The Mr. Local History Project’s origins started when a few like-minded folks felt it is important to capture local history digitally, then get out there and share it. This is our history and we’re here to preserve those untold or often ignored stories from other organizations. We urge you to get lost in a particular category, location, people and even some weird topics.
Join us at one of our signature events as we have a credo, “History with a Social Twist”. The term originated when the group formed thinking they don’t need to be based in a historic structure and don’t need to have people come to us, we want to bring history to the masses across New Jersey.
Below are just a few stories to get you started, but please, do what we do all the time, use our search tool at the top right of the menu. There are over 400 researched stories on the site and even we forget we wrote about that.
And we often say that we don’t find our research topics now, but those topics seem to find us. So feel free to drop us a note on our Contact Us page. We love a good challenge.
Get lost in some fun local history!
Some of these are fun to start with……
Fall in New Jersey has always been a great time to be in the area. The leaves begin to change and the crisp fall air just begs you to get outside. Over the years, the Mr. Local History Project has researched the history of four fantastic places where you can take in the fall air and have a great walk. Oh and you can learn some great history to boot! The four places that scream out for your attendance are all within an hour to most New Jersey residents. Fresh air, great foliage, and a beautiful walk all welcome you… Read More »Day Trips – Four Historic Fall Locations You Must See in Jersey and Hudson Valley
Urban Legends, Ghosts, Murder, Nuns gone insane, the Devil and other horror stories we’ve dug up from Central New Jersey’s past. May be urban legends, but they’re OUR stories! When the leaves start turning and the nights get cooler, ghost tales and horror stories take over the autumn camp fires. Volunteering with some friends, a list was gathered and presented during a few walking tours that were put together in Basking Ridge and for a haunted fright night at the local Ross Farm. There are great ghost stories all around central New Jersey. Are they true? Well, history has a… Read More »Horror Tales and Ghost Stories from Central New Jersey
Craft brewing and distilling is alive and well in Somerset County. With a rich history going back to before the revolutionary war, the history of spirits and brewing in Jersey is a long savored tradition. Today, Somerset County is offering a new program called Sip and See, a new campaign to promote tourism with what has become a budding industry in Somerset County. Whether you’re on a farm, or in a historic village, the fun of supporting craft brewers and distillers helps support local businesses and promote the beauty and history of the Jersey countryside. The Mr. Local History Project… Read More »Distilling and Brewing in Somerset County- Ah the History
While watching an old episode of Man vs. Food Nation, food critic and comedian Adam Richman showed some awesome sandwiches from Jersey. Adam got us thinking, what are the sandwiches that define New Jersey? We’ve reached out to the public for their advice and we’ve hit the road to find answers across the state. Jerseyans take their sandwiches seriously! New Jerseyians take their sandwiches seriously. How can you not with all the great delis in the state. Click any to enlarge. Our Jersey Comfort Food Map – Growing Daily This is an interactive map. Open it in a new window… Read More »Sandwiches Invented in New Jersey
Being a Jersey guy who can’t forget the classic New Jersey diner. I’m not talking IHOP or Denny’s, but a REAL New Jersey diner. This story is a calling to our internet friends to identify the ultimate New Jersey’s Classic Diner for an upcoming New Jersey Historic Village wooden keepsake. After all, we are the Diner Capital of the United States so a lot of bragging rights are at stake. After two months and 600 votes, we have our keepsake nomination. Congratulations to the Broad Street Diner in Keyport, New Jersey for representing the village with the first Jersey Diner… Read More »What is New Jersey’s Most Iconic Diner? We Have a Winner!
NOTE: As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn stories and are sent photos from our community. We will continue to grow this piece as information becomes available. A Small Part of Camelot in the Somerset Hills While the Somerset Hills plays home to many a power broker and celebrities, there was no one who captured the time and essence of the Somerset Hills quite like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. While her life was filled with unimaginable tragedy, we look at her life in Bernardsville and Peapack as she turned to family and her… Read More »Retrospective: Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ Time in Bernardsville & Peapack in the Somerset Hills
Many people have asked why post all this history stuff on the area you’re calling the Somerset Hills. Well, call it passion. Call it intrigue. Call it local awareness. I think that the main reason is whenever I asked a question about history in the area, the information wasn’t available. I didn’t want to wait to go to the library, and I didn’t have time to go to the local historical society. But I moved to the area and said, “If I’m gonna be a local, I need to learn something about the history”. The Somerset Hills is often called… Read More »Grand Mansions and Historic Estates in the Somerset Hills
Those who follow the Mr. Local History Project know that we also love Jersey food and iconic food outlets. Along with the grand ethnic diversity comes food concoctions that over the years have become iconic Jersey staples on the Jersey food scene. One of those food concoctions started in an upstairs apartment in Newark, New Jersey way back in the 1930s and is still being made by the family business. We introduce you to Jimmy Buff’s and the Italian hot dog. We’ll start with the sandwich first, then move to how it all happened. Announcement Congratulations to Jimmy Buff’s for… Read More »Legendary Jimmy Buff’s Italian Hot Dog – A Newark, New Jersey Invention
As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn stories and are sent photos from our community. We will continue to expand this piece as information becomes available. The story will be updated as we learn more about the family and the history. So please come back!!!! Have a story or image to share? Post it in the comments section at the end of the post. 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 the around… Read More »Retrospective: Newark’s McGovern’s Tavern- An Irish History Tale
Like me, many of us in Somerset County, New Jersey drive back and forth down Route 287 then east on Route 22 day in and day out never thinking that just off the highway on the hillside by Vosseller Avenue in Bridgewater, New Jersey is a small 16 acre property that has the distinct honor of being the first official site to fly what we all refer to as “old glory.” Called “Middlebrook”, it’s a tiny section of land recognized as part of Bridgewater, New Jersey just south of Martinsville in Somerset County, New Jersey. It’s just north of Bound… Read More »Everyone in Jersey – Fly This American Flag
Wow, this story was one of our most controversial and difficult stories we’ve ever prepared. Just the thought of picking only 10 Jersey historic sites is an insane task. But I think we’re up to it. The 10 most historic things you need to see in Jersey before you kick the bucket. Gathered over the years, the Mr. Local History Project is out to share our experiences with what we think are the 10 most historic sites you need to see if you’re from New Jersey. Sure it’s our opinion, and if you have one you feel should be on… Read More »Jersey’s History Bucket List
Middlebrook is a know area in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey. We call it “Jersey’s Gift to America.” New Jersey is known as the “cockpit of the American revolution.” More battles were fought in New Jersey than any other colony, totalling over 90 military engagements, including the landmark battles of Trenton, Princeton and Monmouth. Here in New Jersey, Washington experienced some of his bleakest times and greatest triumphs, demonstrating his true virtuosity as commander in chief and a leader of men. And YES, more winters were spent by Washington and the Continental Army in New Jersey… Read More »Rev War in Somerset County Means Middlebrook
Self guided tours of some of the most historic pubs and taverns in the tri-state area. Who doesn’t like going on an adventure. The Mr. Local History Project has been building a list of historic pubs and taverns in the Jersey/New York City area over the years and have come up with a number of self guided day trips you can take via your car, your motorcycle, or Uber (if you care to imbibe over the legal limits. We introduce you to our Great Historic Tavern and Pub Crawl tours. We like touring Morris and Somerset County since this is… Read More »Historic Tavern Pub Tours of New Jersey / PA / New York City
EVERY TIME we try to come up with an answer, our Jersey hamburger story takes a twist. While there remains many unanswered questions, we are still here to introduce Louis, Abner “Al” A.L, and Webster Bridges, once a family of farmers from Cordele, Georgia, they came to New Jersey and became hamburger royalty. As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn stories and are sent photos from our community. We will continue to expand this piece as information becomes available. If you have any stories to share, please post in the comments section at the… Read More »The Brothers’ Bridges and Their Family’s New Jersey Burger Dynasty
It’s revered. It has its origins in Central and South America dating back to the 1500s and originated in the region that is now modern-day Mexico. Indigenous peoples in Central and South America, such as the Aztecs and Incas, were cultivating and consuming various types of wild tomatoes long before the arrival of Europeans. Fast forward a few centuries, here in New Jersey the story of the tomato dates back to the late 18th century when tomatoes were introduced to the region. Initially, tomatoes were met with suspicion and considered poisonous by some, as they are part of the nightshade… Read More »History of the Jersey Tomato
The devil tree of Liberty Corner in Somerset County Urban Legend 1 Devil Tree – The Tree and the Caretaker Me and my friends were all contemplating going up to the devil tree. I had been up there one time before, and a truly weird thing happened. It was about November or December when I was first told about the devil tree up in the mountains. I was told “Don’t touch it or something will happen to you or your car.” I had just had my car serviced though, and had a new fan belt installed. We went up to… Read More »The Tale of Jersey’s Devil Tree
