A trip through time in the township

SPARTA — Go back in time to early Sparta with Myra Snook, as she shares her “Sparta: Then & Now” slide show plus new research on a little-known section of the township called Howellsville. Snook will be the Sparta Historical Society’s guest speaker on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. A lifelong resident of Sussex County with a hands-on interest in its history, Snook worked for 28 years as a Library Media Specialist in the Sparta Public Schools. While there, she took photos of old local postcards, then paired them with photos as Sparta looked in the early 1980s for teachers to use during the “Our Town” unit in the elementary school curriculum. Snook’s Howellsville research began with noticing the stream running along Sussex Mills Road, and wondering where it was flowing from and where it was going. Her research revealed the origin of the street’s name, and much more. Snook has a wealth of knowledge to share about Sparta and will answer questions, including, how did Green Road get its name? She knows, because she worked at Helen Morgan School library with Emily Green. The Society meets in the lower level of the Sparta Ambulance Squad building at 14 Sparta Avenue. Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be served. Admission is free to members; a $2 donation is welcomed from non-members. Contact Ed Fritsch at 973-729-0644 for more information.