The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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December 7,2017
By Christopher Kelly
On Sunday December 7, 1941, seventy-six years ago, planes of the Imperial Japanese Navy streaked over Pearl Harbor bombing and torpedoing the American fleet at anchor. More than 2,400 Americans were killed that day. President Roosevelt quickly called it a “Day of Infamy.”
Continue reading Day of Infamy: The Lessons and Legacy of Pearl Harbor Day
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Ridgewood NJ, Once upon a time, Columbus was a hero…Sadly, that’s not the case today: Some people don’t even know who he was, or what he did; while others claim he was a villain, and are advocating for the abolition of Columbus Day and everything he represented. Accusations vary from Columbus being a racist, a rapist, a genocidal maniac, and even that he ran a child sex slave ring. The question is, are these allegations true? And, where are the scholars correcting Columbus’ record? Unfortunately, some of the misinformation out there comes from “scholars;” and even those who defend Columbus, won’t address the actual story either. In this book, the reader will learn who modern history revisionists claim Columbus was, and what he did, vs. the actual historical accounts, coming from the mouths of those who knew him well, and wrote about them for us. The conclusion will be inevitable, that is, Columbus was a Hero, and his story and legacy need to be rediscovered again today. Note: This version is the Revised and Updated 2020 Edition from the 2017 Original.
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Ridgewood NJ, Christopher Columbus the famed Italian explorer who “discovered” the “New World” of the Americas on an expedition sponsored by King Ferdinand of Spain in 1492. Columbus was an explorer and adventurer , who leaves us with a mixed legacy. His life is that of a consummate promoter and a figure at the center of the unforeseen and wholly “unintended consequence” of discovery.
Columbus is of course credited for opening up the Americas to European colonization as well as often blamed for the destruction of the native peoples of the islands he explored. Ultimately, he failed to find that what he set out for which was a new route to Asia and the riches it promised. He was as controversial then , as he is today.
Continue reading Christopher Columbus as Controversial then , as he is Today
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Ridgewood NJ, love baseball and history? Then bring your chair, cooler and sunscreen to Historic New Bridge Landing as the Bergen County Historical Society hosts Vintage Baseball in the Meadow on Saturday, July 13th, 11 am -2 pm, 1201 Main Street River Edge, NJ.
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society hosts Vintage Baseball in the Meadow This Saturday
photos courtesy of Wyckoff Historical Society
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Wyckoff NJ, on June 2, the Wyckoff Historical Society (WHS) proudly sponsored a Bergen County Historical Society blue marker at the Union Cemetery. This blue marker program, the largest of its kind in New Jersey, provides a mini history lesson on significant historical locations, enriching our understanding of local heritage.
Continue reading Preserving History: Wyckoff Historical Society’s Efforts at Union Cemetery
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Ridgewood NJ, Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government. Traditionally celebrated on February 22—Washington’s actual day of birth—the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present.
photo courtesy of Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco,
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Park Ridge NJ, according to Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, Bergen County is home to dozens of historical and culturally significant sites.
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Ridgewood NJ, looking like a bunch of pathetic cry babies ,(TONIGHT)Wednesday’s Village of Ridgewood council meeting will feature discussions on the appointment of a new village historian, a topic triggered by a letter from current historians Peggy Norris and Joe Suplicki to Katherine Marcopul of the State Historic Preservation Office.
Continue reading Village Council Moves to Replace Village Historian and Rewrite American History
George Washington’s Thanksgiving Prayer – abridged from his Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789. You may wish to share this with your family and friends at your Thanksgiving table.
Written and researched by Kevin Wright©2015
As compared with present consumption, the colonial diet included relatively little fresh meat. Families reared swine and turkeys in great numbers and those destined for winter market were fenced in an appropriate place at the lower end of the garden. Pork was preferred over beef, except among Jewish colonists whose religious observance proscribed its consumption. Pigs generously fattened on forest mast, field pumpkins, buckwheat, and a sweet mash of skimmed milk and bran.
Ridgewood Columbus Day Closing – Monday, October 9th, 2023
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Ridgewood NJ, Monday, October 9th is Columbus Day and all Village offices will be closed. Village Sanitation and Recycling services will not take place that day and the Recycling Center will be closed.
courtesy of Bergen County Historical Society
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Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco is ready to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War.
Continue reading Bergen County Gears Up for the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War
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Ridgewood NJ, while most sources, even the Department of Labor, credit Peter McGuire with the origination of Labor Day, recent evidence suggests that the true father of Labor Day may in fact be another famous union leader of the 19th Century, Matthew Maguire.
Continue reading The Real Maguire – Who Actually Invented Labor Day?
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Ridgewood NJ, on Sunday May 7th the Schedler Neighbors held a “Walk and Talk” ,hosted by naturalist, Lauren Lynch. It was a great opportunity to take a look at the property for those who have never been there.
Continue reading The Schedler Neighbors hold a “Walk and Talk” on Sunday
