Retrospective: The Lyons VA Medical Center

July 7, 2020July 10, 2020 Mr. Local History

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

Post Views: 125 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…

Independence Day – New Jersey History

July 4, 2020July 5, 2020 Mr. Local History

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

Post Views: 103 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…

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

June 27, 2020June 29, 2020 Mr. Local History

Star Wars Hildebrandt Somerset Hills - Mr Local History header

Post Views: 80 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,…

Quicklinks – History From Your Town

June 17, 2020June 17, 2020 Mr. Local History

Find History Easily - Mr Local History Project

Post Views: 68 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,…

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

June 16, 2020June 17, 2020 Mr. Local History

Post Views: 127 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…

Mr. Local History’s #growlocalhistory Project

June 14, 2020June 24, 2020 Mr. Local History

#growlocalhistory by the Mr Local History Project

Post Views: 1,072 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…

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

June 6, 2020June 16, 2020 Mr. Local History

Post Views: 473 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…

June is Mr. Local History Scholarship Program Giving Month

June 1, 2020June 3, 2020 Mr. Local History

Post Views: 609 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…

Bernards Township Origins

January 19, 2020January 31, 2020 Mr. Local History

Bernards Township Asian Community Research - Mr. Local History Project

Post Views: 670 Bernards Township has been a charted township going all the way back to 1760. With the early Dutch and Scottish settlers, the origin of the area belongs to the famed Lenni-Lenape Native American tribe.But what about the other cultures in the area. We’re on a mission to find out and would love to engage the community. Demographic Highlights Researching Diversity We are honoring those in our neighborhood who have identified themselves as Asian according to the census. Statistics have shown that the Asian American community (including India…

Historic Fires in the Somerset Hills

December 29, 2019January 11, 2020 Mr. Local History

Post Views: 1,118 While you’d think that hurricanes and floods wreak the most havoc, there has been nothing more destructive to properties in the Somerset Hills more than fires. The Mr. Local History Project is gathering information regarding large fires in the Somerset Hills area. Looking back at history, we’ve started digging to let the public understand how severe fires have devastated our community. Bernardston Charter Destroyed in 1850 Fire Basking Ridge – All township records before 1850 were destroyed in a fire. “It is in fact unfortunate that these…

Bishop Edmund S. Janes – His Somerset Hills Story

December 12, 2019January 31, 2020 Mr. Local History

Book: The Life of Bishop Edmund S. James

Post Views: 705 Before we get started: The Methodist Church in the United States is 94% white, 92% third generation American, 60% married, 69% believe in God absolutely, 42% attend church weekly, and 62% believe in hell. Several attempts were made in the twentieth century to reunite the Methodist Church with its founder’s own church – the Church of England. These were rejected by the Church of England’s General Synod in 1972. However, dialogue and informal relations continued. In 2003 a Covenant between the two churches was signed. This affirms…

“June in December” Tree Honors June Kennedy at Festival of Trees in Basking Ridge

November 29, 2019January 31, 2020 Mr. Local History

June In December Holiday Tree Honors former Bernards Township Historian June Kennedy

Post Views: 671 The Mr. Local History Project honors the former Bernards Township’s historian June Kennedy showcasing our “June in December” tree honoring her dedication to community and local history. The Festival of Trees is an indoor exhibit of decorated Christmas trees by various community groups and individuals and runs from December 6 thru December 30th at the Environment Education Center on Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. The Mr. Local History Project is proud to announce the newly created “community spirit tree” honoring all those who like to…

Historic Sites in Somerset Hills

November 26, 2019January 11, 2020 Mr. Local History

Historic Landmarks in the Somerset Hills

Post Views: 519 Do you know all of the historic sites on our state and national registers here in the Somerset Hills? Well you do now! And we threw in the rest of Somerset County as well, just for fun. Welcome to our google map of all of the historic sites covering Bedminster, Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack & Gladstone. Want to visit one? Just click the icon, then click the directions and it’ll map it out for you.

History Makers

November 24, 2019December 28, 2019 Meg Wastie

Post Views: 849 History Makers High School Volunteers HISTORY MAKERS MAKE HISTORY “Today is tomorrow’s history, so make it a good one!” is the motto readers will always find on the Mr. Local History website. The motto is a reminder that each and every day, all of us “make history” through the actions we take or the decisions we make. To that end, Mr. Local History encourages teenagers to join our organization and think about how they can make history themselves. Local high school and college students are invited to…

Mr. Local History Releases its Latest Online Magazine – Vol 1 Issue 4

November 16, 2019May 28, 2020 Mr. Local History

Post Views: 894 Our Holiday Issue Happy holidays. Tiz the Season! The Mr. Local History Project has been working hard to produce the next issue of our magazine that combines news, stories, and feature posts about the area’s local history in the Somerset Hills area of New Jersey. This month’s cover showcases the iconic Christmas Eve caroling on the green in the village of Basking Ridge. Volume 1 Issue 4 – Holiday Edition. Another word for history is “tradition” and this issue is full of holiday traditions in the Somerset…

Category: News