Penny Postcard Video - Postcards from the early 1900's from around the Somerset Hills. For a larger view as well as photo descriptions - Click Here.

Please make sure you have Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing pdf documents. Free Download for Mac or Windows.

Historical Booklet of Bernards Township, N. J. Published to Commemorate the Bicentennial: 1760-1960

Out of Print. Few copies still available at THSSH Museum Store.

Booklets are available at THSSH.

Country Gentleman & New Jersey Military Leader in the War for Independence

From the Early Years thru his military career, capture, and close relationship with General Washington, as well as his life in Basking Ridge; by George E. Helmke

Booklets are available at THSSH.

Walking Tour of Basking Ridge

A great way to see some of the most noted historical sites in and around the downtown Basking Ridge area

Download Now

The Brick Academy, Basking Ridge, NJ
(1978)

Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary (1928-1978) of The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills (then known as the Basking Ridge Historical Society).

14 pages full of historic facts, images, and stories about the storied Classical School and Academy.

Booklets are available at THSSH.

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The Official Publication of The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills

May
2008

Inside This Issue

• Shop Online...Preserve Somerset Hills History
  Do you shop online? Here is a fantastic opportunity to get online discounts and donate to the Historical Society at the same time. Trustee Brooks Betz has coordinated this new exciting shopping experience with ShopforMuseums.com. more online
• John Morton: The Rebel Banker
  On the night of the 22nd between the hours of eleven and one o-clock, the house of the John Morton, at Baskenridge, was broke open by a number of armed villains, three of whom entered the house and robbed it."
• Charter Day - May 17
  Bernards Township's 14th Annual Charter Day will be held on Saturday, May 17. The celebration begins at 11 a.m. with the Town Crier Hank Barre and the Rural Felicity Fife and Drum Corps conducting the opening ceremony.
• Culture & Heritage Commission Awards
  Seven Recipients Are Honored
  By Somerset Cultural and Heritage Commission The 1850 J. Staats House, Hillsborough, owners Barbara and Jerry Kaulius, Adaptive Use  The Bernards Inn, Bernardsville, Continuing Use  John Charles Smith of Far Hills, The Historic Map and Walking Tour of Peapack and Gladstone circa 1938, Education  The Black River Journal of Pottersville, Lee and Christian Wolfe, Owners, Education  Schoolhouses of Early Bernards Township by Josephine M. Waltz of Belle Mead, Education  The Uncertain Revolution by John T. Cunningham of Florham Park, Education  The Heritage Trail Association, Monique Rubens Krohn, Executive Director, Leadership and Education
• Farm & Technology Musuem
  For Bernards Township resident Jim Hallgring, his boyhood interest in the internal operation of machinery has lead from refurbushing lawnmowers to an impressive 30 year collection of antique engine and farm equipment.
• Betsy Ross Burial
  June 14 reminds us all of Betsy Ross (1752- 1836), our national heroine, credited with sewing the first American flag, at the request of General George Washington and his friends Robert Morris, in Philadelphia. Over the past two decades, more than half a dozen references to this story have been uncovered in our archives at the Brick Academy and in the files of the Bernards Township Library History Room.
• 2008 Historic Preservation Awards
  Please join us on Wednesday evening, May 28, 2008, for the fifth annual presentation of awards for noteworthy preservation projects in the Somerset Hills!- Learn More
• Welcome New Members:
  Ralph and Margaret Skelly, Basking Ridge William and Marian Craig, Monroe Township
• Rock-a-Bye Baby Railroad
  The Borough of Peapack and Gladstone is very proud of its fine electric train service into Hoboken and it is used by many daily commuters. Back in 1887 John Melick of Morristown came forward with plans to build the first part of a...

February
2008

Inside This Issue

• Chairman Marcella Maccolis - Executive Summary
• 2007 Annual Report
  • Community Outreach
  • Consultation & Clerical Work
  • Historic Preservation
  • Education Update
  • Brick Academy Restoration
  • Utilization of Brick Academy
  • Archive Activities
  • Association Memberships
  • Acquisitions
• General Lee's Capture (Historical Perspective)
• Schoolhouse Book
• YMCA Volunteer Award - Dan Lincoln
• Historic Preservation Awards 2007
• Spring Speaker Series
• Welcome New Members
  • Frank & June Cioppettini
  • Nancy Ferreira
  • Charles & Sally Hoiles
  • William & Virginia Kearns
  • Sheila Miller
  • Jim O'Brien
  • Richard & Blair Scott
  • Virginia Troeger
• Looking ahead to 2008

Free Download for Mac or Windows

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September
2007

Inside This Issue

• Chairman's Corner
• Brooks Betz Elected to Board of Trustees
• 2007 THSSH Historic Preservation Awards
• Weekend Journey thru the Past - October 12-14-2007
• From the Archives
• History Events
• 1770's Festival - October 7
• Holiday House Tour - December 2
• English Family to Host History Farm Day
• THSSH observes 79th Year Annivesary
• Welcome New Members

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Inside the Brick Academy gets a new look!

May
2007

Inside This Issue

• Chairman's Corner
• Charter Day Scheduled for May, 19, 2007
• 2007 Historic Preservation Awards Ceremony
• Ann Parsekian appointed THSSH Archivist
• Welcome New Members
• In the Good Ole Summertime...in Peapack Gladstone by Ruth Hill Thomson
• Restoration Project Thanks
• Facts about Francis Bernard, Show Compassionate NJ Governor by June Kennedy
• Inside the Brick Academy Newsletter gets a New Look
• Recent Acquisitions
• New - Third Floor Finds

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October 2006

Inside This Issue

• Message from the Chairman
• Revolutionary War Activities Dominate Sept/Oct Calendar
• NJ Turnpike Rest Stop Areas All Have New Jersey Connections
• How did one Get from Here to There?
• Brick Academy Restoration Update
• Hidden History Revealed
• Local History goes Online
• Photos of Historic Preservation Award Winning Projects on Display
• Weekend Journey thru the Past Update
• Meet Three New THSSH Trustees
• Welcome New Members
• Dues Are Due
• Have You Visited These Museums?
• News from Around New Jersey
• Did You Know?
• Upcoming Talks- Calendar
• Masthead

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May 2006

Inside This Issue

• Three Somerset Hills Recipients Are Honored By Cultural & Heritage Group
• Marcella Miccolis Replaces June Campbell As Chairman Of THSSH Board Of Trustees
• Remembering the Battle of Monmouth: June 28, 1778 and General Charles Lee
• The First Train
• An Historic Building in Gladstone (continued)
• Somerset Hills Historic Preservation Awards Announced
• Museum Notes
• Website Planned
• Cadette Girl Scout Troop 712 Earns Special Silver Award: History Camp Held At Academy
• The French Are Coming! The French Are Coming!
• New Jersey Rehabilitation Subcode
• Academy's Flag Tells Early History Of Our Nation
• On Tuesday, July 4, 2006, Remember
  New Jersey's Signers - They Pledged For Us
  July 4, 1776
• New Acquisitions
• Upcoming Talks- Calendar
• Masthead

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February 2006

Inside This Issue

• ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2005
  The Historical Society of The Somerset Hills
• PORTRAIT OF GENERAL CHARLES LEE
  The Man Credited with Getting Basking Ridge Into the History Books
• Outlook for 2006
• BOUDINOT-SOUTHARD ESTATE SET FOR "MANSION IN MAY"
• PLUCKEMIN’S GRAND BALL OF FEBRUARY 1779
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN!!
• 14th HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR ATTRACTS 500 VISITORS
• Upcoming Talks- Calendar
• Masthead

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October 2005

Inside This Issue

• BOUDINOT-SOUTHARD MANSION BOUGHT BY SOMERSET COUNTY
• An Historic Building in Gladstone
• Friends of the KMS Farmstead News
• Archeology at the Brick Academy
• New Acquisitions in the Brick Academy Archives
  • “Basking Ridge: The Study of a Town in Transition”
  • scrap album compiled by Nettie Allen
• Historic Preservation Committee Undertakes New Project
• HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR SET FOR DECEMBER 4
• A NEW JERSEY CHRISTMAS- William S. Stryker, 1898
• HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF LONG AGO
• SEPTEMBER 23, 2005 MARKED 77th BIRTHDAY OF SOCIETY
• SIGNIFICANT DATES RELATING TO THE SOMERSET HILLS
• Volunteer Needed
• DUES NOTICE
• Masthead

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May 2005

Inside This Issue

• Francis Bernard,
  A Compassionate Governor:
  History Of Royal Charter Is Explained
• New Monument Is Dedicated Honoring Reverend Kennedy
• Save Ellis Island
• The Jacobus Vanderveer House in Bedminster
• Janet Foster to be Featured Speaker at 2005 Historic Preservation Awards
• Old House Owners: Did You Know?
• History Resources on the Internet
• Brick Academy News: New Exhibit Planned
• THSSH Donates Vintage Student Chairs To Local Schools, Etc.
• Bernards Had 10-Day Celebration
  In 1960 For Its 200th Anniversary
• Poet laureate publishes
  Second book of verse
• There's A Liberty Corner
  Now Located In Ireland!
• Sun Catchers For Sale
• About Jockey Hollow, Morristown
• Notable Dates In History
  March
• Masthead

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February 2005

Inside This Issue

• ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2004
  The Historical Society of The Somerset Hills
• Acquisitions
• Outlook for 2005
• 226 Years Ago, George Washington Danced
  In Pluckemin
• George Washington Slept Here…
  His Lodgings in New Jersey
• Meet Elias Boudinot—Patriot, Statesman
  And Former Basking Ridge Resident
• Banking in Peapack and Gladstone
  By Ruth Hill Thomson
• Local Preservation News
• Masthead

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October 2004

Inside This Issue

• New Grants Issued
• John Stelle’s 1847 Diary
• Libraries and Schools of Peapack and Gladstone
• October Recalls Return of Heroine Mary Kinnan
• Spoon From Pluckemin’s Kenilworth Inn Newest Acquisition of Historical Group
• Some Past History In The Somerset Hills
• Somerset Hills Residents Prominent In State And National Governments
• Girl Scout’s Gold Award Project Results in Oral History Publication
• New Acquisitions
• New Walking Tour Booklet
• Reserve the Date: Dec. 16 For THSSH Yule Party
• Membership Renewal
• Masthead

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June 2004

Inside This Issue

• Tour of Presbyterian Churchyard
  Reveals Bernards Early History
• From the Friends of the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead:
  Memories of Gerald Pearson
• Hardware Stores of Peapack and Gladstone
• English Family Farm Recipient
  Of Cultural/Heritage Award
• First Historic Preservation Awards Announced
• Third Floor Update
• Kennedy Farmstead Fundraiser Announced
• Lewis & Clark:
  The National Bicentennial Exhibition”
• An Indian Legacy of Names
• Some Facts About the Brick Academy Bell
• Masthead

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February 2004

Inside This Issue

• ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2003
  The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills
  • Restoration
  • Preservation
  • Education
  • Utilization of the Academy
  • Fund Raisers
  • Clerical and Museum Work
  • Acquisitions
  • Association Memberships
  • Outlook for 2004
• Churches of Peapack and Gladstone
• From “The Union” 1818
• French Encampment 1781 Sign
  Placed on English Farm Site
• Unique Military Museum Located at Veterans Center
• What is Bonnie Brae? ? ? ?
• Masthead

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October 2003

Inside This Issue

• The Unhappy History of a
  Vanished Church- Raritan-in-the-Hills
• Peapack and Gladstone
• Legend of Mary Kinnan,
  Local Heroine (1763-1848) Recalled
• Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead Signed Onto NJ Historic Register
• Sunday “Open House” Hours Resume
• Holiday House Tour Set for Dec. 7;
  Six Homes Prepare to Receive Guests
• Academy Receives Three Display Cases
• Brick Academy Gift List Impressive
• Masthead

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January 2003

Inside This Issue

• 2002 - A GOOD YEAR
  Excerpts from the Chairman’s Annual Report
  • Community Outreach
  • Restoration
  • Preservation
  • Education
  • Utilization of the Academy
  • Clerical and Museum Work
  • Acquisitions
  • Outlook for 2003
• Two New Trustees Seated
  • Ann Parsekian and David Connolly
• Thank You's
• The Brick Academy updates
• Members Provide Donkeys For
  “Walk to Bethlehem”
• Meet The Real George Washington
• Welcome New Members
• In Memoriam
• Historical Society will be 75 Years Old
• Some Facts About New Jersey
• Masthead

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September 2002

Inside This Issue

• Copy of Rare Document Reveals Area Involvement in Revolutionary War
• Rev. Samuel Kennedy Relative
  Visits Parsonage Farm
• Facts/Figures About the Somerset Hills
• Brick Academy Helped Educate Four U.S. Senators
• Moguls, Millionaires, Statesmen, Captains of Industry, Financial Giants, Media People, Society Figures, Politicos -- Broken down by each town within the Somerset Hills

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April 2002

Inside This Issue

• Cultural & Heritage Awards
• Costume Jewelry At the May Society Meeting
• THSSH Trustee News
• Charter Day Festivities May 18 Displays, Games, Crafts
• Historic District Regulations
• How Some Somerset County Towns Rank, According To Age
  • Where does Bernards Township rank in age, with respect to its sister communities in Somerset County? Research done during the 200th Bicentennial in 1960 reveals that Bernards ranks fourth oldest.
• Exciting Restoration Developments
• Historical Society Of The Somerset Hills W i s h L i s t
• First In America – And From New Jersey

  Arlington, steam engine, 1763
  Burlington, chinaware, 1685
  Camden, condensed soup (add water, heat/serve), 1897
  Hoboken, brewery, 1642
  Jamesburg, canned tomatoes, 1847
  Morristown, successful telegraph tested,1837
  Murray Hill, transistor, 1948
  Menlo Park, incandescent lamp, 1879
  Newark, patent leather made, 1818
  Newark, malleable iron, 1826
  Newark, successful plastics factory opened, 1873
  Paterson, planned industrial city, 1791 at The Great Falls
  Paterson, silk factory started, 1838
  Paterson, submarine made, 1878
  Paterson, revolving pistol, 1836
  Pompton Plains, rocket engines ,made during World War II
  Salem County, successful glass factory started, 1739
  Trenton, iron beams for buildings, 1854
  Trenton, railroad suspension bridge, 1855 (made in Trenton to carry heavy trains over canyon near Niagara Falls)
  Trenton, American-made china used in White House, 1917 (before that all china was made in Europe)
  Vineland, thermos bottle made, 1880s
  West Orange, phonograph played, 1887
  West Orange, movies shown, 1889

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January 2002

Inside This Issue

• 2001 - A YEAR OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
  Excerpts from the Chairman’s Annual Report
  • 12th Holiday House Tour
  • Historic Preservation
  • Community Outreach
  • Education
  • Other Items of Interest
  • Acquisitions
  • Utilization of the Brick Academy
  • 2002 Outlook
• Reverend Kennedy Parsonage
  Farmstead Task Force Named
• Brick Academy Open Sunday Afternoons
• Another Volunteer Opportunity
• Coming this Spring

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A Town In Transition

A photo essay and manuscript from 1940 by Basking Ridge resident Ms. Janet Carswell

THSSH Annual Report (2007) - Click Here

THSSH Annual Report (2006) - Click Here

THSSH Annual Report (2005) - Click Here

The Presbyterian Church, Basking Ridge, NJ - A History 1717-1968 by Dorothy Loa McFadden, Mildred Van Dyke and Eileen Luz Johnston
EILEEN LUZ JOHNSTON

Bernardsville
(Historical Timeline 1723-1951)

(pdf Download)

Kate Macy Ladd (Natirar)
Reproduced Brochure- Includes history, photographs and descriptions of the services and estate grounds.

(1.75mb pdf download)
20 pages.

Also, see what Somerset County is proposing as a master plan to preserve Natirar and the new Somerset County Park proposal. Click Here

Natirar Master Plan - Also, see what Somerset County is proposing as a master plan to preserve Natirar and the new Somerset County Park proposal. Click Here

Natirar Building Survey - Click Here

Village of Basking Ridge 1873

From the Atlas of Somerset County, New Jersey, published by Beers, Comstock & Cline, 36 Vesey Street, New York, 1873.

Township of Bedminster Map 1873

From the Atlas of Somerset County, New Jersey, published by Beers, Comstock & Cline, 36 Vesey Street, New York, 1873.

Map - Bullions Tavern (Now Liberty Corner, Bernards Township)

CourtesyW3R and Library of Congress.

Map - Bullions Tavern (Now Liberty Corner, Bernards Township)

CourtesyW3R and Library of Congress

From the Volume set "The American Campaigns of Rochambeau's Army 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783. Translated and Edited by Howard Rice and Anne Brown, Princeton University Press, Brown University Press, 1927

Map - Bullions Tavern 1781 (Now Liberty Corner, Bernards Township)

From the Volume set "The American Campaigns of Rochambeau's Army 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783. Translated and Edited by Howard Rice and Anne Brown, Princeton University Press, Brown University Press, 1927

Liberty Corner (1873)

From the Atlas of Somerset County, New Jersey, published by Beers, Comstock & Cline, 36 Vesey Street, New York, 1873.

Bernardsville & Madisonville 1873

From the Atlas of Somerset County, New Jersey, published by Beers, Comstock & Cline, 36 Vesey Street, New York, 1873.

Lesser Cross Roads,

Bedminster 1873

From the Atlas of Somerset County, New Jersey, published by Beers, Comstock & Cline, 36 Vesey Street, New York, 1873.

1880 Map of Pleasant Valley

(W. Millington/Millington/Lyons-Bernards Township) what looks like the junction of Valley Road and Stonehouse Roads today (see Baptist Church icon)

Greater Bernards (1875)

From the Atlas of Somerset County, New Jersey, published by Beers, Comstock & Cline, 36 Vesey Street, New York, 1873.

Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church Graveyard Map - Oak Tree Area

Cemetery Burial Records/ Maps - Presbyterian Church, Basking Ridge

See if you have ancestors from the region. 700+ plot records!

Village of Peapack (1850)

Then part of Bedminster.

From the Atlas of Somerset County, New Jersey, published by Beers, Comstock & Cline, 36 Vesey Street, New York, 1873.

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Thortons 1700 map of the East West Jersey region. John Thornton’s massive atlas of maritime charts covering the entire nautical world. On this copper-engraved early English nautical chart includes soundings in New York harbor, Delaware Bay, and off shore. The diagonal lines are early colonial boundaries. The beautiful hand-colored outline and wash coloring is original.

North and South New Jersey (or East and West Jersey in colonial times) have always differed in some respect—geographically, politically. The northern areas were settled by the Dutch, and had a commercial focus strongly oriented toward the New York City market. The southern part of the state was settled by Swedes along the Delaware, and was a more rural farm-based economy linked to Philadelphia markets. The Dutch eventually took over the Swedish colonies, and those were subsequently taken by the English. The royal province of New Jersey was established by the English in 1702. During the American Revolution, New Jersey was a crossroads of conflict.