
Julia Shaw / October 09, 2012
Columbus Day is an unusual American holiday. It doesn’t commemorate a President or a great American statesman. Christopher Columbus found North America, but he didn’t find, or found, the United States.

Julia Shaw / October 09, 2012
Columbus Day is an unusual American holiday. It doesn’t commemorate a President or a great American statesman. Christopher Columbus found North America, but he didn’t find, or found, the United States.


photos courtesy of Bergen County Historical Society
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge Nj, sponsored by the Bergen County Historical Society , BaronFest at Historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge, celebrates Major General Baron von Steuben . This year the festival drew a large crowd . There was lots of food , music ,tours ,reenactments and drink. Alementary, Brix City and Hackensack Brewery were there along with Particle Theory 6- piece band, a food truck, pumpkin picking, 3rd NJ, Mott’s Artillery and 3 historic homes were all open for tours.

the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, come celebrate Major General Baron von Steuben with the Bergen County Historical Society at our annual BaronFest on Saturday, September 24th (Rain date Sunday, September 25th), 1-6 p.m. at Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main Street, River Edge, NJ.
Continue reading BaronFest, Steuben’s Birthday at Historic New Bridge Landing

the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, on September 11, 2001 on a crystal clear, sunny, late summer day al Qaeda terrorists aboard three hijacked passenger planes carried out coordinated suicide attacks against the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., killing everyone on board the planes and nearly 3,000 people on the ground. A fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all on board, after passengers and crew attempted to wrest control from the hijackers. Below is a chronology of the events of 9/11 as they unfolded. All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
By Kevin OToole
Kevin J. O’Toole is the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This was first printed in the Bergen Record on 9/9/19.
The most humbling duty that falls on the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is speaking on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. It was the second attack on the Trade Center, which was bombed on Feb. 26, 1993, resulting in the deaths of six adults and an unborn child. Nearly 3,000 souls were lost on 9/11.
The loss of life – whether in numbers small or large – is always personal to the family and friends of the victims. Many of us in New Jersey and New York, lost family, friends and colleagues. The sum total of this loss is incalculable.
Continue reading September 11th – Images of Hope, Courage and Sacrifice Remain

3 Breweries, Live music with Particle Theory, Food Trucks, Rev War Museum Site Open in the Heart of Bergen County, Save the date or Buy Your Tickets
the Bergen County Historical Society
River Edge NJ, Come celebrate Major General Baron von Steuben with the Bergen County Historical Society at our annual Baron BeerFest on Saturday, September 24th (Rain date Sunday, September 25th), 1-6 p.m. at Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main Street, River Edge, NJ.
Continue reading Baron Beer Fest, Steuben’s Birthday at Historic New Bridge Landing

the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, in the Bergen County Historical Society’s Friday’s Fare post from Historic New Bridge Landing the Bergen County Historical Society focused on a device called the Water Yoke . Given the near draught conditions in the county the Water Yoke could be making a comeback .Water was so important in any 18th century Out Kitchen; boiling & scalding, soups & stews, rising & washing, and just in case, a bucketful to douse a fire. Never taken for granted, it always needs to be carried in. Over the OK east window hangs a shoulder yoke, and n the 18th century, it may have been a older child’s job to haul water several times daily, even more on laundry day.
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society : the Water Yoke

Photos courtesy of Carol Restivo, BCHS President and D.Powell
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, stolen c.1812 Cannon mystery deepens at the Bergen County Historical Society ,Eric Pain, Superintendent of Ringwood State Park jumped on putting us in touch with Timothy Andro /Owner, Northeast Public Safety Divers & Mahwah Rescue 1 Dive Coordinator & North Jersey Regional Scuba to help look for our c.1812 cannon that was reported stolen May 9, 1980 from in front of the Steuben House. One response from a previous Facebook post was that it was thrown off the bridge at that time.
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society : Stolen c.1812 Cannon Mystery Deepens

Manfred with Major General Baron von Steuben
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, “Manfred was an amazing person. His childhood and youth under the brutal regimes of the Nazis and later the Communists in Germany made him an extraordinary witness to history, and his escape from East Berlin was a gutsy and clever one. To hear such first hand stories made me realize fully how protected and even sheltered we have been in the US. He was an extremely talented craftsman, not just in wood (what he didn’t know about woodworking wasn’t worth knowing!), but in photography and drawing as well, and the tips he gave me for my DIY projects were always welcome. He was generous with both his knowledge and his humor, always appreciating a quick comeback to his teasing. He was a fixture at HNBL who will be both missed and remembered.”
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society Mourns the loss of Manfred Wegner 1936-2022

the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, the Bergen County Historical Society is about to make a major step forward at Historic New Bridge Landing . A long planned addition to house their collection is about to get underway .

photos courtesy of the Bergen County Historical Society
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, The tradition continued on, July 9, at the Bergen County Historical Society annual Vintage Baseball Game. Fans gathered at HNBL’s Meadow at 11 a.m. to watch a double header between the Flemington Neshanocks and our very own Enterprise Club of New Bridge with nineteenth century rules, uniforms, and equipment from 11 am to 2 pm at Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main St, River Edge.
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society Hosts the Annual Vintage Baseball Game

photos courtesy of the Bergen County Historical Society
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

the Bergen County Historical Society
River Edge NJ, Friday’s Fare at Historic New Bridge Landing Hot Toddy Any five mixologists will give you five different versions, accounting for its murky origin. It was [and still is] popular in 18th century Edinburgh pubs serving Scotch Whisky & boiling water to fend off the bitter damp. [Water for the drinks was drawn from Tod’s Well, the largest pub that time. Could be the origin of “Toddy” and “well drinks”?].
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society : the History of the Hot Toddy