Latest Issue – Summer 2026 – Click Here
Spring 2026 marks the beginning of something extraordinary across the Garden State. Communities, museums, schools, and historical societies are launching celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary, the SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL of the Declaration of Independence. From battlefield commemorations to new exhibits and public events, New Jersey is stepping forward to tell the stories that helped shape the nation. In this special issue, Mr. Local History Magazine brings readers into the center of those celebrations with highlights of NJ250 exhibits and the most comprehensive America 250 events calendar in the state.
Cover: Mr Local History Magazine Vol 8 Issue 1
Our cover honors the historic West Line railroad and several articles in this issue. The cover features a 1896 image of the Millington crossing. See the articles for more great historic images.
But as always, Mr. Local History goes beyond a single theme. In this issue, we explore how railroads shaped the social geography of New Jersey towns in our look at the Northside versus Southside phenomenon. Our continuing railroad research also examines the Passaic Valley and Peapack, the West Line Railroad proposals, and the bold vision behind the West Line. We also revisit the remarkable story of Griffin & Howe in Bernardsville, share discoveries from more than 5 years and 650 stories published through the Mr. Local History Project, and include our President’s Letter reflecting on the past year.
You will also find an invitation to help us identify our one-millionth visitor, and a lighthearted but very Jersey debate that now pits Taylor Ham, Pork Roll, and even SPAM against each other. The magazine is free to read and share, and if you enjoy what you see, consider supporting our writers and nonprofit mission with a small, tax-deductible donation.
The magazine is free! Consider making a small donation to support our writers and our nonprofit organization.
We’re tax-deductible too!
Volume 8 – Issue 1 – Kicks off America’s 250th Anniversary with So Much To Do and some great local history.
Washington Crossing State Park New Visitor Center Opening Soon in New Jersey
Views: 486 Well, with over 250 years in the making, New Jersey has finally put its money where its mouth is and is just about ready to open a brand new Washington Crossing Visitor Center. The push to build a…
Project Local History Ambassador Flags for Students in Bernards Township
Views: 5,572 UPDATE / Donor Special: The 2026 Ambassador Giving Campaign to Support Project Local History Ambassador for 5th Grade Students is underway: five schools and almost 500 Bernards Township official flags to be distributed. See our special offer to…
Revolutionary Pub Crawl Coming to Clinton, New Jersey
Views: 425 Enough already Pennsylvania, you don’t get all the fun. Now, Revolutionary Pub Crawls is coming to New Jersey. Is there a better way to honor America’s 250th anniversary than to join General Washington, Ben Franklin & other time…
2026: Bernards Township Charter Day – May 16 – It’s America 250 Time
Views: 998 Live now Live viewer count is not available at this time. try { const searchResp = await fetch( “https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/search?part=id&channelId=” + CHANNEL_ID + “&eventType=live&type=video&maxResults=1&key=” + API_KEY ); const searchData = await searchResp.json(); const videoId = searchData?.items?.[0]?.id?.videoId; if (!videoId) {…
Why are We Called “The Garden State?” Spring Gardens- History and Happenings
Views: 739 Most people think they know New Jersey. They picture highways, traffic, and a place you pass through on the way to somewhere else. But if you could step back into the mid 1800s, you’d see a very different…
Mr. Local History’s America’s 250th Celebration Magazine
Views: 2,667 This Special Issue of Mr. Local History Magazine celebrates America’s SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL, the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, by bringing New Jersey’s Revolutionary past to life. From historic battlefields and museum exhibits to community events…
Northside or Southside – Train Determines Socio Economic Town Dynamics
Views: 966 Part of our Mr. Local History Train Series….. For years, the Mr. Local History research team has been digging into New Jersey’s railroad history. As we traced old rail lines town by town, something curious began to appear…
The West Line Railroad: Fate That Created a Community Instead of an Industry
Views: 2,565 The iron rail that brought the steel horse to the Somerset Hills.This story is as much about the railroads that were built as it is about the railroads that weren’t. As our researchers identify new pertinent information, this…
Garden State’s Top Historic Gardens and Estates
Views: 8,821 April 14 is National Garden Day, so make sure you get out there and enjoy our Garden State’s beauty (and history) While the Mr. Local History Project typically focuses on historical research, stories, and events, we figured one…
New Jersey Most Extensive America 250 Events Calendar
Views: 6,931 “It’s the most extensive America 250 Events Calendar for New Jersey 250. BOOKMARK this Site and Come Back Often – Updated Daily This free statewide calendar is open to all New Jersey organizers to share America’s Semiquincentennial 250th…
Van Nostrand Cup: The America’s Cup of Ice Yachting Returns To New York
Views: 2,340 The “Hard Water” America’s Cup of Ice Yachting NEWS UPDATE: Trophy History: The Van Nostrand Cup The America’s Cup of ice boating, the Gardner Van Nostrand Trophy, today known as the Ice Yacht Challenge Cup. Gardner Van Nostrand…
New Jersey and America’s 250th Exhibits
Views: 1,185 “It’s the most extensive 250th Exhibit List we’ve seen for New Jersey.“ This free statewide exhibit list is open to all New Jersey organizers to share America’s 250th-related exhibits happening across the Garden State. From local History displays…
Historic Rocket Ice Yacht Reborn on the Navesink
Views: 990 In 1888, a fast and ambitious ice yacht named Rocket was built to race on the frozen reaches of the Navesink River at Red Bank, New Jersey. At a time when ice boating was one of winter’s great…
Mr. Local History Research That Surprised Even Us
Views: 761 For 5 years and more than 650 posts, Mr Local History has been telling the stories of Basking Ridge, the Somerset Hills, Somerset County, and eventually communities across New Jersey. What started local grew wider, but the goal…
Griffin & Howe Bernardsville – America’s Outfitter Hidden in a Small Jersey Town
Views: 1,831 Griffin & Howe’s Bernardsville Story How an American Institution Took Root For generations, the quiet streets of Bernardsville were home to one of the most respected names in American sporting arms. Griffin & Howe was not simply a…
President’s Letter – 2025 Year in Review
Our Mr. Local History Project Mission: To preserve and promote New Jersey’s local history with a social twist, as we are always looking to find new, fun ways to share stories about the great history of New Jersey.
Mr. Local History’s 1 Millionth Visitor – Was It You?
Views: 1,659 Mr. Local History’s 1 Millionth Visitor If you were the 1 millionth Visitor and grabbed a screenshot of our homepage at 1,000,000 – send it in. We’ll reward you with a special gift and recognition. So come back…
Hey Jersey – Taylor Ham vs. SPAM
Views: 1,903 The Debate That Divides New Jersey… And Now There’s a Third on the Rise… SPAM In New Jersey, there are a few things guaranteed to start an argument. Traffic circles. Jughandles. What exit are you from? But nothing…
Honoring Female Trailblazers from the Somerset Hills in New Jersey
Views: 19,021 International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8 andt throughout the month March. Honoring International Women’s Day, we thought it would be an honor to research and share the stories of inspirational trailblazing women from our…
