Berkeley Heights Honors its Colonial Roots

The Berkeley Heights Historic Preservation Committee will hold its 5th Annual Littell-Lord Farmstead Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 17. Union County Life is sharing details from the committee’s announcement and TAPinto Berkeley Heights’ report. The festival honors the nation’s 250th anniversary and combines colonial history with traditional fall fun.

Committee members plan a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a historical reenactment troop. The festival also has many activities for kids. Councilman John Foster, who serves on the committee, said, “We plan on having a reading of the Declaration of Independence.”

The Littell-Lord Farmstead is listed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places. It serves as the Berkeley Heights Heritage Foundation’s museum. The site is a reminder of the region’s agricultural past and of civilian life during the Revolution.

Berkeley Heights played a strategic role in the war. Its location at the base of the Watchung Mountains gave Patriot forces high ground to watch British troop movements. It also helped protect the Continental Army’s supply lines between Morristown and the Middlebrook Encampment in Bridgewater. Foster said, “Because the mountains provided an easily defensible high ground, the Continental Army could safely maneuver and maintain supply lines between Morristown and Middlebrook.”

The Deserted Village of Feltville, in the Watchung Reservation, was an important logistical and encampment zone for New Jersey Militia and Continental troops.

The Historic Preservation Committee keeps historic areas open for visitors and tracks and analyzes local landmarks. It also recommends ways to preserve them.

Students are part of the work. Governor Livingston High School seniors Riya Joshi and Victoria Scorzafava and sophomore Lauren Foote serve on the committee. They help spread word of events to younger residents. The committee wants to expand student involvement, including student liaisons.

Find more Berkeley Heights events, businesses, and local news on Union County Life.

Q: When is the Littell-Lord Farmstead Fall Festival?
A: The festival is Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. The source does not give a start time.

Q: What will be at the festival?
A: Organizers plan a reading of the Declaration of Independence, a historical reenactment troop, activities for kids, and a theme that combines colonial history with fall fun.

Q: What is the Littell-Lord Farmstead?
A: It is listed on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places and serves as the Berkeley Heights Heritage Foundation’s museum. It reflects the region’s agricultural past and civilian life during the Revolution.

Q: Who organizes the festival?
A: The Berkeley Heights Historic Preservation Committee organizes it. The committee keeps historic areas open to visitors and makes recommendations on preserving local landmarks.