
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New Bridge Landing NJ, from the Bergen County Historical Society , Good morning Bergen County! The snow is gone and Historic New Bridge Landing will be open today November 18, Sunday, from 12-4 pm as we bring to life one of the important stories that occurred on this hallowed ground.
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 PM Site opens to the public
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 (check out his books in our gift shop, they make great holiday gifts)
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. Don’t forget the New Bridge Donuts & Cider (hot or cold) in the Tavern. Visit the Out-Kitchen as our cooks prepare seasonal 18th century foods and our resident blacksmith plys his trade. Scavenger hunt with a Retreat Sign magnet prize, also availabe for sale in the gift shop! Children drills. (Book sale will be rescheduled).
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. Admission: Adults $12, Students (12-22 yr) $7. BCHS members – Free. 100% goes to our mission.
HNBL, 1201 Main St., River Edge, NJ.
Site opened by 30 volunteer historians and interpreters. Free parking is available. NJ Transit train service on the Pascack Valley line out of Secaucus. HNBL is only 7 miles from the GWB. Site map above. Info subject to change.