Category: Township Historian

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

Our People & Their Stories #911neverforget

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

Post Views: 359 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: 1,107 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: 416 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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Retrospective: Robert Terry – Tuskegee Airmen and a Basking Ridge Pilot

Mr. Local History
Tuskegee Airmen Basking Ridge New Jersey

Post Views: 429 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 grow 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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Education Programs

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

Post Views: 255 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. We’re now working with educators to define our 2020/2021 programs and would love to coordinate either an in class session or something via Zoom. Just complete our contact us form and let Miss Meg, Trustee and our education program lead work with you to…

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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: 287 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: 348 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: 455 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: 724 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 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…

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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: 353 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: 2,053 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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June is Mr. Local History Scholarship Program Giving Month

Mr. Local History
Mr Local History Scholarship Fund

Post Views: 949 June is our Scholarship Community Giving Month and we need your help! HELP MAKE OUR $1200 GOAL Mr. Local History, a local non-profit organization which celebrates the history of the Somerset Hills, encourages everyone who supports our mission to take part in our scholarship program that is given annually to a worthy Somerset Hills student that’s passionate about preserving and promoting OUR local history. This year has been a particularly tough year with the Covid-19 virus and our non-profit has not had the chance to hold fundraising…

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Bernards Township Honors Fallen Soldiers and Veterans

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

Post Views: 718 This Memorial Day 2020 Bernards Township honors our military with a banner salute around the Bernards Township Municipal building and town hall. Please take a moment to remember those who have served to preserve our freedoms and our way of life. 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. I want to thank our Veterans Appreciation Task Force headed by Jennifer Donohoe for having our Hero’s Banners…

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Population Trends in the Somerset Hills

Mr. Local History
Everything looked consistent until Bernards Township broke the trend with an exponential growth period. Mr. Local History

Post Views: 516 One thing that I’ve learned as a township historian in this area is everyone has a point of view on what changed the area over the years. No matter who you talk to you typically hear that the area is nothing like it used to be. But what did it used to be depends on how far you look back. Looking back to the 1700’s in the Somerset Hills we’ve recognized a few things. First, the Somerset Hills townships are tucked behind the Watchung Mountains in a…

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