Video Introduces Vanderveer House

Ridge High School Student Volunteers To Share Talents and Promote History

As the internet expands and connection speeds open the door for sites to provide rich media content, organizations like the Historical Society of the Somerset Hills continue to create new ways to enhance our online experiences with techniques that allow us to better tell our story. The video embedded below is the result of a new program tailored to bring new ways showcase and promote our local history.

In an effort to reach out to new and younger audiences, a program called "History VolunTeens" was established here at THSSH in 2009 to work with area high school students and tie their interest in history to volunteer to find new ways to promote our local history. This video showcases one local teens dedication to local history and her craft.

Jacobus Vanderveer / Knox House and Museum Project
by Bianca Pichamuthu

History VolunTeens at the Vanderveer House

A few months ago at a regional History VolunTeens meeting, Bernards Township resident Bianca Pichamuthu volunteered for a project to promote local history using her video skills she learned as a student at Ridge High School. "I'm currently studying history and I've been part of a visual arts/tv video program at Ridge so I thought it'd be a great match for my interests and talents", noted Bianca. Bianca is currently a sophomore at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge. " I love photography and filmmaking so when I heard that I could work on a real project I was really excited." Part of the advanced placement high school curriculum at Ridge requires students to volunteer for community service and learn about various programs and volunteer efforts in the area. "When I heard about the History VolunTeens program at The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills, I told my parents this is what I'd like to do."

The History VolunTeens program was created by Brooks Betz, a Trustee at the Historical Society of the Somerset Hills, a historical organization that promotes and supports historic efforts in the Somerset Hills area including Bedminster, Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack and Gladstone. Brooks is also on the Board of Trustees at the Vanderveer House.

Bianca worked with Brooks Betz and targeted the Colonial Christmas fundraising event that's held annually at the Vanderveer Knox House & Museum. " The Colonial Christmas event is a perfect video opportunity to capture the house in a completely decorated state," noted Betz. "The fundraiser is working to raise funds to create displays and furnish the museum as the Vanderveer House works to open on a regular basis in 2010. By capturing the house when it's furnished, it was a great opportunity to really showcase the house and tell the history as well."

The Video

Bianca Pichamuthu's five minute video is her first promotional video effort for the History VolunTeens program. "I hope everyone likes it because I'd really like to work with the program and do more videos for other projects that the group has planned." The streaming video took over sixty hours to film, edit, and produce. "Based on what she delivered, we certainly hope she sticks with the program," noted Betz. "She's a great person and has some gifted talents to offer and we're certainly grateful for her dedication and support of the program."

In the video you tour the Vanderveer house, see various participants and guests to the house, watch a quick interview with Colonial Christmas Co-chair and board member Jeanne Galbraith, a brief house history, and sounds of the Pingry Balladeers. It really captures the house and the event in a perfect light.

Additional Information

We'd like to thank all of those people who were involved with the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House for allowing the VolunTeens program to capture their event and showcase their efforts.

To learn more about the history of the Vanderveer House - Click Here

If you, or anyone you know is interested in volunteering with the History VolunTeens program, visit www.historyvolunteens.org to learn more about various programs and volunteer opportunities.

To learn more about The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills - visit them online at www.THSSH.org

Submitted: March 12, 2010

Rate and Comment on this post

About The Brick Academy

The Brick Academy (also known as the Basking Ridge Classical Schoolhouse) is a 1809 Federal-style architectural structure located in the center of Basking Ridge in Bernards Township. The Brick Academy has been a boys’ private preparatory school, a public school, a meeting hall for several fraternal and benevolent organizations, and the Bernards Township municipal building. It currently serves as the headquarters of The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills, as well as a schoolhouse and museum to local history. The Brick Academy also celebrated its bicentennial in 2009.

About the Historical Society of the Somerset Hills (THSSH)

Founded in 1928 originally as the Historical Society of Basking Ridge, the mission and name of the society was later changed to The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization including all five communities of the Somerset Hills region: Bedminster Township, Bernards Township, Bernardsville ,Far Hills, Peapack-Gladstone which are all located in Somerset County, New Jersey.

The mission of The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills (THSSH) is to acquire, conserve and share local artifacts and information on matters of local historic interest; cultivate interest in local history; encourage the preservation of local historic resources; facilitate historic research; and preserve, operate, and interpret the Brick Academy.

To further this mission, THSSH sponsors events and activities that promote community awareness and appreciation of the history and architecture of the Somerset Hills. THSSH headquarters is at the Brick Academy in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township, where our collections of items of local historic interest are available to the public.