2025 Annual Ice Cream Social at the Grover Cleveland Birthplace on the 4th of July!
The Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association in cooperation with the Office of New Jersey State Historic Sites, and New Jersey State Park Service is pleased to announce the Annual Grover Cleveland Birthplace 4th of July Ice Cream Social for 2025. The event will take place on the birthplace grounds at 207 Bloomfield Avenue. Caldwell. The event will be a fun-filled celebration with ice cream (from Guerriero Gelato, Caldwell), food (from Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell), a historic cookie contest, a magician, a clown, a D.J., free lemonade, items to be sold in the Museum Gift Shoppe, and a visit from "Grover Cleveland" himself. The opening ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. to be followed by the serving of ice cream at 1 :00 p.m. The festivities will conclude at 4:00 p.m. In the event of rain, some of the activities will take place at the St. Aloysius Church Gymnasium next door to the birthplace.
The GCBMA is especially excited to use the new Visitor's Center to get an early start for next year's 250th Anniversary of our country. The organization is also celebrating the 200th of Lafayette's Farewell Visit to the United States. For these milestones, many events are being planned.
The public is invited to home-bake "Historic Jam Cookies" and enter them in 2025's Bake-off. Start looking through family recipes, grandma's cookbooks, or historical food sites to find your own Jam Cookie recipe. Five categories! Five winners! Best Soft Cookie, Best Snap Cookie, Most Attractive Cookie, Best Overall Cookie, Young Baker Prize. Entries may be dropped off from 1 0am to 1 pm.
Schedule of Events
12:30-Opening Ceremony
Several members of the GCBMA will recite portions of the Declaration of Independence. "Grover Cleveland" himself will make an appearance.
1 :00 to 4:00
- "Grover Cleveland Birthplace Museum Gift Shop" will offer museum quality gifts, games, toys, books, and souvenirs themed to local history, U.S. history, and presidential history.
- Grover Cleveland Birthplace Caretaker, Sharon Farrell, will be on hand to share background tales of President Clevelands public and private life, including the history of local Caldwell residents of the 1830s and 40s who helped the young president in his very early years.
- Long time West Essex Historians Richard and Linda Gibbs will share their famous postcard collection, rare maps of the yesteryear of the Caldwells and Essex Fells, and pictures of a program from the 1915 Caldwell Pageant.
1:00-GCBMA Board Member James Gardner
1 :00: Join GCBMA Board Member James Gardner for a compelling presentation titled "Homefront Heroes." Based on the research of JCHS student Jacob Olinsky, this talk will highlight the remarkable efforts of individuals and communities on the home front who played a vital role in supporting U.S. soldiers and their allies during World War II. Discover the untold stories of sacrifice, innovation, and unity that helped pave the way to victory.
1:30-"Old and New Games Through the Ages"
History of "Frisbee", the origins of "Basketball", "Presidential First Pitches", and more. Hosted by the Women's Club of Caldwell.
2:00-Historic Cookie Bake-off Judging:
Led by Historic Resource Interpretive Specialist, Elizabeth Dowd. "Jam Cookies". (Entries accepted from 10am-1pm.)
2:15- Did the Marquis de Lafayette and possibly George Washington make their way though Caldwell?
To celebrate the bicentennial of Lafayette's farewell tour and an early introduction to the 250th Birthday of the USA, come to share what Board Members Dave Cowell and Greg Crump have been researching. Click here for article LAFAYETTE VISITED CALDWELL 200 YEARS AGO: A LOCAL MYSTERY SOLVED
3:00 Winners announced for Grover Cleveland Historic Cookie Bake-off
Winners need not be present.
3:00: Board Member Paul Maloney will portray "Benjamin Franklin".
All ages are welcome to come to an interactive discussion with pictures about Franklin's American story. In addition to advances in scientific life and civic/government improvement, Franklin will discuss his troubled relationship with his son, William Franklin (the last Royal Governor of New Jersey). To follow up on the previous Lafayette presentation, Franklin will also discuss his role in France during the American Revolution.
Donations from Foodtown, Shop-Rite, and the Caldwell Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs are helping make the afternoon possible. We are in need of adult and teen volunteers for the afternoon. For specific details about the event, please contact GCBMA President Paul Maloney at EssexNewsMaloney@aol.com.
RECENT EVENTS
Opening of New Carriage House Room.
The Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association is proud to announce the long-awaited opening of the Carriage House Multipurpose Room. The renovation of the Carriage House is the final phase of the building of the new visitor’s center and will serve as a meeting/lecture hall. As part of the celebration of its opening, the association will be holding its Annual Meeting in the new room on Monday December 9th at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be open to the public, with a maximum capacity of 35 people in the new room, and space for an additional 30 guests throughout the Visitor’s Center. The event is free of charge and will be open to the public. This meeting will serve as a “soft opening ceremony” for the opening of the new room. A more formal opening ceremony will be held in 2025.
The meeting will include presentation of committee annual reports and the election of Board Members. The featured speaker for the evening will be Board Member Louis Picone. Join Mr. Picone to explore a history of presidential elections including the most controversial contests, political parties, campaigning, and pivotal moments in American history. In today’s heated political climate, understanding the past can help make sense of the present because, as Mark Twain once said, “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.”
Reservations are welcomed on Event Brite but not required. For additional details, please contact Paul Maloney at EssexNewsMaloney@aol.com.
Photograph of Louis Picone courtesy of Paul Maloney. Photograph of Carriage House used by permission of the NJDEP.
4th of July Celebration!
The Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association would like to thank the following for their continued support for our Annual 4th of July Ice Cream Social: the State of New Jersey; St. Aloysius Church; Boy Scout Troop 6; The Women’s Club of the Caldwells; the Rotary Club; the Kiwanis Club; Jack’s Foodtown; Shop Rite of West Caldwell; Richard and Linda Gibbs and their postcard collection; Guerriero Gelato; and Cloverleaf Restaurant.
Please stay tuned for some great things coming with the improved facilities at the Grover Cleveland Birthplace.
Paul Maloney
President
Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association.
Outdoor Fun at the Grover Cleveland Birthplace
