Macculloch Hall director gets sunny sendoff on National Public Gardens Day
- voteauradunn
- May 11
- 2 min read
By Kevin Coughlin, morristowngreen.com
There were serpents and Seeing Eye pups, speeches and proclamations.
At the center of it all, there was Tricia Pongracz.
Saturday was National Public Gardens Day, and plenty of activities drew young and old to the sun-drenched garden behind the Macculloch Hall Historical Museum in Morristown.
Many also came to say so long to Pongracz, who is stepping down this month after a decade as the museum’s executive director.
“You’ve done a great job to make the Macculloch Hall Historical Museum (into) Morristown’s community museum,” MHHM trustee Peter Hunter told Pongracz during a brief ceremony.
Hunter ticked off numbers to back that up. During her tenure, Pongracz raised more than $2 million for the museum, doubled its operating budget to $600,000, and dramatically increased annual attendance to 10,000 visitors.
Macculloch Hall became one of only 10 New Jersey museums to gain accreditation from the American Association of Museums. It also enhanced visitors’ experience with the Bloomberg mobile app.
Outreach expanded as well, to 50 preschools, 20 Scout troops, 16 social service agencies and 11 schools, according to Hunter.
State Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-25th Dist.) brought a proclamation from the Legislature lauding Pongracz’s accomplishments. Museum trustees and staff honored their outgoing director by chipping in to acquire five documents for the nonprofit’s signature Thomas Nast collection.
The documents describe the backstory of the Army’s 1879 presentation of a Tiffany canteen — now displayed at the museum — to the famed political cartoonist, said Macculloch Hall Curator Ryan Hyman.
Macculloch Hall also chronicles early 19th century Morristown — the place dates to 1810– and holds artifacts from American presidents and Founding Fathers.
“It’s been a great 10 years,” Pongracz told the gathering. She said she hopes to resume researching Tiffany designs of American synagogues, a project she set aside when she took the Macculloch Hall job, and maybe turn her scholarship into a book.
Pongracz officially leaves the museum on May 31, 2025. But the museum is unlikely to leave the Morris Plains resident anytime soon. She continued her role as its chief pitchwoman and cheerleader on Saturday
“I am really privileged to be here,” Pongracz said, praising the board, staff, volunteers and supporters. “Come for 15 minutes, spend an afternoon here at your leisure. Whatever you want to dive into — through an object, through a plant, through a meeting, sitting here having coffee — it’s a special place.”
Operations Manager Carly Cheponis will serve as interim director until Pongracz’ successor is hired.
P.S. All reptiles from the Snakes-n-Scales booth are present and accounted for, so you need not fear solitary strolls through the Macculloch garden.
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