PREVIEW READ: Mr. Local History took a ride down Washington Avenue in Bernardsville & Basking Ridge as we uncovered a story that we wanted to check out. Now if you know Washington Avenue and Washington Street, it’s really known as… Read More »The Bernardsville Basking Ridge Speedway of 1907
Retrospective: As with all Mr. Local History retrospectives, we often update the post when we learn stories and are sent photos from our internet community. We will continue to grow this piece as information becomes available. If you have a comment… Read More »Meandering The History of Bernardsville’s Mine Brook
People often wonder how people come to populate an area and how it develops. In Somerset County, the first settlers came for the fertile land from Scotland and the Netherlands. But then something happened. Mining speculators started appearing on Bernardsville… Read More »Retrospective: Bernardsville’s Historic Somerset Inn (Hotel)
It’s an age old question. And the internet didn’t know the answer. So the Mr. Local History Project went digging. Why was Bernardsville once called Vealtown? Our research started with a post on social media because yes there are a… Read More »Retrospective: Why Bernardsville was Once Called Vealtown
Hey Bernardsville, we’d love your opinion. What are Bernardsville’s most historic icons? We’d like to hear what you have to say. Curious what you think. Choose up to three. Vote in the Series:Know Bernardsville? Vote for their most historic Click… Read More »Vote for Bernardsville’s Most Historic Icons
The borough of Bernardsville, New Jersey, in conjunction with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Memorial Post 7858 and Downtown Bernardsville, is honors local soldiers with a program entitled “Bernardsville honors our soldiers.” Bernardsville is part of what’s known as… Read More »Bernardsville Honors Local Soldiers
Did you know that US Route 206 actually used to be Route 31 and what is US Route 202 was actually Route 32?
So now you tell your friend “Take Route 31 North Thru Bedminster
and Turn Right onto Route 32 straight into Bernardsville.” Huh. “Route 31 goes to Clinton right? Left? WRONG! Confused?
Travel back to 1935 and you definitely would have been.
Maybe you could travel down Mine Brook Road to Bernardsville and the directions read take Route 32 south to Bville and stop at the dairy. Or maybe you’re coming down from Chester and you wanted to visit the Brady’s Hamilton Farm in Peapack/Bedminster and you actually have to go down Route 31. Well that was actually the case right up until 1935 when the transition began to change these two crossroads across the Somerset Hills to Routes 202 and 206.
How Confusing?
Have you ever had such a major roadway change names in your lifetime? Your whole psychic changes. Think about how much confusion there is when the Department of Transportation changes highway exits and how long it takes you to forget the old ones and replace it with the new numbers. Geeze, I think there’s still exit signs on the southern end of Route 202 South that still say Old Exit 2B.
As a kid sitting in the back of my parent’s 66 Chrysler Town and Country wagon going from Westfield to the Pocono Mountains, the only route available was Route 22. My brother, sister and I would often sit in the… Read More »Retrospective: Icons & Oddities Along Jersey’s Route 22
Vol.6 Issue 1 – Finally the Spring rains are hopefully wrapping up and the spring brings one of the best times to be a Jersey resident. So much history is packed in our latest digital issue of the Mr. Local… Read More »Mr. Local History 2024 Spring Magazine Vol 6. Issue 1
Every time our researchers come up with a Jersey history topic, it can come from a very simple premise. This is one of those stories. After hearing about the Cherry Blossom festival in Newark and all places, we raised our… Read More »Newark’s Branch Brook Park Has More Than Any Other
April 14th is National Garden Day every year, so make sure you get out there and enjoy observing nature’s beauty! While the Mr. Local History Project typically focuses on historical research, stories, and events, we figured one great tour might… Read More »Garden State’s Top Historic Gardens and Estates
On the 7th anniversary of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, losing its 619-year-old oak tree, the Mr. Local History Project has written a story of hope, commitment, honor, history, and township pride. Yes, people, there are children of the mighty oak… Read More »Retrospective: The Siblings of a 619-Year Oak Tree