Dover Area Historical Society

08/31/2026

Join the DAHS on September 10 at the Dover Public Library at 6:30 for a very interesting historical presentation on the Hercules explosion given by Brian Lynch. He continues to find more information over time. His presentation continues to evolve.

07/10/2026

General William Winds was born on Long Island in the early eighteenth century, but moved to New Jersey as a young boy. He lived at what is now the border of present-day Denville, Rockaway, and Dover.

Winds made a name for himself as a captain in the British army during the French and Indian War of the mid-eighteenth century. He fought in the battle for Fort Ticonderoga and other smaller skirmishes in the Canadian campaign. His reputation during the war earned him an appointment by King George III as Justice of the Peace for Morris County.

The actions by the postwar Crown turned Winds from a loyal subject to a Patriot supporting the revolutionary cause. He was responsible for carrying out the laws of the land, however the general refused to enforce the notorious Stamp Act and actively fought against it by using white birch tree bark as paper.

Winds was promoted to lieutenant colonel by the Continental Congress and given command of the local militia when open conflict commenced. His troops fought all over the state – holding the line against the Redcoats in New York throughout most of the war and occasionally raiding Loyalist strongholds in the boroughs of New York City. Later, Winds would direct armies alongside General George Washington at the Battle of Monmouth – a major battle of the War for Independence which ended in a draw. The battle proved that Patriot troops could hold their own against the British in traditional battle formations rather than the more common guerrilla warfare tactics that were used by the minutemen and other militia groups in the colonies. By the war’s end, Winds was promoted to general and a trusted confidante of Washington.

Learn more about Dover area's role in the Revolutionary War. Dr. Condict, who lived and practices at 55 West Blackwell Street was a relative of General Winds.

07/10/2026

Museum will be open
Saturday July 11
10-1
Learn about General Winds and the Dover area during the Revolutionary War.

06/23/2026

Museum will be open Saturday
June 27th 1-4
55 West Blackwell Street
Learn about Dover’s long history

06/11/2026

OPEN HOUSE
Saturday June 13
10-1
Dover’s early medical and hospital history

05/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18xmxXQQ4n/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/21/2026

05/12/2026

Revolutionary Icons: The Backstory. . . The Whole Store
Thursday May 14th
6:30-7:30
Dover Public LIbrary

05/12/2026

Please join Rick Kelly’s Family, Dover Area Historical Society, Shade Tree, his Simply Gourmet Family in planting a memorial tree in his memory.
Saturday May 16th 10:00 am
Hurd Park
followed by light refreshments provided by Simply Gourmet.



In case of inclement weather the refreshments will be at the Dover Area Historical Society, 55 West Blackwell Street, following the dedication at Hurd Park.