Museum of Early
house, and all through the 18th and 19th centuries it was the domain of women who kept the fires burning and the family fed perhaps the original Housewives of New Jersey! The history of kitchens is also the history of women, and we can ask what the kitchens from centuries past say about women's roles, seasonal food preparation, and family gatherings.
While food preparation areas and cooking spaces have always existed, the kitchen as we know it did not exist until the 17th century where it became a place of many activities –such as grinding grains, churning milk, spinning, sewing, childcare– which took place in the central hearth kitchen. This exhibit explores some of the ways that cooking and how we use our kitchens evolved over time here in New Jersey.
Included throughout is a small sampling of kitchen related artifacts from our collection that were decorative or purely functional, including local New Jersey pottery and crockery.
Much has changed in our modern-day kitchens including how they are used and by whom, but kitchens remain centers of activity for most 21st century families. And as other historians have noted, the importance of kitchens survives not so much in words but in spaces, artifacts, routines and recipes.
From the Director
Celebrating our Community
Partnerships and local connections have long been pillars of support for museums, providing vital resources that enable these educational institutions to preserve cultural history, expand access to art, and engage future generations. The current landscape of museum funding seems to be uncertain, and we are relying more and more on the generosity of our community. At METC, we want to be a museum that embraces everyone and resonates with many different voices and we are looking to our many different partners, members, neighbors, participants and community members to be a part of a new generation of museums that broadens the community’s role in supporting our cultural institution.
Your support has a direct impact on the opportunities we can create to address the many different audiences that use our museum. These include kid-friendly activities and educational resources; new mid-morning senior tours to allow older visitors to take a guided tour at a leisurely pace; after-hours events with food, drinks, and fun activities so younger adults can enjoy a date night or evening out with friends; and programs designed to reach audiences who have special needs or require adaptations for access. Funding helps us prioritize accessibility so that schools with financial constraints can provide their students with free educational field trips, visitors of all abilities can access our museum without limitations, and we can offer tiered memberships with levels that align with individual budgets. We are spending the summer re-aligning some of our strategic priorities, updating exhibits, and revising educational programming. But we are also taking time to provide our audience with activities to enjoy with family and friends. Our Downtown Concerts kick off this month and we are excited about our Family Fun Day on July 19 where there will be fun for all. Our Friday night concerts, and Family Fun Day are free events, thanks to our generous community partners. As a special Thank You to our members, every member who attends Family Fun Day will be entered to win a “Family Basket of Fun” which includes toys, games, and FREE Drop-Off Workspace for the rest of the summer! Please be sure to check in to enter to win.
And as we look toward the fall, we have two very special events. The first is our Seasonal Soiree, an exclusive private dinner with Chef Marika, on September 4. This event is limited to 24 guests who will be treated to a specially curated dinner, a private behind-the-scenes tour of our exhibits and new Viewable Storage facility with the Executive Director (me!!) and a discussion about locally sourced produce by Chef Marika. Stay tuned for more details. In October, we will hold our annual Gala, where we are Celebrating our Community and recognizing some very special community partners who make a difference right here in New Jersey!
At the end of the day, it is all about our community, our local businesses, other nonprofits, funding agencies, foundations and local municipalities. It has always been our commitment to work closely with our community partners to provide enriching programs and educational experiences to neighborhoods throughout our state. By meeting people where they already are, we’re able to connect with the broader cultural ecosystem learning and creating experiences together.
With sincere thanks,
Deborah Farrar Starker, METC Executive Director
SUMMER CALENDAR OF EVENTS
For more information or to register please visit www.metc.org/events
FREE Downtown Concert Series
We kick off the summer of ’25 with our Downtown Concert Series on July 11. Bring your own chair or blanket, grab delicious local take out, and listen to these FREE, fabulous performances on METC’s lawn from 6-8pm.
The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts free outdoor Downtown Concert Series is sponsored by the Madison Downtown Development Commission (DDC).
July 11- Mama D and the Vexations
Formed in 2014, Mama D & The Vexations is a high-energy cover band based out of Morristown, NJ. Their renditions of hits from the 60s through today keep the crowd moving all night long, always chanting “One More Song!”
July 25 – The C3 Soul Revue
The C3 Soul Revue is a band from different musical avenues who share a love of music and entertaining the masses.
August 1 – Kings Road Band
Formed in 2011 and named after the historic New Jersey toll road between Madison and Chatham, the Kings Road Band plays an appealing blend of pop and rock with harmony vocals and melodic instrumentation.
August 8- Zaire
Zaire plays classic rock from the '60s to today. Zaire is known for their strong 3-part harmonies when covering such artists as the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Beatles, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones and more.
August 22- Rosewood
Rosewood’s energetic performances unite fans of all ages as they deliver spot-on renditions and innovative interpretations of classic hits and hidden gems from a playlist packed with favorites.
Workspace Wednesday is BACK!
Workspace Wednesday is back and better than ever! Keep the summer doldrums (and summer slide) away EVERY Wednesday through August 27.
Workspace Wednesday for caregivers and children under 6 is from 10AM-12PM. Join us to play with blocks, puzzles, and beads, get creative with coloring, build with Legos, and more! $10/family, free for members.
Drop Off Workspace Wednesday for children ages 7-12 is from 2-4PM. Have your child build with Legos and blocks, paint, experiment with coding robots, use our 3D Printer, and more! $20/child; $10 for members.
NEW! Workspace for Adults ages 16 and over is a great place to finish a craft project, learn a new craft, or just take some time to yourself for a creative outlet. Don’t let the kids have all the fun. Available 7/24 & 8/14. The first 12 registrants for 7/24 will receive a FREE DUCK DONUT! $10/person, free for METC members.
Looking for more drop off programs?
On select Fridays, we have fun crafts for children ages 7-12. $20/child, $10 for members
Friday, July 18, 2
Friday, August 1, 2
Friday, August 8, 2
Updates from our Education Annex
Summer Program News
Our weekly Workspace Programs have begun and everyone is learning, creating, and having fun. We recently added new games including Jenga, Kerplunk, and Towerstack, as well as brain teasers like Coogam (a Tetris type puzzle), electronic toys like Snap Circuits, and a battery-powered car racetrack. Our new art supplies include a spirograph set and electronic drawing tablet. We also have new building sets which include a marble run and a fort-building kit. Our 3D printer continues to be popular, where children can pick from designs to print. Our first Adult Workspace was a success, where participants enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and painting. We hope to see you at one of these fantastic events!
Looking Ahead to Fall
Our Educators and Education Department interns have been busy preparing for next school year, when our school field trip programs will be extended from 1.5 hours to 2 hours. We are prepping supplies for our school program crafts, like painting tops, tin punching, making pinwheels, and making clay marbles. We are also working on writing some new adult programs based on past Main Gallery exhibits.
New Scout Programs
We now offer two programs for Lion Cubs: Gadgets and Gizmos, in which scouts will make marble mazes and bird feeders using recycled materials, and Build It Up! Knock It Down!, which focuses on architecture and problem solving.
Welcome New Interns!
We are pleased to welcome interns Emery Mcdonough, Noah Tamiso, Julia Ekert, and Delia Preston for the summer.
