Featured
Jersey’s History with Bar Room Shuffleboard
Views: 3,499 Isn’t it interesting how history becomes history. Take for example pay phones. When you were using them, you never thought about it and then they’re gone. Not just gone……totally gone. Then you see them 20 years later on… Read More »Jersey’s History with Bar Room Shuffleboard
Best Crumb Cake in New Jersey – Discuss Now
Views: 76,316 Maybe we’re taking this too seriously, but we’ve been searching for bakeries serving New Jersey’s best crumb cake. If you’re not a fan of the cake, you might want to leave now because we’re really going to get… Read More »Best Crumb Cake in New Jersey – Discuss Now
Historic Tavern Pub Tours of New Jersey / PA / New York City
Views: 36,902 Self guided tours of some of the most historic pubs and taverns in the tri-state area. Who doesn’t like going on an adventure. The Mr. Local History Project has been building a list of historic pubs and taverns… Read More »Historic Tavern Pub Tours of New Jersey / PA / New York City
Taking Jacobs Ladder to the Devil’s Tomb (Grave)
Views: 19,780 Devil’s Tomb & Jacobs Ladder –Look what happened when Weird NJ Issue #12 came out. A place that sits quietly in obscurity for hundreds of years comes to an abrupt end when overzealous devil seekers search to find… Read More »Taking Jacobs Ladder to the Devil’s Tomb (Grave)
December 13 – The Day that Altered American History Happened in Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Views: 5,442 The world might have had a different look if it wasn’t for this event. Basking Ridge, New Jersey’s most famous incident, occurred on December 13, 1776, at about noon. General Charles Lee (1731-1782) was “alarmed” by Major Wilkinson… Read More »December 13 – The Day that Altered American History Happened in Basking Ridge, New Jersey
MLH Honors Back to School with Historic School Images From the Somerset Hills
Views: 3,853 Schools in the Somerset Hills area of northern Somerset County have been a mainstay back to the mid-1700s. We honor the history of these memorable facilities in images from various sources now in our digital research archives. For… Read More »MLH Honors Back to School with Historic School Images From the Somerset Hills
Mr. Local History’s #growlocalhistory Project
Views: 3,319 Trying to Make Somerset County Grow with Free Sunflowers and Some Local History – And Now – a Contest! Who doesn’t love a good challenge and some free stuff. This one is a fun one to see if… Read More »Mr. Local History’s #growlocalhistory Project
“June in December” Tree Honors June Kennedy at Festival of Trees in Basking Ridge
Views: 2,417 The Mr. Local History Project honors the former Bernards Township’s historian June Kennedy showcasing our “June in December” tree honoring her dedication to community and local history. The Festival of Trees is an indoor exhibit of decorated Christmas… Read More »“June in December” Tree Honors June Kennedy at Festival of Trees in Basking Ridge
Genealogy Help and References
Views: 4,234 Looking to Research Your Family History in the Somerset Hills? Genealogy is one of the local historical society’s most requested interest areas. While the Society has limited space to store family historical information, we do have the ability… Read More »Genealogy Help and References
“Janice Meredith” – 1924 Silent Film Showcases American Revolution
Views: 4,704 Back in 1924 silent films were all the rage. Bernardsville was just becoming a boro and separating from Bernards Township but there was still only one movie theater, The Liberty . How fortunate was the theater to feature… Read More »“Janice Meredith” – 1924 Silent Film Showcases American Revolution
We’re all about Joisey History, but with a social twist!
The Mr. Local History Project is a 501c3 all-volunteer non-profit public charity incorporated on October 15, 2019. It brings locals together to “preserve and promote local history with a social twist.” The project started in northern Somerset County, New Jersey, and now works across the Garden State, finding new ways to engage with local communities, organizations, and passionate people with great stories to share. Volunteers are always welcome.
The organization has been engaged in local historic efforts in Bedminster, Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Cranford, Far Hills, Keyport, Newark, Hoboken, Peapack/Gladstone, and Westfield towns, just to name a few, and we continue to expand as our audience grows.
100% Public Donor / Fundraiser Funded
Our efforts continue based on three sources: fundraisers, website advertising, and, most importantly, public donations from people like you! If you haven’t donated to our efforts, please consider one at the bottom of this page.
Paula Axt, Jill Betz, Brooks Betz, Meg Wastie, Robin Marion, and Larry Terricone.
The Mr Local History Project is now the exclusive seller of the New Jersey Historic Cat’s Meow Village, a partnership with the globally recognized wooden collectibles company Cat’s Meow. EVERY PENNY we raise from these collectibles goes back into funding the next collectible and other projects (like our coloring book and oak tree book). Please consider supporting us by becoming a resident of this fun set of collectibles in the New Jersey historic village.
“Out of adversity came opportunity” is the genesis for the Mr. Local History Project. After being a non-paid volunteer for over a decade, the Mr. Local History project was born. Started by Basking Ridge resident Brooks Betz, the Mr. Local History Project is dedicated to providing all kinds of local research and stories from the area we call home.