Welcome to the Mr. Local History Project
“A 501c3 Non-Profit Dedicated to Preserving and Promoting Jersey History with a Social Twist”
The Mr. Local History Project starts here with our story about preserving history in a new way using wood, art, and researched history. Wildwood, Sandy Hook, Old Barney, The Stone Pony, and Lucy the Elephant are the first five honored. Why do we care to preserve and promote these landmark icons? Because they’re the best!
Reader Question of the Day
This Week’s Top 10 Posts
Latest Research
- Spencer Road is Important to Mr. Local History Too
Views: 79 The Mr. Local History Project researchers prepared an overview of Bernards Township developments in the 20th century. Developments have have been going on since the 1600s, and we invite you to look at the stories at the end of this piece but many have been asking more about the Spencer Road development of… Read More »Spencer Road is Important to Mr. Local History Too - Stepford Wives Movie Remake Filmed In the Somerset Hills
Views: 19,005 Did you know that portions of the 2004 film The Stepford Wives were filmed in Bedminster (Lamington), New Jersey? Stepford stars in area to film movie remake Nicole Kidman and Bette Midler perform in Bedminster, Stay at Old Mill Inn BEDMINSTER TWP. – A picture-perfect barn complex and sunny skies greeted Nicole Kidman… Read More »Stepford Wives Movie Remake Filmed In the Somerset Hills - The Washington House- A Basking Ridge Icon
Views: 5,153 New Jersey Historical Wooden Keepsake Collection Welcomes the 1871 Washington House The iconic Washington House in Basking Ridge Village has a rich history dating back to 1871. At almost 150 years of age, the grand hotel still serves the public today as a grand local restaurant. The keepsake shown is painted on wood… Read More »The Washington House- A Basking Ridge Icon - History: ‘Down the Shore Everything’s Alright’ Collectibles
Views: 81 Yep, we said it….. sha la la la la la down the shore everything’s alright. Put some of the Jersey shore’s most iconic keepsakes out for display. Bruce Springsteen / Mr. Local History Project In the Collection: You get five Cat’s Meow Collectibles with our artist rendering on the front and the history… Read More »History: ‘Down the Shore Everything’s Alright’ Collectibles - Jersey Diners & Burgers Introduced at 1939 World’s Fair – The White Mana
Views: 63 Mr. Local History Researchers have yet to find a contract, a photo, or a map showcasing what they claim is the “Diner of the Future” from the 1939 World’s Fair. Nothing on the walls, nothing on the internet. If you find ANYTHING – POST A COMMENT at the end of this story. As… Read More »Jersey Diners & Burgers Introduced at 1939 World’s Fair – The White Mana - ‘Beautiful Bernards’ Honors Township Colors and Community
Views: 2,930 “Beautiful Bernards” is a perfect example of the Mr. Local History Project’s mission: “sharing history with a social twist!” Bernards Township Day is held typically around Charter Day on May 24th to honor organizations that support and promote living in Bernards Township. There’s nothing better than beautiful crimson and gold blooms popping out… Read More »‘Beautiful Bernards’ Honors Township Colors and Community - The Gilded Age: The Blairsden Estate May Be the Finest Example
Views: 20,779 Peapack, New Jersey’s Blairsden Estate of Clinton Ledyard Blair Peapack/Gladstone, New Jersey Submitted: Brooks Betz & W. Barry Thomson Blairsden History Out of all of the requests that we receive at Mr. Local History, none measure up to the sheer volume we receive every month requesting additional information on Blairsden, one of the… Read More »The Gilded Age: The Blairsden Estate May Be the Finest Example - Top 10 Trending Posts Right Now Mr. Local History
Views: 1,564 500+ Posts Honoring Jersey History “We keep researchin’ “ 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… Read More »Top 10 Trending Posts Right Now Mr. Local History - History of Housing Developments in Bernards Township
Views: 8,017 Interactive map showcases Bernards Township development history. Source: Mr. Local History Bernards Township has a long history of being a sleepy rural town. Then, the US built the Lyons VA, and everything changed as the population grew. Then AT&T came to town in the 1970s, and everything AGAIN started to change. Demand for… Read More »History of Housing Developments in Bernards Township - Comparing Basking Ridge’s 619 Year Old Oak to the World’s Oldest Trees
Views: 13,785 On April 24-26, 2017 the New Jersey town of Basking Ridge lost its oldest resident, the Basking Ridge historic white oak tree. What was estimated to be 619 years old, no one ever imagined that the tree would die during their lifetime, and it came as quite a shock to the entire community.… Read More »Comparing Basking Ridge’s 619 Year Old Oak to the World’s Oldest Trees - Get a Bernards Township Flag – MLH Donates 15 to Project Local History Ambassador
Views: 7,571 Project Local History Ambassador – Nicknamed “Teach ’em,” Project Ambassador is a five-year program where the Mr. Local History Project holds assemblies at each elementary school in Bernards Township and shares the history of the Bernards Township flag, culminating with each student receiving an official Annin & Co., Bernards Township flag of their… Read More »Get a Bernards Township Flag – MLH Donates 15 to Project Local History Ambassador - Project Local History Ambassador Flags for Students
Views: 3,074 UPDATE: March 2025 Connecting Bernards Township students to their local history, the Mr. Local History Project kicked off its 3rd year of our Project Local History Ambassador program for 5th-grade students thanks to the financial support of many notable people in the township. The program provides an official Annin & Company Bernards Township… Read More »Project Local History Ambassador Flags for Students - History:The Great Wall of Bernards Township & How Many Stones Contest
Views: 410 Join the quest to answer the question:How many stones make up the Great Wall of Basking Ridge around the Bernards Township Municipal Complex? Follow along…… As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, this post is updated when we learn additional information. We will continue to expand it as information becomes available and our readers… Read More »History:The Great Wall of Bernards Township & How Many Stones Contest - Bernards Township Origins
Views: 4,254 UPDATE: March 12, 2025 –A few researchers at the Mr. Local History Project are looking for a few Chinese and Indian residents interested in tracing the roots of these two growing communities in Bernards Township to the first families to become Basking Ridge residents. Strong ties to the local community will be important.… Read More »Bernards Township Origins - Art and History – Looking for Artists To Interpret History to Celebrate NJ250
Views: 7,612 UPDATE: We are looking for art programs, non-profits, and elder program coordinators to consider programs where an entire art class works to create their own collection with ties to our collective local history. MLHP Education Coordinator The Mr. Local History Project is looking for any artists to interpret our local history boards to… Read More »Art and History – Looking for Artists To Interpret History to Celebrate NJ250 - Gotta Love the Irish in Jersey – The History and All the Parades
Views: 521 Quick History – Irish Immigration to New Jersey By the mid-19th century, Irish immigration from Ireland to the United States surged, mainly due to the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852), which drove hundreds of thousands of Irish people to America. Many of these immigrants landed in cities like Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson, where… Read More »Gotta Love the Irish in Jersey – The History and All the Parades - International Women’s Day Honors Trailblazers from the Somerset Hills in New Jersey
Views: 13,648 Honoring International Women’s Day, we thought it would be an honor to research and share the stories of inspirational trailblazing women from our area that have made a difference. Each of these women either grew up or lived in the Somerset Hills. The Somerset Hills is the region of northern Somerset County, New… Read More »International Women’s Day Honors Trailblazers from the Somerset Hills in New Jersey - Retrospective: Newark’s McGovern’s Tavern- An Irish History Tale
Views: 23,370 Frank McGovern opened his tavern in 1936 selecting 58 New Street right in the central ward of downtown Newark. Whether by coincidence or not, McGovern’s also opened around the same time Newark’s St. Patrick’s Day parade was reborn (Sunday, March 15, 1936) after a long hiatus. Call it the luck of the Irish… Read More »Retrospective: Newark’s McGovern’s Tavern- An Irish History Tale
Recent Comments
Some friends and I really got into Weird NJ back in 2002-2003. Blairsden was on the top of our list…
I worked as a secretary at AT&T 295 in the early 1980s. That was a magical place. Such a beautiful…
Somerville’s Historic Advisory Committee has maintained a working list of Sears homes, both confirmed and to be authenticated, since 2000.…
I grew up in Berkeley Heights. We moved there in 1964. Once we got our drivers license, we would explore…
I served my apprenticeship as a Carpenter for local #455 UBC. It was quite experience working with older Carpenters of…
Interested in speaking with someone about diners at the 1939 Worlds Fair
My father was a bartender there in the 60’s. Friends with Steve Redzinak, A/k/a the Russian. He was the owner…
My uncle and cousin owned the Texaco next door.
Owner at one time Don the lifeguard taught me how to swim at the Roselle Swim Club. When I was…
Played hockey for The Dive, back in the day!
My Grandfather had his own bar stool there.
After Paul Cusano passed away my father, Nicholas Melone, was the general manager of American Shuffleboard for over 50 years.…
That was special and brought back many memories. I am 86 and graduated from Westfield Senior High School in 1956,…
I want to share my experience with this place, Blairsden. I’m getting chills now, FYI. This was about 40 years…
People need to get up in arms and protest visually and vocally about this. Bernardsville is already insane to drive…
Later, a 1948 Chevy truck engine powered the tow. 🙂 Also a car guy 🙂
Peapack’s Ski Hill had a Ford Model A motor for the tow line up the hill. I’m a car guy…
Hello Bedminster, New Jersey. I spent my early life in Bedminster, Bristol (UK). It’s interesting that yours is in the…
Lovely article My parents (Thomas & Margaret Fahy ) new McGovern’s Tavern very well . I miss all the old…
Jersey History Posts
Jersey history – over 500+ researched stories.
From Fort Lee to Cape May and everywhere in between.
Take a look.
“Wear Lost Local History” Collection
Brings Back Memories
MLH has digitally recreated lost businesses from the 1900s to the 1980s, producing over 250 designs of iconic vintage logos.
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Stories, Stories, and More Stories
Researched by Mr. Local History himself, see over ten years of research on the internet to share the history.
The Mr. Local History 2025 Spring History Magazine
See our quarterly digital magazine for FREE. Full of great local Jersey History.
Events Calendar
Signature Events, Tours, Fundraisers, and Speaking engagements.
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.
Like Historic Photos?
Over the years our researchers have gathered some great historic photos. Take a look as we “Dig In the Archives”
“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
“What is the point of being alive if you don’t know history?”
Meg Wastie – Education Team Lead
“The Mr. Local History Project covers some really unique stuff. I mean who digs into the history of Jersey Food? MLH does”
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.
No, but we are a 501c3 registered charity non-profit, meaning you can donate to the Mr. Local History Project, and your donation is 100% tax deductible. Every penny goes back into our programs.
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Thanks for sending. We get a lot of these stories. Our researchers even have a few. Now that the home…