On Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, W3R-NJ hosted a 5 hour, Pop-Up Visitor Center in the downtown of Westfield, NJ as part of the countywide, “Four Centuries in a Weekend.” Westfield, NJ is a town on the Trail.
During the event, W3R-NJ chair, Julie Diddell and vice chair, Catherine Paretti managed the visitor experience of the living history team including, General Washington, General Rochambeau and a Private with the Rhode Island Regiment engaged the public with their recollections from the Yorktown Campaign.
Young families, adults with National Park Service and Union County Passport books, and passers-by found the pop-up Visitor Center located in the bustling downtown, a convenient location to stop in for a quick introduction to the history of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail.
General Rochambeau sharing the story about the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail with two visitors who came to have their NPS Passport Book stamped.
Coincidentally, our pop-in Visitor Center experience occurred on the same day as Westfield’s AddamsFest Fun Day. “ The Generals and I took a walk around the downtown, mingled and took photos with the fans attending the pumpkin carving demonstration, a costume contest and a performance by a local student rock band produced by AddamsFest,” according to W3R-NJ vice-chair Catherine Paretti.
“Meeting folks informally, were they are has always shown to be a great way carry out the mission of creating public awareness of W3R-NJ and the story around the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail that is connected to their community,” writes W3R-NJ Chair, Julie Diddell.
(Lt) General Rochambeau, Morticia Addams, General Washington, Fester Addams, RI Regiment Private and Jersey Grays Private in front of the Westfield Pop-Up Visitor Center for the “Four Centuries in a Weekend” event.
