Friends of High Point host hearth cooking day
MONTAGUE — The Friends of High Point State Park hosted their annual Open Hearth Cooking Day on Oct. 26. at the park's Interpretive Center.
Cooking demonstrations featuring a variety of foods were available to visitors to sample.
The open hearth event attracted a wide variety of guests from Sussex County and beyond. They came not just to sample good food but learn about the environment and take in the panoramic view of three states. Visitors got the chance to see how food was prepared by people in North America a few hundred years ago. Food was prepared in an open hearth or fireplace which could be dangerous if one was not careful. The pots, pans and utensils needed were often heavy and awkward to handle but were necessary.
Several local community leaders and park ranger personnel also attended the Open Hearth Cooking Day. New Jersey Assemblyman Parker Space, New Jersey Senator Steven V. Oroho, 24th Legislative District and Assemblywoman Alison Littell-McHose came to check out the hearth-cooked food and talk with the public.
Rebecca Fitzgerald, superintendent of the N.J. Division of Parks and Forestry and John Trontis, assistant director of the state Park Service spoke before gathered guests. They stressed the importance of the environment and explained the history of High Point State Park. The year 2013 marks the 90th Anniversary of High Point State Park. A special anniversary celebration at this year's Open Hearth was topped off with a homemade cake and cupcakes made by Ogdensburg, N.J. resident Michelle Stubbings.
The land which comprises theHigh Point State Park today was once privately owned by a prominent family known as the Kusers. In 1922, the Kusers bestowed their entire country estate and private wildlife sanctuary as a gift to the people of New Jersey. The High Point Monument stands tall at 220-feet and rises 1,803 feet above sea level. The monument was built in honor of all war veterans. Construction was started in 1928 and completed in 1930. A panoramic view of land of three states can be seen from the monument.
For more information about High Point State Park and the Friends of High Point State Park visit the following websites online: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/highpoint.html
http://friendshighpointstatepark.blogspot.com.
Photos by George Leroy Hunter
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