Monmouth County Historical Association (MCHA) will host a preview reception for its newest exhibition, “Tracking Sandy: Monmouth County Remembers” on Oct. 29 at the MCHA Museum, 70 Court St., Freehold Borough, from 1 p.m.– 4. A short program will take place at 1:45 pm. The reception is open to the public at no charge and refreshments will be served.
The exhibition opens at the museum to mark the fifth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy making landfall along the state. It will explore the impact of the record storm and its effects on the people and on communities in the area, using their own words, photographs, and artifacts.
According to a press release from the MCHA, the organization began its efforts to document Superstorm Sandy’s impact on Monmouth County with an eye toward this major exhibition nearly a year ago. MCHA reached out to the public in order to collect photographs and artifacts and to begin conducting oral history interviews allowing all interested parties to recall the storm in their own words.
“‘Tracking Sandy’ will remind visitors that after five years, not everyone has rebuilt, nor has everyone been made whole, nor can anyone be sure what Sandy means going forward,” the press release reads. “Five years later, we as a county are still tracking Sandy, and hoping that lessons learned in her aftermath can help us in the future.”
“After altering the lives of so many people and communities in such a dramatic way, Sandy deserved MCHA’s immediate attention,” MCHA President Linda Bricker said. “It is a story that will be of great interest to future generations and which should be documented while those impacted can relate personal experiences.”
The exhibition includes oral histories presented on listening devices, interactive activities, artifacts, internet and print resources and preparedness education, according to the press rlease. MCHA acknowledged Guest Curator Melissa Ziobro, specialist professor of public history, Department of History and Anthropology at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, and the assistance of many institutions and individuals in the preparation of the show.
