The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills (THSSH) is proud to welcome back the THSSH Lifetime Achievement Award, presented this year to three people recognizing their dedication and outstanding service to supporting history in the Somerset Hills area including Bedminster, Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack & Gladstone. Nominees were submitted by the THSSH Board of Trustees and the winners will be will be honored at the Annual Membership Kickoff Social in February 2018 with three winners receiving a brick inscribed with their name and placed on what is being called “The Brick Academy Walk of Honor.”
The 2018 Honorees
June Kennedy
June Kennedy, a former Society trustee for over 25 years started serving back in 1988. She served for many years as the Education Committee Chair with focus on educating children across the Somerset Hills. June was also named the official Bernards Township historian and served in that capacity for over 20 years. While June retired from THSSH about 5 years ago, she is near and dear to all that know history in the area and her volunteerism and dedication towards preserving and promoting history is worthy of June receiving our first memorial brick on the new “History Walk of Honor.”
Mary Conkling Ellis
Mary Conkling Ellis – Mrs. Ellis is known as the first president and co-founder of the Society. Known then as the Basking Ridge Historical Society, Mary served as president for twelve years before her retirement. She was responsible for the founding of the six original trustees, incorporating the society, and building the membership to over 150 people in the first year. Mary passed in 1940 and has left a legacy in Basking Ridge having street names recognizing both the Conkling and Ellis names.
Mildred Van Dyke
Mildred “Millie” Van Dyke is the third recipient to be added to the historic Walk of Honor. Millie was first elected trustee in 1997 and served on many committees as trustee for over thirteen years. Millie loved working on the archives committee where she would often be called upon to recognize people in our photo archive collection. Since she grew up in the area, the photos often had her friends and childhood neighbors in the photographs. She was our oldest member when she passed at the age of 103. She is survived by two children who we hope attend the presentation.
Bricks were created for each honoree that will be installed in the Society’s Walk of Honor on the western side of the Brick Academy before the start of Bernards Township’s Charter Day on Saturday, May 19, 2018.
