The MLH Project is proud to be the EXCLUSIVE reseller of the entire New Jersey Historic Wooden Keepsake Collection by the world famous Cat’s Meow Village Company.
The New Jersey Historic Village Collection
The New Jersey Historic Village keepsake collection is a wood painted collectible series honoring historic iconic buildings, properties, and fixtures that are part of the historic fabric of New Jersey’s history. Each keepsake was selected based on community feedback and a voting process. We’re really excited to see how the public reacts to the next additions to this historic series.” Sign up to receive updates when new pieces come available.
No. 29 – LBI – Barnegat Lighthouse – “Old Barney” c1835
Gotta love “Old Barney”, New Jersey’s second oldest lighthouse overseeing Barnegat Inlet at the top of Long Beach Island. The red and white icon has been guarding our shore since 1835 and is the 2nd oldest lighthouse behind the Sandy Hook lighthouse. #lovebarney. Our first New Jersey lighthouse as part of the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection. Get yours today!
No. 28 – Basking Ridge’s 100th Running of the Christmas Eve Caroling on the Green
No. 27 – Westfield’s Jolly Trolley and the Westfield Fire Department
We also have a 5 piece Westfield Bundle (Limited Availability).
No. 26 – Winter on Mindowaskin Pond – Westfield, New Jersey
No. 25 – Jimmy Buff’s Italian Hot Dog Eatery 90th Anniversary Collectible – W. Orange, New Jersey
No. 23 and 24 – Lucy the Elephant, Margate, NJ and the Ford Mansion, Morristown, New Jersey
Two Jersey classics were recently voted in to the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection. Available in our store right now. All proceeds go towards producing new research and collectibles. Click the image to get details on how you can add these historic Jersey icons to your village collection. Join the collection with this LAUNCH SPECIAL. Save $5 off either Lucy or the Ford Mansion (or both!)
No. 22 – Krug’s Tavern 1932 – Down Neck 90th Anniversary Keepsake – Ironbound Newark, New Jersey
Celebrating Newark’s own Krug’s Tavern, their 90th anniversary under one family! This limited run honors what is now NJ’s BEST BURGER destination. This is the 3rd New Jersey tavern in the collection.
No. 21- c.1939 – Trump #45 Summer White House – The Lamington House – Bedminster, New Jersey
Order your keepsake. Release party – July 4, 2021.
No. 20- New Jersey’s Iconic Diner – Honoring the “Diner Capital of the Universe”
Release Party – June 10, 2021. Check out our Jersey Foodie Collection Special
Want to be part of the New Jersey Historic Keepsake Village Collection?
You Have to be Nominated to Get In!
Know of a worthy historic addition to the New Jersey Historic Village Collection? Drop us a note as we’ve gotten very good working with organizations to create a keepsake to be nominated to the New Jersey Historic Village Collection – email us.
Additional keepsakes are being added as part of a multi-year cross state effort to promote and preserve New Jersey history.
No. 19- c.1728 Presbyterian Church – Westfield, New Jersey
Release Date: June 10, 2021. Also check out our Westfield Bundle Special
No. 18- c.1907 Mindowaskin Park – Westfield, New Jersey
Release Date: May 1, 2021. Also check out our Westfield Bundle Special
No. 17- c.1918 Bernardsville Cinema – Bernardsville, New Jersey
Release Date: May 1, 2021
No. 16- c.1922 Rialto Theater- Westfield, New Jersey
Order Now Release Date: May 1, 2021. Also check out our Westfield Bundle Special
No. 15- c.1926 Cranford Theater- Cranford, New Jersey
Order Now Release Date: May 1, 2021. Also check out our Cranford Bundle Special
No. 14 – c.1907 Jerolaman’s General Store – Bernardsville, New Jersey
No. 13 – The Historic Cranford Canoe Club – Cranford, New Jersey
The Cranford Canoe Club is one of the oldest canoe clubs in the United States and a community landmark known as part of Cranford’s identity for over a century. The current canoe club, while not the first, is the Rahway River’s last surviving canoe club. The Mr. Local History Project is trying to raise awareness of the facility and raise funds to nominate the property to the state and national historic registries. Sign the petition – Click Here.
No, 12- c.1930 the Lyons Veterans Administration Hospital – Bernards Township, New Jersey
In the 1924, the sixty-eighth Congress passed an act authorizing appropriations to provide hospital and outpatient facilities for veterans under the World War Veterans Act. On November 28, 1928, after reviewing 161 potential sites across the state, President Coolidge approved the purchase of Walter A. Reynolds’ 272-acre property known as “Knollcroft,” The Lyons New Jersey hospital was New Jersey’s first VA hospital. Opened in 1930 as a veterans neuropsychiatric hospital the VA Hospital at Lyons grew to over 864 acres in the 1950s. The area called Lyons is named for the J.M Lyon farm which was once a large part of the area. Construction of the Classical Revival main structure began on July 11, 1929. Today it is still a beautiful active facility. Read more about the history of the Lyons VA. Click Here
No. 11 – c.1730 Vealtown Tavern/Old Library – Bernardsville, New Jersey
The Vealtown Tavern’s keeper John Parker, was also a Captain in the Continental Army’s 1st Battalion of the Somerset County Militia. In 1902, the property was purchased for $12,000 by Fred Olcott from John E. Ballentine and presented to the Bernardsville Library Association and became Bernardsville’s first library. In 1978, the John Parker Tavern was placed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The property was donated to the borough by the Library Association in 1980. When the library moved to a new building in 2000, the Old Library was sold for $830,000 and now houses several businesses. It is regarded as the towns most favorite historic property. Today it is still a beautiful active facility.
No. 10 – c.1921 Far Hills Race Meeting – Far Hills, New Jersey
No. 9 – 1912 Natirar Estate – Peapack, New Jersey
The New Jersey Historic Village keepsake collection is a wood painted collectible series honoring historic iconic buildings, properties, and fixtures that are part of the historic fabric of New Jersey’s history. Each keepsake was selected based on community feedback and a voting process. Brooks Betz stated, “we’re really excited to see how the public reacts to the next additions to this historic series.” The Mr. Local History Project plans to introduce at least four new keepsakes in 2021. Simply sign up to receive updates when the new pieces will become available.
Battle of Somerset County’s Estate Titans – Natirar vs. Blairsden. You decide.
Additional keepsakes will be added to the Somerset Hills collection as part of a multi-year effort to promote and preserve history in the Somerset Hills including Bedminster, Bernards Twp., Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack and Gladstone. “There are so many great historic icons in the Somerset Hills and we were really excited to launch the keepsake program.
SOLD OUT – No. 8 – 1776 1761 – Lord Stirling Manor
One of the Colonies Greatest Manors. Basking Ridge Village
Most people don’t know how great William Alexander’s Basking Ridge manor was. Noted as one of the greatest manors in the colonies, the Mr. Local History Project honors who may be the most famous resident in Basking Ridge history. We introduce our addition to the Somerset Hills Historic Cat’s Meow Village – The Lord Stirling’s Manor.
Be the first to pre-order your keepsake of this heavily researched project that showcases one of the great lost estates. While the only remainder of the manor is a few out-buildings and the Lord Stirling Stables, this is your chance to remember one of Basking Ridge’s most noble residents. Pre-Orders are now available online only. Click Here for details.
No. 7 – 1776 Widow White’s Tavern
“A real American historic legend“
(Basking Ridge Village)
Released Nov. 1, 2019
No. 6 – 1912 Astor Estate
Mr Local History is proud to announce the release of the 6th in the collectible series, the 1912 Samuel Owen home now known as the Astor Estate is the new Somerset Hills Historic Cat’s Meow collectible.
Bernards Township acquired the Astor Estate in 1968 saving it from demolition. Read the entire story of the property as Mr. Local History profiled the Historic Astor Estate on this site.
No. 5 – 1871 Washington House
Congratulations – the community has voted and the winner is the 1871 Washington House in the Basking Ridge Village of Bernards Township. The voting was close but this is truly a worthy winner. The first release for 2019 is the historic 1871 Washington House in the Basking Ridge Village of Bernards Township. Congratulations – the community has voted and the winner is the 1871 Washington House in the Basking Ridge Village of Bernards Township. The voting was close but this is truly a worthy winner. The iconic Washington House in Basking Ridge Village has a rich history going back to 1871. At almost 150 years of age, the grand hotel still serves the public today as a grand local restaurant. The painting shown will be painted on wood and made available now at the Mr. Local History Gift Shop.
No.4 – 1777 – Elias Boudinot House
Mr. Local History is proud to announce along with a partnership with The Ross Farm the release of the 4th in the collectible series, the Somerset County 1777 Boudinout Southard Ross House. he sixty one acre Boudinot-Southard-Ross estate, which borders Lord Stirling Park and the Great Swamp was built by Elias Boudinot (Boo-de-no), born in Philadelphia, he moved to Basking Ridge in 1771. Boudinot served as the 2nd President of the Continental Congress (1783) and was a US Congressman. Washington later appointed Elias as Director of the U.S. Mint.
The collectible is part of the Somerset Hills Historic Cat’s Meow Historic collection. Pre-orders for this limited run are now being taken online. Less than 50 will be produced.
No. 3 – 619 Year Old Historic Basking Ridge Oak Tree
The release of the third in the collectible series, the 619 year old Basking Ridge Historic White Oak Cat’s Meow collectible. The collectible is now available online. The iconic historic Basking Ridge 619 year old White Oak Tree was the oldest of its kind in North America.
No 2. – 1718 Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church and Historic Oak Tree
Mr Local History is proud to announce the release of the second in the collectible series, the 1718 Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church and the 619 year old Basking Ridge Historic White Oak Cat’s Meow collectible.
SOLD OUT / No. 1 – 1809 Brick Academy Town Hall & Schoolhouse
Mr. Local History, in conjunction with Mr Local History, T3 Consortium and the Cat’s Meow Village introduce the Inaugural Keepsake of the Historic Somerset Hills Village Collection, the 1809 Brick Academy in the Basking Ridge Village of Bernards Township, New Jersey. The item is SOLD OUT but we might be able to help find one. Send us a note. Click Here
Many people collect other village pieces and build a village collection. The creations are part of the historic Cat’s Meow Village Collection, which has been producing iconic wood ornaments for over 35 years.
Local organizations and businesses will be producing limited batches of selected Somerset Hills Keepsake Village collectibles. All collectibles will be available online via the Mr. Local History Gift Shop.
How do I Get One?
The easiest way to get one is to order online via our Etsy Store.
Our online store accepts multiple forms of payment including credit/debit cards and Paypal. Orders are now being taken online. The collection is the ultimate local personal gift. Great for those moving into the area, or for those who’ve left the area. They also make great gifts for those who just like to remember the fond memories of the area.
The Cat’s Meow Village Company of Wooster, Ohio
The Cat’s Meow Village is a small company founded in Wooster, Ohio in 1982 from one simple wooden house Faline cutout on her grandfather’s saw in the loft of the hog barn. 35 years later, Jones with her crew continues to craft “little wooden buildings” of local, national, and international landmarks that spark memories and kindle smiles on the faces of “real life adventurers” like you.
Additional Information
The New Jersey Historic Village is created by Mr. Local History, who is affiliated with T3 Consortium who then licenses out to various organizations for fundraising and promotional activities.
