The Metuchen-Edison Historical Society

PO Box 61
Metuchen, New Jersey 08840-0061

Press Release
October 28, 2001

Contact: Walter R. Stochel Jr. 732-906-0529

For Immediate Release:

The Metuchen-Edison Historical Society will hold it's first Sunday afternoon meeting of the fall season on Sunday November 11, 2001 at 2:00pm in the Metuchen Library, 480 Middlesex Ave. in Metuchen.

The program will be "General Cornwallis" by Iain Haight-Ashton.

Mr. Haight-Ashton is a member of the Meadows Foundation and has been portraying the British General Charles Cornwallis for many years. In June 2001 he gave a presentation on the General at the Franklin Inn and Bookstore in Millstone. Mr. Haight-Ashton grew up in London and has a degree from Harvard.

General Charles Cornwallis was a General in the British Army and was sent to America to end the American Revolution. He was in Central New Jersey in 1776 & 1777. On June 26, 1777 he commanded over 8,000 troops that marched from Perth Amboy to North Edison to fight the American Army at what is now known as the Battle of the Short Hills.

After he left New Jersey, General Cornwallis fought in the South, and in 1781 surrendered his army to General George Washington at Yorktown Virginia, ending the British attempt to stop American independence.

For more information about this program call Phyllis Boeddinghaus at: 732-548-1391.

This season the Society presents 6 programs, including 2 on the Revolutionary War, and 2 on transportation. The Society is also holding 2 Local History Days the first being held on Sunday November 4, 2001 at the Edison Main Library.

The Metuchen-Edison Historical Society was founded in 1974, and maintains a collection of over 3,000 images, oral histories, and written documents concerning local history. Membership in the Society is $10.00 per year. Those interested in joining should contact the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society PO Box 61 Metuchen, NJ 08840.