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 Questions of the Day
This Week’s Top 10 Posts
Latest News Updates & Research
- PREVIEW: John Placko – A Basking Ridge Icon
Views: 26 SUBSCRIBER PREVIEW: If you signed up for our alerts, we’re releasing this story as a preview as we’re hoping you, or other people will read and share additional photos or stories they have of Basking Ridge’s John “Honey Bee” Placko. If you have more to add, please contact us here. For those who… Read More »PREVIEW: John Placko – A Basking Ridge Icon - Retrospective: Bernardsville’s St. Bernard’s Episcopal Church
Views: 61 Bernardsville was still part of Bernards Township up until 1924. Cemeteries are one of the best sources for historical research and MLH leverages church records to understand families and their history. Before St. Bernard’s, the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church was operating in the early 1700s. Bernardsville’s St. Bernard’s Episcopal Church Bernardsville’s St. Bernard’s… Read More »Retrospective: Bernardsville’s St. Bernard’s Episcopal Church - Basking Ridge Oak Tree Community Video Photo Collection
Views: 4,034 Basking Ridge Oak Tree Community Video Photo Album Did you send us your photo yet? We will make another version, so keep them coming. On April 24-26, 2017, the New Jersey town of Basking Ridge lost its oldest resident, the historic white oak tree. What was estimated to be over 600 years old,… Read More »Basking Ridge Oak Tree Community Video Photo Collection - The Pope of Basking Ridge – Bill Hine’s Presence Shined
Views: 529 Remembering Bill Hine – the Pope of Basking Ridge Every once in a while, we come across a human interest story that’s so much more than history; we must tell it so that the story continues in local circles for generations. This is one of those stories. We take you to the small… Read More »The Pope of Basking Ridge – Bill Hine’s Presence Shined - Top 10 Trending Posts Right Now Mr. Local History
Views: 1,695 500+ 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 Widow White’s Tavern 7th Wooden… Read More »Top 10 Trending Posts Right Now Mr. Local History - Now We Need Your Help -You Are Our Heart and Soul
Views: 191 Our FUNDRAISING GOAL is Just $750 Want to bring our programs to the public and the schools. They require insurance, and your help is critical! Please help us make sure we can make these programs happen. Nothing is more inspiring than those who support our cause and efforts with a donation. We know… Read More »Now We Need Your Help -You Are Our Heart and Soul - Garden State’s Top Historic Gardens and Estates
Views: 4,100 April 14th 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 great tour might be how to get out there and see some of the most… Read More »Garden State’s Top Historic Gardens and Estates - Union Flagship on Route 22 Beautiful Keepsake Honors History
Views: 1,193 UPDATE: Release Party: April 11, 2025 – Congratulations to Union, Route 22, and the famous historic roadside attraction, the “World Famous Flagship – the ship that never sailed.” Your votes mattered, and the Route 22 Flagship is now officially part of the New Jersey Historical Wooden Keepsake Collection. The Mr. Local History Project… Read More »Union Flagship on Route 22 Beautiful Keepsake Honors History - Jersey’s Bendix Diner Story Blows Your Mind – Forced to Sell
Views: 10,649 Story UPDATE: April 8, 2025 The rumors are true. The Bendix Diner is for sale. Nj.com reported the price to be $2.5 million. “Bendix Diner’s owner is open to all offers/calls for inquiries,” said Nick Rogers of commercial real estate firm IPRG, “Yes, if someone wanted to buy the building, they could pick it up… Read More »Jersey’s Bendix Diner Story Blows Your Mind – Forced to Sell - Jersey’s Jared Isaacman – Ridge Dropout Billionaire Astronaut Tagged to Lead NASA
Views: 12,872 JARED IN THE NEWS: April 8, 2025 – Confirmation hearing Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 10:00 am to confirm President Donald J. Trump’s nomination of New Jersey’s Jared Isaacman to head NASA with a vote to happen later next week. As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when… Read More »Jersey’s Jared Isaacman – Ridge Dropout Billionaire Astronaut Tagged to Lead NASA - Retrospective: The History Behind Bernards Township Charter Day & That Charter
Views: 4,031 Why We Celebrate Bernards Township Charter Day The first Charter Day street fair celebration in Bernards Township was held on Saturday, May 20, 1995. The event started at 10 am and lasted till 4 pm. Charter Day commemorates the May 24, 1760 (a Saturday) anniversary of King George II of England’s granting of… Read More »Retrospective: The History Behind Bernards Township Charter Day & That Charter - 2025 Bernards Township Charter Day Streetfair
Views: 235 #btchartday is ON! Rain or Shine Get ready for a fun-filled street fair and festival in Historic Basking Ridge Village on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Weather Forecast Stop by the Mr. Local History Project Booth #91 on Henry Street just outside the Washington House! Learn about our Basking Ridge Flags for students called… Read More »2025 Bernards Township Charter Day Streetfair - Bernardsville’s Good Shepherd Watches Over All of Us
Views: 660 The “Good Shepherd” Watches Over Bernardsville, New Jersey Driving along historic Route 202, you can see Henry Robinson’s wood-carved ” The Good Shepherd” on the Meadowbrook Farm. Robinson’s second large outdoor project stands 24 feet tall in the Meadowbrook Farm field. Over 23 years, artist Harry Robinson created over 50 statues and was… Read More »Bernardsville’s Good Shepherd Watches Over All of Us - Basking Ridge’s Spencer Road is Important to Mr. Local History Too
Views: 615 It’s always fun to hear how a story becomes a story for us. In fact, there’s always a story about a new story. History is a bit like sewing…. when you pull a thread, you never know where it will go and who is involved. This one is no different. We were researching… Read More »Basking Ridge’s Spencer Road is Important to Mr. Local History Too - Stepford Wives Movie Remake Filmed In the Somerset Hills
Views: 19,241 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: 5,239 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: 166 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 Claim Introduction at 1939 World’s Fair – The White Mana
Views: 270 Mr. Local History Researchers have yet to find a contract, a photo, or a map showcasing what some claim was the “Diner of the Future” at the 1939 World’s Fair. Nothing on the walls, nothing digital. And we’re not the first to say so. If you find ANYTHING – POST A COMMENT at… Read More »Jersey Diners & Burgers Claim Introduction at 1939 World’s Fair – The White Mana
Recent Comments
Every time I pass this, I can’t help but think, “I found Jesus! He really is out there standing in…
The road was named after my uncle’s brother, a WWII vet who did not return. I swam in his parents’…
I was a friend of J’s when I was briefly dating his best friend. He was 16 at the time,…
When I was running marathons, that’s around where one of my routes would end. Hence, he’s been Finish Line Jesus…
Harry was a great guy. I took a carving class with him at Bernard’s high school in the late 70s…
We should connect. I’ve been digging into this story as well after putting down for a few years. I finally…
Connect via our Contact Us Page on our website – we know about this story!
Best article ever! I had no idea that while I so enjoy seeing the cows on this property as I…
Of course! I grew up on the farm. My dad was head herdsman .My sister was born same day as…
Spencers lived on the corner of West OaK & Hillside Terrace at 122 Spencer Road. He worked at Public Service…
I remember the Spencers lived next door to us (1958-1967). Their son had been killed overseas (Korean War?) And Spencer…
Grew up on 97 Spencer. It started as a tiny postwar cube of a postwar house. Now it’s a sprawling…
I used to play at Charlane Whitlock’s house on Spencer Rd. It was on the bend as you headed down…
Thanks for sharing this fascinating history! We live in the Spencer family’s former home on West Oak, and our son’s…
Thanks for sending. We get a lot of these stories. Our researchers even have a few. Now that the home…
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…
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.
Click Here
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.
Help Preserve and Promote
Local History Together
Click the Button to see how we can help each other.
Could’ve been a nice country inn with Jackie memorabilia in the lobby. Instead some rich bitch demolished it. Shame really.