Mercer Oak memories shared at Historical Society gala
By:Christian Kirkpatrick
Past, present and future mingled graciously Saturday night as supporters of the Historical Society of Princeton gathered at Drumthwacket to honor a local symbol, celebrate the success of the organization’s current exhibit and talk about future plans.
The theme of the evening’s dinner dance was Shades of the Past: A Celebration of the Mercer Oak. This beloved tree fell last March after standing for 300 years on what is now the Princeton Battlefield Park. It was named for Gen. Hugh Mercer, a friend and advisor to Gen. Washington, who rested beneath it after being mortally wounded in the Battle of Princeton.
Brass oak-leaf ornaments and copies of "General Hugh Mercer: Forgotten Hero of the American Revolution" by Frederick English of Princeton were given to the 250 guests as favors. An actor portraying Efram Loring, a physician who examined Gen. Mercer shortly after his death, mingled with visitors, regaling them with tales of the battle and Gen. Mercer’s demise.
Much of the evening’s talk, however, was of "Old Traditions, New Beginnings: 250 Years of Princeton Jewish History," the organization’s exhibition, which is on view through March 2001. "It’s our most successful to date," said Historical Society curator Maureen Smyth. "It’s drawn even more visitors than the Einstein show."
Exhibition co-chairwomen Ricky Shechtel and Linda Grenis say that people stop them on the street to thank them for putting it on. "We initiated the show because the Jewish Center turned 50 this year," added Ms. Shechtel. The center co-sponsored the exhibition, providing artifacts, memories, help with fund-raising, an exhibition space and volunteers.
"Around 80 people worked on this show. With one project we doubled our friends in town," said Ms. Smyth.
But then, the Historical Society is always making friends, always attracting new supporters and volunteers. Some, like Cathleen O’Connell, join it to learn about Princeton and its history. She did this several years ago, just after moving to the area. Now she volunteers with the society, leading historical walking tours through the town on Sundays and by appointment for school groups, local clubs and corporations entertaining visiting executives.
Lorraine Seabrook has enjoyed the society’s educational resources. She has borrowed several of its "traveling trunks," small, portable versions of past shows that Ms. Smyth calls "exhibitions in a suitcase" for the Hopewell schools to use in their classrooms. She has also used the society’s library and archives. They were very useful in writing her recent book, "Hopewell Valley," which is part of the Arcadia publishing company’s series of local history books.
Looking to the future, Ms. Smyth says the next exhibition at Historical Society will be drawn from photographs taken during the past 25 years by Princeton Packet photographers. The pictures, which will be drawn from hundreds of photographs donated by The Packet, provide a glimpse of the town’s recent history and reflect the growth of new local ethnic communities there.
"We want to show Princeton that the Historical Society isn’t just a musty, dusty, George Washington-slept-here organization," said Ms. Smyth – as if there were any doubt.
Saturday’s event is expected to net $40,000.
To learn more about the Historical Society of Princeton, call (609) 921-6939.