Exhibition Layout
Ground Floor
General Store Display
Originally a classroom for the Academy School when it opened in 1842, this space now houses an interpretive display of an old-fashioned General Store in Sussex County where local residents could buy a wide variety of dry goods as well as fishing and hunting equipment and anything else that villagers might need. The glass cases and the merchandise displayed within were donated by Garris’ Store in Stillwater and Robbins Store in Middleville, which was also the original home of the set of mailboxes.
Daily Life in Old Stillwater
Here we find home furniture, table settings, a working “Victrola” and a range of household items including an “ice box”, stove and utensils for preparing food.
Stillwater Presbyterian Church
One cabinet houses a collection of items donated by the Stillwater Presbyterian Church including racks of communion wine glasses, Bibles and various religious articles. The Presbyterian Church opened in 1830 and played an important role in the social life of the community. It closed in 2019.
Second Floor
RIGHT SIDE of STAIRCASE
Local Geology: (Inside dark room near entrance) Fluorescent minerals from Franklin mines. Some of these rocks are extremely rare. The Museum of Natural History in New York has recently displayed a large slab of minerals unearthed in Franklin.
Native American Artifacts: The Lenape “Original People” settled in New Jersey more than 12,000 years ago. The display includes stone tools and weapons representing a fraction of the artifacts unearthed in Sussex County.
Local Trades: Collection of tools used by farmers, cobblers, coopers, farriers and carpenters.
Military Memorabilia: Weapons, uniforms and documents from the many wars in which Stillwater people enlisted and fought. The oldest items are from the Revolutionary War: a wooden canteen and a cannon ball made at the Wintermute Foundry.
Fashion Collection: Dresses, hats, handbags, shoes and jewelry from late 1800’s worn by families of local donors.
LEFT SIDE
Classroom
This space served as the main classroom of the Academy and includes the schoolmaster’s original desk from the 1800’s. Samples of christening gowns and children’s clothing are on the stage
Behind the bookshelves is a library of local and rare books and a reference library of local genealogy.
Emergency Services Exhibit
At the window near the entrance is a display of garments, memorabilia and garments representing the contribution and courage of Stillwater’s firefighters and rescue squad.
