Welcome to the Mr. Local History Project
“A 501c3 Non-Profit Dedicated to Preserving and Promoting Jersey History with a Social Twist”
The Mr. Local History Project begins here with our story about preserving history in a new way, utilizing wood, art, and researched history. Wildwood, Sandy Hook, Old Barney, The Stone Pony, and Lucy the Elephant are the first five honored. Why do we care to preserve and promote these landmark icons? Because they’re the best!
This Week’s Top 10 Posts
Latest News Updates & Research
- Fairview Cemetery – History of Westfield, New Jersey’s Largest Resting Place
Views: 3 Established in 1868, Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey, is one of Union County’s most historic and beautifully maintained cemeteries. It serves as the final resting place for many notable figures, including local leaders, veterans, and prominent individuals from New Jersey’s political and cultural history. Fairview has faithfully served families with care, dignity,… Read More »Fairview Cemetery – History of Westfield, New Jersey’s Largest Resting Place - Book Remembering Bernardsville, New Jersey in the Gilded Age
Views: 216 This is a fantastic look into the history of the Bernardsville, NJ, mountain colony through the eyes of a wealthy Gilded Age family member at the turn of the 19th century. And we have a digital copy here for your reading pleasure. A. (Allison) Wright Post (1867–1944) was the son of renowned American… Read More »Book Remembering Bernardsville, New Jersey in the Gilded Age - Crumbcake Burger – Jersey’s B&W Crumb Cake Meets a Krug’s Burger
Views: 78 UPDATE:We have NOT Agreed on a Date yet – Sign Up to receive an update when we have details The Mr. Local History Project is sponsoring the first-ever “Crumb Cake Burger Flat Top Challenge,” which will introduce Jersey’s best-rated 1/2-pound burger inside a piece of Jersey’s best-rated crumb cake. Two New Jersey institutions are… Read More »Crumbcake Burger – Jersey’s B&W Crumb Cake Meets a Krug’s Burger - Bernardsville’s Boylan House on New Jersey’s 10 Most Historic Endangered List
Views: 294 Preservation New Jersey announced the 2025 list of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places, highlighting places across New Jersey that are at risk of being lost due to neglect, development pressures, lack of funding, or natural threats. For Bernardsville’s Boylan House, being one of the ten most endangered, as noted by Preservation New Jersey, recognizes… Read More »Bernardsville’s Boylan House on New Jersey’s 10 Most Historic Endangered List - Video Series: Inside the Blairsden Mansion in Peapack, New Jersey
Views: 143 This story brings the history of the Gilded Age, also known as the Golden Age of America, where wealthy Americans built some of the most lavish mansions and estates in America from the late 1800s to the post-depression era. The Central New Jersey Beaux Arts estate has been intriguing since its construction started.… Read More »Video Series: Inside the Blairsden Mansion in Peapack, New Jersey - Gilded Age New Jersey Mansions Honored for Their Historic Design
Views: 71 Honoring Two Stories – Two Men – Two Estates A key mission statement of the Mr. Local History project is to find new ways to “Share History with a Social Twist,” which means we try to incorporate the social aspects of people, places, and things that tie back to tell their history at… Read More »Gilded Age New Jersey Mansions Honored for Their Historic Design - The Far Hills Inn – Remembering Dining Elegance
Views: 126 The Far Hills Inn along Route 31 (Now Route 202) was in Bridgewater, not Far Hills, and not Somerville. While researching the history of Far Hills, New Jersey, we found this former treasure, the Far Hills Inn. While named Far Hills, it was actually not in Somerville or Far Hills but in Bridgewater,… Read More »The Far Hills Inn – Remembering Dining Elegance - Historic Fires in the Somerset Hills
Views: 7,875 While you’d think that hurricanes and floods wreak the most havoc, there has been nothing more destructive to properties in the Somerset Hills than fires. The Mr. Local History Project is gathering information regarding large fires in the Somerset Hills area of northern Somerset County, New Jersey. Looking back at history, we’ve started… Read More »Historic Fires in the Somerset Hills - Grand History of the US Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, New Jersey
Views: 203 United States Equestrian Team Foundation Headquarters Hamilton Farm – Gladstone, New Jersey You must thank James Cox Brady of Bedminster, Peapack, the Wall Street Financier, for his vision for his “million-dollar coach barn.” Let’s Start with the History James Cox Brady, born in 1882, was instrumental in managing his father’s estate and played… Read More »Grand History of the US Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, New Jersey - Grand Mansions and Historic Estates Mapped in New Jersey’s Somerset Hills
Views: 35,211 Many people have asked why you post all this history stuff on the area you’re calling the Somerset Hills. Well, call it passion. Call it intrigue. Call it local awareness. I think the main reason is that the information wasn’t available whenever I asked a question about the area’s history. I didn’t want… Read More »Grand Mansions and Historic Estates Mapped in New Jersey’s Somerset Hills - Quicklinks – History From Your Town
Views: 1,918 Want a quick way to search for articles about the history of one of the towns we cover? The Mr. Local History Project has created a few quick searches to give you a head start. Official Name Nickname/Origin Photo Tidbit Link Bedminster Derived from Bedminster, a district in Somerset, England Has recently become… Read More »Quicklinks – History From Your Town - St. Bernard’s Cemetery is Bernardsville History
Views: 219 Historical Note: Bernardsville was still part of Bernards Township up until 1924. Cemeteries are one of the best sources for historical research and MLH leverages many burials in cemeteries to understand families and their history. Before St. Bernard’s cemetery, the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church cemetery was used as early as the mid-1700s. Cemetery… Read More »St. Bernard’s Cemetery is Bernardsville History - PREVIEW: John Placko – A Basking Ridge Icon
Views: 232 SUBSCRIBER PREVIEW: If you signed up for our alerts, we’re releasing this story as a preview as we’re hoping you, or other people will read and share additional photos or stories they have of Basking Ridge’s John “Honey Bee” Placko. If you have more to add, please contact us here. For those who… Read More »PREVIEW: John Placko – A Basking Ridge Icon - Retrospective: Bernardsville’s St. Bernard’s Episcopal Church
Views: 333 Bernardsville’s St. Bernard’s Episcopal Church Bernardsville’s St. Bernard’s Church was established on October 22, 1896, during a period when the Somerset Hills area was predominantly influenced by the 16th-century Protestant theological system based on the teachings of John Calvin, known as Calvinism. Calvin’s belive in Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace,… Read More »Retrospective: Bernardsville’s St. Bernard’s Episcopal Church - Basking Ridge Oak Tree Community Video Photo Collection
Views: 4,136 Basking Ridge Oak Tree Community Video Photo Album Did you send us your photo yet? We will make another version, so keep them coming. On April 24-26, 2017, the New Jersey town of Basking Ridge lost its oldest resident, the historic white oak tree. What was estimated to be over 600 years old,… Read More »Basking Ridge Oak Tree Community Video Photo Collection - The Pope of Basking Ridge – Bill Hine’s Presence Shined
Views: 655 Remembering Bill Hine – the Pope of Basking Ridge Every once in a while, we come across a human interest story that’s so much more than history; we must tell it so that the story continues in local circles for generations. This is one of those stories. We take you to the small… Read More »The Pope of Basking Ridge – Bill Hine’s Presence Shined - Top 10 Trending Posts Right Now Mr. Local History
Views: 1,788 500+ Posts Honoring Jersey History “We keep researchin’ “ Top Weekly MLH Reads Top History All Time #5 Post – All Time #4 Post – All Time #3 Post All Time #2 Post – All Time #1 Post – All Time Additional Stories: Mr. Local History’s #growlocalhistory Project Widow White’s Tavern 7th Wooden… Read More »Top 10 Trending Posts Right Now Mr. Local History - Now We Need Your Help -You Are Our Heart and Soul
Views: 232 Our FUNDRAISING GOAL is Just $750 Want to bring our programs to the public and the schools. They require insurance, and your help is critical! Please help us make sure we can make these programs happen. Nothing is more inspiring than those who support our cause and efforts with a donation. We know… Read More »Now We Need Your Help -You Are Our Heart and Soul
Recent Comments
I don’t understand why the majority of people dismiss the KKK theory out of hand. To me it makes the…
What a fascinating piece of history! I had no idea that such a significant nudist colony existed in New Jersey.…
Al’s Submarine shop, Shector’s Hardware, Brown’s Variety, The Corner Sweet Shoppe, Milt’s Luncheonette, The Red Coach Grille, Swan’s Cleaners, Bob’s…
Could’ve been a nice country inn with Jackie memorabilia in the lobby. Instead some rich couple demolished it. Shame really.
Every time I pass this, I can’t help but think, “I found Jesus! He really is out there standing in…
The road was named after my uncle’s brother, a WWII vet who did not return. I swam in his parents’…
I was a friend of J’s when I was briefly dating his best friend. He was 16 at the time,…
When I was running marathons, that’s around where one of my routes would end. Hence, he’s been Finish Line Jesus…
Harry was a great guy. I took a carving class with him at Bernard’s high school in the late 70s…
We should connect. I’ve been digging into this story as well after putting down for a few years. I finally…
Connect via our Contact Us Page on our website – we know about this story!
Best article ever! I had no idea that while I so enjoy seeing the cows on this property as I…
Of course! I grew up on the farm. My dad was head herdsman .My sister was born same day as…
Spencers lived on the corner of West OaK & Hillside Terrace at 122 Spencer Road. He worked at Public Service…
I remember the Spencers lived next door to us (1958-1967). Their son had been killed overseas (Korean War?) And Spencer…
Grew up on 97 Spencer. It started as a tiny postwar cube of a postwar house. Now it’s a sprawling…
I used to play at Charlane Whitlock’s house on Spencer Rd. It was on the bend as you headed down…
Thanks for sharing this fascinating history! We live in the Spencer family’s former home on West Oak, and our son’s…
Thanks for sending. We get a lot of these stories. Our researchers even have a few. Now that the home…
Jersey History Posts
Jersey history – over 500+ researched stories.
From Fort Lee to Cape May and everywhere in between.
Take a look.
“Wear Lost Local History” Collection
Brings Back Memories
MLH has digitally recreated lost businesses from the 1900s to the 1980s, producing over 250 designs of iconic vintage logos.
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Stories, Stories, and More Stories
Researched by Mr. Local History himself, see over ten years of research on the internet to share the history.
The Mr. Local History 2025 Spring History Magazine
See our quarterly digital magazine for FREE. Full of great local Jersey History.
Events Calendar
Signature Events, Tours, Fundraisers, and Speaking engagements.
The New Jersey Historic Village Wooden Collection
40 iconic local Jersey Collectibles made exclusively for the Mr. Local History Project by the world famous “Cat’s Meow Village” of Wooster, Ohio. Once they sell out, they’re usually gone forever.
Like Historic Photos?
Over the years our researchers have gathered some great historic photos. Take a look as we “Dig In the Archives”
“I love sharing stories about the history of Jersey food. If one thing people miss when they leave Jersey, it’s the food. We dig in!”
Brooks Betz aka Mr. Local History
“What is the point of being alive if you don’t know history?”
Meg Wastie – Education Team Lead
“The Mr. Local History Project covers some really unique stuff. I mean who digs into the history of Jersey Food? MLH does”
Ms. Paula Axt – Tour Guide and Education
Frequently Asked Questions
The Mr. Local History Project is a 100% volunteer organization. Want to join us? No problem. There are no membership fees, and you only need to support one of our efforts. Programs include education, research, guided tours, or one of our many events.. You can even start something of your own. Visit our Contact Us page and drop us a note to get involved.
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Bayonne West 8th street and Broadway across from park 1974ish and was a child so don’t know cost