Retrospective: The History Behind Bernards Township Charter Day & That Charter

Why We Celebrate Bernards Township Charter Day

The first Charter Day street fair celebration in Bernards Township was held on Saturday, May 20, 1995. The event started at 10 am and lasted till 4 pm. Charter Day commemorates the  May 24, 1760 (a Saturday) anniversary of King George II of England’s granting of a township Charter, establishing Bernardston Township. This act was a courtesy and in appreciation for the services of Sir Francis Bernard, Royal Governor of New Jersey. From January 27, 1758, to July 4, 1760, Sir Francis Bernard, son of a British Reverend, was appointed Royal Governor of New Jersey for two years. At the time, both Bernardsville, Far Hills, and part of Warren were all “Bernardston.”

First Charter Day Street Fair – May 17, 1995

The first Bernards Township Charter Day was scheduled to replace the Kiwanis Fair, which had been a Labor Day weekend staple in the Bernards Township area for decades. The Kiwanis Fair had been the largest community gathering and included pet shows, book sales, beauty contests, rides, bake sales, and more. The fair ended when the committee tried to move its location from Basking Ridge to Far Hills. The move didn’t happen, and the event ended.

On Saturday, May 17, 1995, a new community event was coordinated to replace the Kiwanis Fair.

In 1997 and 1999, the Basking Ridge Post Office celebrated Charter Day with a commemorative stamp. People would visit the post office with various postcards to have the commemorative postmark added to their keepsake. The postmark was also accompanied by 5 historic buildings in the Basking Ridge village created in watercolor by Linda Arnold of Liberty Corner.

Today, the annual Charter Day Street Fair starts at noon and continues through 6 pm.

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