So last year, we supported the Steampunk benefit event at Historic Speedwell – birthplace of the telegraph.
THIS year, we’re DOING the benefit at Speedwell! Check it out – it’s October 5th-6th: www.InternationalSteampunkCity.com!
There’s more information on last year’s event, below. This year is bigger, better, and raring to go!
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Calling performers, lecturers, and crafters:
HISTORIC SPEEDWELL needs you!
This is a general call-for-help for an event up in Morristown, NJ that needs YOU and your music, skill, knowledge or general steampunkiness! SPWF is not running this event, but the team who is are good people and have a REALLY awesome historical site.
Historic Speedwell brings the birth of the American Industrial Revolution to life! They have 8 historic structures (homes and buildings from the early- to mid-1800s), 24-ft working water wheel, S.S. Savannah Exhibit of the first steamship to cross the Atlantic, and The Birthplace of the Telegraph with an interactive museum dedicated to its beginnings.
Click here for their UPDATED facebook RSVP page!
Saturday and Sunday, Sept 10 & 11
10 am – 5 pm
333 Speedwell Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
Admission:
$6 for adults, $4 for children,
and $5 for seniors. Kids 4 and under are FREE
All are welcome to attend!
http://www.morrisparks.net/speedwell/home.html
“Calling all steampunks and lovers of history to a weekend-long immersion festival… in the mid-1800s! Attend the Birth of the Telegraph. Witness the power of the fully operational 24-foot waterwheel. Tour The Vail House, a Victorian home boasting period antiques. Enjoy the musicians, performers and entertainers! Or take part in the varied discussions and workshops. Steampunk dress highly encouraged!”
The prices listed on the website are what an event company was charging, but that event company has backed out of running this event. The 6 person team in charge of this piece of beautiful Victorian History asked us for help getting the word out to steampunks like you!
How can you help…? KEEP READING!
PERFORMERS
Do you have some time this weekend to donate at bringing steampunk to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York locals? Do you love to perform? Street performers, sideshows, musicians, unplugged bands, demonstrations… anything you can think of! This is your time to shine. Maybe you’d like to talk about steampunk, too? Give a 101 on the subject? Performers, please contact Maressa McFarlane at mmcfarlane@morrisparks.net
VENDORS & CRAFTERS
And if you are a steampunk or enthusiast who likes to create and sell interesting steampunk pieces:
THERE IS NO REGISTRATION FEE FOR VENDORS and it is FREE TO VEND.
If you are interested in being a vendor, please contact Abagail Eckert! Call 973-285-6535 or 973-285-6537, or email aeckert@morrisparks.net. Again, vending is FREE. You may need to provide your own table and chairs, though, so make sure to ask!
Here is Speedwell’s message:
“[This event] was supposed to be one of Historic Speedwell’s biggest programs, and since it’s been on our calendar for a year, we were hoping to use the funds to help along the restoration of the Esty house and the Vail mansion. To not have this revenue coming in will greatly hurt Speedwell’s restoration and visitation.
We’ve already hugely advertised the program, and we now have nothing to present to visitors on Sept. 10th and 11th.
I know this is such short notice for an event of this magnitude, but if there is anything you can do to help Speedwell make this program happen, we would be so grateful to you.
Thank you!”
If you’re still on the fence about making a weekend in Morristown, check out this lovely Flickr page with images from around town and the rest of Morris County. Drool worthy locations for photo shoot scoping!
Thank you anyone who can help or spread the word. Let’s show Speedwell that Steampunks care about keeping History alive!
Always wondered: what if they held a Steampunk event and no-one came? Now I know.
Well, we did get some attendees but definitely not what this wonderful event deserved. We were vendors and had great spot on top of a little hill so we could see the whole grounds from our location. It was a lovely venue (a historic “village” museum close to public transportation in Morristown NJ) and the event had fabulous programming. It ended up being run by the museum staff after the original promoter bailed on them (no-one seems to be talking about exactly why). The staff did a great job and were wonderful people to work with. We are hoping that they will continue with this for next year and that we can all get the word out in time to make it successful for them.