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Ridgewood NJ, James Polk (1795-1849) served as the 11th U.S. president from 1845 to 1849. During his tenure, America’s territory grew by more than one-third and extended across the continent for the first time. Before his presidency, Polk served in the Tennessee legislature and the U.S. Congress; in 1839 he became governor of Tennessee.
Continue reading James Polk the 11th President of the United States : A Very Productive 4 years
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River Edge NJ, Historic New Bridge Landing is open for Washington’s Birthday, visit 3 Jersey-Dutch Sandstone Houses and come celebrate Washington’s Birthday with the Bergen County Historical Society on Sunday February 27th 1 pm- 4 pm at Historic New Bridge Landing. 1201 Main Street, River Edge NJ! Come home to history and walk in the footsteps where history was made.
Continue reading Washington’s Birthday Celebration with the Bergen County Historical Society
Continue reading The Bergen County Historical Society Remembers Pamphleteer Thomas Paine
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River Edge NJ, on the 21st of January for the Friday’s Fare from Historic New Bridge Landing the Bergen County Historical Society showcased Rumbledethumps. Rumbledethumps is a whimsical name for a traditional dish from the Scottish Boarders. “Rumble” is a old culinary term for pounding or mashing vegetables together, then they are “thumped” into a pan for cooking. A Scottish mainstay using what could be grown locally, easy and cheap to make, but also healthy. Was it Sir Frances Drake, or Sir Walter Raleigh, or Sir Thomas Harriott; there are conflicting reports on just who is responsible, in the late 16th century for introducing the potato to the British Isles. Another source says it came by way of Spanish traders. But before the spud, the Scots’ main source of carbohydrates was bread made from oats or barley. Now, cabbage was considered a medical cure-all health food dating back to ancient Rome, and possibly they brought it as they moved north into the British Isles. Rumbledethumps is made of cooked potatoes [tatties], cabbage [cal], and chives [syboes], then baked with butter, cream, and a good Scottish cheddar. Scotland’s National Bard Robbie Burns’ birthday, 01.25.1759, is a major celebration, with reading of his poetry, feasting, dancing, and drinking in this northern nation [but not independent of the UK]. A contemporary of Alexander Hamilton, Burns is known for penning “Auld Lang Syne”, “Tam o” Shanter”, and “The Selkirk Grace”. A fair number of Scots settled here in Bergen County, as well as Dutch, French, Irish, English, etc. So raise a pint, and enjoy a Burn’s Supper of rumbledethumps with a a couple slices of gammon on Burn’s Night, January 25. Oidhche Bhlas Burns from BergenCountyHistory.org
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society : Burn’s Night, January 25th
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Historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge NJ, on Christmas Eve the Bergen County Historical Society presented Friday’s Fare at Historic New Bridge Landing Advocaat van de Duivel . When looking for an old eggnog recipe for sipping into a seasonal mood, came across this intriguing Dutch custard-like eggnog; that translates as “Advocate of the Devil”. With a claim of being much smoother than my grandfather’s whisky eggnog, once you taste this nectar resistance is futile. Advocaat, of Dutch origin, was introduced during the 17th century, and boasted as good for the throat. Advocaat, Dutch for lawyer [or is the lawyer the devil?], alleges this drink is soothing for someone who must speak in public.
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society : Advocaat van de Duivel , “Advocate of the Devil”
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New bridge Landing, River Edge NJ, French toast is a dish made of sliced bread soaked in beaten eggs and typically milk, then pan fried. The Bergen County Historical Society gives us the run down on the history and back ground of “French Toast”.
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society: Let them eat “French toast”!
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Continue reading Watch George Washington’s Annual Delaware River Crossing
Trenton, NJ – Visitors and New Jerseyans alike can now use their smartphones to enjoy narrated travels in George Washington’s footsteps as the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area introduces its Ten Crucial Days audio tour. Travelers will follow the route of key events that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War in the very spots where they happened, starting with the launch point of Washington’s Christmas night Delaware River crossing in 1776 through the Continental Army victories at Trenton and Princeton. You will hear these events unfold through the experiences of the people who were there, in their own words.
photos courtesy of the Bergen County Historical Society
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New Bridge Landing NJ, marking the 245th Anniversary of this pivotal event during the Rev War, the Bergen County Historical Society, along with the Brigade of the American Revolution, co-sponsored a day of living history on Sunday, November 21st, 10 am-4 pm at Historic New Bridge Landing. The 3rd New Jersey Regiment, “Jersey Grays” marched, retracing the 7-mile retreat of Washington’s Army, arriving from Fort Lee around 10:30AM, then engaged in a skirmish with three other units for the bridge in a tactical weapons demonstration portraying the action that occurred when British troops forced the Continental Army away from the area and captured this vital crossing point over the Hackensack River. Up to the challenge of feeding an army, the Out Kitchen cooked for over 65 [reenactors from, I believe, four units present, along with the ladies] a hearty stew of 20 pounds of beef, 12 pounds of potatoes, 15 pounds of carrots, 8 onions, and a celery head in a tasty broth served with good crusty bread. Pictured are unit ladies who volunteered to serve.
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Ridgewood NJ, today marks the 400th anniversary of Thanksgiving . The first Thanksgiving was celebrated after the harvest 400 years ago this autumn, in 1621. The exact date is unknown. The feast was celebrated by the Pilgrims, the breakaway Puritan sect that founded Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts in 1620, and it was joined by the neighboring Native American tribe, the Wampanoags.
Continue reading Today Marks the 400th Anniversary of Thanksgiving
by the Bergen County Historical Society
Historic New Bridge Landing , 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 245th Anniversary of the “times that try men’s souls,” the Bergen County Historical Society, along with the Brigade of the American Revolution, will co-sponsor a day of living history on Sunday, November 21st 10 am-4 pm. 1201 Main Street, River Edge NJ.
by the Bergen County Historical Society
Historic New Bridge Landing , 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 245th Anniversary of the “times that try men’s souls,” the Bergen County Historical Society, along with the Brigade of the American Revolution, will co-sponsor a day of living history on Sunday, November 21st 10 am-4 pm. 1201 Main Street, River Edge NJ.
Continue reading The 245th Anniversary of the British Invasion & American Retreat
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New Brunswick NJ, Rutgers University and its neighbor, Princeton, played the first game of intercollegiate football on Nov. 6, 1869, on a plot of ground where the present-day Rutgers gymnasium now stands in New Brunswick, N.J. Rutgers won that first game, 6-4.
photo by Boyd Loving
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Ridgewood NJ, just a brief history of Halloween or Hallowe’en (a contraction of All Hallows’ Evening),also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eve, or All Saints’ Eve, is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.
