Category: Township Historian

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

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: 242 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: 1,016 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: 505 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: 1,009 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: 486   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 the film not seen during the interview. Matt’s not just an actor and…

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Our People & Their Stories #911neverforget

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

Post Views: 576 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: 1,258 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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Retrospective: The Acclaimed Kiwanis Community Fair in Basking Ridge

Mr. Local History
The 1993 Kiwanis Fair in Basking Ridge. Source: Courier News

Post Views: 572 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. The story is expanding as we learn more about the family. If you have a comment or photo, feel free to post at the bottom of this page. Mr. Local History Project What started back on Labor Day weekend back in 1949 will hold a place in many a local residents heart as one…

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Education Programs

Mr. Local History
Educators - Let Mr Local History create a program for your students

Post Views: 444 The Mr. Local History Project helps local educators to promote local history in the classroom. From 3rd grade to High School and College, let Mr. Local History work with you to share a history with your students with a fun and social twist. Let Miss Meg, Trustee and our education program lead, work with you to create a program for your audience. We are a small organization so booking in advance is key. Promoting local history to our various audiences is one of our primary mission statements.…

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Bernards Twp, Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner Survey Question

Mr. Local History
Should Bernards Township, Basking Ridge and Liberty Corner embrace a prefix containing historic to their names?

Post Views: 352 Note: The survey and petition are simple. Nothing changes except we start including the term “Historic” moving forward as we promote our town and its historic hamlets. No changes to town historic districts, no additional property taxes, no building restrictions…. it’s just to add the label “Historic” and honor township history. Brooks Betz, Bernards Township Historian Go the Distance: If you like “Historic”, it’d be helpful to add your name to our online petition that we’d share with the Township Committee: Please also visit the Mr. Local…

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Reflection: Ice Cream around Somerset Hills

Mr. Local History
Think back to simple times. Grab an ice cream and forget about EVERYTHING!

Post Views: 495 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”). 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 grow this piece as information becomes available. Mr. Local History Project The first official account of ice cream in the New World comes from a letter written in 1744 by a guest of Maryland’s Governor…

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What’s to Happen with Lord Stirling Stable and its Park?

Mr. Local History
What is to happen with the Lord Stirling Stables post COVID-19

Post Views: 636 The Lord Stirling Park including the Lord Stirling Stable (LSS) in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township is part of the Somerset County Parks Commission in Somerset County. 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 grow this piece as information becomes available. Mr. Local History Project State of the Stable from Somerset County, July 20,2020 In 1968, the Somerset County Parks Commission purchased what first became…

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Retrospective: The Lyons VA Medical Center

Mr. Local History
The Lyons VA Hospital was the first VA hospital in New Jersey - Mr Local History

Post Views: 1,079 The Lyons Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital Historic District, currently known as the Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, Lyons Campus, is located at 151 Knollcroft Road, approximately 2.5 miles southwest of the village of Basking Ridge in Bernards Township, New Jersey. Located in a campus setting, the Lyons VA Hospital Historic District is surrounded by residential development to the north, east, and south, and a public park to the west. NOTE: As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn…

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Congratulations to Annie Kleinle, the 2020 MLH Project High School Student of the Year.

Mr. Local History
Write Annie a message of good luck.

Post Views: 436 Congratulations to our 2020 Ridge High School senior and MLH History Student of the Year – Annie Kleinle. A history volunteer since the MLH was founded, Annie Kleinle has been involved with local history. In addition to her school work and being in the History Maker program, Annie also was an avid athlete participating in soccer, field hockey – North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 championships, and the track and field team on the 100, 200, and 4×400 relay teams. “I really enjoy working with Annie,” said…

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The Somerset Hill Historic Cat’s Meow Village Keepsake Collection

Mr. Local History
Somerset Hills Historic Cat's Meow Village Wooden Collectibles exclusively at the Mr. Local History Project

Post Views: 2,245 The Somerset Hills Historic Village is part of the World Famous Cat’s Meow Wooden Keepsake Collectibles The Somerset Hills 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 the Somerset Hills community. 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 potential addition to this historic series. Additional keepsakes will be added to…

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