North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC)

The History Center acquires, preserves, and promotes historical material generated by the individuals, organizations, and businesses of our state.

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

On Tuesday 10/27 at 7pm, retired Mt. Olive history teacher Thomas DeVoe will give a talk on life as a Revolutionary War soldier based on the experiences of his own ancestors. Mr. DeVoe's presentation will take place in the Library's lower level Meeting Room.

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

Join us this Sunday 10/18 at 2pm for a presentation by Stuart Lefkowitz, "Mount Hope Mine and It's People." Mr. Lefkowitz will discuss the lives of iron miners in Rockaway, NJ where the Mt Hope Mine operated for 270 years.
Additional details at the link: https://t.co/5Rz8CZef0c

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

Sept 25th to 27th is Living History Weekend in Morris County! Starting Friday with history pub trivia, Saturday's historic site tours & Revolutionary War encampment, & Sunday's Morristown Festival on the Green & fireworks after sunset
Details at the link https://t.co/Ipp73HufxO

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

On Tuesday 9/22, geology specialist Mike Di Maio will discuss the history of Mount Hope Mine, which operated from 1710 until 1978. He will review how iron ore formed here and was extracted for ironmaking. This event will take place in the Library's lower level Meeting Room at 7pm

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

The History Center’s fall exhibit, "Forging a New Nation: Morris County’s Iron Industry", is now on view in the Library’s second floor F.M. Kirby Gallery through Jan 2027.

Read more about New Jersey's ironmaking legacy at the link below:
https://t.co/zTT3dysJPI

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

With the new school year beginning, children across New Jersey will be carpooling, biking, walking, or taking the bus to school. Back in 1914, these kids from Washington Valley got to ride in a horse-drawn carriage to the Hillside School in Morris Township
#BackToSchool

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

Shortly after 5pm on Saturday July 10, 1926, a lightning strike ignited a fire at one of the buildings holding 2.5 million pounds of TNT stored at Picatinny Arsenal; the resulting detonation created one of Morris County NJ's most devastating disasters: https://t.co/7UHxzBmiVO

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

The site where Gen. George Washington led the Continental Army through one of the darkest periods of the Revolutionary War was nearly demolished. Instead it became our first National Historic Park and preserves the legacy of those who lived & worked there https://t.co/5fe5Y6Zf6n

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

A commemorative 250th anniversary reading of the Declaration of Independence takes place this Saturday at noon at Morristown National Historic Park! Free tours of Ford Mansion will follow a musket demonstration by Continental soldiers.

Details here: https://t.co/QUUzbSp4K9

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

Longtime customers recalled spending hours playing the jukebox and pinball machine, and how respectful its clientele were of each other. Owner Maddie Bellini ran the bar from 1969 until 1994; she was described as colorful & very protective of her customers https://t.co/xS6NFNWRoA

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

One of NJ's popular gay bars was improbably located in a former 1860s Morris County stagecoach stop. From the late 1960s to the early 90s, Mine Hill Tavern was a second home to an eclectic mix of people including LGBT customers, local hunters, iron miners, and arsenal workers...

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

This is where iron was manufactured for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The Old Forge in Boonton, NJ is where ore mined from nearby mountains was made into tools & equipment. Since 1904 it has been covered by 60 feet of water used for the Jersey City reservoir

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

If you travelled back in time to 1890s Morristown NJ would you recognize this house? The 83 South St home was owned by the Wood family and later became the Women's Work & Art Exchange before finding new life as the Book Shop from the 1930s to 2000s. Offices currently reside here

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

The Revolutionary War Memorial in Evergreen Cemetery honors the soldiers who died during the winter encampment in Morristown. Most died during the smallpox epidemic of 1777, which killed over 200 troops. Volunteers decorate the graves of Morristown's war dead each Memorial Day.

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

Mendham Boro was incorporated May 15, 1906 from part of Township (founded in 1749). Hilltop Presbyterian Church is one of Mendham’s most recognizable landmarks and was built on 150 acres of land deeded in 1751. This photograph of the church from our collection was taken in 1930.

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

400 years ago the Dutch West India Co negotiated to purchase Manhattan from the Lenape. Differing concepts of land ownership aside, it began the era of permanent European settlement on the island. Our 1835 map by Wm Chapin is one of many depicting old NYC from our collections.

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

#MorrisPlains #NJ #Centennial #RailroadDepot #DMmerchantHardware #PostalWorkers

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

As the boro of Morris Plains turns 100 this month we've been sharing images from our photo collections. Among the workers who helped build & keep the town running were these two rail depot drivers, the proprietors of D.M. Merchant's Hardware Store, and a group of postal workers

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

provide relief efforts, restore public order, and help rebuild the city's transportation infrastructure.

An article on Milton's heroic work can be found here: https://t.co/0p9l2DHfce

[North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC) @NJHistoryCenter]

United Railway Chief Engineer, Milton H. Bronsdon, survived the Great San Francisco Earthquake & Fire with his wife and young children, 120 years ago today. Deputized as a member of the Council of 100, Bronsdon was selected for his engineering skills & given wide authority to...