Brooks Betz

“The Frippery” Thrift Store Extraordinaire is a Watchung Historic Gem

Brooks Betz — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:10:44 +0000

Views: 319 For Over Half a Century, the Frippery is Watchung’s Original Treasure Hunt Long before thrift shopping became trendy, generations of bargain hunters were already climbing the stairs and rummaging through the shelves at one of Watchung’s best-known hidden gems: The Frippery. The Frippery officially opened for the first time on March 10, 1971,… Read More »“The Frippery” Thrift Store Extraordinaire is a Watchung Historic Gem

The post “The Frippery” Thrift Store Extraordinaire is a Watchung Historic Gem appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

Remembering the Columbia River Gorge’s Wind Ranch in the 80s

Brooks Betz — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:29:37 +0000

Views: 1,988 Ah, who remembers the Wind Ranch in Bingen, Washington? Just across the bridge from Hood River was a place, no, an iconic place, that remains now only in my memory. This post is more of a community plea to help us who traveled from all over the world to windsurf on the Columbia… Read More »Remembering the Columbia River Gorge’s Wind Ranch in the 80s

The post Remembering the Columbia River Gorge’s Wind Ranch in the 80s appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

Meet HistOracle AI: New Jersey Team Brings History’s Voices Back to Life

Brooks Betz — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:38:28 +0000

Views: 876 For centuries, historians have relied on books, letters, artifacts, and exhibits to tell the stories of the past. But what if visitors could do something more? What if they could actually sit down and have a conversation with Elias Boudinot, Henry George, or another historical figure and ask them questions directly? That is… Read More »Meet HistOracle AI: New Jersey Team Brings History’s Voices Back to Life

The post Meet HistOracle AI: New Jersey Team Brings History’s Voices Back to Life appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

Historic Ice Yacht Gifted to Lake Hopatcong Club- It’s “Ours”

Brooks Betz — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:08:35 +0000

Views: 362 On February 9, 2026, Brian Haumersen and Mike D Achille returned the historic ice yacht OURS to the ice of the Navesink River at the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club for the first time in approximately two decades, marking a notable moment for the region’s ice boating community. The Navesink, also… Read More »Historic Ice Yacht Gifted to Lake Hopatcong Club- It’s “Ours”

The post Historic Ice Yacht Gifted to Lake Hopatcong Club- It’s “Ours” appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

Documenting the Ridge High School Sailing Program

Brooks Betz — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:19:29 +0000

Views: 523 This post is part of a series in which the Mr. Local History Project will document what we believe are the early stages of a new varsity sport across the state. We plan to meet with the New Jersey clubs, coaches, administrators, parent advisors, along with their ties to the Basking Ridge High… Read More »Documenting the Ridge High School Sailing Program

The post Documenting the Ridge High School Sailing Program appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

Statue of Liberty History, Then Some Facts – Jersey Style of Course

Brooks Betz — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:14:14 +0000

Views: 1,738 The Statue of Liberty’s official name is “Liberty Enlightening the World”. In French:”La Liberté éclairant le monde” Her raised torch represents enlightenment, while the tablet in her left arm bears the date JULY IV MDCCLXXVI — July 4, 1776 — commemorating American independence. Standing at the entrance to New York Harbor, the Statue… Read More »Statue of Liberty History, Then Some Facts – Jersey Style of Course

The post Statue of Liberty History, Then Some Facts – Jersey Style of Course appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

High School Sailing Teams in New Jersey …Who Knew

Brooks Betz — Sat, 30 May 2026 14:52:38 +0000

Views: 1,110 Long before football stadium lights, marching bands, and Friday night rivalries, a quieter competition was taking shape along New Jersey’s bays, rivers, and coastlines. Students were racing sailboats. Today, high school sailing is an established part of the athletic landscape for a growing number of New Jersey schools. Teams from Monmouth County to… Read More »High School Sailing Teams in New Jersey …Who Knew

The post High School Sailing Teams in New Jersey …Who Knew appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

The American Flagman Honors Patriotism Every Day

Brooks Betz — Fri, 22 May 2026 15:58:39 +0000

Views: 13,040 UPDATE: We published this story a while back, and we said people needed to see it again. It is a classic American tale that goes unnoticed, but we continue to root out these great American tales. Stop by the Ross Farm on Saturday, June 13, 2026, and meet “The Flagman of Basking Ridge”… Read More »The American Flagman Honors Patriotism Every Day

The post The American Flagman Honors Patriotism Every Day appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

Was Basking Ridge’s Town Hall Abandonded?

Brooks Betz — Wed, 13 May 2026 13:54:17 +0000

Views: 2,345 Our first comment needs to be “NO, THIS IS NOT AN AI-GENERATED IMAGE.” At first glance, I honestly thought someone had listed Bernards Township’s Town Hall for sale. For a moment, it looked uncannily like the old Astor Estate building in Basking Ridge, now home to Bernards Township’s municipal offices. Staring at this… Read More »Was Basking Ridge’s Town Hall Abandonded?

The post Was Basking Ridge’s Town Hall Abandonded? appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

Why are We Called “The Garden State?” Spring Gardens- History and Happenings

Brooks Betz — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:29:17 +0000

Views: 1,329 Most people think they know New Jersey. They picture highways, traffic, and a place you pass through on the way to somewhere else. But if you could step back into the mid 1800s, you’d see a very different state unfolding in front of you… You’d see a garden. Not a small one, but… Read More »Why are We Called “The Garden State?” Spring Gardens- History and Happenings

The post Why are We Called “The Garden State?” Spring Gardens- History and Happenings appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

Production Ice Boats & Contraptions – Getting Started on Ice the Easy Way

Brooks Betz — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:14:08 +0000

Views: 1,856 “I want to try this ice boating. But I Need THREE EASIES: Easy to Set Up. Easy to Sail. Easy to Put Away.“ Ice boating has always lived in that wonderful space between ingenuity and obsession. For generations, the typical iceboat was not something you bought in a showroom. It was something you… Read More »Production Ice Boats & Contraptions – Getting Started on Ice the Easy Way

The post Production Ice Boats & Contraptions – Getting Started on Ice the Easy Way appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

Historic Rocket Ice Yacht Reborn on the Navesink

Brooks Betz — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 17:09:26 +0000

Views: 1,324 In 1888, a fast and ambitious ice yacht named Rocket was built to race on the frozen reaches of the Navesink River at Red Bank, New Jersey. At a time when ice boating was one of winter’s great spectator sports, Rocket represented the peak of late 19th-century ice yacht design. Rocket, a 50-foot-long… Read More »Historic Rocket Ice Yacht Reborn on the Navesink

The post Historic Rocket Ice Yacht Reborn on the Navesink appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

New Jersey’s Oldest Yacht Club is RYC – But is it Riverton or Raritan?

Brooks Betz — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:57:15 +0000

Views: 4,024 Although both the Raritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy and the Riverton Yacht Club are on the opposite sides of New Jersey, they both state to have been founded in 1865. Published sources currently give the Riverton Yacht Club the bragging rights as the state’s oldest, leaving the Raritan Yacht Club holding the… Read More »New Jersey’s Oldest Yacht Club is RYC – But is it Riverton or Raritan?

The post New Jersey’s Oldest Yacht Club is RYC – But is it Riverton or Raritan? appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

New Jersey Iceboating Legends & Super Heros

Brooks Betz — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:03:54 +0000

Views: 1,345 “It’s time the Garden State Honors the Legends & Super Heros of New Jersey Iceboating.” Based on numerous interviews and research about the history of New Jersey iceboating, we hope that our New Jersey Legends of Iceboating list of members of the iceboating community is a solid representation of the history of the… Read More »New Jersey Iceboating Legends & Super Heros

The post New Jersey Iceboating Legends & Super Heros appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.

Iceboats Flock to New Jersey Ice Again – Historic Winter Times

Brooks Betz — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:36:26 +0000

Views: 4,530 How exciting to announce that the cold is back and there’s ice on our lakes, rivers, and bays across New Jersey. In fact it’s so cold, we have to pray to the snow gods to slow down the delug just a bit so the iceboats can get back on the ice. First –… Read More »Iceboats Flock to New Jersey Ice Again – Historic Winter Times

The post Iceboats Flock to New Jersey Ice Again – Historic Winter Times appeared first on Mr. Local History Project.