The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
photo courtesy of the Ridgewood Public Library
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Public Library has installed their stained glass collection by artist resident George O. Bonawit, who was a Ridgewood resident, was restored and installed in the Ridgewood Room on the second floor.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its schoolhouse, the Ridgewood Historical Society will host a roaring 20’s themed gala on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at the Felina in Ridgewood’s historic business district. Guests can enjoy dinner and live entertainment by the local band “Souled Out.”
Continue reading The Ridgewood Historical Society & Schoolhouse Museum Roaring 20’s themed Gala
Halloween Cemetery Walk
Friday, October 26th 2018
Walks at 6pm, 6:20, 6:40, and 7:00pm
Join us for a lantern-lit stroll through the Valleau Cemetery where soldiers and civilians come to life and tell their tales.
Back at the museum, the party continues with music, Halloween stories, locally produced cider and doughnuts.
Meet at the Schoolhouse Museum at 650 E. Glen Ave.
Deadline to reserve space is October 24th, 2018.
Call (201)447-3242 or email ridgewoodhistoricalsociety@verizon.net
for details.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Historical Society presents a special talk and tour of the james rose center,Sunday, September 30, 2018 at 2:00 PM .
The tour will start at the SchoolHouse Museum in Ridgewood, 650 East Glen Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.
Have you sent in your membership renewal yet?! Or become a new member? The Historical Society and Schoolhouse Museum operate SOLELY on donations from caring people like you. We receive absolutely no aid from from the State or Village. It costs roughly $25,000 per year to keep our doors open. If you are able to help us, in any way, however large or small, we would be so very grateful! You will find a donation tab on our website, or stop in and see how wonderful we are while dropping off your donation in person 
Dear Ridgewood Resident,
Those actively involved in the Historical Society and the Schoolhouse Museum keep saying we are the best-kept secret in Ridgewood. The museum is Ridgewood’s very own and only museum, and we are working hard to make it less of a secret and more a recognized institution in the village. To that end, we have been changing our exhibits each year, and we are trying to bring in more visitors with programs above and beyond the exhibits.
If you haven’t visited our 2017 exhibit From the Revolutionary War to the Revolution of the of the 1960’s, please find time to visit. We also have three other small exhibits: A Tribute to the 19th Century Comedic Actor Joe Jefferson, 50 Small Things with Big Histories, and our permanent installation on farm tools.
Last fall we were busy with our cemetery walks, our celebration of all things apple, and a series of demonstrations by craftswomen. This spring we have had three great speakers: Bob Bracken on the Titanic, Chris Stout on Ridgewood’s Heroes, and Patricia Hans and her students sharing their research and creative responses to the stories they uncovered.
All of this, of course, is possible because of the participation and financial support of people like you who value the Ridgewood Historical Society’s efforts to preserve and share out local history. We want to keep the Schoolhouse Museum not only alive but flourishing, and hope you will join us as a supporter. Thank you for your commitment to the Ridgewood Historical Society.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I send our heartfelt appreciation for your support. We welcome you as a member of the society and look forward to seeing you at the museum soon!
With Warm Regards,
Candace Latham, Board President
www .ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.org
Ridgewood NJ, On April 19, 1775, at 5am, 700 British regulars marched into Lexington, MA and were met by 77 American militiamen. The Americans initially began to disperse, and then from an undetermined gun, “the shot heard round the world” was fired. Ten Americans and 1 British soldier died there. Two hours later the British marched into Concord only to be met by hundreds of American Patriots. The British commander ordered his troops to hastily begin their 16 mile trek to Boston. Throughout the return, the Americans fired upon the troops – Indian style, from behind trees, rocks and bushes. By the time the British reached Boston, nearly 300 British soldiers had been killed, wounded, or were missing in action. The fight for Independence had begun!
With more battles being fought here than anywhere else, New Jersey played a key role in the Revolutionary War, While no major battles were fought in Bergen County there were a number of skirmishes between local Patriots and British troops or sympathizers. The Ridgewood area was constantly visited by Washington and his officers.
The Schoolhouse Museum’s new exhibit “From the Revolutionary War to the 1960’s Revolution”commemorates our war for Independence with actual artifacts, weapons and equipment; as well as examples of flags and uniforms from this period.
To see this display as well as other displays highlighting other significant events during this time, from wars, to the roaring twenties to the rocking 60’s; as well as histories of prominent Ridgewood area residents, visit the Ridgewood Historical Society’s Schoolhouse Museum, at 650 East Glen Avenue. The museum is open Thursdays and Saturday 1-3pm and Sundays 2-4pm. Please visit www.ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.org for more information.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, November was an important month for early North Jersey families. It was “apple time” – And apples meant cider! Water wasn’t always drinkable, so cider became the popular beverage for early American families. During apple time, families would drink fresh ‘in-season’ cider. More importantly, these early settlers expanded the life of the cider by producing what we call hard cider – or “Jersey Lightning”. It was the beverage served at meals – children included!
By the 1850’s, the average Massachusetts resident was consuming 35 gallons of cider a year. But producing this cider was a labor-intensive, manual task. Then, in the late 1800s, the hand-cranked cider press was invented (see photo above). It quickly became a common household appliance that not only supplied fresh cider in season but made it possible to produce more “hard cider.”
To see a cider press and learn more about about life in the 1800’s including Lenape implements, early Dutch artifacts, farm tools, home furnishings, textiles and quilts, early cookbooks, and kitchenware come to the Schoolhouse Museum’s ‘Farm and Home’ exhibit.
To learn more about cider, apples and locally produced fruits and vegetables, and to get ready for your Thanksgiving holiday, stop by Demarest Farms in Hillsdale. Serving Bergen County residents since 1886, if you bring this article with you on November 19, Demarest Farms will donate 20% of coupon sales to the Ridgewood Historical.
Open to the public, the Schoolhouse Museum is located at 650 E. Glen Ave., Ridgewood, NJ. Museum’s hours are Thursdays and Saturdays; 1 to 3 p.m. and Sundays; 2 to 4 p.m.
To contact the Museum: 201-447 3242 or ridgewoodhistoricalsociety@verizon.net Demarest Farms is located at 244 Wiermus Rd, in Hillsdale, NJ.
Exploring Our Agrarian Roots with Artifacts from the 18th and 19th Centuries
“A unique opportunity to see what life in Ridgewood was like hundreds of years ago.”
Ridgewood NJ, On March 20, 2016, between 2PM and 4 PM, the Ridgewood Historical Society’s Schoolhouse Museum will debut its new Exhibit – “Farm and Home”.This exhibit will show how farmers, their wives and children lived off the land, cleared forests, harvested food, prepared meals and developed a prosperous economy in 18th and 19th Century Ridgewood.
Using objects donated to the Museum over many decades, this exhibit will display a wide variety of objects from this period, including Lenape implements, early Dutch artifacts, farm tools, home furnishings, textiles and quilts, early cookbooks, and kitchenware.
Open to the public, the Schoolhouse Museum is located at 650 E. Glen Ave., Ridgewood, NJ. Museum’s hours are Thursdays and Saturdays; 1 to 3 p.m. and Sundays; 2 to 4 p.m.
To contact the Museum: 201-447 3242 or ridgewoodhistoricalsociety@verizon.net
The Ridgewood Historical Society and Schoolhouse Museum Presents : Hemlines is a look at women’s fashions from 1900 to 1969
March 18,2015
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Historical Society and Schoolhouse Museum are pleased to announce the opening of our new exhibit, Hemlines. The exhibit will be open to the public from March 12 through July 26.
Hemlines is a look at women’s fashions from 1900 to 1969 and features:
Lingerie
Hats
Shoes
Handbags
Jewelry
Wedding Attire
and, of course, Fabulous Dresses!
Make sure to visit the Schoolhouse Museum to see Hemlines!
From September to July, The Schoolhouse Museum is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 1:00–3:00 p.m. and Sundays from 2:00–4:00 p.m. We arrange group tours by appointment. For more information call the museum at 201-447-3242 send us an e-mail.
To keep up with the latest news, visit our Facebook page.
The Schoolhouse Museum is located at 650 E Glen Avenue in Ridgewood, NJ., directly across from Valleau Cemetery and adjacent to the Paramus Reformed Church.
Driving south on Route 17, exit at the Franklin Turnpike exit in Ridgewood and continue on to Glen Avenue (about 2/10 of a mile). The Museum is on the left at 650 E. Glen. Avenue.
Driving North on Route 17, exit on Linwood Avenue and proceed west to North Pleasant Avenue (second traffic light). Turn right and proceed to end of road (at the cemetery) turn right again and the museum is about 3/10 of a mile on the right.
Ridgewood Historical Society’s Schoolhouse Museum Tag Sale
Antiques and Collectibles
October 11 from 10-3
The Ridgewood Historical Society’s Schoolhouse Museum is planning a tag sale on October 11 from 10-3, with a rain date of October 12 from 1-4.
Items from the past, antiques and collectibles from the homes of our members.
Vendors, If you want to reserve a space to sell your items yourself, you must register by Wednesday, October 8 for $25
For information call 201 445-5498 or 201 447-3242
Ridgewood Historical Society’s Schoolhouse Museum reopens this weekend
Bolger Heritage Center, Ridgewood Public Library
Ridgewood NJ, Don’t forget the Ridgewood Historical Society’s Schoolhouse Museum reopens this weekend with their exhibit “A Community’s Journey”!https://www.ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.org/visitus.htm
Also this weekend, the Meadowlands Museum is hosting a lecture with Prof. Mark P. Donnelly titled “Baritsu: The Lost and Found Scientific Self-Defense of Sherlock Holmes”. For more information, check out their Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/742012055863117/?ref=5
2014 Parade Theme,The Star Spangled Banner, 1814 – 2014
Displayed at Schoolhouse Museum
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Committee is proud to announce their theme
for the 2014 celebration. The theme will be “The Star Spangled Banner, 1814 – 2014”.
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Committee will sponsor its annual celebration on Friday, July 4, 2014.
The purpose of the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration is to celebrate the USA and its history and to honor American Patriots of all times. For 2014, we would like to focus on our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. We will celebrate the people and events involved with creating this important American song.
The purpose of the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration is to celebrate the USA and its history and to honor American Patriots of all times. For 2014, we would like to focus on our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. We will celebrate the people and eventsinvolved with creating this important American song.
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration is organized by the Ridgewood Fourth of
July Celebration, Inc., an all-volunteer community group. All aspects of this annual
Celebration including fireworks, bands, evening performers, insurance, and police and
fire personnel are funded by voluntary contributions from businesses and individuals.
This year we’re excited to announce that The Ridgewood Historical Society in their
Schoolhouse Museum has a copy on display of a beautiful Currier and Ives print entitled “The Star Spangles Banner”. Lady Liberty crowned with an American crest bears the American flag as she points forward to victory. The fires of the battle burn in the distance– presumably the defense of Fort McHenry by American forces during the British attack on September 13, 1814 (in the War of 1812) that inspired Francis Scott Key to write The Star Spangled Banner. Several phrases from the song The Star Spangled Banner serve as the title printed in the lower margin: “O! long may it wave,/ O’er the land of the free,And the home of the brave.”
Part of the mission of the Ridgewood Historical Society, which operates the
Schoolhouse Museum, is to design exhibits using artifacts that tell the stories about ou
history, culture, and the lives of ordinary people from Ridgewood and the surrounding
celebrates New Jersey’s 350th and liberty. Highlighted in this exhibit is the museum’s collection of U.S. flags, a fitting complement to this years’ July 4th festivities.
The Schoolhouse Museum located at 650 E. Glen Ave, Ridgewood, is open this summer on Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 to 3 and Sundays 2 to 4.
through the 20th century. The current exhibit, A Community’s Journey,
anniversary using the themes of diversity, innovation,and liberty. Highlighted in this exhibit is the museum’s collection of U.S. flags, a fitting complement to this years’ July 4th festivities.
The Schoolhouse Museum located at 650 E. Glen Ave, Ridgewood, is open this summer on Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 to 3 and Sundays 2 to 4.
