Centennial Celebration (1924-2024)
Celebrate the 100th Anniversary
on the Basking Ridge Village Green – Wednesday, December 24, 2024 @ 6:55pm
“It’s like you’re in Norman Rockwell’s real Whoville on Christmas Eve!”
Put this one on your bucket list
The History
Every year on December 24th, at 7 pm on the ” Town Green”, residents, families, friends, and guests gather in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, sing Christmas carols, wish good tidings, and then move on to their family traditions. Join the community and celebrate the 100th anniversary as the Church bells begin ringing at 7 pm. Nine songs are sung, and the caroling ends around 7:35 pm, again with a round of ringing church bells. The “Christmas Eve Sing” is the oldest continuous Christmas Eve sing in New Jersey.
Everything started on December 24, 1924, when Basking Ridge resident and businessman Ray Moffet of Moffet Chevrolet took his Chevy truck to drive around town with his friends singing Christmas carols. Each year, Ray partnered alongside his friend John Carswell, and they spread their holiday spirit by traveling around town singing the night away.
In 1927, the event moved from a Chevy truck to “the Village Green,” where the event has been centered since 1927. The “Green” is a small patch of grass that stands at the center of Finley Avenue across the street from 1 East Oak Street, in front of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. Moffet solicited $5 contributions from local businessmen to pay for decorating a tree and providing music for the occasion. The event typically occurred at 8:00 pm, moving later to 7:30 pm, and now kicks off every year at 7:00 pm.
All Volunteer Brass Ensemble
A welcome addition, in 1932, was a brass ensemble that led the carolers in song. The ensemble is all volunteer. A similar event was held at Olcott Square in Bernardsville, led by William Van Houten and Charles Swain, during the mid-1930s, but it did not last, leaving Basking Ridge to hold the area’s only Christmas sing.
Resident Jim Felter has been the Christmas Eve Carol coordinator since 2006. Before 2006, long-time BRPC member George Fricke did it for 17 years. If you’re interested in participating, reach out to [email protected].
Anyone can join to play. You show up at Westminster Hall (BRPC) at 6:00 pm. The “Carol Sing on the Green” for those who wish to sing typically brings a flashlight or a cell phone with a flashlight app to read the carol sheets offered to anyone starting at about 6:45 pm. The attendees sing 9 songs (the same every year), and the singing comes to a close with a generous ringing of the church bells from the Presbyterian and Methodist churches. Then, the area’s church doors open for an early service, and neighbors or strangers wish each other a Merry Christmas and go on their way. By 7:25, the green is deserted.
Back in Basking Ridge, John D. Carswell, who had led the singing and helped Ray for fifty years, died in May 1975. Richard Booth had been leading the ensemble. In 1975, Bob Verburg stepped in and served as chairman of the event. The 1975 all-volunteer committee included a standing committee to support the Carol Sing, including Harold M. Bieber, Norris Birnbaum, George L. Fricke, Dr. William J. Haines, Gregory Lane, Ernest R. Shears, Jean-Louis Terry, Robert M. Huggins, Burr Williamson, and Robert M. Verburg. The general committee members are Rev. Norman M. Post, Rev. Dale H. Crouthamel, Rev. Joseph A. B. Wade, Rev. Wilbur A. Thomas, Rev. Rudolf J.S. Keyl, Rev Dwight A. White, Dr. J. Calvin K. Jackson, and Rev. Carl Abrahamsen Jr. In the 1980s, Gregory Lane led the singing, followed by George Fricke, for 17 years, from 1987 to 2005. Since 2006, Jim Felter has been leading the way.
Supporting organizations have included: Moffet Motors, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Basking Ridge Fire Company, the Bernards Township PTA, The Ridge Home & School Association, and nine of the town’s religious congregations, And you can’t forget the Basking Ridge Fire Department who stands up and decorates the town tree every year.
A special thanks go out to those who serve on the most recent general committee:
- The Rev. Msgr Sylvester J. Cronin (The Church of St. James)
- The Rev. Bob Erbig (Millington Baptist Church)
- The Rev. Daniel Fenco (Somerset Hills Lutheran Church)
- The Rev. Dennis Jones (Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church)
- The Very Reverend Canon Gerald S. McLynn (Covenant Chapel Reformed Episcopal Church)
- The Rev. Rick Morley (St. Mark’s Episcopal Church)
- Pastor Timothy Sudolcan (Somerset Hills Baptist Church)
- The Rev. Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle (Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church)
- The Rev. Dave Tillisch (Bishop Janes United Methodist Church)
- A standing committee of support for the event includes: Susan Felter, Josh Felter, Kate and Dave Tullo, Martha Heiner, Sally and Ronald A. Horan (for the 45th year), Wyman Wong, Dan Zugale, and Sing Coordinator Jim Felter.
Anyone interested in joining the brass ensemble meets at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve in Westminster Hall at Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, 1 East Oak St.
They’re Here – They’re Gone!
One of the most amazing observations of the event is that if you arrive at 6:30, you will probably be the only person there. At 6:45 p.m., there are probably about 500 people there. By 7 p.m., there are literally thousands of people present. And as quickly as they came, by 7:30 p.m., the town center is almost deserted.Many walk, some drive, and they park off the town green.
Hasn’t Changed Much Since 1938
The song list has varied little since 1938, when the cadence was as follows:
O Come All Ye Faithful, Hark the Herald Angel Sing, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, The First Noel, Silent Night Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Deck the Halls, We Three Kings, Joy to the World
Download Song Sheets
If you are lucky enough to make the sing, there are volunteers who have been handing out the same colorful song sheets almost every year. Why change it if it ain’t broke, right? Today, you can click the link below, save the sheet on your phone, and read from there. Or use a flashlight and go old school.
Sing-A-Long Song Sheet
Click Here to download your song list
O Come All Ye Faithful
Hark the Herald Angel Sing
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
The First Noel
Silent Night, Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Deck the Halls
We Three Kings
Joy to the World
Related Mr. Local History Stories
Originally posted: December 2015
Updated: October 13, 2024
My father was John Carswell who led the BR Carol Sing for many years. After a major heart attack, he led the event one last time in 1974 before his death in May 1975. My maiden name was Betsy Carswell, and I played trombone at the Carol Sing from 1947 until
1993. What fun, despite the weather & occasional frozen trombone slide. I’m so glad this wonderful event continues. Thank you to all who make it happen.
Betsy Carswell Richards, Eastham, MA [email protected]
We are looking for any early year photos if people have to share. Please drop us an email at [email protected] if you have any. Thanks!
I’ve been a North Dakotan for 53 years; right now on Maui. Every Christmas Eve means the Carol Sing no matter how long I’ve been away from home (BHS ’60). You have NO idea how much your live broadcast means to this expat and I’m sure many others. Thank you so very much for this. Of course I remember Mr Carswell leading us in song.
May I offer the following corrections ~
Morris Birnbaum should read “Norris” Birnbaum
Rev. Rudolf J. Keyle should read Rev. Rudolf “J.S. Keyl”
Best wishes and congratulations on the centennial anniversary of this event!
We were given these names so thank you so much for the updates.