Bernards Township/Bernardsville Historic Wooden Village Keepsake Collectibles

Congratulations, Basking Ridge and Bernardsville, on being the foundation for the New Jersey Historical Wooden Village collection, a group of over 40 Jersey collectibles. Each keepsake brings awareness to historic area icons created by the world-famous Cat’s Meow Village and their wonderful black cat, Casper. The Mr. Local History Project group is a non-profit 501c that relies on fundraisers like this to expand our history programs, so every time you grow your collection, you’re continually supporting the non-profit efforts to invest in the keepsake program with new collectibles.

Bernards Township and Bernardsville
The MLH Project is proud to be the largest reseller of the New Jersey Historic Wooden Keepsake Collection, created by the world-famous Cat’s Meow Village. Made in the USA!!!
14 iconic historic wooden village collectibles!

See the entire collection and availability – Click Here

Basking Ridge/Bernardsville & The New Jersey Historic Village Collection

Welcome to the Bernards Township, New Jersey, section of the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection. Thirteen honorees are the largest part of our New Jersey collection. Here are those that are still available to add to your collection today. Remember, Bernardsville was once part of Bernards Township, so there’s lots of history to share!

1. The Great Oak Tree
2. Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church and Oak Tree
3. Christmas Eve Caroling on the Town Green
4. Lyons VA Historic District
5. Widow Whites Historic Tavern
6. The Washington House
7. The Ross Farm House
8. The Brick Academy
9. The Astor Estate and Town Hall
10. Olcott School
11. Jerolaman’s General Store
12. Vealtown Tavern – Old Bville Library
13. Bernardsville Cinema
14. KMS Farmstead Arts Center

The New Jersey Historic Village keepsake collection is a wood-painted collectible series honoring historic iconic buildings, properties, and fixtures that are part of the historic fabric of New Jersey’s history. Each keepsake was selected based on community feedback and a voting process. We’re excited to see how the public reacts to the next additions to this historic series.” Sign up to receive updates when new pieces become available.

Basking Ridge’s 100th Anniversary of the Christmas Eve Caroling on the Green

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Lyons Veterans Administration Hospital – Bernards Township, New Jersey

In 1924, the sixty-eighth Congress passed an act authorizing appropriations to provide hospital and outpatient facilities for veterans under the World War Veterans Act. On November 28, 1928, after reviewing 161 potential sites across the state, President Coolidge approved the purchase of Walter A. Reynolds’ 272-acre property known as “Knollcroft,” The Lyons, New Jersey hospital was New Jersey’s first VA hospital. Opened in 1930 as a veteran neuropsychiatric hospital, the VA Hospital at Lyons grew to over 864 acres in the 1950s. The Lyons area is named after the J.M. Lyon farm, which was once a large part of the area. Construction of the Classical Revival main structure began on July 11, 1929. Today, it is still a beautiful, active facility. Read more about the history of Lyons, VA. Click Here

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Widow White’s Tavern – “A real American historic legend” – Basking Ridge Village, New Jersey

“We plan on adding additional historic keepsakes,” stated Betz. The project hopes to continue the tradition of having the public vote for future keepsakes.” The keepsake is meant to be displayed on a bookshelf or thin ledge (like a door or window sill). It is made of a sturdy 3/4″ handmade wood block and then painted.

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Astor Estate – Bernards Township Town Hall, Bernards Twp, New Jersey

Mr Local History is proud to announce the release of the sixth in the collectible series: the 1912 Samuel Owen home now known as the Astor Estate, the new Somerset Hills Historic Cat’s Meow collectible. Bernards Township acquired the Astor Estate in 1968, saving it from demolition. Read the entire story of the property as Mr. Local History profiled the Historic Astor Estate.

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A New Way to Share Basking Ridge Area Local History…
The MLH Wear Local History Collection

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Washington House, Basking Ridge Village, New Jersey

Congratulations – the community has voted, and the winner is the 1871 Washington House in the Basking Ridge Village of Bernards Township. The voting was close, but this is truly a worthy winner. The first release for 2019 is the historic 1871 Washington House in the Basking Ridge Village of Bernards Township. Congratulations – the community has voted, and the winner is the 1871 Washington House in the Basking Ridge Village of Bernards Township. The voting was close, but this is truly a worthy winner. The iconic Washington House in Basking Ridge Village has a rich history from 1871. At almost 150 years of age, the grand hotel still serves the public today as a grand local restaurant. The painting shown will be painted on wood and available now at the Mr. Local History Gift Shop.

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Ross Farm’s Elias Boudinot House – Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Mr. Local History is proud to announce, along with a partnership with The Ross Farm, the release of the 4th in the collectible series, the Somerset County 1777 Boudinot Southard Ross House. The collectible is part of the Somerset Hills Historic Cat’s Meow Historic collection. Orders for this limited run are now being taken online. Less than 50 will be produced. The keepsake is made of wood and then painted. Learn More

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Historic White Oak Tree – Basking Ridge, New Jersey

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Presbyterian Church and Oak Tree – Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Mr Local History is proud to announce the release of the second in the collectible series: the 1718 Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church and the 619-year-old Basking Ridge Historic White Oak Cat’s Meow collectible.

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Brick Academy Town Hall & Schoolhouse – Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Mr. Local History, in conjunction with T3 Consortium and the Cat’s Meow Village, introduces the Inaugural Keepsake of the Historic Somerset Hills Village Collection: the 1809 Brick Academy in the Basking Ridge Village of Bernards Township, New Jersey. The collection promotes local history and allows people to share their love for iconic local historic properties.

Many people collect other village pieces and build a village collection. The creations are part of the historic Cat’s Meow Village Collection, which has produced iconic wood ornaments for over 35 years.

Other Area Favorites

Natirar Estate – Peapack, New Jersey

There are two iconic estates in Peapack, and the Mr. Local History Project immortalized them with their introduction to the Historic Somerset Hills Cat’s Meow Village collection. Natirar was not just an estate; it was one of the most well-known convalescent centers in the tri-state area when it served women as the Kate Macy Ladd Center. The estate was also owned by a King: Africa’s King Hassan II of Morocco.

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Blairsden Mansion & Estate – Peapack, New Jersey

Being the 9th and 10th keepsake in the collection is a great milestone for the village,” says Brooks Betz, the founder of the Mr. Local History Project and the official Bernards Township Historian. We are so fortunate to have such a great history all around us, and we’re proud to promote each keepsake with the background of its historic significance on every collectible.

Blairsden, on the other hand, is one of the country’s best examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in the United States.

Far Hills Race Meeting – Far Hills, New Jersey

Lucy the Elephant, Margate, NJ, and the Ford Mansion, Morristown, New Jersey

Two Jersey classics were recently voted into the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection. Available in our store right now. All proceeds go towards producing new research and collectibles. Click the image for details on adding these historic Jersey icons to your village collection. Join the collection with this LAUNCH SPECIAL. Save $5 off Lucy or the Ford Mansion (or both!)

Latest Inventory

How Do These Icons Make It to the Jersey Collection?

Getting accepted to the New Jersey collection is not easy. You have to be nominated and VOTED IN! Local New Jersey historic organizations and historic Jersey businesses produce limited runs of each piece in the collection. All collectibles are available at the Mr. Local History Gift Shop and sometimes at the venue. If your organization or business is in New Jersey and you’d like to be considered for the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection, drop us a note. We help you all along the way; you must approve what we partner to create. The Mr. Local History Project is the largest Jersey reseller of these iconic collectibles.

Are you a Historic Property that Wants to be In the Collection?

Many historic properties want to be included in the collection. A few requirements exist to get nominated, but it’s a wonderful way to share art and history with the public, friends, supporters, and donors. If you’d like to be considered, drop Mr. Local History a note.

How do I Get One of These Jersey Historic Limited Edition Keepsakes?

The easiest way to get one is to order online via our Etsy Store.

About Our Partner:
The Cat’s Meow Village Company of Wooster, Ohio

The Cat’s Meow Village is a small company founded in Wooster, Ohio in 1982 from one simple wooden house Faline cutout on her grandfather’s saw in the loft of the hog barn. 35 years later, Jones and her crew continue crafting “little wooden buildings” of local, national, and international landmarks that spark memories and kindle smiles on the faces of “real-life adventure

More Jersey Area Collectibles