Springfield Historical Society

The Summit Old Guard Zoom presentation on the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Springfield will be as follows:

Tuesday, June 23, 2020 - Date of the Anniversary

10:30 AM

John Kieser will be the speaker using his presentation

Link to join from a PC:

https://redoak.org/2020-06-23-10.30am-battle-of-springfield

Or else open your Zoom app and enter

Meeting ID: 773 464 7500

Password: 650328

Or else dial in by phone to get a voice-only connection:

(929) 205-6099

and enter same Meeting ID & Password when asked (each followed by #)

The Historic Cannon Ball House will not be open during the June 22-23, 2019 weekend, as our members will be involved in the Township of Springfield 225th Anniversary Celebration weekend.  The Township of Springfield was incorporated on April 14, 1794.  We are celebrating this special anniversary along with the 239th anniversary of the Battle of Springfield - June 23, 1780.  See below for all the June activities that celebrate the history of our community and the significance of the Battle that has been referred to as "The Forgotten Victory".

There is truly somehing for everyone to enjoy! 

Our next open house weekend will be October 19-20, 2019 for Union County Across the Centuries weekend!

Township of Springfield 225th Celebration June 22-23, 2019

We begin our commemoration with a presentation on June 9th at 1pm at the Springfield Library Palmer Museum entitled, "The Battles of Springfield, Connecticut Farms and Elizabethtown" by SAR members John Kieser and David Siegfried. This hour long presentation will include details about the history of the 1780 battles, the strategies of the military and powerpoint photos to help visualize the incredible story of Springfield's impactful, yet often forgotten turning point in the American Revolu8on.

Preliminary Schedule of Events (rain or shine)

SATURDAY, JUNE 22ND 10:00AM – Re-enactor Camps open to the public (rear of high school)

10:45am – Wreath Laying Ceremony at DAR Cemetery (39 Mountain Avenue)

11:00 am – March to Church Mall

11:15am – 11:30am – Wreath Laying Ceremony at First Presbyterian Church Colonial burial ground and Monument (corner of Morris and Church Mall)

12:00 pm – Nooning 1:00pm – People of the Brigade Program – Camps

1:30pm – 18th century Music Demo – Camps

2:00pm – Pre-Battle Formation – Camps

2:30pm – March to Tactical Weapons Demonstration (TWD)

3:00 – TWD – Battle of Springfield – Meisel Avenue Park

4:00pm – TWD ends – March back to Camps

4:30pm – Camps Close to Pulic Saturday Night Fireworks Program- Meisel Field

5:00pm –Meisel Field: Rides & Pettng Zoo and Food for sale

7:30pm – 1910 Fruitgum Company

Dusk – Fireworks (Rain Date: Next Clear Night) (no fireworks on 4th of July in 2019

SUNDAY, JUNE 23RD

10:00am – Camps Open to Public - 18th Century Church Service in Camps

11:30am – Nooning

12:00pm – Pre-Battle Formation – Camps

12:30pm – March to Tactical Weapons Demonstration (TWD)

1:00pm – TWD – Battle of Springfield – Meisel Avenue Park

2:00pm – TWD ends – March back to Camps

3:00pm - Camps close to public

 

The first half of the year 1780 was an important time for the British forces in the New York-New Jersey colonies. It didn't turn out quite as they had hoped.

It has been estimated that during the War for Independence only about a third of the population of New Jersey supported the cause, with a third remaining loyal to the crown and the rest remaining neutral. After General Clinton led the British forces to a decisive victory in Charleston, he began the journey back to New York; his subordinate, the Hessian General Kynphausen, couldn't wait for Clinton, and began is attack in June. After the Battle of Elizabethtown in January, he believed he could win a final victory by capturing General Washington, headquartered and vulnerable in Morristown. It didn't turn out that way. Visit the Historic Cannon Ball House at 126 Morris Avenue, Springfield, on Sunday, February 17 between 2-4 PM to hear the rest of the story.

George Washington stayed in Springfield for part of the time around the Battle in June, 1780. The Springfield Historical Society owns a letter written by him just days before the decisive victory and will have that letter on display during this Open House, along with other presidential memorabilia. Please stop by! (Suggested donation $2.00/adults)

article credit: M Bandrowski &  Springfield Patriot Times