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!
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Latest Updates & Research
- Herb Patullo – Bound Brook’s Ultimate History Legend
Views: 58 Meet Herb Patullo, Bound Brook’s great historian and a true American. While Herb passed in 2020, his work is legendary in Somerset County. Herbert “Herb” Patullo (1929–2020) was a lifelong resident of Bound Brook, New Jersey, and a prominent figure in the community. Born into a large family, he was one of twelve… Read More »Herb Patullo – Bound Brook’s Ultimate History Legend - Local Cemetery History Research
Views: 128 There is a wealth of history to be learned from a cemetery. We have a rich genealogy embedded in many of our stories, and we strive to describe other facts, analytics, and stories about those who make their final resting place in these historical areas. If you’re looking for something specific, try our… Read More »Local Cemetery History Research - Retrospective: Liberty Corner – History in the Cemetery
Views: 43 The Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church was founded in 1837 to serve the growing rural community in the Liberty Corner section of Bernards Township, New Jersey. Its adjacent cemetery, established shortly after, became the final resting place for many early settlers, including members of the prominent English and Goltra families, who played key roles… Read More »Retrospective: Liberty Corner – History in the Cemetery - Sharing Local History with Maps – How to Read Into Them
Views: 7,813 Researching Local History with Maps As a historian, I believe maps are one of the greatest sources of information, capturing a time and place. We use these maps to research history and find buildings, families, farms, or streets. We often compare those historic maps to current maps. Then, we go on a journey… Read More »Sharing Local History with Maps – How to Read Into Them - Top 10 Trending Posts Right Now Mr. Local History
Views: 1,964 500+ Posts Honoring Jersey History “We keep researchin’ “ Top 10 This Week 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 - Maps/Research
Views: 69 There is a wealth of history to be learned from a map. We have historic maps and interactive maps embedded in many of our stories, and we try to list that research here. If you’re looking for something specific, try our search feature. If you still don’t find anything, try our Gen AI… Read More »Maps/Research - Franklin Corners and William Childs Williamsburg-esqe Vision
Views: 6,252 Tucked in the northernmost section of Bernards Township, New Jersey, along the Passaic River lies a small historic district. If you drive through it, you’ll notice the area’s rich history, marked by its grist mill and restored barns. However, what many people may not know is that the area was once on the… Read More »Franklin Corners and William Childs Williamsburg-esqe Vision - Bernards Township Flag Needs Clarification
Views: 98 The Bernards Township flag, officially adopted in 1960 to commemorate the township’s bicentennial, was designed by resident James Fogelman. The flag features a simple yet meaningful design, quartered into four rectangles of red and gold, representing the township’s four historic hamlets: Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, Lyons, and West Millington. But that part was… Read More »Bernards Township Flag Needs Clarification - The American Flag & Flag Day Means Annin in Liberty Corner
Views: 11,133 Did You Know?Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 to commemorate the adoption of the American flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The flag was immediately couriered to General Washington’s campground in a field just north of Route 22 called Middlebrook, now Bridgewater, New Jersey. TRUE! Flag Day is celebrated… Read More »The American Flag & Flag Day Means Annin in Liberty Corner - Coffee House, Tavern, and History in Bernards Twp. Madisonville Village
Views: 257 Coffee? We’re not serving coffee! So why call it a “Coffee House?” In the early 1800s, a “coffee house” was primarily a central gathering place for social, political, and business interactions, rather than a venue for serving coffee. These establishments functioned as important public meeting places where people gathered to read newspapers, discuss… Read More »Coffee House, Tavern, and History in Bernards Twp. Madisonville Village - Historic Hotel Somerset – Rev War Tunison’s Tavern in Somerville Still Serves History
Views: 164 I walked by this place for years and never thought it was open, until one day I saw the lights on. I decided to investigate. Here’s the deal: that business is the oldest in Somerville, New Jersey, a tavern that served Washington soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The oldest continuously operated tavern/Inn in… Read More »Historic Hotel Somerset – Rev War Tunison’s Tavern in Somerville Still Serves History - Ice Cream History around the Somerset Hills
Views: 4,932 July is National Ice Cream Month, so it’s time for Mr. Local History’s look back at the history, the good fun (and some “good humor”). The first official account of ice cream in the New World dates back to a letter written in 1744 by a guest of Maryland’s Governor William Bladen. The… Read More »Ice Cream History around the Somerset Hills - Somerville Bike Race – Oldest Race in America & a Jersey Memorial Day Staple
Views: 219 It’s the oldest cycling race in America – right in Somerville, New Jersey, every Memorial Day for 85 years! It’s the “Kentucky Derby of Cycling.” I laid on the ground at turn two and thought all would be good. I put my hand thru the guardrails and aimed the phone up. It scared… Read More »Somerville Bike Race – Oldest Race in America & a Jersey Memorial Day Staple - Lt. Austin Spencer – A Basking Ridge MIA Story
Views: 175 This story came about after the Mr. Local History Project researchers prepared research on Bernards Township developments in the 20th century. Many residents started asking about the Spencer Road development, one of the first in the township to provide lower-income homes for veterans returning from WW2. Spencer Road was one of the township’s… Read More »Lt. Austin Spencer – A Basking Ridge MIA Story - America’s Oldest Nudist Colony is in Liberty Corner, New Jersey
Views: 19,379 NOTE: As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn stories and receive photos from our community. We will continue to expand this piece as information becomes available. 2025 Sky Farm Music & Arts Festival – Saturday, June 21, 2025 The Sky Farm Music & Arts festival… Read More »America’s Oldest Nudist Colony is in Liberty Corner, New Jersey - Memorial Day Tribute
Views: 280 Honoring those we’ve lost and those veterans who have served. 2025 Bernards Township Parade updates are below the tribute video. Soldiers showcased in the video who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country: 2025 Bernards Township Memorial Day Parade Update More Mr. Local History Additional Stories: The Tale of Jersey’s Devil Tree… Read More »Memorial Day Tribute - Bernards Township Research
Views: 105 Additional Stories: Summer MLH Hits The Tale of Jersey’s Devil Tree The Founding Families of Bernards Township (Basking Ridge) Quicklinks – History From Your Town - Summer MLH Hits
Views: 80 Here are a few fun posts to get you ready for those Jersey Summer Dayz! History with a social twist. Additional Stories: The Tale of Jersey’s Devil Tree Mapping New Jersey’s Historic Schoolhouses Student Rules Then and Now Bedminster Map Project Reveals Historic Pluckemin Artillery Park
Recent Comments
I just tried the crumb cake from the spot mentioned in your post, and it absolutely lives up to the…
I grew up at 127 Madisonville road in Basking Ridge, NJ and my parents were friends with the Turner family…
I remember going to the Newton drive in when I was a little kid in the early 80’s. It’s now…
What an intriguing piece of history! I had no idea that America’s oldest nudist colony was right in New Jersey.…
Woodstown Ice & Coal, a small mom-and-pop hardware and feed store down in Salem County, NJ is proud to remain…
All these look GREAT
We used to have company functions back in the 90’s with AT&T. Good Bier….sehr gut Bier!
This is such an intriguing piece about Liberty Corner! I had no idea that America’s oldest nudist colony was right…
Bayonne West 8th street and Broadway across from park 1974ish and was a child so don’t know cost
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“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
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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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Katie Elwell The dentist, whose office was above the Village Fountain, gave you a card for a free ice cream…