The famous and sometimes not-so-famous people and stories from the Mr. Local History Project researchers. Over 30 stories and counting.
Views: 2,663 Starting in 1836 in Paterson, New Jersey, Samuel Colt’s revolver is one of the 10 most influential inventions EVER produced. The Colt Paterson revolver was the first practical revolving-cylinder handgun, and it was made in Paterson, New Jersey. For years,… Read More »Col. Samuel Colt Got His Start in Paterson, New Jersey
Views: 1,421 Less than half a mile down Green Brook Road in Green Brook, New Jersey, sits a sizable but inconspicuous old house. This house is known locally as the Dr. John Vermeule House or the Vermeule House (pronounced Ver-Mule).… Read More »Different Owners, Changing Times…Vermeule House in Green Brook Remains
Views: 3,949 RETROSPECTIVE:MLHP often releases retrospectives, which are stories about our research that may change as new research is uncovered. Our search now takes us to the Princeton University archives. We are still looking at where Abraham Southard settled from around… Read More »The Southard Family of Basking Ridge and A Historic Finding
Views: 2,346 Often, Mr. Local History doesn’t search for stories as those stories find us. Case in point is this weird little story about a man who comes to America only to find that his life is remembered after Basking… Read More »Remembering Willie Howard and Bedminster’s Willie’s Tavern
Views: 1,321 As a recent subscriber to Ancestry.com the first thing everyone does is they create a family tree. After you’ve added your basic living and deceased family members and started your frame, you are now a slave to what… Read More »Ancestry Comes Up Short on Analytics
Views: 4,164 NOTE: Warren, Far Hills and Bernardsville were all part of Bernards Township in the early 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Cemeteries remain a primary source for historical research and MLH leverages many sources from cemeteries to validate early… Read More »Basking Ridge’s Oldest Cemetery
Views: 3,066 Mixed inside a Revolutionary War site on a hillside in Bernardsville, New Jersey is a modest estate and truly beautiful gardens. The Cross Estate encompasses 162 acres and together with the Jarvis tract augments the 320-acre New Jersey… Read More »Bernardsville’s Historic Cross Estate & Gardens
Views: 4,553 The date was May 24, 1883, a date years in the making alongside plenty of engineering accomplishments, drama, tragedy and perseverance. 140 years later, MLH honors the Roebling family accomplishments, as well as John A. Roebling 2nd, that… Read More »Retrospective: Bernardsville’s Roebling Family and Their Brooklyn Bridge
Views: 1,914 Again this year, we’re hoping that you will participate with the Mr. Local History Project and support #buyavetaburger is a grass- roots campaign that started years ago to bring and prepare food for formerly homeless veterans at the… Read More »‘Buy A Veteran a Burger’ Fundraiser For Our Lyons VA Veterans
Views: 6,213 Our curiosity started with a round-table discussion: Who is Francis Bernard, and should there be a statue to recognize his service to New Jersey? Read the story and tell us what you think at the end. It is… Read More »Meet (Sir) Francis Bernard Esq. – New Jersey’s Royal Governor
Views: 527 Terms and Conditions to the new Provincial Governor if accepted. And YES, Bernard accepted. As the internet grows, so does the information. This piece is a transcribe of what is the job description for Francis Bernard, who was… Read More »New Jersey Provincial Governor – Francis Bernard’s Actual 1758 Job Description
Views: 9,864 NOTE: As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn stories and are sent photos from our community. We will continue to expand this piece as information becomes available. The story is expanding… Read More »Retrospective: Robert & Estelle Terry – Tuskegee Airmen and Basking Ridge Pilots
Views: 6,900 Brush’s deli has a long history in Basking Ridge and is the longest-standing deli in the community. Located at 35 S. Finley avenue in the same building, the P.C. Henry general store opened in 1869 and remained until… Read More »Brush’s Deli Served the Community for Three Generations
Views: 2,957 This Memorial Day, Bernards Township has a new monument honoring veterans and residents Robert & Estelle Terry’s Tuskegee Airmen efforts. A granite slab with a bronze plaque, alongside two banners of Captain Robert Terry and his wife Estelle… Read More »Monument Honors Robert & Estelle Terry’s Tuskegee Airmen Efforts
Views: 7,076 The Knox Trophy is an award that was established on October 8, 1910 and given annually by the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York to the United States Military Academy cadet with the highest rating… Read More »The Knox Trophy – West Point’s Oldest Military Award