the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, Save the date and join us for the 242nd Anniversary of the British Invasion/American Retreat Across New Jersey , Sunday, November 18, 2018, 12 pm – 4 pm at the Bergen County Historical Society .
On November 20th, 1776, five thousand British, Hessian and Loyalist troops, under command of Lt. Gen. Lord Cornwallis, scaled the Palisades at Lower Closter Dock and marched against Fort Lee. Warned by an alert officer, the American garrison escaped entrapment by safely crossing the Hackensack River at New Bridge, now known as the Bridge That Saved a Nation, and lived to fight another day.
To mark the 242nd Anniversary of the “times that try men’s souls,” the Bergen County Historical Society, will sponsor a day of living history, scholarly presentations and a slice of Bergen County’s rich history, in our backyard on November 18, 2018.
Event Schedule 12 – 4 pm
12:30 PM Reading of The American Crisis at the Bridge, by President and Chairman of HNBLSPC, historian & reenactor Jim Smith.
1:00 PM Walking tour of the Zabriskie Tide Mill and its importance to New Bridge – Past President Deborah Powell (please meet at the Von Steuben House)
2:00 PM Military historian, author and Past President, Todd Braisted will look at the role of militia during the American Revolution in Bergen County
3:00 PM Walking Tour of “the Bridge that Saved a Nation” Join Society Vice President, Kate Reilly as she gives a walking for of the historic river crossing and how it was imperative for Washington to cross the Hackensack before he could cross the Delaware.
Tours in all three 18th century Jersey Dutch sandstone houses that are connected by an ADA gravel walking path through the historic battleground site. Walk across the 1889 Swing Bridge on the Hackensack River and watch for American Eagles and Redtail Hawks. Revolutionary War reenactors will be present throughout the site to answer questions and demonstrate life of the common soldier and camp follower. Visit the Out-Kitchen as our cooks prepare seasonal 18th century foods and our resident blacksmith plys his trade.
Some of the Society’s treasure of Revolutionary War artifacts are on display. The gift shop will be open (start thinking about gifts for that history lover) and a book sale will take place.