Happy Holidays from all of us at the
Mr. Local History Project
“A 501c3 Non-Profit Dedicated to Preserving and Promoting Jersey History with a Social Twist”
As 2024 draws to a close, our gift to you is some of the great traditions and local history around New Jersey.
It’s also a great time for Jersey History gifts as we open our Mr. Local History Holiday History Boutique.
Please also consider an end-of-year donation to our 501c3 efforts, as they are tax deductible!
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Featured Stories
This Week’s Top 10 Posts
Latest Research
- Live Stream 2024 UPDATE – Basking Ridge Community Sing On the Green
The town of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, welcomes its 100th anniversary Christmas Eve Sing on The Town Green at 7pm on Dec. 24, 2023. The town’s residents, friends, and guests gather to sing traditional carols and celebrate local history, documented by the Mr. Local History Project. - Keepsakes: Preserving Westfield New Jersey history is a Treasure
Views: 66 The Governor of New Jersey’s Historic Village has been working to preserve and promote Westfield, New Jersey’s history with what we call “history with a social twist.” The simple truth is we partnered with the world-famous Cat’s Meow Village to create historical memories of Westfield while adding the history of those icons on… Read More »Keepsakes: Preserving Westfield New Jersey history is a Treasure - Top 10 Trending Posts Right Now Mr. Local History
Views: 1,008 450+ Posts Honoring Jersey History Top Weekly MLH Reads Top History All Time #5 Post – All Time #4 Post – All Time #3 Post All Time #2 Post – All Time #1 Post – All Time Additional Stories: Mr. Local History’s #growlocalhistory Project December 13, 1776 – The Day that Altered American… Read More »Top 10 Trending Posts Right Now Mr. Local History - Finding New Jersey Super Size Pizzas & VOTING for Jersey’s Most Iconic Pizza Hangout
Views: 197 People keep asking us why a non-profit is dedicated to researching New Jersey history and building food maps. The short answer is that history has what we call threads. We start researching one thing, which leads to another. We know there’s gotta be a history story in there, and we’ll just have to… Read More »Finding New Jersey Super Size Pizzas & VOTING for Jersey’s Most Iconic Pizza Hangout - Keepsake: Wildwood Arrives to NJ Historic Wooden Village Collection Just In Time for Gift Giving
Views: 480 Ahhhhhhhh……those Wildwood Days are ready to give for the holidays! A monumental new keepsake collectible from the Mr. Local History Project. The Mayor of New Jersey’s Historic Village recently decreed that a new icon be added to the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection in a bold move to expand the only set… Read More »Keepsake: Wildwood Arrives to NJ Historic Wooden Village Collection Just In Time for Gift Giving - Wearing Lost Jersey Businesses is Fun History
Views: 1,780 Mr Local History loves history with a social twist. In fact, it’s our motto! So we thought how fun it would be to share some of the most loved New Jersey businesses that have disappeared. We started researching and putting our artists to work to recreate an offering of vintage retro clothing and… Read More »Wearing Lost Jersey Businesses is Fun History - Keepsake: Bernardsville’s Olcott School Part of NJ Keepsake Collection
Views: 430 Olcott School Keepsake Official Launch Party: Wednesday, December 11, 2024 The Mayor of New Jersey’s Historic Village recently decreed that a new icon be added to the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection in a bold move to expand the only set of New Jersey collectible icons. Introducing the historic Olcott School and… Read More »Keepsake: Bernardsville’s Olcott School Part of NJ Keepsake Collection - Why Your Donation Matters
Views: 194 is NOW It’s called Giving Tuesday and comes after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. But “Giving Tuesday could be ANY day, and here’s why. At MLH, we try to support every one of you every day—all year. We now need you to support our non-profit that supports your local… Read More »Why Your Donation Matters - Mr. Local History Motorsports Special Edition Magazine – Free!
Views: 284 Over the last few years, researchers at the Mr. Local History Project here in New Jersey have been busy at work and have released several stories related to the motorsports racing history in New Jersey. We’ve even now branched out to a national story highlighting the history of racing on board tracks, yes,… Read More »Mr. Local History Motorsports Special Edition Magazine – Free! - Jersey’s Holiday Tradition – Basking Ridge Christmas Eve Community Sing
The town of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, welcomes its 100th anniversary Christmas Eve Sing on The Town Green at 7pm on Dec. 24, 2023. The town’s residents, friends, and guests gather to sing traditional carols and celebrate local history, documented by the Mr. Local History Project. - Mr. Local History 2024 Holiday Magazine Vol 6. Issue 4
Views: 597 The holiday season in New Jersey is one of the most magical seasons of the year. Our annual holiday edition takes the board of trustees on a journey to tell the history of events and history from our hometown of Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Join us and enjoy the history of the area.… Read More »Mr. Local History 2024 Holiday Magazine Vol 6. Issue 4 - Lost Motorsport Board Tracks Across America – Mapping Them All
Views: 352 As a huge motorsports fan, this topic came up with a few of our researchers who can’t let it go! While the Mr. Local History Project normally focuses on New Jersey history, they had to discover more once they learned that Jersey was part of the story. So, we keep digging and finding… Read More »Lost Motorsport Board Tracks Across America – Mapping Them All - Basking Ridge Town Center Livestream
Views: 5,195 How’s life in Basking Ridge? Click the play button to take a live look at downtown Basking Ridge. Signature downtown village events to check in on:Tuesday, December 24, 2024 – 7 pm – Christmas Eve Community Sing 2025 ScheduleSaturday, May 17, 2025 – 11:30 am -6 pm – Basking Ridge Charter DayMon, May 26,… Read More »Basking Ridge Town Center Livestream - The Basking Ridge Christmas Tree and BRFCo are Tied in History
Every year, the Basking Ridge Fire Department erects a locally donated 30-foot evergreen tree on the town green. The fire personnel also decorate the tree which becomes a central piece for the town’s holiday celebrations. - Remembering Larison’s Turkey Farm in Chester, New Jersey
Views: 446 Larison’s Turkey Farm was a historic restaurant and landmark in Chester, New Jersey. It opened in 1945 on the site of a turkey farm that had been in operation since 1868. Known for its hearty turkey dinners and rustic farmhouse ambiance, it became a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike. UPDATE: The… Read More »Remembering Larison’s Turkey Farm in Chester, New Jersey - Arthur’s Tavern and a New Jersey Restaurant Dynasty
Views: 561 Do you know how Arthur’s Tavern got its name? Meet Arthur….. Arthur McGreevy. Meet Arthur McGreevy Arthur was born on Dec. 6, 1927, in Orange, N.J., and lived most of his life in Morris Plains, N.J., before moving to Sparta, N.J., where he lived before his death on November 3, 2011. Arthur attended… Read More »Arthur’s Tavern and a New Jersey Restaurant Dynasty - Thanksgiving Proclamation Way Before Lincoln Did It -Thanks Jersey Guys
Views: 58 While history recognizes President Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving proclamation, many don’t know that two statesmen persuaded President George Washington to declare the last Thursday in November “a day of thanks” across the new American nation on October 3, 1789, designating Thursday, November 26, 1789, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. Let Mr.… Read More »Thanksgiving Proclamation Way Before Lincoln Did It -Thanks Jersey Guys - Largest Antique Truck Collection in the World is in Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Views: 12,470 You wouldn’t think, but in a quiet suburb of New York City, a man has amassed what is often referred to as the largest collection of Mack and antique trucks in the world. We introduce you to the Mahan Foundation of Basking Ridge. As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update… Read More »Largest Antique Truck Collection in the World is in Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Recent Comments
But someone else told us this tidbit: Pindaros Roy Vagelos, M.D. was the CEO and Chairman of the Board of…
B & W Hackensack My favorite for at least 70 odd years, hands down over any other crumb cake I’ve…
The New York Candy Kitchen-(173 E. Broad Street near corner of Elm and E.Broad) and the successor Westfield Candy Kitchen…
My parents began Margie’s, and my mom was Margie. The first shop was in Mountainside around 1950; then they built…
My Mom was Margie of Margie’s Cake Box. She and my Dad opened the first bakery around 1950 and he…
Excellent article that brought back many memories. I was part of the 1975 ‘Phase One’ group of employees that came…
One drive in you never mentioned was Shore drive in it was on route 33 and route 34 in wall…
What town?
I remember two milk machines in my neighborhood in the 60’s & 70’s. One was at the corner of S.…
Jaspan Brothers on Elmora Ave. in Elizabeth was always fun as a kid. It’s a shame these unique stores are…
FYI – Craigmere Ski Area was in New York. The Craigmeur Ski Area was in Newfoundland, New Jersey. There are…
Wood Ave. Hardware, Linden NJ. Closed up in the early 90’s. I worked there is the mid – late 80’s…
There was a milk vending machine on Belmont Avenue, in North Haledon, in front of Ideal Farms.
I heard Dublin Zoo was so good at breeding lions that it was known as the Lion Factory!
My grandparents were on Morristown Rd and were friends with the Phifers. A quarter got you in to look around.…
Grew up there in the 50s. Sat on that ground under the tree many times. We knew that was where…
We checked here – https://www.concertarchives.org/venues/waterloo-village?date=past nothing listed.
I remember seeing Emmylou Harris at Waterloo on August 22, 1992. It isn’t included in your list and I have…
When my boys were young, their Dad did some renovation work at the M&M’s factory in Hackettstown. One Saturday, we…
Jersey History Posts
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Stories, Stories, and More Stories
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The Mr. Local History 2024 Holiday Magazine
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Events Calendar
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The New Jersey Historic Village Wooden Collection
35 iconic local Jersey Collectibles made exclusively for the Mr. Local History Project by the world famous “Cat’s Meow Village” of Wooster, Ohio. Once they sell out, they’re usually gone forever.
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“I love sharing stories about the history of Jersey food. If one thing people miss when they leave Jersey, it’s the food. We dig in!”
Brooks Betz aka Mr. Local History
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Meg Wastie – Education Team Lead
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Ms. Paula Axt – Tour Guide and Education
Frequently Asked Questions
The Mr. Local History Project is a 100% volunteer organization. Want to join us? No problem. There are no membership fees, and you only need to support one of our efforts. Programs include education, research, guided tours, or one of our many events.. You can even start something of your own. Visit our Contact Us page and drop us a note to get involved.
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Margie’s also used to have a chocolate chip cookie dough crumb cake. My mom would always buy 2 – my…