At a recent Somerset County 250th Celebration gathering at the Grain House Restaurant, a simple sign pointed visitors toward the Hunt Room. It was an ordinary moment, but it captured something bigger, the quiet buildup of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring Revolutionary War history back to life in the very place it happened.
The objective is clear: create a full-scale, historically inspired Revolutionary War signal beacon that transforms local history from something read into something experienced. This is not just a structure, but a working interpretation of how communication, terrain, and leadership shaped outcomes during the war. The proposed location is Lord Stirling Park in Basking Ridge, a landscape directly tied to Major General William Alexander, known as Lord Stirling. This ground is not symbolic; it is authentic terrain that once supported the very military strategies the project aims to interpret.
During the Revolutionary War, signal beacons formed an early warning network across New Jersey, using elevated terrain to transmit alerts about British troop movements. The Watchung Mountains and surrounding ridgelines made Somerset County a critical link in that communication chain, connecting key sites like Middlebrook and Pluckemin.
At the center of this system was Lord Stirling himself, a Basking Ridge resident and senior Continental Army leader who worked closely with George Washington. His deep understanding of the terrain and its strategic advantages made this region a focal point of military planning and defense.
Yes Signal Beacons Are Possible
On April 15, 1983, communities across New Jersey and parts of New York staged a coordinated statewide beacon lighting to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the 1783 Revolutionary War ceasefire. Organized by local historical societies, volunteers, and groups like Boy Scouts, large wooden beacons were constructed to colonial specifications and lit simultaneously along ridge lines from Holmdel to Ringwood. The fires, some reaching 50 to 70 feet high, recreated the historic “fires of joy” that originally spread news of peace across the colonies, turning former warning signals of war into a dramatic celebration of its end.
Bryant Park Summit, New Jersey.
Rockland County, NY, A Similar Fire Tradition
For nearly 40 years, veterans and volunteers in Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 333 have carried forward one of the Hudson Valley’s most dramatic Revolutionary War traditions by building and lighting memorial watch fires across Rockland County each Memorial Day weekend. Organized by local veterans, community groups, and supporters, the towering timber beacons honor fallen service members while recreating the appearance and spirit of the original Revolutionary War signal fires that once stretched across the Hudson Highlands. During the Revolution, these mountaintop beacons served as an early warning communication network, alerting colonial forces and communities to British troop and naval movements along the Hudson River corridor.
The annual event at several locations in our country, the “Watchfires” are lit at midnight with full military honors. A 24-hour vigil follows to remember those who have sacrificed their lives in the cause of freedom and democracy in all the wars and conflicts throughout our nation’s history.
The Rockland County effort provides a powerful modern example of how historic signal beacons can be brought back to life not simply as reenactments, but as meaningful public history experiences that connect communities to America’s founding era. Their work directly reflects the same vision behind the Revolutionary War signal beacon initiative now being explored in New Jersey: restoring awareness of the region’s forgotten beacon network, educating the public about the strategic importance of these warning systems, and creating visible, inspiring events that unite history, patriotism, and community participation. Just as the original beacon fires once linked communities across the Hudson Valley during the Revolution, today’s efforts can once again illuminate the landscape while reminding people of the sacrifices and communication networks that helped shape the American cause.
Why New Jersey Needs to Build a Beacon For America’s 250th
Placing this beacon at Lord Stirling Park connects people directly to the place. Visitors will stand where decisions were made, where signals may have been seen, and where the terrain itself influenced the course of the war.
The project would bring together a strong group of participants, including local historians, students, municipal partners, county leadership, and Revolutionary War organizations. Local tree service companies contribute materials, while the Mr. Local History Project leads planning, research, and execution.
The beacon itself will be a full-sized timber structure, approximately 20 feet high, built in the tapered pyramid form described in historical accounts. While modern safety measures will be incorporated, the visual design will remain true to the original wartime construction. Beyond the structure, the experience is the real goal. Interpretive signage, educational programming, and scheduled demonstrations will allow visitors to understand how these beacons functioned, why they were placed here, and how quickly information could move across the landscape.
Now, Here’s the Big Question
After it’s built, should it be burned?
Post Your Thoughts In the Comments Section Below
Interested in Joining Our Somerset County Effort?
Drop us a note. Looking to see if any other organizations have considered or is considering this idea.
We’re looking for:
– Tree Services that can provide logs for the beacon
– Historic Organizations to support and promote the effort.
– High School AP History Students to research and present
– Firefighters (if agreed to light it)
– Business Sponsors to help fund the effort
– Volunteers – always need volunteers!
Thinking of Building a Rev War Signal Beacon?
Our Mr. Local History Project researchers and planners would love to see more beacons created across New Jersey, so we’re sharing a presentation to help jumpstart your efforts:
