When the local elementary schools visit the museum, or when the historical society goes to the elementary school, for a talk about local history, the students learn about the Battle of Springfield and its pivotal role in the Revolutionary War. Of inevitable particular interest is the role in the war of our "short hills" of the Watchung mountain range.

The students learn that General Washington suspected the British and Hessian soldiers would try to make their way to his army camped at Morristown, where the ring of mountains around their encampment provided a measure of protection and where the iron forges provided weapons, for additional protection.

When Hummers and Jeeps aren't available to get your cannons and cannonballs over those Watchung Mountains, the best strategy is to go between them...and Hobart Gap was the way between the mountains. Getting to Hobart Gap from Elizabethtown meant going through Millburn Township, which was then part of Springfield, so in order to keep an eye on that route, General Washington ordered signals or beacons to be built "on conspicuous Hills and Mountains which appear to be judicious and well disposed." Lord Stirling sketched and detailed the construction of those beacons, as seen here.

The Green Brook Historical Society website explains: "The beacons were tall, obelisk-shaped structures, filled with dry brush. When the alarm was sounded, these signals would be lighted, and the ensuing blaze and smoke, says Prince, could be seen for miles around. "The initial alarm to set the signals blazing was the discharge of three pieces of cannon from General Stirling's headquarters near Middlebrook."

In local historian Marian Meisner's history of Millburn, which is online at the Millburn library Web site, the author explains that "On the mountains, observation posts were manned round-the-clock, to watch the crossings from Staten Island and the movements on Galloping Hill Road and other roads out of Elizabeth. Joseph Brant is said to be the man who actually fired the warning gun before the battle of Springfield." One of those warning guns was a cannon placed atop Beacon Hill, which is the reason for the name of the country club there. The cannon was affectionately known as Old Sow and the plaque at 226 Hobart Avenue, near Beacon Road, notes that "Here in the time of the American Revolution stood the Signal Beacon and by its side the cannon known as the 'Old Sow,' which in time of danger and invasion summoned the patriotic 'Minute Men' of this vicinity to the defense of the country and the repulse of the invader."

Marian Meisner added a likely explanation for the name: "...We might also report on the probable origin of the name the Old Sow for the famous cannon. We are indebted to Dr. Charles Philhower, New Jersey historian, for this information. Dr. Philhower, like most of us, had thought that the name was some sort of affectionate nickname bestowed by the soldiers, until one day while being shown around the grounds of Edinburgh Castle, in Scotland, an old cannon referred to as The Sow was shown him. He queried his guide, remarking on the similarity of the name with our own piece. The guide explained to him that that size of cannon was always called a sow, and simply referred to the size of the casting. The iron castings ran directly from the smelting furnace to the troughlike molds, and these molds were either called 'pigs' or 'sows' depending on their size."

On July 4, 2011, loud explosions will once again echo around these Watchung Mountains, not to warn residents to take cover or arms, but to celebrate the Battle of Springfield's crucial role in the outcome of the war.

Millburn residents can celebrate the revolutionary history of the comunity, and do so on the same acreage where brave soldiers, militia, and Millburn farmers turned back the British and Hessian soldiers who were trying to get to Morristown on June 23, 1780. 

The July Fourth celebration will begin at 9 a.m. at Taylor Park, where it will open with a flag raising and confirmation of the 2011 Patriot Award on patriot and resident John Dalton.  The flag raising and presentation of the award are followed by the bike/trike/stroller parade at 9:30 a.m. and the baseball skills competition at 10 a.m..  Then from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Taylor Park will be filled with children's rides, games, ponies, a Revolutionary War encampment reenacted by the Morgan Rifles, and many more family field games.

Starting at 7 p.m. Krazy Kat will provide patriotic music at the high school, to accompany the fabulous fireworks that begin there at 9:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for a reduced price of $10 before the Fourth, or $12 on the day of the event; tickets for the fireworks only are $5. They are available at the Millburn Deli, Futter's Shoes, Buncher's Hardware, Michael's Barber Shop, La Strada, Splurge Bakery, Town Hall, or at the gate(s). Please note that the rain date is July 5.

As the presentation of the events of the day is almost entirely dependent upon private contributions, the Millburn-Short Hills 4th of July Committee depends upon and welcomes donations. Checks can be made payable to Millburn-Short Hills Fourth of July Committee, Inc. and sent to PO Box 4, Short Hills NJ  07078.