Historical Society Celebrates its 80th Birthday

By June Kennedy
September 23, 2008

The Somerset Hills – On September 23, 1928, some Bernards Township residents, dedicated to the preservation of local history, met in the Maple Avenue School (site of the present library) for the annual gathering of Brick Academy alumni.  This association of alumni was an inspiration for the founding of the Historical Society.

Programs were held in the school, members’ homes, the library at 2 North Finley Avenue and later Town Hall, which then was located in the Brick Academy.

The Society had storage space for artifacts and a file cabinet in the library; the Society was quite scholarly, producing intellectual research papers, now in the files of the Society, all previously read at meetings.  Some papers were printed in the NJ Archives and the Somerset County Quarterly. 

The Society wrote three publications, two about the Academy and one on the Van Dorn Mill.  It also collaborated with The Historical Booklet Committee in 1960 for Bernards’ 200th Anniversary brochure, reprinted in 1976 for America’s bicentennial.

In 1975, the municipal offices were relocated to Collyer Lane and the Academy became the head-quarters of the Society, which leases the landmark building from the Township. 

In 1988, in an effort to broaden its horizon, the organization’s name was changed to The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills.  In 1990, a new 50-year lease between the Society and Bernards Township was written.  The Historical Society “shall have exclusive use of the premises and shall endeavor to restore, renovate and preserve the building, in view of its historical significance.”    

Throughout the years, major restoration has occurred.  The lower level serves as a research center and library; the main floor is a public meeting room and museum; and the top floor is being replicated to a late 19th century schoolroom.

 

(Photo: Members of The Basking Ridge Historical Society dress in fashions of the Civil War period for a special historic program, 1940)

Submitted: September 23, 2008