Category: News

Should the School Districts in the Somerset Hills Consolidate?

Mr. Local History
Is it time to consolidate school districts- Mr Local History Project

Post Views: 328 It’s in the news again. School district consolidation across New Jersey. We have a question of the day that ties back to our initial Somerset Hills days when there was only Bernards and Bedminster (pre-1920s). Called Sweeney’s “Path to Progress” campaign. Senate bill 3755: “Requires executive county superintendent of schools to establish consolidation plan to combine all school districts in county, other than preschool or kindergarten through grade 12 districts, into all-purpose regional schools districts.” This bill is essentially a restart of a process begun under former Gov.…

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Our People & Their Stories #911neverforget

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

Post Views: 563 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: 1,252 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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MLH Honors Back to School with Historic School Images From the Somerset Hills

Mr. Local History
Liberty Corner School in Bernards Township was founded in 1905. Liberty Corner School, located in the Liberty Corner Section of Bernards Township was built in 1905 for a farming community. It is a nationally recognized landmark registered with the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. It is the oldest school in the district.

Post Views: 317 Schools in the Somerset Hills area of northern Somerset County have been a mainstay back to the mid-1700s. We honor the history of these memorable facilities in images from various sources now in our digital research archives. For the 2020-2021 school children in the area are finally going back to school in with unique guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But have faith, this look back at our history tells us we will survive, and our children will thrive once again. NOTE:As with all Mr. Local History…

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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: 557 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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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: 349 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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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: 626 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: 1,040 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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Independence Day – New Jersey History

Mr. Local History
Five NJ Signers of the Declaration of Independence - Mr Local History

Post Views: 518 Here are the Jersey five of the fifty-five signers of the Declaration of Independence. Early in 1776, while the state believed in separation, there was heated discussions between the Patriots and the Loyalists. As the issue heated up, the New Jersey state convention replaced all their delegates with those favoring the separation.The Provincial Congress arrested Royal Governor William Franklin (Ben’s son) at his Propriarity House in Perth Amboy and voted to replace the New Jersey delegation. Abraham Clark was highly vocal on his opinion that the colonies…

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Retrospective: Artist, Filmmaker, Actor -The Hildebrandt’s of Gladstone

Mr. Local History
Star Wars Hildebrandt Somerset Hills - Mr Local History header

Post Views: 558 The Brothers Hildebrandt – The creation of the original Star Wars Poster was just the tip of the iceberg. 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. Greg and Tim Hildebrandt better known to the illustration world as “The Brothers Hildebrandt” began their careers 1959. The Brothers have worked on documentary films and thousands of illustrations for text books, children’s books,…

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Quicklinks – History From Your Town

Mr. Local History
Find History Easily - Mr Local History Project

Post Views: 305 Want a quick way to search for articles about the history from your town? The Mr. Local History Project has created a few quick searches to give you a head start. Bedminster Bedminster History Bernards Township (Basking Ridge) Bernards Township History Bernardsville Bernardsville History Far Hills Far Hills History Peapack & Gladstone Peapack & Gladstone History What is the Somerset Hills The Somerset Hills is known as the northern region of Somerset County located in the U.S. state of New Jersey and includes the townships of Bedminster,…

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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: 429 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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Mr. Local History’s #growlocalhistory Project

Mr. Local History
#growlocalhistory by the Mr Local History Project

Post Views: 1,390 Trying to Make Somerset County Grow with Free Sunflowers and Some Local History – And Now – a Contest! Who doesn’t love a good challenge and some free stuff. This one is a fun one to see if we can promote growing in the Somerset Hills. Let us introduce the 2nd annual “Mr. Local History Grow Local History” project. Locals come get your pack of locally grown sunflower seeds and lets see how many new gardens we can create. PLANT NOW – JOIN THE CONTEST Read below…

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Retrospective: Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ Time in Bernardsville & Peapack in the Somerset Hills

Mr. Local History

Post Views: 1,457 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. A Small Part of Camelot in the Somerset Hills While the Somerset Hills plays home to many a power broker and celebrities, there was no one who captured the time and essence of the Somerset Hills quite like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. While her life was filled with unimaginable tragedy, we look at…

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June is Mr. Local History Scholarship Program Giving Month

Mr. Local History
Mr Local History Scholarship Fund

Post Views: 1,098 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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