July 4th Ice Cream Social Taking Place At Historic Site In Caldwell

CALDWELL, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association, in cooperation with the New Jersey Office of Historic Sites and New Jersey State Parks, is pleased to announce the annual Fourth of July Ice Cream Social on Saturday, July 4 at the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Historic Site in Caldwell.

This year, the event will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The Ice Cream Social will take place on the birthplace grounds at 207 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell. (In the event of rain, some activities will be in the St. Aloysius Church gym next door.)

Activities include old-fashioned and modern games for children, a magician, a clown, a DJ, a cookie bake-off and a visit from “Grover Cleveland” himself along with free ice cream from Guerriero Gelato in Caldwell and free lemonade. There also will be informational talks about a military hero and the history of baseball and displays on a variety of local and national history topics.

Food from Cloverleaf Tavern in Caldwell will be available for purchase. The museum gift shop also will be open.

The opening ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m., followed by ice cream served in a 250th commemorative dish at 1 p.m. The festivities will conclude at 4 p.m.

A $5 donation is suggested, and a 50/50 drawing will take place.

Here is the schedule:

10 a.m.-3 p.m.: The annual Cookie Bake-off, in which bakers of all ages compete for the title of “Great American Cookie.” Bake-off entries will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 4 at the historic site, 207 Bloomfield Ave. Judging begins at 2 p.m. with winners announced at 3 p.m. Rules and entry details are available online at www.presidentcleveland.org

12:30 p.m.: The opening ceremony includes readings of portions of the Declaration of Independence, an appearance by “Grover Cleveland” and the lighting of a cannon.

1 p.m.: Tours of the birthplace begin, with the last tour at 3 p.m. Guests will be guided through an 1830s kitchen, rear parlor and bedroom. A preview of the “Family Life Gallery,” still in progress, will be hosted by longtime staff member Sharon Farrell. Children are welcome but must be at least 6 years old to tour.

1-4 p.m.: Longtime West Essex historians Richard and Linda Gibbs will share their famous postcard collection and more memorabilia of the Caldwells and Essex Fells. Local organizations, such as the Caldwell Historical Commission, will display graphics of historic structures, and GCBMA board members will present displays related to the American Revolution; Lafayette; history of the Caldwells; Grover Cleveland Presidential Library & Museum; and more.

1 p.m.: GCBMA trustee James Gardner will present a special tribute to the late Maj. John “Lucky” Luckadoo, the last surviving original pilot of the famed 100th Bomb Group. He died last September. During World War II, he flew 25 combat missions over enemy-occupied Europe. Luckadoo strongly promoted the establishment of a Home Front Heroes Day to honor the millions of Americans whose sacrifices and dedication supported the Allied war effort. Inspired by his vision, the GCBMA has celebrated Home Front Heroes Day in Caldwell for the past several years.

1:30 p.m.: “Old and New Games Through the Ages” for children will include burlap sack races and other games, organized by the Women’s Club of the Caldwells.

2 p.m.: Author Jeffrey Orens of Fairfield will discuss early baseball and his book, “Selling Baseball, How Superstars George Wright and Albert Spalding Impacted Sports in America.” He has published historical articles and presented talks about 19th-century baseball in Cooperstown, N.Y.

3 p.m.: GCBMA board president Paul Maloney will portray Grover Cleveland in an interactive presentation. Learn about the 22^nd and 24^th president’s early years in Caldwell and his political life.

Donations from ShopRite and the Caldwell Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs will help make the event possible.

Adult and teen volunteers are needed. For information, please contact GCBMA president Paul Maloney at EssexNewsMaloney@aol.com

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