Category: Township Historian

News and articles of historic interest from the official Bernards Township historian.

Retrospective: Harry Dunham and His Park

Local History
Harry Dunham Park Mr Local History Project

Post Views: 419 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. If you have a comment or photo, feel free to post at the bottom of this page or drop us a note. Mr. Local History Project As many Bernards Township residents know about the Harry Dunham Park, very few people know about Harry Dunham the man. Mr. Dunham was born in Springfield, Massachusetts and…

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Basking Ridge Oak Tree Community Photo Album

Mr. Local History
The Basking Ridge Oak Tree Photo Album - Mr Local History Project

Post Views: 405 On April 24-26, 2017 the New Jersey town of Basking Ridge lost its oldest resident, the Basking Ridge historic white oak tree.  What was estimated to be over 600 years old, no one ever imagined that the tree would die during their lifetime and it came as quite a shock to the entire community. So we reached out to the community on our Facebook Page asking for any photos to add to our Basking Ridge Oak Tree photo album. If you’d like your photo added, join the…

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The New Jersey Historic Miniature Village Keepsake Collection

Mr. Local History
13-New-Jersey-Historic-Village-cats-meow---Mr-Local-History-Project

Post Views: 2,719 The MLH Project is proud to announce that the Somerset Hills Historic Village has joined forces with the New Jersey Historic Village Collection. The New Jersey Historic Village keepsake collection is a wood painted collectible series honoring historic iconic buildings, properties, and fixtures that are part of the historic fabric of New Jersey’s history. Each keepsake was selected based on community feedback and a voting process. Brooks Betz stated, “we’re really excited to see how the public reacts to the next additions to this historic series.” The…

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JOIN US: Walking Tour of Historic Basking Ridge Village

Local History
The Mr Local History Walking Tour of Basking Ridge Village

Post Views: 590 COVID-19 Protocols – The event is entirely OUTDOORS! We ask that if you are not vaccinated, have antibodies, or are at risk, please make sure to take appropriate personal precautions. The MLH Project will recommend pod social distancing. Join the Mr. Local History Project as we present our annual walking tour of the historic village of Basking Ridge; our annual fundraiser for our local high school scholarship. This approximately 1 hour tour tells the history of the architecture at specific locations as you walk the streets of…

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Free Map Gift

Local History
Beers 1873 Map Mr Local History Free Map Offer

Post Views: 335 Make a Tax Deductible Donation – Get a Frameable Map Finding New Ways to Share Local History.We call it “Maps for a Cause” supporting Our Annual Scholarship Fund The Mr. Local History Project continues its mission to get history in the hands, and on the walls, of our local residents. So we have an offer for everyone. You send us a tax deductible donation, and we’ll send you a custom created historic rendering of an iconic 1873 map. While we had hoped to do this in person…

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Comparing The Basking Ridge Oak to the Worlds Oldest Trees

Mr. Local History
So what happened while the Basking Ridge Oak Tree was growing up - Mr Local History

Post Views: 6,861 On April 24-26, 2017 the New Jersey town of Basking Ridge lost its oldest resident, the Basking Ridge historic white oak tree.  What was estimated to be over 600 years old, no one ever imagined that the tree would die during their lifetime and it came as quite a shock to the entire community. Are there other stories stories out there? We started to think; how does the loss of the Basking Ridge Oak tree rank against the worlds oldest trees. Here’s what we found. The 600 Year…

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Somerset Hills Historic Cat’s Meow Village Collection has Joined the New Jersey Historic Village Miniatures Collection

Mr. Local History
The New Jersey History Village Collection by Cat's Meow

Post Views: 410 The New Jersey Historic Village keepsake collection is a wood painted collectible series honoring historic iconic buildings, properties, and fixtures that are part of the historic fabric of New Jersey’s history. Each keepsake was selected based on community feedback and a voting process. Brooks Betz stated, “we’re really excited to see how the public reacts to the next additions to this historic series.” The Mr. Local History Project plans to introduce at least seven new keepsakes in 2021. Simply sign up to receive updates when the new…

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Honoring Black History Month in the Somerset Hills

Mr. Local History
Celebrating Black History Month in Bedminster, Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack and Gladstone in the Somerset HIlls - Mr. Local History Project

Post Views: 280 NOTE: As with many 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. Mr. Local History Project The Mr. Local History Project is often asked to dig into particular historic events, historic properties, and historic people. Every February the nation celebrates black history month so we wanted to do some digging, and crowdsource to the local communities to build on honoring the month with stories…

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The Annin’s of Liberty Corner: Patriots, Flag Company and a Middle School

Mr. Local History
William Annin - Annins Corner, Liberty Corner, William Annin Middle School Mr. Local History Project

Post Views: 805 William Annin has a prominent place in the history of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Liberty Corner, and yes the William Annin Middle School. The Mr. Local History Project looks back at one of Liberty Corner’s founding families known worldwide for their manufacturing of “old glory” that have been placed around the world and even on the moon! The Patriots:John Johnston, known as John Annin from Annin’s Corner (Liberty Corner) John Johnston was born in Annandale, a district in southeastern Scotland named for the river Annan. The area…

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Three Most Historic Moments That Changed Basking Ridge & America

Mr. Local History
#3localhistoryeventchallenge - 3 Greatest Moments in Basking Ridge History

Post Views: 557 PREVIEW RELEASE – PUBLIC INPUT INVITED – While an editorial, this preview piece is a way to promote the three most important events in our towns history. Feel free to comment at the end of the story. On the internet, we’ve created the #3LOCALHISTORYEVENTCHALLENGE where you share your town’s three most historic events. As the historian for Bernards Township, representing Bernards Towns#hip and its four hamlets is a great honor and I’m always looking for ways to showcase local history to residents, neighbors, and friends that haven’t…

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Retrospective: Why Bernardsville was Called Vealtown

Mr. Local History
Vealtown also known as Bernardsville on 1814 Map

Post Views: 491 It’s an age old question. And the internet didn’t know the answer. So the Mr. Local History Project went digging. Why was Bernardsville once called Vealtown? Our research started with a post on social media because yes there are a lot of smart people out there. Next, we started digging into our vast archive of data, maps, stories, articles and reference material, knowing we’ve seen the term “Veal Town” before. Maps are always a great place to start. But why “VEAL”? What is veal anyway. First –…

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Vote for Bernards Township’s Most Historic Icons

Mr. Local History
What are Bernards Township's Most Historic Icons - Mr Local History Survey

Post Views: 350 Hey Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, Lyons and West Millington, we’d love your opinion. What are Bernards Township’s most historic icons? We’d like to hear what you have to say. Curious what you think. Choose up to three. Vote in the Series:Know Bernardsville? Vote for their most historic Click HereKnow Bernards Township? Vote for their most historic Click HereKnow Bedminster? Vote for their most historic Click Here Loading…

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Holiday Cards for Veterans -#cardsforvets

Mr. Local History
Lyons VA - Mr Local History Project Card for Vets Project

Post Views: 310 In a year filled with challenge and heartache the Mr. Local History brought a little holiday cheer by presenting their #cardsforvets, a program that connected the community with local veterans. Cards for Veterans were presented at the Lyons VA on Monday to spread a little cheer in a difficult time. It seems like a lifetime ago but it was only a year ago when children and their parents gathered at the Washington House in Basking Ridge and wrote out holiday cards for our veterans. Those cards were…

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Reflection: Basking Ridge Christmas Eve Community Sing

Mr. Local History

Post Views: 6,893 The Basking Ridge Christmas Eve Sing went VIRTUAL for the first time in 97 years. The Annual Christmas Eve Community Caroling on the Village Green in Basking Ridge was produced and broadcast to the world virtually on December 24, 2020 for the first time due to the Corona virus public gathering restrictions. The History of the Christmas Eve Sing Every year on December 24th for 97 years starting promptly at 7pm on what’s known as “The Green”, residents, families, friends, and guests in Basking Ridge, New Jersey…

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RETROSPECTIVE: America’s First Republican Vice President Nominee – Basking Ridge’s William Dayton Beats out Abraham Lincoln

Mr. Local History
Mr Local History explores the 1856 Presidential election

Post Views: 628 Americans think the Biden/Trump election was one for the ages exposing huge ideological beliefs, highly charged politics, and a fight for American values . Looking back at history, most people know the presidential challenges as the country was tearing itself apart as two contrasting political parties emerged in 1856. People often note Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and 1864 as the first Republican President. William was a favorite of Abraham Lincoln, who wanted William Dayton as his Vice Presidential running mate for the 1864 presidential campaign. IF that…

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