MCHA Presents
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
A Virtual Lecture Series
- Co-Sponsored by the Monmouth County Library -
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Register below today for FREE Zoom lectures given by Monmouth County's most interesting and well-respected historians! You'll even have the chance to engage in a Q&A at the end!
Browse our upcoming line-up to join us on the specified date at 7 PM:
February 20
Sue Kozel presents
The Murder of Wench Betty
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Since 2009, Public Historian Sue Kozel has excavated the story of the murder of "Wench Betty," an enslaved woman in Arthur Barkalow's Western Monmouth County household in Upper Freehold, NJ. The only record of Betty's life was the investigation around her murder. Her murderer appeared to avoid jail, and the evidence chain ended with the 1784 Oyer and Terminer Court review.
Join Sue and the MCHA to learn about Betty's denial of justice, freedom, and human rights as we follow the echoes of her life in court documents. Research related to the other Barkalow enslaved was funded by a second grant funded by the New Jersey Historical Commission in 2021.
April 17
Bernadette Rogoff presents
The Allen House Tavern: A Remarkable History
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Summer home. Tavern. Courthouse. Meeting space. Library. Massacre site. Doctor’s office.
Pharmacy. Tea Room. And now one of the oldest existing historic sites in Monmouth County. The remarkable history of the Allen House, presented by Director of Collections Bernadette Rogoff, offers an engaging look at this amazing survivor and its current restoration project. Don’t miss it!
July 17th
Dan Lieb presents
The Wreck of the Manasquan
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For decades, divers exploring the waters off Manasquan, New Jersey misidentified a local wreck as the Thistle. A careful review of the artifacts recovered over the years by area divers - and an exhaustive search of public records - led to the identification of this enigmatic wreck site. Join Dan Lieb, a professional diver of over 50 years, as we explore this fascinating story!
October 16
Greg Caggiano presents
The Haunted History of Monmouth County
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Greg Caggiano is an award-winning historian, lecturer, author, and consultant, writing for magazines such as Weird N.J. and Garden State Legacy. His work has been referenced in the New York Daily News, New York Times, Asbury Park Press, and Today. This presentation focuses on the Haunted History of Monmouth County, including MCHA's own Taylor-Butler House! Join us - if you dare - as Greg blends history, ghost stories, myths, and legends. What is fact and what is fiction? You'll have to wait to find out!
