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What's New:
Steve Yacik created a WCGA Facebook page

It has a post about a $25,000 Historic Preservation Grant from Somerset County in the Fall of 2022. This grant will be used to replace the deteriorating signage at the Camp Ground and begin a long-term restoration to make this site an iconic historic landmark.

Bob Mayers new book:
"Middlebrook - The Revolutionary War Campground that Saved America" Bob Mayers, 2021

The park was established in 1894. Legend has it that the land was donated to the Washington Camp Ground Assn. on the condition that the Declaration of Independence is read every 4th of July, or the land would revert to the heirs of the LaMonte family who donated it. As of 2022 this has occurred for 128 consecutive years.
In 1907 more than 2,000 marched in a parade from Bound Brook to the campground to celebrate Independence Day. What made that parade so memorable was that it was the first reported parade in the United States that included a procession of automobiles.

The ceremony starts with retiring the flag which has flown over the park for the last year and raising a new one.

Early flags of the United States:
   
The Hopkinson flag is generally believed to be the first. Francis Hopkinson was a delegate to the Continental Congress from New Jersey and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The so-called Betsy Ross flag was more likely a flag used for celebrations of anniversaries of the nation's birthday. Her descendants claimed it was the first flag, but there is no evidence of that. The first documented usage of this flag was in 1792. See: Flags of the United States

Fourth of July Patriotic Exercises
Location: 1761 Middlebrook Rd., Bound Brook, NJ (See map below)

128th Annual Independence Day Celebration Sunday July 4th, 2021

The annual ceremony includes (times are approximate):
10 AM Bring lawn chairs and listen to patriotic music
10:30 Flag raising
11:00 Reading of the Declaration of Independence
      Welcome Address:
      Reading of the Declaration of Independence:

Many prominent political figures, including Millicent Fenwick, U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th district, 1983-1987, have attended the ceremony.
Many local residents have supported the association over the years. The Haelig family have been members for at least four generations, John Sr., and John Jr. have served as officers for many years. two members who have passed on, Herbert Patullo, a local businessman, and Kels Swan, a historian, also had a long time active associations with the group.
Bob There is also an annual meeting around Washington's Birthday, with a business meeting, buffet, talk and Cherry pie and cobbler.

2025 Annual Meeting - Lunch - Historic Program

1:00pm Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
(Come early for best parking!)
Somerville Elks Lodge at #1068
375 Union Ave. Bridgewater NJ 08807

12:30pm Seating Available (Limited to 100 seats--COME EARLY)
1:00pm Business Meeting
1:30pm Lunch Buffet & Cherry Pie Dessert - PLUS Jessie Haven's Quiz
2:30pm Program: Dr Michael Beck "How Central New Jersey Won the Revolutionary War"

Members: $30 per person
Non-Members: $40 per person

Campground Assn Membership
$20 - Individual membership, $30 Family membership,
$400 Individual LIfe Membership
$500 Corporate or Family Life membership

Gary Lindermann
63 Hillcrest RD
Martinsville, NJ 08836

Map

Books:
"Revolutionary New Jersey: Forgotten Towns and Crossroads of the American Revolution " Bob Mayers 2018
"Middlebrook - The Revolutionary War Campground that Saved America" Bob Mayers, 2021

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