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2019 – MLH Magazine Winter

Mr. Local History Online Magazine – a free magazine with stories about local history and events in New Jersey.

Our free Magazine - The Mr. Local History Holiday Edition
Our free Magazine – The Mr. Local History Holiday Edition
Cold as Balls - Cold as a witches tit

Origins of Cold as Balls and Cold as a Witch’s Teet

The phrase “cold as balls” reportedly comes from the contraction of metal on ship’s cannons, causing the iron balls to fall. The expression “cold as a witch’s tit” originated from the belief that witches, portrayed as cold-blooded in the 1600s, had an ‘unholy’ body part feeding familiars or the devil.

Colonial Christmas at the Jacobus Vanderveer House

Colonial Christmas Shines at Bedminster’s Vanderveer House

The Jacobus Vanderveer House in Bedminster, New Jersey, is celebrating its 21st Colonial Christmas, an annual fundraiser event that combines history, tourism, tradition, and Christmas spirit. It offers an array of activities including music, reenactments, crafts, and holiday shopping. The event typically takes place on the last weekend of November and the first week of December.

Support Local History by getting #JUSTONEITEM. Make a huge difference for our programs.

The Mr. Local history Project is a registered 501c3 non-profit and while we love donations, we feel it’ss important to raise funds from other means so we can preserve and promote local history across New Jersey. Gift the gift of history! It really makes a difference so we can offer fun and exciting programs such as Elder Voices, Project Local Ambassador, walking tours and more. #justoneitem

Shop for a Cause - Mr Local History Project #shoplocalhistory #justoneitem
Shop for a Cause – Mr Local History Project #shoplocalhistory #justoneitem

Mr. Local History Gift Shop

The Mr. Local History team created all items in the Mr. Local History Gift Shop. Proceeds from everything you purchase go to local history projects and our scholarship fund. We promote and preserve our local history, so give with confidence, knowing that you’re helping a worthy cause.

Our New Jersey Historic Wooden Keepsake Collectibles

Current Inventory—Remember, these are all custom-made items. Once sold out, they may never be available again.

Ordering is simple. Click on the item below to go directly to our secure online store.


Mr. Local History’s New Jersey Cat’s Meow Keepsake collection keeps growing due to public demand to preserve and promote Jersey history. Each collectible is a special piece of art on the front with the history on the back. Once they’re gone, they’re gone! It makes a great annual gift to a collector as well. Always look for the “black cat” to make sure you have an official Cat’s Meow village piece—a true original.

Our MLH researchers have searched near and far from old newspapers, ads, and business journals to build this extraordinary collection that you can wear (clothing) or swag like stickers and bedspreads!
Check out the entire collection (over 260 designs) to customize your color and size. See the ENTIRE JERSEY RETO COLLECTION- Over 260 designs and growing.

Mr Local History loves history with a social twist. It’s our motto! So we thought how fun it would be to share some of the most loved New Jersey businesses that have disappeared. We started researching and putting our artists to work to recreate an offering of vintage retro clothing and accessories that honor the history of these great businesses we all remember.

“Wear Local History Collections”

Individual collections include: Great Jersey History, Jersey Retro History, Jersey Foodie History, Basking Ridge/Bernardsville, Westfield, Westfield/Cranford, Jersey Motorsports History, Jersey Irish, and our goofy Mr. Local History Fun Collection. Just click on the image below to take you to each collection.

Give a gift that tells a story and makes a difference to a non-profit.

Mr. Local History Project

You can also send gifts as well.


Basking Ridge Charter Day Basking Ridge Christmas Eve Basking Ridge History Basking Ridge History Magazine Basking Ridge Oak Tree Basking Ridge wood collectibles Bedminster History Bernards Township Charter Day Bernards Township Day Bernards Township History Bernardsville History Blairsden Blairsden Nuns BTcharterday Cats Meow Basking Ridge Cats Meow keepsake Cats Meow Mr Local History Cats Meow Village Collectibles Basking Ridge Cranford Canoe Club Cranford Venice of New Jersey elder voices Far Hills History Historic Wooden Jersey Village Krugs Tavern history Lyons VA Morristown History Mrlocalhistory Mr Local History Magazine New Jersey History New Jersey History Magazine Peapack History Pluckemin Cantonment Project Local Ambassador Project Local History Ambassador somerset county history Somerset County Magazine Somerset Hills Cats meow Somerset Hills Collection Somerset Hills history THSSH Venice of New Jersey Vintage clothing Walking tour Basking Ridge Widow Whites Tavern