Views: 3,970 Bernards Township has been a charted township going back to 1760. With the early Dutch and Scottish settlers, the area’s origin belongs to the famed Lenni-Lenape Native American tribe. But what about the other cultures in the area?… Read More »Bernards Township Origins
Views: 185,198 America’s First Military Academy, the Pluckemin Academy (Dec.1778) was24 Years BEFORE West Point (Mar. 16, 1802). One of the greatest untold stories of the American Revolution. Called the Pluckemin Winter Cantonment, part of the overall Middlebrook Encampment of… Read More »Before the West Point Military Academy (USMA) There was Pluckemin
Views: 14,772 The Mr. Local History Project congratulates the Far Hills Race on reaching its centennial in 2021. It is part of the fabric and history of this equestrian area of Somerset County, New Jersey. What’s in a name? Some call it… Read More »Far Hills Race Meeting is Real Social Jersey History
Views: 8,339 So we’re over at the Bedminster Farmers Market and while meeting a few of the locals, one of the patrons mentioned “why don’t you research what’s going on over at the slave burial grounds in Bedminster. Here we… Read More »A Unique Bedminster Cemetery-“God’s Acre”
Views: 6,728 Mr. Local History is proud to announce along with a partnership with The Ross Farm the release of the 6th in the collectible series, the Somerset County 1777 Boudinot Southard Ross House. The collectible is part of the… Read More »1777 Boudinot – Southard- Ross Farm in Basking Ridge Enshrined in Wooden Historic Village
Views: 482 Mr. Local History is proud to announce, after years of thought, that they will be producing a very limited run of a keepsake honoring the lost Jolly Trolley restaurant and Westfield Fire Department. The special commission will be… Read More »Westfield’s Icon Jolly Trolley Enshrined in NJ Historic Wooden Village
Views: 8,098 Tucked in the northern section of Somerset County, New Jersey, the area known as the Somerset Hills has a rich history that Mr. Local History is proud to document. Each property was researched prior to submitting documentation to… Read More »Somerset Hills Historic Sites on the National & State Registers
Views: 9,190 The Grain House: 1768-2018 Congratulations to the Grain House Restaurant for celebrating its 250th anniversary as a structure in the Franklin Corners section of Bernards Township, New Jersey. Mr. Local History congratulates the historic Grain House as it… Read More »Historic Grain House in Bernards Township Marks 250th Anniversary
Views: 19,922 Historical Perspective: The Blairsden Estate of Clinton Ledyard Blair Peapack/Gladstone, New Jersey Submitted: Brooks Betz & W. Barry Thomson Blairsden Background Out of all of the requests that we receive at Mr. Local History, none measure up to… Read More »The Gilded Age: The Blairsden Estate
Views: 4,811 We’ve been testing out a new piece of technology and wanted to share with our community. The project is to compliment what has traditionally been a guided walking tour in Basking Ridge. We’re thinking of hiring one of… Read More »Virtual Tour of Historic Basking Ridge Village
Views: 13,393 Sister Towns in New Jersey and England Share a Common Bond – and a Name How fun was it when we were contacted by our friends across the pond who were inquiring about what they were calling a… Read More »The Tale of Two Bedminsters
Views: 14,498 One of the most iconic historic properties in the Somerset Hills is an English Tudor style estate that sits atop a high ridge in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township. Built in 1912, this Basking Ridge landmark… Read More »Historic 1912 Bernards Township Town Hall – The Astor Estate in Basking Ridge
Views: 7,809 2019 – Honoring New Jersey’s Bernards Township Police Department’s 100th Anniversary. 50 Photos in Less Than 6 Minutes On April 10, 2019, the Bernards Township Police Department will be celebrating 100 years serving the local community. From their… Read More »Bernards Township Police Department Celebrates 100 Years of Service
Views: 9,049 Before I begin this post, I must say that this topic was one of my favorites, along with June Kennedy, our Basking Ridge Town historian who passed away in November 2018. We often challenged each other to dig… Read More »The History of Bernards Township Street Names
Views: 4,958 Somerset Historic Village Collection Welcomes #4 – the 1871 Washington House. Inaugural Run is Available Now (Online ONLY) Amazing that it’s been two years since we launched the Historic Somerset Hills Village collection in partnership with the Cat’s… Read More »The Washington House