Views: 54,528 Weird New Jersey magazine launched an all-out attack with urban legends about what went terribly wrong inside the Blairsden Estate in Peapack, New Jersey. This article originally was posted on another site back in 2007. We thought it… Read More »Blairsden- The Horror, The Nuns and Other Urban Legends
Views: 963 For your consideration…… Late December and early January are great times to reflect on the year passed and stories that presented themselves. The Mr. Local History Project looks back at the top 10 stories uncovered for 2021 based… Read More »2021 Year In Review – Mr. Local History’s Top 10 Stories
Views: 2,012 The Mr. Local History project often digs into multiple archives looking for evidence of the areas collective past. But this one got us scratching our heads. There is no doubt that Bernards Township is named after Sir Francis… Read More »Is it Bernard or Bernards? Hummm
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The Mr. Local History Project loves to share photos from various sources showcasing images from the area’s local archives. It’s called #diginthearchives . Play our weekly game online on our Facebook page and tell any stories you might have. If you didn’t know the answer, we will always post it here.
Just Click on Any Image and the Show Begins
The McArthur Family of Basking Ridge c.1902. Samuel Southard, 8th Secretary of the Navy, New Jersey Attorney General, US Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of War, Elected Governor over Peter D. Vroom by a vote of 40 to 24 by the joint session of the Legislature in 1832, he re-entered the U.S. Senate in the following year. The destroyer USS Southard (DD-207), (later DMS-10), 1919–1946, was named in his honor. There is also a public park in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, named after him. His home was the now famed Ross Farm adjacent to the Great Swamp and Basking Ridge Country Club.Oak Street Junior High School Graduation 1958 – Basking RidgeBville News Graduation I966The St John’s Academy was the former Hillandale Estate in Gladstone, which was built as the country home of sugar magnate, George Mosle. The Sisters of St. John the Baptist acquired the estate in 1926. The Sisters used the property as a residence for the order, for worship and as a school. The school, the Mount Saint John Academy, closed in 2008.Liberty-Park-Gladstone-1938Freddy’s Tavern had a great meal presence as well. Steaks for under $10 in 1983Bernardsville, This postcard depicts the DL&W Lackawanna Railroad Station in Mine Brook, circa 1905 very near Whitenack Road. The sign over the doorway reads “Mine Brook” and the boxcar is labeled “Grand Trunk 5502”. Isn’t it amazing how few trees were on the hillside? I also recently learned why they called it Mine Brook since there were ore mines on the top of Bernardsville Mountain, earlier referred to as Mine Mountain. Just completed a research project of the Bishop Janes, who built his home near the mine. The ramp was established to make it easier for the patrons to get on and off the train. IF you travel east it would be left, and west would be right.
1985 Somerset Food Store in Liberty CornerThe Pottersville Bridge in northern Bedminster c.1910The Far Hills Fairgrounds c.1910The Township Hall Bernards Township back in 1960 celebrating the Bicentennial.The infamous Pistilli’s Italian Restaurant in Bernardsville just north of North Finley Avenue on Route 202 back in 19751985-Somerset-Food-StoresThe Bernardsville National Bank Of Bernardsville in New Jersey printed $828,990 dollars worth of national currency. That is a high amount, but condition and serial numbers can make otherwise common currency from this bank quite valuable. This national bank opened in 1903 and stopped printing money in 1935, which equals a 33 year printing period. That is a fairly normal lifespan for a national bank. During its life, The Bernardsville National Bank Of Bernardsville issued 12 different types and denominations of national currency. We have examples of the types listed below. Your bank note should look similar. Just the bank name will be different. For the record, The Bernardsville National Bank Of Bernardsville was located in Somerset County. It was assigned charter number 6960.Tommy Dorsey Benefit in Bernardsville 1932. Tommy lived in Bernardsville from 1935 to 1944 at 200 Old Army Road.1995-yearbook-Ridge-High-SchoolLabor-Day-1979-Basking-Ridge-Kiwanis-FairPeapack Gladstone’s Ravine Lake c.1900The Bernards Township Oak tree c.1920Bernards High School c.1921June 20, 1968 advertisement, going out to dinner. Bernardsville NewsBernards Township Talk of the Township Magazine c.2002The Bernards Township Deconry in Liberty Corner.1993-Pistillis-Bernardsville-Courier-NewsBasking Ridge Downtown c19531961 train crash in Gladstone, New JerseyPG_Gladstone_Post_Office_c1935Downtown BernardsvilleBernardsville’s Claremont_Hotel c1910Bedminster c1940 Pluckemin Williamson GaragePluckemin’s Old Log mill dam c 1905Jackie Kennedy Onassis in BedminsterWinter 1909 behind St. James School hill1976 Corner Cupboard in Basking RidgeKennedy Martin Stelle House Basking RidgeAllen Store Basking Ridge c1910Maple School Demolish 1973Basking Ridge Firehouse 1927Liberty Corner Post Office 1975The Shady Grove Inn 1964Them Maple Lodge c1932 in Liberty CornerWoolworths Ad Bernardsville News 1961The Schley Mountain Glider Field c 1933The Shannon Lodge c1930s in BernardsvilleSamuel Owen’s Peach Orchards c1935Fiddlers Elbow Golf Club c1979Tommy Dorsey and-Frank Sinatra I’ll Be Seeing You first recorded on February 26, 1940. The image was released on this cover photo in 1994. he title of the 1944 film I’ll Be Seeing You was taken from this song. Lived in Bernardsville on 200 Old Army Road from 1935 to November 1944. This image was with Tommy and Sinatra at RCA Victor Studios, 1941.RHS Yearboook 1969 Bicentennial Parade Memorial Day 1960 Downtown Basking RidgePatrolman Robert Eberle at new police station Nov 20 19691933 Shannon Lodge BernardsvilleMain Street Far Hills late 1800sPleasant Valley Mill in Basking Ridge, c1906Basking Ridge’s South Maple Avenue getting paved c 1928The Millington Quary c 1908 in Basking RidgeUS Veterans Administration Hospital c1932AT&T’s Brochure of its new Basking Ridge FacilityThe Compton House in Basking RidgeBedminster’s Somerset Airfiled c1960Lieutenant Austin P Spencer 1943Greetings from Liberty Corner NJ postcard – Not quite right from what we know.Bernardsville’s town center c1900Route 287 Dedication Brochure October 21,1967Route 78 and 287 Dedication July 29, 1966South Alward Ave in Basking Ridge c1940Aerial view Basking Ridge Basking RidgeOak Street School Newsletter Snappy Bits 1952Ridge High School Floor plan c1961Bunn Lake c1910 BernardsvilleWashington House Pig Roast Basking Ridge 1934Basking Ridge Downtown 1940sJ Geils from Bedminster NJ and went to Bernards HighMeryl Streep BernardsvilleThe New Jersey Hunt CupThe Orchard Farm c. 1910 was built around 1870 at the corner of Madisonville Road and North Maple Avenue in the Madisonville section of Bernards Township. This was the largest Second Empire style house in Basking Ridge. For 40 years the Charles Roberts family lived there. Mr. Roberts was a prominent banker and the secretary/treasurer of the Childs Restaurant chain.
Views: 1,812 As 2019 comes to a close here in the Somerset Hills, now’s the best time to take a look back at all the fun events, activities, posts, and images for 2019. While not in images, our biggest event… Read More »2019 – Local History in Pictures
Views: 4,468 While searching the internet we found a few great books that showcases the history of the Somerset Hills and Somerset County, New Jersey from the early 1800’s. If you like local history, these two books really bring the… Read More »Somerset History – Two Historic Books
Views: 1,672 With great fanfare, the Mr. Local History announces that the Mr. Local History Project registered as a formal organization with 501(c)(3) non-profit status. While our mission hasn’t changed, the founding organizers have a few specific goals to share… Read More »Mr. Local History Registers as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Views: 5,085 Bedminster, Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack & Gladstone History that you might not know. Let’s get started. Did you know… 1921 – Far Hills was actually part of Bernards Township until seceding in 1921. Rising taxes led… Read More »Somerset Hills History 101
Views: 19,698 Historical Perspective: The Blairsden Estate of Clinton Ledyard Blair Peapack/Gladstone, New Jersey Submitted: Brooks Betz & W. Barry Thomson Blairsden Background Out of all of the requests that we receive at Mr. Local History, none measure up to… Read More »The Gilded Age: The Blairsden Estate
Views: 1,939 Throwback post – If you live in Bernards Township, New Jersey, for the 250th Anniversary back in 2010 Bernards Township adopted the Flower Drift Daffodil as the 250th Anniversary Daffodil for their 250th anniversary! Show your support by… Read More »Spring Planting – Keep the History Going
Views: 4,872 Somerset Historic Village Collection Welcomes #4 – the 1871 Washington House. Inaugural Run is Available Now (Online ONLY) Amazing that it’s been two years since we launched the Historic Somerset Hills Village collection in partnership with the Cat’s… Read More »The Washington House
Views: 4,235 Coloring History Opportunity for Kids T3 Consortium, a local company in the Somerset Hills, is proud to announce a new program for education programs to create a great program to make available for children while teaching them about… Read More »Kids Event Planning: History Coloring Book
Views: 3,482 Meet Local Artist Linda Arnold – Get an Autographed Edition Local artist and Liberty Corner resident Linda Arnold will be signing copies of her new coloring book “Somerset Hills History” during the Bernards Township Charter Day Streetfair &… Read More »Charter Day to Showcase Artist’s History Coloring Book
Views: 7,518 Coloring book fans now have the opportunity to color the local history of the Somerset Hills area of New Jersey while learning about the areas historic sites and most memorable moments. What was in the works for almost 10 years,… Read More »Somerset Hills History Coloring Book