For the Westfield Historical Society’s First Wednesday Luncheon series in October, guests are welcome to the luncheon at Echo Lake Country Club on Wednesday October 2nd, 2024 beginning with check-in at 11:45am. Westfield’s own, Julie Diddell, the State Chair of W3R in New Jersey will present a program on “The Washington-Rochambeau Trail.”

     This presentation is about The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. It is a 680 mile-long land and water corridor that runs through Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. Authorized by Congress in 2009, so visitors can understand the national significance of the joint action taken by Washington’s and Rochambeau’s allied armies in the longest march and complex military maneuver of the Revolutionary War. The Trail is a unit of the National Trail System administered by the National Park Service. nps.gov_waro.

     The Trail passes through several Union County towns including Chatham, Springfield, Summit, Mountainside, Westfield, Fanwood and Scotch Plains.

W3R-NJ is a 501c3 non-profit organization that is working to identify, research, commemorate and preserve the New Jersey routes and associated historic sites used by allied troops during 1780-1783 for the Yorktown, VA campaign along the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. www.w3r-nj.org

    Julie Diddell is the State Chair for W3R-NJ. She is a resident of Westfield, a town on the Trail. W3R-NJ is assisting Westfield and other New Jersey trail towns to prepare their commemoration for America250 in 2026. Her interest in the Trail began in 2016 after listening to a talk by W3R National Historian, Robert A. Selig, PhD.

     She has since grown the W3R-NJ organization by bringing trail related programs and projects to the Trail towns in NJ. Such projects include the Westfield Historical Society’s recent Project Grants from the NJ Historical Commission. Both grants titled, The Inclusive History of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, Westfield, NJ are researching local, county, state and national archives to uncover lesser-known stories of Westfield during the time period of when the allied troops marched through the town in August 1781.

     Those wishing to attend the luncheon may make a reservation by email to westfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com; or, by calling 908-654-1794, before Thursday, September 26th. Please advise if there are special dietary needs. The luncheon fee of $40 (WHS members) or $45 (non-members) includes a three-course meal, coffee/tea, and gratuity. The luncheon fee should be paid in advance (check payable to Westfield Historical Society) by mailing to Westfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 613, Westfield, NJ  07091; by Venmo to @Westfield-HistoricalSociety; or, online by clicking the “Registration” button at the top of this page. Registration and payments should be received by Thursday prior to the luncheon. Attendees should check the club’s dress code and guest policies at: echolakecc.org/guest-info