WOODBINE — The Sept. meeting of the Historical Preservation Society of Upper Township will be held Tues., Sept. 13, at the Upper Township Branch of the Cape May County Library. Refreshments are available at 7:00 p.m. and the public meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Visitors are always welcome!
Local historians, J. P. Hand and Gwen Brownell Raring along with film maker, Jim Talone will be speaking to us. They will show their short documentary…..”Benjamin Franklin and the Cape May Mitten Trade”. It will last about 17 minutes followed by questions and a brief discussion of this cottage industry that was strictly the labor of women and girls in colonial Cape May County. The mitten trade was the fourth largest industry in the county prior to the Revolution and continued until after the Civil War. A short bio of each of the presenters follows:
J. P. Hand is a lifelong resident of Cape May County. Jamie is a decoy maker and restoration carpenter by trade. He is a long time board member and past President of the Cape May County Historical & Genealogical Society. While still a teenager, his love of local history and genealogy was inspired by a favorite aunt who introduced him to the world of his Cape May ancestors which in addition to the Hands, includes the Corsons, Hildreths, Stillwells, Savages, Daniels, Teals, & Holmes to name a few. Since 2008, Jamie has edited and written articles for “The Blue Book” the Cape May County Journal of History & Genealogy, and this past year mailed out the 85th annual issue. Two of those articles have been reprinted in “Transactions”, the journal of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina.
Gwen Brownell Raring is from Absecon, N. J. and holds degrees in Art History and American History from the University of Delaware as well as a degree from The Academy of Culinary Arts, ACA. Gwen is a tenacious researcher, a talent that serves her well in her quest for genealogical and historical information. Her efforts are reflected in her work such as her website, “Goshen Farm Cape May” which is dedicated to the folk art, nature, and architecture of South Jersey. She recently curated a special exhibit, “Taboo: Exposing Hidden History” for the Museum of Cape May County.
Jim Talone was born & raised in Ardmore, Pa. He graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College, Maryland after which he served his country as a U. S. Marine Lieutenant who saw combat in Vietnam. Jim was an educator on the Main Line for forty years and presently pursues his passion of film making. His past work includes “Salt Marsh Stories” and ‘Stone Harbor Stories” produced for the Wetlands Institute and the Stone Harbor Museum, and “Uncommon Journey: The Story of Phil Cornwell” for SNJ Today. His “Cape May Mitten Trade” was selected to be shown at the Cape May Film Festival this past summer.
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