Maps/Research

Researching Local History with Maps As a historian, I believe maps are one of the greatest sources of information, capturing a time and place. We use these maps to research… Read More »Sharing Local History with Maps – How to Read…

Tucked in the northernmost section of Bernards Township, New Jersey, along the Passaic River lies a small historic district. If you drive through it, you’ll notice the area’s rich history,… Read More »Franklin Corners and William Childs Williamsburg-esqe Vision

Many people have asked why you post all this history stuff on the area you’re calling the Somerset Hills. Well, call it passion. Call it intrigue. Call it local awareness.… Read More »Grand Mansions and Historic Estates Mapped in New Jersey’s…

April 14th is National Garden Day, so make sure you get out there and enjoy our Garden State’s beauty (and history) While the Mr. Local History Project typically focuses on… Read More »Garden State’s Top Historic Gardens and Estates

#btchartday is ON! Rain or Shine Weather Forecast Stop by the Mr. Local History Booth #89 on Henry Street Just outside the Washington House Side Entrance Watch the South Finley… Read More »2025 Bernards Township Charter Day Streetfair Memories

Interactive map showcases Bernards Township development history. Source: Mr. Local History Bernards Township has a long history of being a sleepy rural town. Then, the US built the Lyons VA,… Read More »History of Housing Developments in Bernards Township

Quick History – Irish Immigration to New Jersey By the mid-19th century, Irish immigration from Ireland to the United States surged, mainly due to the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852), which… Read More »Gotta Love the Irish in Jersey – The History…

Want to go to the #Daytona500 Speedweeks and feel like you know where to go? Here’s 20 years of experience all in one place where we’ve highlighted the top 15 Daytona spots to hit during Speedweeks. We’ve loaded THE BEST.

The term “dive bar” originated in the United States in the 1880s and was initially used as a derogatory term. It referred to drinking establishments often located in basements or below street… Read More »There’s a lot of History in These 100+ Jersey…

The MLH Project is proud to be the exclusive reseller of the New Jersey Historic Wooden Keepsake Collection, created by the world-famous Cat’s Meow Village. Made in the USA!!! The… Read More »The Exclusive New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Keepsake Collection

People keep asking us why a non-profit is dedicated to researching New Jersey history and building food maps. The short answer is that history has what we call threads. We… Read More »Finding New Jersey’s Giant Pizzas

Many critics say New Jersey might have the best pizza places in America. Being from New Jersey, we can’t disagree. Why there would be any Dominos, Pizza Huts or Pappa… Read More »VOTE for Jersey’s #1 Pizza Place

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… Read More »Lost Motorsport Board Tracks Across America – Mapping Them…

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… Read More »1928 – Woodbridge Speedway – World’s Fastest 1/2 Mile…

Believe it or not, the dead are alive in central New Jersey, especially in northern Somerset County. The question is not whether they are real or not, but rather whether… Read More »Haunted Tales From Central New Jersey #3

ALL NEW KEEPSAKES INDUCTED INTO THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL WOODEN KEEPSAKE COLLECTION FOR 2025 The MLH Project is proud to be the exclusive reseller of the New Jersey Historic Wooden… Read More »The New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Keepsake Collection Keeps…

Congratulations, Basking Ridge and Bernardsville, on being the foundation for the New Jersey Historical Wooden Village collection, a group of over 40 Jersey collectibles. Each keepsake brings awareness to historic… Read More »Bernards Township/Bernardsville Historic Wooden Village Keepsake Collectibles

As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, updates are made to this post when we learn additional information. We will continue to expand this post as information becomes available and our readers… Read More »Retrospective: White Tower Hamburger System – In Search of…

Update: Union’s Historic Flagship is now a beautiful collectible Retrospective:The Legendary Flagship on Route 22 in Union County, New Jersey If you’ve ever driven east or west along Route 22… Read More »Retrospective: A Jersey Ship that Never Sailed – The…

Note: MLHP increased the coverage to include all of Somerset County’s lost and active farm stands, farmers markets, private farms, historic farms, and farm preservation projects. Specific farms for equestrian activity, Christmas trees, and… Read More »Somerset County Farms, Orchards, Dairies, Stables & Historic Preservation

If you live in New Jersey, you can’t but help falling over history. Since the early days of the founding of our country, Paterson, New Jersey has been in the… Read More »Paterson’s Awesome History

Starting in 1836 in Paterson, New Jersey, Samuel Colt’s revolver is one of the 10 most influential inventions EVER produced. The Colt Paterson revolver was the first practical revolving-cylinder handgun, and it… Read More »Col. Samuel Colt Got His Start in Paterson, New…

Isn’t it interesting how history becomes history. Take for example pay phones. When you were using them, you never thought about it and then they’re gone. Not just gone……totally gone.… Read More »Jersey’s History with Bar Room Shuffleboard

Maps have historically been a great way to tell stories about local history. Mr. Local History Project congratulates William (Liam) Murphy of Basking Ridge’s Patriots Path Council Boy Scout Troop… Read More »Eagle Scout Maps Historic Basking Ridge

Make a Tax Deductible Donation – Get a Frameable Map Finding New Ways to Share Local History.We call it “Maps for a Cause” supporting Our Ridge and Bernards High Scholarship… Read More »Make a Donation – Get a Historic Map as…

Bridgewater is the second largest town by population in Somerset County, with 45,977 residents according the 2020 Census. Its population boomed in the 1970s-1990s, but has been an important part… Read More »Remembering 5 Historical Sites in Bridgewater, New Jersey

Believe it or not, the dead is alive in central New Jersey especially in northern Somerset County. The question is not whether they are real or not, but more like… Read More »10 More Haunted Tales From Central New Jersey

We love Somerset County, New Jersey history. We love it so much, we made it our home. The Mr. Local History Project is committed to preserving and promoting local history… Read More »Experience Historic Somerset County, New Jersey

Middlebrook is a know area in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey. We call it “Jersey’s Gift to America.” New Jersey is known as the “cockpit of… Read More »Rev War in Somerset County Means Middlebrook

Wow, this story was one of our most controversial and difficult stories we’ve ever prepared. Just the thought of picking only 10 Jersey historic sites is an insane task. But… Read More »Jersey’s History Bucket List

There are lots of Warrens in New Jersey. We are happy to announce that the Mr. Local History Project has started covering the Somerset County township. Going way back to… Read More »Mapping Historic Icons in Warren Township, New Jersey

Sir Francis Bernard’s Legacy Carries On as Towns Honor the Royal Governor of New Jersey and Massachusetts In 1758, Francis Bernard, originally from Lincolnshire, England, was appointed Governor of the… Read More »Sir Francis Bernard Honored With American Town Names

Just the word S&H green stamps immediately brings you back in time to what seemed to be simpler times. No cell phones, no internet, but just a time when you… Read More »Hey New Jersey – Who Remembers S&H Green Stamps