Mobile Museum comes to Wantage School

WANTAGE — The New Jersey Museum of Newark sent its “Field Trip on Wheels," the New Jersey Hall of Fame Mobile Museum, to the Wantage School on Monday, June 2.

From comedian to nurse: Lou Costello to Clara Barton. From inventor to humanitarian: Edison to Harriet Tubman; history came alive in the semi-trailer full of interactive historical information.

The museum was available for the fourth- and fifth-graders all day at the school.

Tommy Pastore came with his mom after school to enjoy history.

Zachary Gruber and John Gruber, his father, also came to visit.

“Isn’t that cool,” Zachary said as he looked through a lens at the Big Dipper and a map of the United States. The map showed where Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery to Pennsylvania, following the Little Dipper’s North Star.

Important quotes of historical giants surrounded the interior. In The Moses of Her People, 1886, Tubman wrote, “There was one of two things I had a right to – liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would have the other;”

Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Students even heard Frankie Valli singing "Sherry" on a telephone receiver and learn about Vince Lombardi who coached and lived in Englewood.

The New Jersey Hall of Fame museum was made possible through a grant from Pride, an offshoot of the New Jersey Educators' Association.

Since 1994, NJEA has conducted the PRIDE in Public Education campaign, a statewide effort to “share the successes of public education with all New Jerseyans and build strong community support for and involvement in our public schools.”

The museum was open until 6 p.m., so that the community could enjoy it also.

Co- applicants Kim Walsh and Carol Speck applied for the grant along with the help of treasurer Nancy Richeda and Grant Committee, Laura Deutch, Christina Lane, and Barbara Donnelly.

The museum is expected to return to Wantage in October for the Ford Drive 1 Playground Fundraiser.

Walsh said it was an honor to have the museum at the Wantage School because it was the first time Pride has funded the museum in New Jersey.

In order to be a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, someone who has lived in New Jersey five years may be nominated by someone else.

Hall of Fame members come from the social, scientific, economic, cultural and political communities.