Notes From The Curator - 9/12/07
In Frank Shampanore’s History and Directory of Warren
County written in the 1920s, a variety of contemporary photographs taken
around the county were reproduced, including those of successful hunters and
fisherman displaying their trophies. There is nothing particularly remarkable
about the deer and fish depicted in these images, other than the fact that the
deer weren’t so numerous back then. There is also a photograph of
“A Catamount Shot Near Columbia”, which appears to be a bobcat, again
not much of a surprise. One picture, however, has caused us speculation for
years. Titled “An Elk Shot Near Delaware”, it shows a very large elk
suspended by the hind legs from a tree. A man approximately in his fifties
stands alongside, holding the up the rack of antlers in one hand, and a shotgun
in the other. Does anyone know about the “Delaware Elk”? Does anyone know
who the hunter is? How common were elk around here eighty years ago? Could the
head have been mounted? Were the antlers at least saved?
Anyone who hasn’t seen this photo is welcome to stop by Shippen Manor
for a look (please call first to see if the Curator is available, (908)-453-4381).
The Warren County Library also has a copy of this book in their local history
room. Help us solve this mystery if you can!
An interesting side note is that
the State Museum in Trenton has the skeleton of a pre-historic half-moose, half
elk that wandered around what is now Warren County. The skeleton is quite
complete and was nicely displayed when we visited last summer.
Sally Shutler, our open-hearth cooking specialist showed some interest
this year in the weapons used in the 18th Century. Curator Andrew
Drysdale offered to show her how a flintlock musket of the Revolution is loaded
and fired. On the appointed date, Andy brought his .71 caliber Spanish fusil
to the Manor, along with a supply of paper cartridges filled with black
powder. The fusil (pronounced “fusee”)
is supposed to be a somewhat lighter, sleeker officers’ type of musket, and is
a replica of the type of weapon brought back to New Jersey by colonial militia
who assisted the British in the siege of Havana in 1762. It actually weighs
about ten pounds; it might have been sleek in 1762, but not by comparison to
contemporary weapons. Not only did Sally successfully fire about four blank
rounds, she was joined by one of Shippen’s star volunteers, Sue Buechle. A
second training session is planned for this fall. Sally is considering making a
flintlock demonstration part of her presentations; the Museum does own a replica
British musket