the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New Bridge Landing NJ, Join the Bergen County Historical Society School of Interpretation Event!
The Bergen Dutch, A Lasting Legacy
Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 7:30 pm at Steuben House, River Edge, NJ
H Gelfand, Bergen County Historical Society Historic Preservation Committee
Replying to “Anonymous arm chair Monday morning quarterback , who promotes overdevelopment and high density housing”:
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society Promotes Preservation in all 72 Communities in Bergen County
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New bridge landing NJ, Bergen County Historical Society is hosting a lecture on : The Water Crisis of 1876 ,Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 7:30 pm at Steuben House, River Edge, NJ
Presented by Kevin Olsen
New Jersey has long depended on surface water for much of its potable water supplies. The 1876 Annual Report of the State Geologist features detailed discussions of the state’s water resources and provides valuable insights into what was then known about pure water and public health. By 1876 the links between pure water and health were well established but the underlying pathology was only dimly understood. In 1876 the New Jersey Geological Survey was forced to find ways of measuring the disease-causing potential of a water supply without actually knowing exactly how diseases were transmitted. This task was given special urgency because in the summer of 1876 a committee of the northern New Jersey mayors requested the aid of the State Geologist in identifying new sources of water supply. Searching for an alternative source of supply, Geological Survey chemists analyzed water samples from wells and rivers throughout the region. Based on these results the Geological Survey recommended the upper Passaic River basin as the new source of domestic water. The Geological Survey recommendations of 1876 lead directly to the construction of reservoirs in northern New Jersey. Today there are 13 major reservoirs in with a combined storage capacity of 76.2 billion gallons.
Kevin Olsen is the Instrumentation Specialist on the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department’s support staff at New Jersey’s Montclair State University. As an historian Kevin has published a number of papers related to chemical history and New Jersey’s maritime history.
The lecture takes place in the Steuben House, 1209 Main St, River Edge, NJ. No charge. Please join us for refreshments at the conclusion.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New Bridge Landing NJ, Bergen County has 192 Sandstone Houses listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places as “Stone Houses of Bergen County, Thematic Resource.”
These houses really say “Bergen County”, this very distinctive building type is not known to be found anywhere else in the world.
(Okay, there are examples in Rockland County)
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
PATERSON NJ, the Bergen County Historical Society says, “This could be a game changer when it comes to historic preservation in NJ. Saving historic structures that provide communities their identities makes sense.”
On a street lined with former silk mills, only blocks away from the Great Falls of Paterson, Governor Phil Murphy detailed a new historic preservation tax credit program as part of his vision for incentives reform. The Historic Preservation Tax Credit will serve to revitalize and fully realize the potential of New Jersey’s storied cities and towns.
“50 Spruce Street is one of hundreds, if not thousands of similar buildings in our state that have vast unfulfilled potential and can be restored to their former glory and repurposed for modern day use,” said Governor Murphy. “Historic preservation tax credits have helped other states preserve and utilize their historic buildings. These beautiful structures are often hidden in plain sight and are waiting for the right investor. We are here to help with that.”
Continue reading Governor Phil Murphy Puts Focus on Historic Preservation Tax Credit as Part of Incentives Reform Package
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, from the Bergen County Historical Society :
As the cold weather breaks, a look back to one of the coldest winters during the Revolution, the winter of 1780.
1 February 1780. The coldest winter in human memory, something we can relate to this year, continued in Bergen County. Loyalist spies continue their detailed observations on the surrounding countryside, both to avoid surprise in New York City, and to look for opportunities for the British to strike at Washington’s isolated outposts, such as the one in Paramus…
Continue reading Coldest Winter During the American Revolution
photo The Feast of St. Nicholas by Jan Steen 1665
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, Enjoy Jersey Dutch holiday treats, refreshments and a visit with Sinter Klaas in the restored tavern in Campbell-Christie House, 1201 Main Street, River Edge, NJ 07661 from 1 to 4:00 P.M. on Sunday, December 2, 2018. See open-hearth cooking in authentic Jersey Dutch Out Kitchen.
Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society Presents Sinterklaas Day!
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.
Continue reading UPDATE: Bergen County Historical Society Retreat Weekend, today, from 12 pm to 4
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New Bridge landing NJ, the Bergen County Historical Society wants to know if you are interested in volunteering? Join us for our next School of Interpretation – — Fire and Ice: Winter Festivals at New Bridge . Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 7:30 pm
photo courtesy of Bergen County Historical Society
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Veterans Day Wreath Laying – November 11, 2018, Sunday. Meet at Van Neste Square, Ridgewood at 2 pm.
Each year the Bergen County Historical Society raises awareness of different monuments throughout the County to raise awareness of these important sites and to remember the men and women who have served. This year join us in Ridgewood, NJ as we participate in American Legion Post #53’s Veterans Day Service on Sunday, November 11th at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, American Legion Post #53 will hold a Veterans Day Service and Wreath Laying on Sunday, November 11th at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square.
Each year the Bergen County Historical Society raises awareness of different monuments throughout the County to raise awareness of these important sites and to remember the men and women who have served. This year join us in Ridgewood, NJ as we participate in American Legion Post #53’s Veterans Day Service on Sunday, November 11th at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. Photo below is last year in River Edge.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, Save the date and join us for the 242nd Anniversary of the British Invasion/American Retreat Across New Jersey , Sunday, November 18, 2018, 12 pm – 4 pm at the Bergen County Historical Society .
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, Bergen County Historical Society Lecture Series: The Ladies of Trenton: Women’s Political and Public Activism in Revolutionary New Jersey Featuring educator Catherine Hudak
Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 7:30 pm at Steuben House, River Edge, NJ
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, A Concert of Period Music by Anne and Ridley Enslow in a Historic Landmark. Followed by a Reception of Wine and Chocolate Delicacies
Sunday Afternoon, October 28, 2018 at the Historic New Bridge Landing, River Edge .
photo Detective Sergeant with the Glen Rock Police Dept
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NJ, on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 7:30 pm at Steuben House, River Edge, NJ ,Bergen County Historical Society presents James Calaski who will speak about Carl Schiphorst, who was the Bergen County unit of the German American Bund. Carl was investigated by the FBI suspected of being a Nazi spy. His presentation covers the German American Bund in general and then the investigation here in Bergen County and Glen Rock specifically. He is a Detective Sergeant with the Glen Rock Police Dept so has a unique viewpoint into the criminal investigation and the Glen Rock angle.
Continue reading The Nazi Spy from Glen Rock by James Calaski
