Category: Township Historian

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

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: 184 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: 621 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 Historical Moments That Changed Basking Ridge & America

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

Post Views: 423 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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Somerset Hills Historic Cat’s Meow Village Collection is Expanding Across New Jersey with FIVE (5) New Additions.

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

Post Views: 223 The MLH Project is proud to announce that the Somerset Hills Historic Village has joined the New Jersey Historic Village Collection as part of the world famous Cat’s Meow Wooden Keepsake 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…

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Retrospective: Why Bernardsville was Called Vealtown

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

Post Views: 332 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: 274 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: 202 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: 6,663 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: 491 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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Bernards Township & Bernardsville Honor Fallen Soldiers and Veterans

Mr. Local History
Bernards Township Honors our local veterans - Mr Local History

Post Views: 1,302 On Memorial Day and Veterans Day Bernards Township honors our military with a banner salute around the Bernards Township Municipal building and town hall. Special thanks to the Bernards Township Veteran’s Appreciation Task Force under the direction of Mayor James Baldassare who have been working on the project since early January 2020. Please take a moment to remember those who have served to preserve our freedoms and our way of life. Historic Photos – Somerset Hills I want to thank our Veterans Appreciation Task Force headed by…

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Lore: Bill Beatty and the Haunted Phareloch Castle

Mr. Local History
The Chartwell Manor School for Boys in Basking Ridge New Jersey - Phareloch Castle 1971

Post Views: 909 There’s their own road that still cuts thru the Liberty Corner woods in case the fire company needs to get there. Sadly, one night it didn’t make it. With certain Mr. Local History stories, we often update the post when we learn stories and receive photos from our followers. We will continue to expand this piece as information becomes available. If you have a story to share, please post in the comments section at the end of this story. Mr. Local History Project Tucked below the Hills on…

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Retrospective: Robert Terry – Tuskegee Airmen and a Basking Ridge Pilot

Mr. Local History
Tuskegee Airmen Basking Ridge New Jersey

Post Views: 1,385 Civilian Pilot and Army Air Force Instructor Robert (Bob) Terry from Basking Ridge was a groundbreaking Pilot in WWII….and yes, he was black. 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 expand this piece as information becomes available. The story is expanding as we learn more about the family. Mr. Local History Project You would think being black today and being a pilot didn’t matter, and it doesn’t.…

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Haunted Roots – The Horror Tale of the Devil Tree in Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Mr. Local History
Haunted Roots with Mr Local History Project

Post Views: 670   Give the Gift of Haunted Roots and support local history – Click Here Recorded Friday, October 30, 2020 Join the Mr. Local History Project as we welcome award winning journalist and Walking Dead actor Matt Ryan and filmmaker Will Cook as they share the creation of their film HAUNTED ROOTS, “The Haunt of New Jersey’s Devil Tree and a farmhouse.” Residents publicly speak for the first time about what it’s like to live inside an urban legend.Our recording below includes video snippets, commentary, and making of…

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Our People & Their Stories #911neverforget

Mr. Local History
The family we lost on 9/11

Post Views: 1,006 Special Ask from the MLH Project: MLH would love to know any positive outcomes that have come since. If you have a story to share, please post at the end of this story (e.g. did you know four children were born after the tragedy? True. 2019 and 2020 were big high school graduations for many of the 44 children as well. Contact us with any information. Mr. Local History Project On this anniversary, starting at 8:46am on September 11, 2001, when the first plane hit the north…

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#911neverforget in the Somerset Hills

Mr. Local History
The family we lost on 9/11 from Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, and Peapack

Post Views: 1,391 Starting at 8:46am on September 11, 2001, when the first plane hit the north tower, our community was changed forever. Please take a moment to remember those 21 residents from Basking Ridge, Bernardsville and Peapack that never came home that day. This is our tribute to the families. #wewillneverforget. Bernards Township was one of the hardest hit communities in the state on 9/11. The 18 township residents lost that day was the fourth highest total of any town in New Jersey, after Jersey City, Hoboken and Middletown…

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