Here’s where history meets the road….literally. This project is a community effort to create the ultimate tour of historic taverns, gin mills, speak-easys across America. There’s only one condition. All of the postings to the map need to be at LEAST 100 years old. That’s it. We’re focusing on New Jersey and the borders of PA and New York for this exercise.
One of the best things about history is the method you choose to learn it. This idea grew out of a great memory of a Hoboken Pub Crawl I …

Devils Tomb & Jacobs Ladder -
Look what happened when Weird NJ Issue #12 came out.
A place that sits quietly in obscurity for hundreds of years comes to an abrupt end when overzealous devil seekers search to find the devil himself. Thanks to Weird NJ issue 12, I’ve always found it interesting how gore and ghosts have always lured people into learning history. The problem when you link history to ghosts, the history sometimes gets stretched, or even down right exploited.
For fun, since the article is now out there, I …

Many people have asked why post all this history stuff on the area you’re calling the Somerset Hills. Well, call it passion. Call it intrigue. Call it local awareness. I think that the main reason is whenever I asked a question about history in the area, the information wasn’t available. I didn’t want to wait to go to the library, and I didn’t have time to go to the local historical societies. But I moved to the area and said, “If I’m gonna be a local, I need to learn …

Did you know that portions of the 2004 film The Stepford Wives were filmed in Bedminster (Lamington), New Jersey?
Stepford stars in area to film movie remake
Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler perform in Bedminster, sleep at Bernards Hotel
The Bernardsville News
By SANDY STUART , Staff Writer 07/10/2003
BEDMINSTER TWP. – A picture-perfect barn complex and sunny skies greeted Nicole Kidman and a host of Hollywood actors this week, during the filming of a scene from the new “Stepford Wives” movie. Kidman, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Glenn Close and Jon Lovitz were among the stars …

I visited the Town Hall in mid 2006 and the township administrator gave me two articles that she had on file regarding the Peapack Caverns. I’ve scanned and put the documents into PDF format, but will need to get source information on their date and orgin. There’s very little infomration on these caves, and since they’re all closed today, it’s really a historical perspective for those who want to know what “used to be”.
Articles – referencing back to c1902

Two Events: The Hunt and The Steeplechase
What’s in a name? Some call it the Steeplechase, some the Far Hills Race Meeting, and some prefer to call it simply ‘The Hunt‘. Whichever name you choose, you’re all partically correct. While the name is offically called the Far Hills Race Meeting it is now hosted by the Far Hills Race Meeting Association (FHRMA) each year normally on the last Saturday of October to benefit the Steeplechase Cancer Center in nearby Somerset.  While the grounds and the event are now owned by the …

Brief Tidbits of Bernards Township

Story: #1
05/11/01 Devil’s Tree More Than Just a Tree

Me and my friends were all contemplating going up to Devil’s Tree. I had been up there one time before, and a truly weird thing happened. It was about November or December when I was first told about the Devil Tree up in the mountains. I was told “Don’t touch it or something will happen to you or your car.” I had just had my car serviced though, and had a new fan belt installed.We went up to …

Go Figure – It’s true. Founded back in 1932 and situated on 38 acres in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and glad to know that they have a discounted membership for township residents.It’s called a “naturist community for families and couples” (not a nudist colony). They’re members of the prestegious American Association for Nude Recreation.
We’re going to dig a little deeper….but it’s too much to pass up.
From the site:
“Enjoy a friendly game of Petanque, Miniten, or Volleyball.  The level of activity is up to you.  Sky Farm has many organized social …

Basking Ridge New Jersey’s Most Famous Incident:At about noon time on December 13,1776, General Charles Lee (1731-1782), was alarmed by Major Wilkinson while he was writing a letter to General Gates about George Washington in an upstairs bedroom of the Widow White’s Tavern.
Widow White’s Tavern, named after Ebenezer White’s wife Mary Brown White, became the centerpiece of Revolutionary War history on that day, because It was on this most unfortunate day for General Lee that General Lee became a prisioner of the British Army, leaving General Washington in a precarious …

PLUCKEMIN ENCAMPMENT AND AMERICA’S FIRST MILITARY ACADEMY
Research Notes:
May 2005

Notable References: The Dig, Henry Knox Artillery, Henry Knox had some innovative ideas for improving the artillery. At Pluckemin, he put many of his theories to practice. The camp itself was an impressive site that attracted spectators from miles around. In addition to barracks for the enlisted men and separate quarters for the officers, the camp included an Armour’s shop, a complete military forge and a laboratory. The most significant innovation, however, was the establishment of the first military academy in …