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Union is a township of about 59,000 people in Union County, New Jersey, roughly 15 miles west of Manhattan. Known in colonial times as Connecticut Farms after the New England settlers who farmed here, it is now a busy suburban community crossed by Route 22, the Garden State Parkway and Morris Avenue, and home to Kean University.
Union played a real part in the American Revolution. In June 1780 British and Hessian troops marched through on their way toward Springfield, fought the Battle of Connecticut Farms, and burned the village church and houses. Hannah Caldwell, wife of the patriot pastor James Caldwell, was killed at the parsonage, and her death became a rallying cry. The rebuilt Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church and the Caldwell Parsonage still stand.
Today visitors come for Liberty Hall Museum, the historic Livingston and Kean family mansion on the Kean University campus, performances at Kean Stage, the Union County golf course at Galloping Hill and classic hot dogs at the Galloping Hill Inn. Newark, Elizabeth and the Watchung Reservation are all a short drive away.
The home of William Livingston, New Jersey's first elected governor, later owned by the Kean family for generations. Guided tours cover period rooms, family collections and two centuries of American history, and the grounds include formal gardens. It sits on the Kean University campus; check tour days before visiting.
The British burned the original church during the Battle of Connecticut Farms in June 1780, and the congregation rebuilt it soon after the war. The church and its old burying ground, with graves of Revolutionary-era residents, are a quiet place to reflect on Union's colonial past. Respect services when visiting.
The house stands on the site where Hannah Caldwell, wife of patriot chaplain James Caldwell, was shot during the British raid of June 1780. It was rebuilt after the war and is cared for by the Union Township Historical Society, which opens it for occasional tours and events. Check the society's schedule.
Kean University's performing arts series presents concerts, comedy, dance, family shows and touring productions in the Wilkins Theatre and other campus venues. Tickets are usually modest compared with Manhattan, and parking on campus is easy. Pair a show with a daytime visit to nearby Liberty Hall Museum.
A large public golf facility run by Union County on the border of Union and Kenilworth, with a championship course, a nine-hole course, a practice area and a golf learning center. It is one of the busiest public courses in the state, so book tee times in advance, especially on summer weekends.
Kean University runs public art galleries on its Union campus that host rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, student and faculty work and touring shows. Admission is generally free, and the galleries make an easy add-on to a museum tour or a performance. Check the university calendar, since hours follow the academic year.
A Union institution on Chestnut Street that has been serving hot dogs, burgers and fries since the 1930s. The deep-fried and grilled dogs with house toppings draw a loyal local crowd, and the casual dining room is family friendly. Expect a line at lunchtime and plan for a quick, filling, inexpensive meal.
Union's traditional downtown is centered on Stuyvesant Avenue near the municipal buildings, with independent shops, bakeries, cafes and restaurants serving the township's diverse community. It is a pleasant place to walk, grab a coffee and see local life. Seasonal events and street fairs are held here during the year.
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Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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