When: September 7th 2025

Where: Camp Tecumseh 455 Mechlin Corner Rd. Pittstown, NJ

More Information: John Czekaj (908)038-2368 jrczekaj01@gmail.com

We will have our next regular meeting on Sunday, June 1st at 12:00pm.  It will take place at the Masonic Lodge in High Bridge, NJ.  Tailgating starts at 9:00am(earlier for many).  

Presentation: 

We are delighted to have as our guest speaker, Crafts member Todd Hostetter.  Todd will present the following, "Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was home to nearly 15 Joiners & Planemakers. Some in family shops, while others were sole-proprietors. Todd has collected numerous planes and tools from these makers but also became interested in their families, business acumen, and where they learned the craft. This presentation will highlight these Lancaster County makers."

As an extension of his research and historical writing, Todd administrates a Facebook Group on the subject and a website, primarily focused on a longstanding project, The E.W. Carpenter Project.

As a retiree, Todd has written numerous journal articles on the history and designs of wooden planes and has lectured to Lancaster County historical societies interested in the local craftsman of the 18th
& 19th centuries. His love of tool collecting began in his Junior High School years, most likely enabled by his father, a gunsmith; his one grandfather, a patternmaker/cabinetmaker; and his other
grandfather, a plumber.

Note: For those of you who can't make our meetings, we often  feature the presentations in 'The Tool Shed' journal.  So, keep an eye out for the June or September issues to see if we do that for this particular presentation.

Crafts Auction Results: April's tool auction was both successful and enjoyable.  I imagine many of you are interested in the results, regardless of whether or not you attended.  If you are, please click on, or go to, the following link.  You must log-in to see the photos and hammer prices of the 545 lots...

<https://craftsofnj.org/auction/past-auctions>

We wish to recognize the hard working auction team, lead by Cliff Nagle, as well as the numerous volunteers who help to collect the tools, set-up the auction and act as runners to display tool lots and bring them to the winners.  Special thanks to Scott Fulmer for preparing the results and loading them onto our website. 

Thank you one and all! 

To see a YouTube video of the tailgating that accompanies the auction, please see 'Videographer' Bob Amarant's (Bob's Woodshop) video of the event.  As always, he does a great job.  Thanks Bob!

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my-XgXRez-E>

Meeting Times and Location/Directions:

Tailgate sales in the parking lot begin at 9:00am (as I always say, you may want to get there earlier than that:).  The meeting itself starts at 12:00pm and runs until about 2:00/2:30pm.  It is held at the...Masonic Lodge, Ridge Road & Dennis Ave, High Bridge NJ 08829.

 

Directions:

Take I-78 or Rt. 22 to Route 31 exit at Clinton. Go north on Route 31 two miles to the second traffic light (sign for "High Bridge"). Turn right and go about half a mile to Dennis Avenue. Turn left on Dennis, then two blocks to the Masonic Lodge (on the left).

Hope to see you this June,

Stew

contact Cliff Nagle (908) 328-6268 stewart.may21@gmail.com

Crafts November Meeting

We will have our next regular meeting on Sunday, April 6th at 12:00pm.  It will take place at the Masonic Lodge in High Bridge, NJ.  Tailgating starts at 9:00am(earlier for many).  

Presentations:

Bring in your New Jersey tools...

Something different.  At this meeting, members will display their New Jersey tools.  Please be prepared to highlight your tool(s), with whatever information you think is interesting and informational.  This is not a formal presentation and should only take a minute or two.  You can discuss the tool itself, the company, history, etc.

Look through your collection for these common companies, as well as smaller and local companies/individuals: Belcher, Fisher, Gage, Green Blacksmiths, Wm. Johnson, Lyon, Mockridge & Francis, C.S. Osborne, Quigley, Geo. Wheatcroft, Richardson Brothers, Wiss, etc.  

Crafts Auction:  Our auction is on Saturday, April 26th at 9:30am - viewing starts at 7:30am and tailgating starts at sunrise.  Please go to the following link for detailed information AND to view the 520+ lot pictures and descriptions.  We have a lot to offer and you won't want to miss it...

<https://craftsofnj.org/auction>

Meeting Times and Location/Directions:

Tailgate sales in the parking lot begin at 9:00am (as I always say, you may want to get there earlier than that:).  The meeting itself starts at 12:00pm and runs until about 2:00/2:30pm.  It is held at the...Masonic Lodge, Ridge Road & Dennis Ave, High Bridge NJ 08829.

 

Directions:

Take I-78 or Rt. 22 to Route 31 exit at Clinton. Go north on Route 31 two miles to the second traffic light (sign for "High Bridge"). Turn right and go about half a mile to Dennis Avenue. Turn left on Dennis, then two blocks to the Masonic Lodge (on the left).

Hope to see you this April,

Stew

More Info here: https://www.craftsofnj.org/events

contact Cliff Nagle (908) 328-6268 stewart.may21@gmail.com

Crafts November Meeting

We are very excited to let you know that our next ‘meeting’ will be a visit/trip to historic Bethlehem, PA. If you are interested in joining us please read the information below.

Important: We are not meeting in HIgh Bridge, NJ, our regular venue. Also important: Please remember to change your clocks (back) the night before, and take that into account for your arrival in Bethlehem.

-We will meet at the historic Bethlehem Hotel, 437 Main St. Bethlehem, Pa. 18018, at 12:00 pm, in the Lehigh room, located on the second floor balcony, in the lobby. There will be a short business meeting and a short presentation by Pat Ryan (5 or 10 minutes) on some of the highlights of the historic downtown. He will have handouts with maps and points of interest to make it easy to find your way around. The rest of the day you are on your own to explore. Many of the points of interest are in walking distance from the hotel.

Parking: There is free parking in the hotel garage. Tell the attendant you are there for the CRAFTS of New Jersey meeting. If the garage is full you will be directed to an offsite parking lot a short distance away, that will have a shuttle to take you back to the hotel and back to your car if needed.

Highlights: A few of the highlights are the hotel itself, built in the 1920’s. There’s a reconstructed 1750’s blacksmith shop right next to the hotel. Directly across the street from the hotel is the Moravian Book Store, bosting to be the longest consecutively running book store in the world! Up the street is the reconstructed Sun Inn, a 1750’s stone and terracotta roof inn that has a museum and gift shop on the first floor and dining and bar on the second floor.

Plus many more restaurants and shops; and many other Moravian buildings from the 1700’s. The American Industrial Museum and former Bethlehem Steel factory are a few minutes drive away. More than can be done in one day. There will be coffee and donuts at the meeting,

Note: There is no tailgating at this event.

More Info here: https://www.craftsofnj.org/events

CRAFTS FAMILY PICNIC

Sunday, September 15, 2024 – 8:00am: rain or shine

Camp Tecumseh: 445 Mechlin Corner Rd. Pittstown, NJ (908)735-4136

Directions Attached; find map at &lt;camptecumseh.com&gt;

Notes: (1) 2024-2025 dues must be paid in order to attend.

(2) Parking and tailgating will take place at the Campground

unless it’s raining and then will be at the Tabernacle building - located

past the cafeteria and barn; up the hill….

(3) A continental breakfast will be set-up.

ZILLIONS OF TOOLS FOR SALE

-NO TAILGATING FEE – SO SET UP A TABLE OF TOOLS TO SELL 

-CATERED LUNCH WILL BE SERVED AT NOON IN THE CAFETERIA

CONTESTS: (1) Most Unusual Tool (2) Best ​​​Make-do Tool or

Repair (3) Most Beautiful Tool (4) Ugliest Tool (5) Best one tool

exhibit​​. Prizes awarded for each category!

DISPLAYS – SET UP PRIOR TO 11 AM

Organize a display of your favorite tools or a “One-Tool Exhibit”. 

Displays (including single tools) should be accompanied by a

write-up. They will be judged on their overall presentation,

educational value &amp; creativity. Tables are provided.

**See Addendum on page 3 for rules and guidelines.

Display prizes are: 1 st Place $150, 2 nd $100 and 3 rd $50.

Picnic Questions? Call John Czekaj 908-938-2368

Reservation Form – Detach &amp; Return by August 31

(Sorry, No Reservation, No Lunch)

Lunch is $16 for members, family members and guests.

Lunch is FREE for children ages 12 &amp; under (new: list all names)

Enclosed is a check for $______for           lunches

Attendee Names: ____________________

____________________

Make check payable to “CRAFTS” (not to Stew)

Mail this form &amp; check to:

Stewart May

300 Winston Drive, Unit 1909

Cliffside Park, NJ 07010

Directions

From the North, West and East:

-Drive to US Route 78

-Take exit 12 to County Route 635 Perryville Rd.

-Take Perryville Road South

-Head South on Perryville Rd toward Mechlin Corner Rd. 0.3

mi.

-Continue straight onto Mechlin Rd, 1.7 mi

-Turn right onto Bloomsbury Rd. 95 ft.

-Turn left onto Mechlin Corner Rd. 1.0 mi

-Turn right 0.4 mi

-Turn right, destination will be on the right 0.1 mi

From the South: (Pittstown, NJ) 

-Head Northeast on Pittstown Rd. toward Bloomsbury Rd.

289 ft,

-Turn left onto Bloomsbury Rd. 2.5 mi

-Turn left onto Mechlin Corner Rd. 1.0 mi

-Turn right 0.4 mi

-Turn right, destination will be on the right 0.1 mi

When the camp ground is reached drive past the lake on the

right, past the cafeteria and barn and up the hill to the

Tabernacle.  Someone will be there to assist &amp; guide. If the

weather is inclement, we will set up in the Tabernacle.

*Membership/dues Notice:

We recently sent you a dues notice.  If you have not paid your dues

for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, your membership will expire.  Your dues

must be paid in order to attend the picnic; so, please add $15 to

renew your membership with your picnic reservation form. If you wish

to pay for 2 years your dues check should be for $30; either way add

$16/person for the picnic.

contact Cliff Nagle (908) 328-6268 stewart.may21@gmail.com

More Info here: https://www.craftsofnj.org/events

contact Cliff Nagle (908) 328-6268 stewart.may21@gmail.com

More Info here: https://www.craftsofnj.org/events

Next regular club meeting scheduled for November 5, 2023. Meeting starts at 12:00 p.m. and tailgate sales in the parking lot start at around 8:00.

All CRAFTS members are invited to meetings in High Bridge, New Jersey held the first Sunday of February, April, June and November. Invited authorities speak on tool-related subjects or demonstrate their tools. Meetings feature tool displays, a swap and sell meet, a "Whatsit" session and lots of tool talk with fellow collectors.

   • Details about upcoming speakers and past presentations can be found here.

   • Meetings are held at the Host Lodge #6 of Free & Accepted Masons at the corner of Ridge Road & Dennis Avenue, High Bridge NJ 08829

Find out more here: https://www.craftsofnj.org/membership