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Gifts

The Mr. Local History Project now has three to support local history and the project. We joined forces with BUBBLE, a wide range of collectibles ranging from stickers to cell phone covers, to pillows and yes masks. All profits go towards funding our scholarship and programming.

No. 1 – REDBUBBLE Fundraisers

Help with our fundraising with our alter ego mr. local history collection
Help with our fundraising with our FUN COLLECTION from mr. local history.
We’ve even added a Merch line with our history dog Gambit.

No. 2 – ETSY Art Collectibles

Somerset Hills Historic Cat's Meow Village Wooden Collectibles exclusively at the Mr. Local History Project
The Cat’s Meow is one of the world’s most iconic collectible series. Mr. Local History started creating the Somerset Hills Historic Village back in 2018. Each year we launch new additions based on community input. See this and other fun history items from the Somerset Hills.
Click HERE to see these VERY limited edition collectibles.
Powerful trusted promotion and fundraising platforms

The Basking Ridge Historic Oak Tree Project Keepsake Book Release

If you’ve been touched by the story of the Basking Ridge Historic Oak Tree’s 600 year history, you have to see this new book. “The Historic Basking Ridge Oak Tree Project” is a compilation of the areas children from Kindergarten through High School who have written or drawn pictures of one of the most historic trees in America.

The Basking Ridge Historic Oak Tree Project is one of the most heartwarming books ever made to celebrate the life and history of the 619 year oak tree that was lost in 2017. It’ll pull on your heart strings.

Meg Wastie, Historic Oak Tree Project coordinator

Project Essence

The Basking Ridge Historic Oak Tree Project sought students from kindergarten through high school to participate in The Historical Society of Somerset Hills “Tree Views” writing contest and the William Annin Tree Shirt Contest & Fundraiser. The essay premise was that students would write as if they were the historic oak and describe events they felt notable. Every school in Bernards Township participated including Cedar Hill School, Liberty Corner School, Mount Prospect School, Oak Street School, William Annin Middle School, Ridge High School, and the St. James Catholic School and one from the Assumption School. The tree shirt contest raised over $5440 selling tee shirts while the Historical Society presented a $500 scholarship to the High School essay winner.

Below are a few examples from the 145 page collection of stories and images of the Great White Oak of Basking Ridge (Click Images to enlarge):

Limited Availability – Easy Online Ordering

Update: Only a few books remain in our online gift shop.

The inaugural run of the book became available on Thursday, June 8, 2017 starting at 7pm at a the Tree Views  Essay Reception at the historic Westminster Hall at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, next to where the historic oak lived.Over 100 guests attended the release where authors and artists read their essays. A book signing followed which was one of the most touching events we’ve ever seen.

Update: Only a few books remain in our online gift shop.

Click Here to visit our Gift Shop Etsy Store

Additional Mr. Local History History Books

Related Local History

Kids Coloring History

T3 Consortium, a local company in the Somerset Hills, is proud to announce a new program for education programs to create a great program to make available for children while teaching them about some of the greatest historic people, places, and events in New Jersey’s Somerset Hills area including Bedminster, Bernards Twp, Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack & Gladstone.

What better way to teach kids about local history than by having them color some of the greatest events in Somerset Hills history with over 34 historic images including:

  • Basking Ridge – The historic 600 year old oak tree
  • Bernardsville – Phyllis the Ghost
  • Bedminster – General Knox and the Vanderveer House
  • Pluckemin  – America’s First Military Academy
  • Basking Ridge – The capture of General Lee
  • Peapack/Gladstone – The great lime kiln
  • Somerset Hills – The great Lene-Lenape Indians
Somerset Hills Coloring Book Cover

Program Ideas

For Schools (Pre-K thru 5th grades)

A great idea is to distribute the book to each student, pick maybe one image per week, tell a brief story about the event, person or location. Let the students either do it in class, or take home for an assignment.

For Camp Leaders

Do the same as the school program, or consider doing some sort of event where the children get to color an image (their choice or yours) and then they get to tell about what they did when they complete the drawing (e.g. color selection or maybe adding an activity where the child gets to write something the person in the image might have said.

For Historic Organizations

Pick the image that you like the best (e.g. your facility or story), have the children complete a xeroxed copy of that image. When they present their colored image back, post them on the wall. THEN, when they think they’re done, GIVE EACH OF THEM THEIR OWN BOOK! Watch their eyes light up! Then create a follow up activity and have the kids (and their parents) come back to your facility. A great traffic enhancer!

For Real Estate Agents

Yes, real estate agents! What better way to welcome a new family to town than with a coloring book for their kids that shows them the rich history of the Somerset Hills area. For such a small gesture, imagine how happy the kids will be when they get the chance to color historic figures from their new town. A nice touch to say the least!

Exclusive Offer

Here’s a great offer at half the price. Why not have your kids learn about local history and spend time enjoying what they do.

  • Order 25 –  GET 50 for just $250! (50% off)  Add 50 4pk crayons for just $16 .
  • Order 50  –  GET 100 for just $500! (50% off) Add 100 4pk crayons for just $32.
  • Order 100 –  GET 200 BOOKS for $1000! (50% off) Add 200 4pk crayons for just $64 .

To take advantage of this offer, visit our contact page and provide your details and we’ll contact you.

If you have any additional ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to post your comments below or drop us a note – Click Here

Thanks! And keep on sharing our local history!