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 begins here with our story about preserving history in a new way, utilizing 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!
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- Historic Hotel Somerset – Rev War Tunison’s Tavern in Somerville Still Serves History
Views: 74 I walked by this place for years and never thought it was open, until one day I saw the lights on. I decided to investigate. Here’s the deal: that business is the oldest in Somerville, New Jersey, a tavern that served Washington soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The oldest continuously operated tavern/Inn in… Read More »Historic Hotel Somerset – Rev War Tunison’s Tavern in Somerville Still Serves History - Top 10 Trending Posts Right Now Mr. Local History
Views: 1,860 500+ Posts Honoring Jersey History “We keep researchin’ “ Top 10 This Week 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 - Ice Cream History around the Somerset Hills
Views: 4,867 July is National Ice Cream Month, so it’s time for Mr. Local History’s look back at the history, the good fun (and some “good humor”). The first official account of ice cream in the New World dates back to a letter written in 1744 by a guest of Maryland’s Governor William Bladen. The… Read More »Ice Cream History around the Somerset Hills - Somerville Bike Race – Oldest Race in America & a Jersey Memorial Day Staple
Views: 168 It’s the oldest cycling race in America – right in Somerville, New Jersey, every Memorial Day for 85 years! It’s the “Kentucky Derby of Cycling.” I laid on the ground at turn two and thought all would be good. I put my hand thru the guardrails and aimed the phone up. It scared… Read More »Somerville Bike Race – Oldest Race in America & a Jersey Memorial Day Staple - Lt. Austin Spencer – A Basking Ridge MIA Story
Views: 141 This story came about after the Mr. Local History Project researchers prepared research on Bernards Township developments in the 20th century. Many residents started asking about the Spencer Road development, one of the first in the township to provide lower-income homes for veterans returning from WW2. Spencer Road was one of the township’s… Read More »Lt. Austin Spencer – A Basking Ridge MIA Story - America’s Oldest Nudist Colony is in Liberty Corner, New Jersey
Views: 19,194 NOTE: As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn stories and receive photos from our community. We will continue to expand this piece as information becomes available. 2025 Sky Farm Music & Arts Festival – Saturday, June 21, 2025 The Sky Farm Music & Arts festival… Read More »America’s Oldest Nudist Colony is in Liberty Corner, New Jersey - Memorial Day Tribute
Views: 241 Honoring those we’ve lost and those veterans who have served. 2025 Bernards Township Parade updates are below the tribute video. Soldiers showcased in the video who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country: 2025 Bernards Township Memorial Day Parade Update More Mr. Local History Additional Stories: The Tale of Jersey’s Devil Tree… Read More »Memorial Day Tribute - Bernards Township Research
Views: 60 Additional Stories: Summer MLH Hits The Tale of Jersey’s Devil Tree The Founding Families of Bernards Township (Basking Ridge) Quicklinks – History From Your Town - Summer MLH Hits
Views: 56 Here are a few fun posts to get you ready for those Jersey Summer Dayz! History with a social twist. Additional Stories: The Tale of Jersey’s Devil Tree Mapping New Jersey’s Historic Schoolhouses Student Rules Then and Now Bedminster Map Project Reveals Historic Pluckemin Artillery Park - TROG – The Race of Gentlemen – Pure Jersey History Right in Front of Your Eyes
Views: 10,966 Known as The Race of Gentlemen, the event has been revived since the 1950s by a local club called the Oilers of New Jersey. For one weekend in early October, racers, gassers, and fans gather on the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey, for one of only two instances of beach racing in the… Read More »TROG – The Race of Gentlemen – Pure Jersey History Right in Front of Your Eyes - Remembering Fairview Cemetery – History of Westfield, New Jersey’s Largest Resting Place
Views: 391 Being raised in Westfield was a great experience. As I look back now, there are so many great stories; it’s funny how they all start to tie together. Who would’ve thought a 12-year-old growing up on East Broad Street would come to find fun and beauty in a cemetery? Looking back now, that’s… Read More »Remembering Fairview Cemetery – History of Westfield, New Jersey’s Largest Resting Place - Book Remembering Bernardsville, New Jersey in the Gilded Age
Views: 288 This is a fantastic look into the history of the Bernardsville, NJ, mountain colony through the eyes of a wealthy Gilded Age family member at the turn of the 19th century. And we have a digital copy here for your reading pleasure. A. (Allison) Wright Post (1867–1944) was the son of renowned American… Read More »Book Remembering Bernardsville, New Jersey in the Gilded Age - Crumbcake Burger – Jersey’s B&W Crumb Cake Meets a Krug’s Burger
Views: 108 UPDATE:We have NOT Agreed on a Date yet – Sign Up to receive an update when we have details The Mr. Local History Project is sponsoring the first-ever “Crumb Cake Burger Flat Top Challenge,” which will introduce Jersey’s best-rated 1/2-pound burger inside a piece of Jersey’s best-rated crumb cake. Two New Jersey institutions are… Read More »Crumbcake Burger – Jersey’s B&W Crumb Cake Meets a Krug’s Burger - Bernardsville’s Boylan House on New Jersey’s 10 Most Historic Endangered List
Views: 352 Preservation New Jersey announced the 2025 list of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places, highlighting places across New Jersey that are at risk of being lost due to neglect, development pressures, lack of funding, or natural threats. For Bernardsville’s Boylan House, being one of the ten most endangered, as noted by Preservation New Jersey, recognizes… Read More »Bernardsville’s Boylan House on New Jersey’s 10 Most Historic Endangered List - Video Series: Inside the Blairsden Mansion in Peapack, New Jersey
Views: 170 This story brings the history of the Gilded Age, also known as the Golden Age of America, where wealthy Americans built some of the most lavish mansions and estates in America from the late 1800s to the post-depression era. The Central New Jersey Beaux Arts estate has been intriguing since its construction started.… Read More »Video Series: Inside the Blairsden Mansion in Peapack, New Jersey - Gilded Age New Jersey Mansions Honored for Their Historic Design
Views: 96 Honoring Two Stories – Two Men – Two Estates A key mission statement of the Mr. Local History project is to find new ways to “Share History with a Social Twist,” which means we try to incorporate the social aspects of people, places, and things that tie back to tell their history at… Read More »Gilded Age New Jersey Mansions Honored for Their Historic Design - The Far Hills Inn – Remembering Dining Elegance
Views: 156 The Far Hills Inn along Route 31 (Now Route 202) was in Bridgewater, not Far Hills, and not Somerville. While researching the history of Far Hills, New Jersey, we found this former treasure, the Far Hills Inn. While named Far Hills, it was actually not in Somerville or Far Hills but in Bridgewater,… Read More »The Far Hills Inn – Remembering Dining Elegance - Historic Fires in the Somerset Hills
Views: 7,922 While you’d think that hurricanes and floods wreak the most havoc, there has been nothing more destructive to properties in the Somerset Hills than fires. The Mr. Local History Project is gathering information regarding large fires in the Somerset Hills area of northern Somerset County, New Jersey. Looking back at history, we’ve started… Read More »Historic Fires in the Somerset Hills
Recent Comments
All these look GREAT
We used to have company functions back in the 90’s with AT&T. Good Bier….sehr gut Bier!
This is such an intriguing piece about Liberty Corner! I had no idea that America’s oldest nudist colony was right…
Bayonne West 8th street and Broadway across from park 1974ish and was a child so don’t know cost
I don’t understand why the majority of people dismiss the KKK theory out of hand. To me it makes the…
What a fascinating piece of history! I had no idea that such a significant nudist colony existed in New Jersey.…
Al’s Submarine shop, Shector’s Hardware, Brown’s Variety, The Corner Sweet Shoppe, Milt’s Luncheonette, The Red Coach Grille, Swan’s Cleaners, Bob’s…
Could’ve been a nice country inn with Jackie memorabilia in the lobby. Instead some rich couple demolished it. Shame really.
Every time I pass this, I can’t help but think, “I found Jesus! He really is out there standing in…
The Mr. Local History 2025 Spring History Magazine
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Events Calendar
Signature Events, Tours, Fundraisers, and Speaking Engagements.
The New Jersey Historic Village Wooden Collection
40 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.
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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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Woodstown Ice & Coal, a small mom-and-pop hardware and feed store down in Salem County, NJ is proud to remain…