Stories that inspire Americans to learn about their local history. Each of these stories from the Mr. Local History Project dig into great tales from America’s past.
Views: 10,915 Known as The Race of Gentlemen, the event has been revived since the 1950s by a local club called the Oilers of New Jersey. For one weekend in early October, racers, gassers, and fans gather on the beach… Read More »TROG – The Race of Gentlemen – Pure Jersey History Right in Front of Your Eyes
Views: 566 It’s hard to believe that next year, America will be celebrating its 250th anniversary. That means it’s also been 50 years since the Bicentennial, and hopefully, almost everyone remembers that one. As this researcher was just 14 back… Read More »America’s 250th Anniversary is Coming – Looking Back at the Bicentennial… Jersey Style
New Jersey History Preservation and promotion is an integral part of what the non-profit Mr. Local History Project stands for. Below are just a few of the key organizations we support, and we hope you do so too.
 | America 250 – To commemorate and celebrate our 250th anniversary with inclusive programs that inspire Americans to renew and strengthen our daring experiment in democracy. The shared experiences of America250 will have ignited our imaginations, elevated our diverse stories, inspired service in our communities, and demonstrated the lasting durability of the American project. |
 | RevNJ – In unison with America 250, in 2026, New Jersey, like much of the U.S., will commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States of America through events, programs, and ceremonies. RevolutionNJ is New Jersey’s official organization charged with planning and promoting our state’s commemoration. |
 | The New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism (NJTT) creates awareness of all that New Jersey has to offer as a destination in order to enhance the quality of life for New Jersey residents and their communities. NJTT is the only organization in New Jersey providing marketing strategy and industry leadership for tourism sector stakeholders |
 | Welcome to the heart of New Jersey! Whether you’ve come to play, work stay – or make this your home!, we hope you’ll fall in love with everything that makes Somerset special. More Info |
 | Founded in 1978, Preservation New Jersey is a statewide member-supported non-profit historic preservation organization. PNJ promotes the economic vitality, sustainability, and heritage of New Jersey’s diverse communities through advocacy and education. |
 | The nine-member Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission, appointed by the County Commissioners, is charged with the responsibility to develop County programs to “promote public interest in local and county history, in the arts and in cultural values, goals and traditions of the community, State and Nation.” |
 | The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) is a state agency dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. Established by law in 1967, its work is founded on the fundamental belief that an understanding of our shared heritage is essential to sustaining a cohesive and robust democracy. |
The Mr. Local History Project is a 501c3 nonprofit charity history organization run entirely by volunteers. We have two goals: to create an ongoing scholarship fund to be presented annually to a senior high school recipient, to promote local history, and to create programs with a social twist. Your pledge will fully support those two efforts.
Mr Local History also accepts Venmo – Scan the QR code or find us under “Charity” @mrlocalhistory
Each year the Mr. Local History Project works with area high schools to make an unrestricted scholarship to a worthy senior.
Please help us continue this annual tradition.
For those who prefer traditional mail to make donations, mail to:
Mr. Local History Project Giving Campaign
184 W. Oak Street, Suite 101
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Per IRS requirements, donations of $250 or more will be recognized with a receipt.
Views: 1,015 PREVIEW RELEASE:Our researchers continue to work with this story as there are several conflicting points of view we want to continue researching. We will update over the next few weeks, but we wanted to let people see this… Read More »Newark New Jersey’s Incredible Velodrome and Motordrome Racing Venues
Views: 963 Over the last few years, researchers at the Mr. Local History Project here in New Jersey have been busy at work and have released several stories related to the motorsports racing history in New Jersey. We’ve even now… Read More »Mr. Local History Motorsports Special Edition Magazine – Free!
Views: 1,225 As a huge motorsports fan, this topic came up with a few of our researchers who can’t let it go! While the Mr. Local History Project normally focuses on New Jersey history, they had to discover more once… Read More »Lost Motorsport Board Tracks Across America – Mapping Them All
Views: 213 While history recognizes President Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving proclamation, many don’t know that two statesmen persuaded President George Washington to declare the last Thursday in November “a day of thanks” across the new American nation on October 3, 1789,… Read More »Thanksgiving Proclamation Way Before Lincoln Did It -Thanks Jersey Guys
Views: 969 Presidents #22 and #24 and Now #45 and #47 – Only Two Presidents to Serve Non-Consecutive Terms. Here’s how four presidential elections went down. Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, defeated Republican James G. Blaine of Maine and became the… Read More »Non-Consecutive Term Presidents: Jersey’s Grover Cleveland and Now Donald Trump
Views: 1,439 This is a tale about auto racing legends of the early 1920s, known as daredevils and speed freaks, who traveled to a tiny new track built outside New York City in the small town of Woodbridge, New Jersey.… Read More »1928 – Woodbridge Speedway – World’s Fastest 1/2 Mile Track
Views: 1,006 In 1977, Waterloo Village opened an open-air concert field about a mile down the road from the historic village to raise restoration funds. Actually, in Byram Township, New Jersey, locals remember (and I grew up at the perfect… Read More »Remebering the Waterloo Village Concert Series
Views: 819 GO LISTEN WITH YOUR FAMILY on Mischief Night, Cabbage Night, Goosey Night, or whatever you call it – October 30th!!!! The date was October 30, 1938, and Jerseyans tuned in to a radio broadcast stating that Martians had… Read More »The World’s Greatest Broadcast in New Jersey History – War of the Worlds
Views: 1,244 UPDATE:USA TODAY says Wildwood is Home to One of the Country’s Best Pop Culture Museums. The museum received USA Today’s 2025 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award. Anyone who’s visited Wildwood, New Jersey, knows it’s the Garden State’s… Read More »Wildwood History: Boardwalk, Beach, Neon and the Doowop Universe
Views: 1,277 Jersey Lost Racetrack Series We found a story in the Paterson Call newspaper on April 22, 1936, stating that on May 15, 1936, after spending over $100,000, the Union (Township) Speedway would open with a 1/2-mile oval, including… Read More »Lost Racetrack Series: Auto Racing’s 10,000 Seat Track In Union, New Jersey
Views: 1,711 New Jersey’s Gift to AmericaSomerset County’s Gift to AmericaBridgewater’s Gift to AmericaMiddlebrook’s Gift to AmericaThey all come on Independence Day RAIN or SHINE – EVERY July 4th at 10:30 am – Join friends and family on Independence Day… Read More »New Jersey’s Gift to America – July 4 Celebration
