Post Views: 289 Ridge High School senior Pari Mandalapu is the recipient of the 2021 Mr. Local History Project Scholarship for Community Service in local history. Pari has lived in Basking Ridge most of his life, and has been involved in local history projects for all 4 of his high school years. In addition to being a club swimmer—and member of the Ridge High School varsity swim team—for many years, he also describes himself as an “avid fanatic” of “anything history.” During his time volunteering—he has amassed over 250 hours…
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Post Views: 231 The New Jersey Register of Historic Places is the official list of New Jersey’s historic resources of local, state, and national interest. Created by the New Jersey Register of Historic Places Act of 1970 (N.J.S.A. 13:1B-15.128 et seq.) The New Jersey Register is closely modeled after the National Register program. Both Registers have the same criteria for eligibility, nomination forms, and review process. Nearly every municipality in New Jersey has properties significant in architecture, history, archaeology, engineering and/or culture that are eligible for the New Jersey and…
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Post Views: 4,718 UPDATE: While we wrote this piece years ago, the Bedminster Charter came back in the news on October 21, 2019 when it was announced that the Forbes family was donating the charter back to Bedminster Township. The story continues! This is a tale of three Charters in New Jersey that make for a great “what happened” story. Let’s first talk about what a Charter is. A Charter is a document, typically signed by the King of England granting rights to a particular area of land to a prospective…
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Post Views: 1,030 JOIN US THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 for a VIRTUAL EVENT from 7-8pm. DID YOU KNOW BASKING RIDGE AND OTHER TOWNS WERE ALMOST LOST TO A SUPER REGIONAL AIRPORT IN THE 1960S? Taped: December 3, 2020 Background 61 years ago this December, On Dec. 3, 1959, the Newark Evening News published a story, “Jetport plan unveiled” revealing the Port of New York Authority’s intent to claim 10,000 acres of The Great Swamp in Morris County to build the world’s largest regional airport. Join the Mr. Local History Project as…
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Post Views: 850 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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Post Views: 862 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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Post Views: 1,314 In recognition of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in the U.S., and the ratification of the 19th amendment guaranteeing all American women the right to vote, the Mr Local History project recognizes this great accomplishment in American History. The U.S. Congress passed the 19th Amendment guaranteeing all American women the right to vote in June 4, 1919, and the resolution states on Feb. 9, 1920, New Jersey became the 29th state to ratify the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. Many don’t know that the 19th amendment…
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Post Views: 2,255 We’ve been testing out a new piece of technology and wanted to share with our community. The project is to compliment what has traditionally been a guided walking tour in Basking Ridge. We’re thinking of hiring one of the docents to walk through this virtual tour to get as close to taking a real tour. TIP: Watch it on your laptop first. Then try watching it on your phone. The phone version is like your camera is on and you’re actually walking on the streets of Basking…
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Post Views: 2,278 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. Book with a Cause – Publisher Donates $ from Every Purchase The keepsake book is a fundraiser that not…
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Post Views: 2,693 Coloring History Opportunity for Kids 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…
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Post Views: 1,665 Coloring History Opportunity for Kids 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…
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Post Views: 2,751 Historic documents often meet their tragic ending with swiftness and tragedy. In 1850 in Bernards Township there was known to have been a massive fire at the home of the township administrator, burning all of the townships documents, including it’s founding Charter. Now, with a bit a research and some digital technology, a local resident has recreated a rendering of the Charter of Bernardston. The Charter History On May 24, 1760 the Governor of New Jersey, Sir Francis Bernard was awarded it’s official declaration as a township from…
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Post Views: 4,515 Distilling in the Somerset Hills New Jersey has a deep history in distilling spirits that goes back to colonial times. The Somerset Hills is a area in central New Jersey’s Somerset County grouping six similar towns, villages, and hamlets into a cohesive geographical area. Those towns that comprise the Somerset Hills are: Bedminster, Bernards Township (Basking Ridge), Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack & Gladstone. Being from Basking Ridge, New Jersey there are written accounts that even with the foundation of Bernards Township back in 1760 where commitments were made from the…
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Post Views: 13,041 Basking Ridge, New Jersey’s Most Famous Incident At about noon time on December 13,1776, General Charles Lee (1731-1782), was alarmed by Major Wilkinson while he was writing a letter to General Gates about George Washington in an upstairs bedroom of the Widow White’s Tavern. Widow White’s Tavern, named after Ebenezer White’s wife Mary Brown White, became the centerpiece of Revolutionary War history on that day, because It was on this most unfortunate day for General Lee that General Lee became a prisoner of the British Army, leaving…
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