Union County Historical Society Newsletter – April–May 2025, Number 180

UCHS Annual Dinner/Meeting

Dozens of members and friends of the Historical Society met for the annual luncheon held on April 13th at the Garden Restaurant. Cranford resident Sophia Hudzik, Project Manager for the RevolutionNJ initiative, provided an oversight of the many programs planned for the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Union County’s celebration of the 250th kicked off on April 19th with an Awareness Walk at Nomahegan Park where the Society had a presence providing information and handouts to participants.

RevolutionNJ is working with diverse groups throughout the state to create exciting experiences where people can engage with history, see themselves in the American story, and learn how the events, ideas, and ideals of the Revolution continue to be relevant to us today. Working groups, consisting of volunteers that reflect the diverse professions, expertise, and people of the state, will create programs and initiatives that help people engage with the Revolutionary era in all its complexity and show how the diverse people, events, places, and ideas of that time are still relevant today.

The goal is to commemorate the 250th in a way that resonates with the tapestry that makes up New Jersey—and our nation. The commemoration will happen in 2026, with events beginning as early as 2024 and running through 2033.

Caldwell Memorial Rededication To Be Held June 21st

The rededication of the historic and newly restored Caldwell Memorial will be held on Saturday, June 21st at 11 a.m. at the Snyder Academy, Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, with a wreath laying to be held at the James and Hannah Caldwell Obelisk. All are invited to attend.

“We are excited and honored to hold this ceremony,” Society President Joanne Rajoppi said. “It represents two years of work by the Society to fundraise for the restoration of the deteriorated Memorial. It is also especially fitting,” she added, “that we conduct this rededication as we enter the 250th year of our country’s founding because both Hannah and James Caldwell were patriots who gave their lives for the cause of independence.”

A fervent patriot, James Caldwell was the minister at the church before and during the Revolution. He also served as George Washington’s Commissary and preached independence from the pulpit. He was so reviled by the British High Command that a price was put on his head. He was murdered in 1781. His wife Hannah Ogden Caldwell was the mother of nine children and her husband’s strongest supporter. She was murdered by a British soldier at the Battle of Connecticut Farms in 1780.

The Caldwell’s deteriorating obelisk went unattended for 180 years. The monument was erected in 1845 at the bequest of the Society of the Cincinnati, the nation’s oldest patriotic organization founded in 1783 by the officers of the Continental Army. A professional restoration company was hired by the Union County Historical Society to undertake the preservation of the historic obelisk and work was completed last year.

The rededication ceremony will include a Color Guard by the Sons of the American Revolution, remarks by dignitaries including Senator Joseph Cryan, Daughters of the Revolution State Regent Diane Oliver, Vice President of the NJ Society of the Cincinnati Gerry Henderson, UC Commissioner Chair Lourdes Leon, among others. A wreath laying ceremony will follow. Parking is available at the Bollwage Garage at the corner of Caldwell Place and Elizabethtown Plaza.

Coming Soon

On Sunday May 18th the Union County Historical Society will have its regular meeting to award deserving high school seniors a UCHS scholarship. The highly competitive scholarship is based on academic excellence, recommendations as well as an essay on why history is important to them. Join us at 2pm at the Hanson House as we reveal the 2025 winners and award them their scholarships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) Snippet

When is the Caldwell Memorial rededication in Elizabeth, NJ?

The Caldwell Memorial rededication will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Snyder Academy in Elizabeth.

Where is the Caldwell Obelisk located?

The James and Hannah Caldwell Obelisk is at Snyder Academy at Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Who were James and Hannah Caldwell?

James Caldwell was a Revolutionary-era minister and patriot who served as George Washington’s Commissary and was murdered in 1781. Hannah Ogden Caldwell, his wife and mother of nine, was murdered in 1780 during the Battle of Connecticut Farms.

What is RevolutionNJ and how does it connect to America 250?

RevolutionNJ is a statewide initiative working with diverse groups to create programs and experiences connected to the Revolutionary era, supporting New Jersey’s participation in the 250th commemoration in 2026 and beyond.

What happened at the UCHS annual luncheon in April 2025?

UCHS held its annual luncheon on April 13, 2025 at the Garden Restaurant, featuring a presentation by Sophia Hudzik on RevolutionNJ and upcoming 250th anniversary programs.

When are UCHS scholarships awarded in 2025?

UCHS will award scholarships to deserving high school seniors at its Sunday, May 18, 2025 meeting at 2:00 p.m. at the Hanson House.

Where can attendees park for the Caldwell ceremony?

Parking is available at the Bollwage Garage at the corner of Caldwell Place and Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth.