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Memorial Day 2026: Join the Bergen County Historical Society to Honor Revolutionary War General Enoch Poor

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A Revolutionary Remembrance: Honor General Enoch Poor in Hackensack This Memorial Day

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, While Memorial Day is often associated with the Civil War and 20th-century conflicts, Bergen County’s ties to military sacrifice stretch all the way back to the birth of our nation. This year, you can experience a profound piece of living history right in the heart of Hackensack.

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Step Into the 1700s: The Pinkster Spring Festival Returns to River Edge Sunday May 17th

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Celebrate Spring Like It’s 1799: The “Pinkster” Festival Returns to River Edge

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

River Edge NJ, Looking for a unique way to welcome spring this weekend? Forget the standard street fair and step back in time at Historic New Bridge Landing.

On Sunday, May 17, from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, the Bergen County Historical Society invites you to Pinkster: A Jersey Dutch Celebration of Spring. This vibrant annual festival breathes life into 18th-century traditions through festive music, open-hearth cooking, and the iconic Maypole dance.

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Discover the Shad Moon: A Journey into Indigenous Traditions and Colonial History at New Bridge Landing

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Chwame Gischuch: Experience the “Shad Moon” Festival at Historic New Bridge Landing

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

River Edge NJ, This spring, step back in time and witness the seasonal rebirth of the Hackensack River valley. On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the Bergen County Historical Society invites you to Chwame Gischuch: Under the Shad Moon, an immersive cultural event at Historic New Bridge Landing.

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The Secret Revolutionary War Battle That Happened in Ridgewood’s Backyard

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History Comes Alive: The 1780 Battle That Shook Bergen County Unearthed at One Bergen County Plaza

photos courtesy of Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, The “Neutral Ground” of New Jersey was anything but quiet in 1780. On April 8th, history buffs and local residents gathered at One Bergen County Plaza for a gripping installment of the Revolutionary War Roundtable Speaker Series. The evening offered an exclusive deep dive into the Battle of the Old Paramus Reformed Church, a pivotal 1780 engagement that saw nearly 1,000 combatants clash right here on Bergen County soil.

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The “Shad Moon” Returns to River Edge: A Rare Look at Bergen County’s Indigenous History

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Step Back in Time: Celebrate the “Shad Moon” at Historic New Bridge Landing this April

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

River Edge NJ, As the spring thaw wakes the Hackensack River, a centuries-old tradition returns to River Edge. On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the Bergen County Historical Society (BCHS) presents a captivating afternoon of living history: “Chwame Gischuch: Under the Shad Moon.”

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George Washington is “Returning” to Bergen County This Sunday

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Forget the Mall: Step Back to 1776 This Sunday at Historic New Bridge Landing

file photo courtesy of Bergen County Historical Society

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

River Edge, NJ – Looking for a unique way to celebrate American history this weekend? On March 8, 2026, the Bergen County Historical Society is hosting a vibrant tribute to George Washington’s Birthday at the legendary Historic New Bridge Landing.

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Beyond the Diamond: How Jackie Robinson Orchestrated America’s Greatest Integration

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Breaking the Color Barrier: How Jackie Robinson Changed Baseball and America Forever

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — History isn’t just made of dates; it’s made of courage. Seventy-five years ago today, in Brooklyn, New York, a man stepped onto a patch of dirt at Ebbets Field and changed the trajectory of the United States forever.

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Rescheduled! Celebrate Washington’s Birthday at This Historic NJ Landmark—Dance, Music, and Hidden History

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Rescheduled: Celebrate Washington’s Birthday at Historic New Bridge Landing!

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

River Edge NJ, History is coming to life in River Edge! Due to the recent storm, the Bergen County Historical Society (BCHS) has rescheduled its highly anticipated Washington’s Birthday Celebration.

Join us on Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm at a site actually visited by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Whether you are a history buff, a dance lover, or looking for a unique family outing, this event offers an immersive step back into the 18th century.

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Washington’s Birthday Celebration Brings History, Music, Food and Family Fun to Historic New Bridge Landing, River Edge

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Interactive Activities, Live Performances, and Revolutionary War  Demonstrations on February 22

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

River Edge, NJ (January 2026) – The Bergen County Historical Society (BCHS) invites visitors of all ages to celebrate George Washingtons Birthday on Sunday, February 22, 2026 from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., with a full afternoon of hands-on history, live music and dance, historic cooking, and family-friendly activities at Historic New Bridge Landing.

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The Midnight Oil in Fort Lee: How Thomas Paine’s “American Crisis” Was Born in Bergen County

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The Midnight Oil in Fort Lee: How Thomas Paine’s “American Crisis” Was Born in Bergen County

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Fort Lee NJ, Did you know that some of the most influential words in American history were penned right here in Bergen County?

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King for a Day: Celebrate 12th Night at Historic New Bridge Landing

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Bergen County Historical Society’s celebration of Twelfth Night at Historic New Bridge Landing

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

River Edge NJ, the holiday season isn’t over until the King’s Cake is cut! If you’re looking for a way to cap off your winter celebrations with history, community, and great food, the Bergen County Historical Society invites you to a timeless tradition.

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REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR: Why “A Date Which Will Live In Infamy” Still Shapes America

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Unpacking the Dec. 7, 1941 Attack That Dragged the U.S. into World War II

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Peal Harbor , Hawaii, every year on December 7th, Americans pause to remember one of the darkest days in the nation’s history: the surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This single, devastating event in 1941 was the culmination of rising geopolitical tensions and instantly galvanized a previously divided America, propelling it headlong into World War II.

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$400,000 Art or Nude Scandal? Clifton May Sell Massive Shulton Mural to Close $17M Budget Gap

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The mural, titled “Womanhood Throughout the Ages Pays Scented Tribute to Venus, Goddess of Beauty”

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Clifton NJ, the City of Clifton, facing a potential budget deficit of $17 million in 2026, is considering an extraordinary measure to raise revenue: auctioning off a massive, historic piece of artwork that has been in storage for years.

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Beer Perhaps the Most Thanksgiving of All Drinks

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First Native American to contact the Pilgrims, Samoset, asked for beer on March 16, 1621

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Plymouth Rock Ma, the first Native American to contact the Pilgrims, Samoset, asked for beer on March 16, 1621 He had learned English from fishermen and traders who had visited the area before the Pilgrims arrived. The Pilgrims, however, did not have beer to give him and instead offered him other food and “strong water”.

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The Real Story of Thanksgiving

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The Great Thanksgiving Hoax

By Richard J. Maybury

Each year at this time school children all over America are taught the official Thanksgiving story, and newspapers, radio, TV, and magazines devote vast amounts of time and space to it. It is all very colorful and fascinating.

It is also very deceiving. This official story is nothing like what really happened. It is a fairy tale, a whitewashed and sanitized collection of half-truths which divert attention away from Thanksgiving’s real meaning.

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