George Ballentine (1845-1912) of Peapack is listed as a farmer on the 1900 and 1910 U.S. censuses but also had a business selling lime and fencing.  Lime was used by farmers as a fertilizer and was produced in great quantity in Peapack as evidenced by the Moses Craig Lime Kilns on Main Street.  Charles P.

Mount Airy Road at intersection of Lake Road, looking north toward Whitenack Road.  Prior to Interstate 287 which opened in 1966, Mount Airy was a country road. Photo by Norman Hankinson, c.1955.

In 1907, the Basking Ridge Free Public Circulating Library, forerunner of the present Bernards Township Library,  was located at 25 South Finley in the Ira Pruden house, now home to Ridge Italian Comfort Food restaurant.  A bowling alley in the basement generated income to cover library expenses.  Prior to that, the Christopher Barkalow House, 31

The intersection of Pill Hill Road and Mount Airy was once called Oak Stump Corner and has a rich history. [1]   On the northwest corner in Bernardsville was the long-time home of the H. W. Alward construction company.  Founded by Henry W. Alward (1905-1971), the company provided employment for many in the area, and its

Did you enjoy the THSSH February program on Revolutionary Spies?  Our speaker, Damien Cregeau, was recently interviewed by Revolution 250 and provided more insights on the subject including on the Mersereau Ring of New Brunswick.  If you missed Damien in February or just want to hear more on Revolutionary espionage, we’re sure you’ll enjoy this

This 1899 letterhead from David Dumont (1863-1909) shows the account of Charles Bird of Liberty Corner. When the railroad reached Far Hills in 1890, David Dumont quit farming and became a dealer in coal and lumber. In 1899, Dumont and Evander Schley divided up Dumont’s old farm into lots for what became the village of

Read about Reuben Freeman, a 19th-century African-American resident of Liberty Corner in the May 2024 issue of Inside the Brick Academy, the THSSH newsletter. Born free of slave parents, Reuben was required by law to serve the Annin family for 25 years. Click the link below and scroll to Page 3 to read full article.

The Lower Mill stood along the Lamington River in what is now Pottersville’s Historic District. The building dated from around 1842 and produced flour till 1915. By the late 20th century, the building was deteriorating and was torn down in 1972. The machinery was saved and used to restore the Cooper Mill in Chester Township.

Bernards Township teacher Louise M. Flint compiled a scrapbook during the 1930s and 1940s that looked back at the early history of Maple Avenue School, or Basking Ridge School as it was called.    Mrs. Flint credited Mrs. Fred Kampmier, Sr., with giving her the following early facts and construction photos. Basking Ridge School – Maple

Bedminster Book Review: “The Story of an Old Farm” by Andrew D. Mellick is an unassuming title for one of the best history books ever written about New Jersey in colonial and Revolutionary times. The story centers on the farm and modest farmhouse built in 1751 in the heart of Bedminster. Originally published in 1889.