Welcome to the Mr. Local History Project
“A 501c3 Non-Profit Dedicated to Preserving and Promoting Jersey History with a Social Twist”
Mr. Local History is about bringing America’s past into the present through the stories of real places, real people, and real communities. Focused especially on New Jersey, the project celebrates local history in a way that feels personal, engaging, and relevant not something locked away in textbooks, but history that lives where we live. As we head into 2026, the 250th anniversary of the United States, Mr. Local History is turning history into a shared experience. With a social twist, this is about connecting online and in the community, sharing memories, spotlighting hometown stories, and honoring New Jersey’s outsized role in America’s founding. It is history you can explore, share, and be part of together.
On This Day in America250 History: February 3
- 1690: The colony of Massachusetts issues the first paper money in the Americas.
- 1778: Pluckemin, New Jersey. Continental Army artillery cantonment during the Revolutionary War, associated with Henry Knox and American artillery training and logistics.
- 1781: American Revolutionary War: British forces seize the Dutch-owned Caribbean island Sint Eustatius.
- 1787: Militia led by General Benjamin Lincoln crush the remnants of Shays' Rebellion in Petersham, Massachusetts.
- 1809: The Territory of Illinois is created by the 10th United States Congress.
- 1870: The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing voting rights to male citizens regardless of race.
- 1913: The Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, authorizing the Federal government to impose and collect an income tax.
- 1959: Sixty-five people are killed when American Airlines Flight 320 crashes into the East River on approach to LaGuardia Airport in New York City.
- 1961: The United States Air Force begins Operation Looking Glass, and over the next 30 years, a "Doomsday Plane" is always in the air, with the capability of taking direct control of the United States' bombers and missiles in the event of the destruction of the SAC's command post.
- 1971: New York Police Officer Frank Serpico is shot during a drug bust in Brooklyn and survives to later testify against police corruption.
Our Readers’ Top 10 MLH Posts this Week
Latest Posts
- New Jersey Iceboating Legends
Views: 66 “It’s time \the Garden State Honors the Legends of New Jersey Iceboating.” Based on numerous interviews and research about the history of New Jersey iceboating, we hope that our New Jersey Legends of Iceboating list of members of the iceboating community is a solid representation of the history of the sport in the… Read More »New Jersey Iceboating Legends - Iceboats Flock to New Jersey Ice Again – Historic Winter Times
Views: 1,218 How exciting to announce that the cold is back and there’s ice on our lakes, rivers, and bays across New Jersey. In fact it’s so cold, we have to pray to the snow gods to slow down the delug just a bit so the iceboats can get back on the ice. North Shrewsbury… Read More »Iceboats Flock to New Jersey Ice Again – Historic Winter Times - Podcast Corner: Honoring Jersey & American History for the 250th Anniversary
Views: 141 America’s 250th anniversary is not something that is coming soon. It is already underway. Across the country and here in New Jersey, America 250 and NJ250 programs have begun the long, multi year commemoration leading to 2026, inviting the public to engage with the nation’s history now rather than waiting for a single… Read More »Podcast Corner: Honoring Jersey & American History for the 250th Anniversary - Jersey Food, Iconic Places, All Jersey
Views: 147 The Best of the Best We Don’t Kow Why – But We Keep Finding Great Jersey Food Stories To Write About Create PDF - Westfield Builds a Lego Town to Celebrate America 250
Views: 315 On January 24, Westfield, New Jersey hosted a special America250 edition of its popular community program Build Westfield in LEGO, bringing families and residents together for a creative celebration of local and national history. Held at Westfield High School, the event invites families to use over 100,000 LEGO bricks and historic reference images… Read More »Westfield Builds a Lego Town to Celebrate America 250 - Weird Facts about The Liberty Bell
Views: 483 In the mid-1700s Philadelphia wanted a bell with a voice strong enough to call people together. When the Liberty Bell first rang it was loud enough to turn heads across the city. Imagine a quieter world no engines no sirens no constant hum. When that bell was struck its sound cut cleanly through… Read More »Weird Facts about The Liberty Bell - Where IS the Declaration of Independence? Where it Should Be
Views: 236 A Memory of a Class Field Trip to Philadephia We love Jersey history, but Philly is right next door. In 2026, the United States marks 250 years since independence was declared. That declaration did not happen in a museum or a vault. It happened in Philadelphia. The Declaration of Independence belongs in Philadelphia… Read More »Where IS the Declaration of Independence? Where it Should Be - Mr. Local History Research That Surprised Even Us
Views: 301 For 5 years and more than 650 posts, Mr Local History has been telling the stories of Basking Ridge, the Somerset Hills, Somerset County, and eventually communities across New Jersey. What started local grew wider, but the goal stayed the same to uncover, document, and share the history hiding in plain sight. As… Read More »Mr. Local History Research That Surprised Even Us - Droning History Over New Jersey
Views: 844 Chasing Jersey History – Droning over the Years Full list of towns, sites, and date at the end of this post. NEWS: Our Drone Took a Hard Fall / Help MLH Get Back in the Air We are sad to share that our aerial history photography program has hit an unexpected setback. While… Read More »Droning History Over New Jersey - Bernards Township History: The Asian Origins Initiative
Views: 6,073 UPDATE: January 19, 2026 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 History: The Asian Origins Initiative - Basking Ridge’s “Rushmore 5” Ladies Honored
Views: 1,818 MLH Mini-Series: The Basking Ridge Rushmore 5 Female Edition Now It’s the Ladies Turn…The Basking Ridge Ladies Rushmore 5 Okay, so I live in Basking Ridge, which is part of Bernards Township, but we all refer to it as Basking Ridge, right? Now, I believe that history has to be over a hundred… Read More »Basking Ridge’s “Rushmore 5” Ladies Honored - The Paula Grossman Story – 50+ Years Later Forever in Basking Ridge History
Views: 2,118 Paula Grossman’s dismissal from the Bernards Township school system in the early 1970s is widely regarded as one of the first public cases of transgender discrimination in American public employment. A tenured music teacher removed not for misconduct but for identity, her case was debated openly, litigated through state courts, and reported nationally… Read More »The Paula Grossman Story – 50+ Years Later Forever in Basking Ridge History - America 250: The Flag Design & Jersey’s Involvement
Views: 582 Mr. Local History finds itself back partnering with a New Jersey iconic business that has been one of the most historic in American History. As we expanded our Gift Shop collection with America 250 flags, it’s no surprise that it’s all being done by the Annin Flag Company, who’s family got their American… Read More »America 250: The Flag Design & Jersey’s Involvement - Griffin & Howe Bernardsville – America’s Outfitter Hidden in a Small Jersey Town
Views: 771 Griffin & Howe’s Bernardsville Story How an American Institution Took Root For generations, the quiet streets of Bernardsville were home to one of the most respected names in American sporting arms. Griffin & Howe was not simply a gun shop. It was a destination. Hunters, sportsmen, collectors, and craftsmen understood that if precision,… Read More »Griffin & Howe Bernardsville – America’s Outfitter Hidden in a Small Jersey Town - Basking Ridge’s Rushmore 5 Ladies Deserving Recognition
Views: 1,054 MLH Mini-Series: The Basking Ridge Rushmore 5 in our Community UPDATE:Our researchers have been watching this post carefully and have finally made the decision and create the Basking Ridge Rushmore 5 for five women that made and continue to make Basking Ridge such a great, historic, and beautiful community to live in –… Read More »Basking Ridge’s Rushmore 5 Ladies Deserving Recognition - Cockfighting in the Somerset Hills – How Times Have Changed
Views: 649 Picture a country barn set back from the road. Cars parked along a tree line, never too close together. Men arriving quietly, some local, others from out of town. Inside, cages line the walls and a small pit sits at the center. Cash changes hands. Bottles are passed. Someone always seems to be… Read More »Cockfighting in the Somerset Hills – How Times Have Changed - New Jersey America 250 Events Calendar
Views: 2,243 “It’s the most extensive America 250 Events Calendar we’ve seen for New Jersey.Thanks for putting this together. “ BOOKMARK this Site and Come Back Often – Updated Daily This free statewide calendar is open to all New Jersey organizers to share America 250 related events happening across the Garden State. From local history… Read More »New Jersey America 250 Events Calendar - What Might Have Happened if General Lee Wasn’t Captured in Basking Ridge
Views: 594 In December 1776 the American rebellion was close to collapse. The Continental Army was shrinking as enlistments expired and morale sank to its lowest point of the war. British forces held New York and expected the uprising to simply fade away with the coming winter. What happened next hinged on a few quiet… Read More »What Might Have Happened if General Lee Wasn’t Captured in Basking Ridge - The Missing Marlboro Man From Basking Ridge
Yes folks there was a Marlboro Man who lived atop Schley Mountain in Bernards Township (Basking Ridge) Now we need the community’s help.
MLH Loves To See The Public Engaged….. The Latest Comments
Another nomination for women in Basking Ridge who made a difference. Anita Albers founded the Albrook School almost 50 years…
Here’s some info from a local FB page: Posted in You Know Your’re from Basking Ridge FB Group…. Jayna Rydzinski I…
This is fantastic. The Tuskegee airmen have been something in interested in. I have about 5 historical prints of the…
In the summer of 1971 I was 14 years old. From my earliest memories I felt I was really a…
We lived across the street at 262 No Maple (we lived in a converted barn that was part of the…
I had Paul Grossman as a music teacher from 1st grade at Maple Ave. School , then at Cedar Hill…
All the great classical music and literature that we were introduced to was in his/her class. I loved when he/she…
I lived on old dutch road 1964 to 1986 next road heading south on rt 206. We went there many…
I had Paul Grossman in 7th grade at Oak Street Junior High School. He seemed like any other teacher. If…
The Mr. Local History 2025 Holiday Shopping Guide / Magazine
See our quarterly digital magazine. Full of great local Jersey History.
A brass monkey was a square plate, otherwise a fun article to read.