Rail service came to Basking Ridge in 1872 when the New Jersey West Line railroad (now NJ Transit) was extended from Summit, NJ. Back then, the line ended at Bernardsville and Basking Ridge was the next to last stop. The arrival of trains soon triggered a development boom on the northern side of the village.
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In 1915, the Greulock Dairy in Basking Ridge, NJ, delivered milk in bottles like the one pictured. The dairy was run by Carl Martin Greulock who was born in Lyons, NJ, on May 27, 1887, son of George Greulock and Mathilda Rother. Carl had earlier run an ice business, which he had taken over from
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In the winter of 1777, after the battle of Princeton, while the American army was encamped at Morristown, NJ, General Washington sent a division under General Nathanael Greene to Basking Ridge, about four miles to the south. A document called “A General Return of Waggons [sic] and Horses….,” relating to this time was received last year
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Many of the early landowners of Bernards Township are shown on the Morgan-Hills map of Somerset County from 1766 (see section below). The surveyors spell the township “Barnards” and in 1766, it still had its original boundaries, which included Bernardsville, Far Hills, and Warren Township. The closeup below displays the northeastern portion of the township.
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In 1938, construction workers were hard at work on Bernards Township’s newest school, Oak Street. These photos were taken November 21, 1938 by teacher Louise M. Flint (c.1889-1976) and preserved in her scrapbook. The title on the page reads “Basking Ridge School, West Oak Street.” Oak Street School was financed partially with an $80,000 grant
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Basking Ridge Fire Company No. 1 hosted its annual carnival Aug. 6-7, 1915 and used a real picture postcard to advertise the event. The Moline fire engine, shown here in front of the old Maple Avenue school (now Bernards Township Library), was purchased in 1911.
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On June 26, 1944, architect Peter P. Dupay (1900-1985) obtained a building permit for an addition to a residence on Sixth Street in Basking Ridge.[1] But where was Sixth Street? And if Basking Ridge had a Sixth Street, where were First through Fifth? The answer is provided by an 1891 map[2] showing what was called
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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
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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
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Basking Ridge lost a treasure when Interstate 287 came through the Somerset Hills. The Card House, dating to colonial times, stood on the north side of West Oak St., just to the east of Harrison’s Brook. In the early 1800s it was home to the family of Daniel Henry (1774-1850). Later occupants were the Card
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