Long Pond Victorian Weekend!
Travel back to the Romantic Era of the 1830s-40s for a Weekend of Living History
Long Pond Ironworks State Park -1334 Greenwood Lake Turnpike (Rt. 511), Hewitt, NJ 07421
Saturday & Sunday May 3-4, 2025
Long Pond Ironworks State Park -1334 Greenwood Lake Turnpike (Rt. 511), Hewitt, NJ 07421
Saturday & Sunday May 3-4, 2025
Schedule of Events
Friday, May 2, Afternoon camp set up available
Saturday, May 3
9:00AM - Arrivals & set up
10:00 - Event begins
Evening Lantern Tours (exact time TBD)
Sunday, May 4
9:00AM - Arrivals & set up
10:00 - Event begins
3:00 - Event closes
Saturday, May 3
9:00AM - Arrivals & set up
10:00 - Event begins
Evening Lantern Tours (exact time TBD)
Sunday, May 4
9:00AM - Arrivals & set up
10:00 - Event begins
3:00 - Event closes
The beautiful environs of Long Pond Ironworks serve as a museum dedicated to North Jersey's 18th and 19th Century industrial past. From the Friends of Long Pond Iron Works: "The Long Pond Ironworks Historic District sits within the Long Pond Ironworks State Park, located in West Milford, Passaic County, New Jersey. The 175-acre Historic District contains the remains of the village and furnaces at Long Pond that produced iron for the American forces during the Revolutionary War, in the War of 1812, and for the Union Army during the Civil War. Long Pond Ironworks is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places and has been designated a National Historic Landmark."
Tickets - Visitors to the event can get tickets at $5 per adult ($15 for a family of 3), $1 per child. Friends of Long Pond Iron Works and reenactors are free. Proceeds benefit the Friends of Long Pond Iron Works.
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British Army & Royal Navy - The redcoats and jack tars of Queen Victoria's armed forces will be encamped at Long Pond to conduct military demonstrations and drills. Learn how the British Empire came to grow and strengthen during the "Pax Britannica" and how that affected its relationship with the young United States of America.
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City Guard - Volunteer militias served to protect their states prior to the Civil War. Many of these organizations were more "social clubs" than defense forces, but they filled a need at a time when the US was still coming into its own.
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The disputed area, settled 1842.
Image by Nicholas W. Beeson, University of Michigan
What's this about? Historical Context -
President Martin Van Buren presided over a growing but fragile United States. As the country expanded westward, the nation was becoming increasingly divided north-and-south on the expansion of slavery. Talk of states' rights to "nullification" began in greater earnest. Van Buren's predecessor, Andrew Jackson, strongly asserted federal supremacy while going to war with the banking system. The Panic of 1837, caused in part by foreign economic forces, triggered American bank failures and a five-year economic depression and the unity of the states was beginning to grow thin. American independence was no longer questioned. But American security was not guaranteed, either. Hold-overs from its colonial past still presented unresolved problems at the country's borders and war with Canada--and the British Empire--loomed on the horizon unless cooler heads prevailed.
President Martin Van Buren presided over a growing but fragile United States. As the country expanded westward, the nation was becoming increasingly divided north-and-south on the expansion of slavery. Talk of states' rights to "nullification" began in greater earnest. Van Buren's predecessor, Andrew Jackson, strongly asserted federal supremacy while going to war with the banking system. The Panic of 1837, caused in part by foreign economic forces, triggered American bank failures and a five-year economic depression and the unity of the states was beginning to grow thin. American independence was no longer questioned. But American security was not guaranteed, either. Hold-overs from its colonial past still presented unresolved problems at the country's borders and war with Canada--and the British Empire--loomed on the horizon unless cooler heads prevailed.
Reenactor Grooming Standards for the 1830s
Men's Hair - Hair was “short” according to the standards of the time, long queues long out of fashion. Hair does not need to be buzz-cut short, but should be relatively close and tidy. Military men's hair should not extend below the collar.
Facial Hair - Sideburns were extremely fashionable at the time, usually coming to the bottom of the earlobe, although many variations are seen in period artwork. Mustaches were not yet particularly common among British and American men, but the German Prince Consort brought the style with him. Soldiers should not have full beards as the order came down from King William IV that “Long hair and whiskers” were forbidden.
Ladies' Hair - Women's hair at the time was generally natural with buns, braids, curls, or complex "Biedermeier" styles for the most fashionable. Hair should not be an unnatural color or in obviously modern styles.
Accessories - No modern wristwatches, obviously modern glasses, sunglasses, or modern jewelry may be worn.
Facial Hair - Sideburns were extremely fashionable at the time, usually coming to the bottom of the earlobe, although many variations are seen in period artwork. Mustaches were not yet particularly common among British and American men, but the German Prince Consort brought the style with him. Soldiers should not have full beards as the order came down from King William IV that “Long hair and whiskers” were forbidden.
Ladies' Hair - Women's hair at the time was generally natural with buns, braids, curls, or complex "Biedermeier" styles for the most fashionable. Hair should not be an unnatural color or in obviously modern styles.
Accessories - No modern wristwatches, obviously modern glasses, sunglasses, or modern jewelry may be worn.