  history of downtown Dover.

-On Saturday, July 14, our museum curator, Rick Kelly will lead a walking tour, starting at the Dover Free Public Library on Clinton Street at 10:30 AM, rain or shine.  The walk will take approximately one and a half hours and Rick will point out the historic buildings on Blackwell Street, with a stop at our museum, the Condict House for ice cream.  The tour will continue down Bassett Highway and along Sussex Street back to the library.  Rick has some great stories about events that occurred in buildings along the way.  Spanish translation  will be provided for those who are more comfortable in Spanish.  This event is back by popular demand and we hope you can join us to find out more about the rich history of our town.

-On Sunday, August 12, there will be an open house at our museum at 55 W. Blackwell Street, Dover, from 2:00 to 4:00.  Dover’s own Henry Shapiro, “The Piano Man” will return to entertain us with beautiful music from several decades.  Special guests will be families which owned businesses in downtown Dover during the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.  Come and share your memories of shopping in Dover and renew old friendships.  All are welcome, refreshments will be served.

Come and enjoy a relaxing afternoon with other folks who are interested in Dover’s rich history.  Share some conversation, tour the museum, have a snack.  All are welcome!  Hope you can join us!

Stop by the Museum on your way to the celebration at Hurd Park or before moving on to other holiday activities.  Enjoy a cool drink and a snack.  All are welcome!

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Calling all current and former Boy Scouts and their families to join us for an evening with Mr. Leroy Varga and Mr. Bob Bahrs to see a presentation about the history of the Boy Scouts in Dover.  Reconnect with some former friends from scouting, share stories about your experiences.  Meeting will take place at the Museum House, 55 W. Blackwell Street, Dover beginning at 7:00 PM.  All are welcome, refreshments will be served.

Ms. Andrea Proctor, the Resource Interpretative Specialist for Waterloo Historic Village, will be the guest speaker at Dover Area Historical Society’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Dover Community Center, 37 N. Essex Street, Dover, beginning at 7:00 PM.  Ms. Proctor will give a presentation on two subjects: Waterloo Village Historic Village, and the Lenni-Lenape Indians, who inhabited North Jersey and Morris County centuries ago. 

Ms. Proctor is responsible for developing and overseeing the educational programs at Waterloo Village, including school programs, walking tours, scout programs, public presentations and outreach.  Come spend an evening with us and learn about the history of the region.  Admission is free, all are welcome! 

2017 is the 100th anniversary or the U.S. entry to World War I.  To commemorate that date, a number of our events this year, including our annual tea, Pathways of History, the Hurd Park Walking Tour, etc.  have had themes related to World War I.  If you missed any events, come see our collection of memorabilia and publications, view our newest DVD highlight Dover during WWI, and see a movie from that time period.  Our entire collection of DVD’s including historical topics related to Dover and Dover High School yearbooks will be available for a small donation.  Refreshments will be served.  All are welcome!