Edgar Holden’s Civil War: From Ironclad Surgeon to Newark’s Ward Army Hospital

Medical historian Dr. Sandra Moss, who riveted Durand-Hedden visitors in 2011 with the surprising dangers of the natural toxins in garden flora, returns on Sunday, March 22 at 2:00 p.m. to share the story of a pioneering, multi-faceted local 19th century doctor who is the subject of her new book: Edgar Holden, M.D. of Newark, New Jersey, Provincial Newark Physician on a National Stage.
Dr. Holden (pictured here) transcended the provinciality that characterized Essex County’s medical community, acting as a surgeon on an ironclad ship and at the Ward U.S. Army hospital in Newark during the Civil War. In his four decades of practice in Newark, he was recognized locally as a skilled surgeon, respected consultant, and a doctor’s doctor. He made contributions to cardiovascular technology, the new specialty of laryngology, insurance medicine, and tuberculosism, and published over 40 articles. There is also a Hedden connection – as Dr. Holden’s wife was Katherine Hedden of Orange, N.J. Through this marriage he was the ancestor of journalist Joan Lowell Smith, who will also be available to talk about the importance of the Hedden family to the founding of Newark in 1666.
From 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. visitors can catch the intriguing exhibit, The Maplewood Theater: Its Forgotten Saga, which explores the ever-changing 87-year history of the Maplewood Theater, spanning silent films, vaudeville, talkies, a famed era of live theater, neighborhood cinema, and the current sixplex. Out in the carriage house the Country Store will be selling historic- themed treasures: early American children’s games, books and toys, facsimile documents, quill pens and ink, historic cook books, cookie molds, tin lanterns, reproduction ceramics, hiking sticks, local honey and more. The hard- to-find original Doors of Maplewood poster and Smile, the history of Olympic Park, will also be available.
The event is free. Donations are appreciated. For more information, check out the Durand-Hedden House website www.durandhedden.org, and visit us on Facebook. The Durand-Hedden House is dedicated to telling the history of the development of Maplewood and the surrounding area in new and engaging ways. It is located in Grasmere Park at 523 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood. To arrange group tours call 973-763-7712.