Union County Historical Society Newsletter – November–December 2024, Number 178

County Society Restores Caldwell Monument

The Union County Historical Society recently completed the restoration of the 175-year-old James and Hannah Caldwell Memorial Obelisk at the historic Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth. Society President Joanne Rajoppi noted that the monument had deteriorated with missing mortar and layers of dirt from decades of neglect, and that restoring it is especially meaningful as the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding approaches.

The Society hired RGA Associates to conduct the restoration over a four-day period. As part of the project, a hands-on workshop was offered for area residents who wanted to learn the proper way to clean gravestones, helping expand preservation knowledge through community participation. A formal re-dedication is planned for spring 2025.

Funding support for the restoration included Society members and partner organizations, including SAR and DAR chapters, the Union County Commissioners Heart Grant, and other local supporters and historical groups.

Historic County Cards

More than 60 commemorative history trading cards are available to Union County residents through the Office of Heritage and Cultural Affairs. Initiated by the Board of County Commissioners, the cards highlight notable people and historic places in the county and are available at local historical sites and through the county website.

Lillian Ford Feickert (1877–1945)

A resident of Plainfield, Lillian Ford Feickert was a women’s rights activist and served as President of the New Jersey Women’s Suffrage Association from 1912 to 1920, a period that included New Jersey’s ratification of the 19th Amendment. She later became vice-chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and, in 1928, became the first woman to run for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey.

Florence Howe Hall (1845–1922)

Florence Howe Hall lived in Scotch Plains and Plainfield and was a writer and suffrage activist. As President of the New Jersey Women’s Suffrage Association (1893–1900), she helped establish new suffrage societies in Union County. She also co-authored a biography of her mother, Julia Ward Howe, which earned the first Pulitzer Prize for biography in 1917.

Dr. Clemence Sophia Harned Lozier (1813–1888)

Born in Plainfield and educated at Plainfield Academy, Dr. Clemence Sophia Harned Lozier was among the early women in the United States to become a doctor. In 1863, she founded the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women and later served as president of the New York City Woman Suffrage Society.

Ringing in the Holiday Season

On Sunday, December 8th at 2 p.m., the Society will host a festive reception at the Hanson House. Attendees are asked to bring a favorite holiday dessert for sampling and a chance to win a prize. The Society will provide sandwiches, cheeses, and fruits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What preservation project did UCHS complete in Issue 178?

The Society completed restoration of the James and Hannah Caldwell Memorial Obelisk at Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth.

What was the purpose of the gravestone-cleaning workshop?

The workshop taught area residents proper gravestone cleaning methods as part of the Caldwell monument preservation effort.

What is happening at the Hanson House on December 8?

UCHS is hosting a holiday reception with dessert sampling (bring a favorite dessert) and Society-provided refreshments.