Bergen County Historical Society

09/01/2026

Updated this post for this coming Sunday, 9/6/2026 at 3 PM to 4:30 PM have a walking tour for the site and we will end in the Steuben house where this 18th Gin Box is on exhibit.
And only two weeks ago, someone walked in with a donation of three more 18th-century gin bottles.
This year’s Baron’s Oktoberfest is 9/26/2026.

08/31/2026

250th Walking Tour at Historic New Bridge Landing September 6, 2026, 3-4:30 pm

This is a museum site that people keep coming back to because there's always something new.

Meet me in the Meadow ( #1 on map) and we'll walk through the site to talk about the American Revolution that happened HERE and the unique architecture of the early houses of Bergen County.
We will end in the Zabriskie Steuben House for a tour of this house, the only house on the 1776 Retreat through Bergen County that survives!
Refreshments on the porch.

This is a fundraiser for the new museum (circled in red on the map), 100% goes to our mission.

Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main St, River Edge, NJ
Free parking or take the train on the Pascack Valley line to “New Bridge Landing” train stop and walk 1 block North, cross at the light to HNBL park entrance.

08/29/2026

08.28.2026 Friday’s Fare from Historic New Bridge Landing. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S SUMMER SOCIAL A perfect day to wind down summer. No cooking in the Out Kitchen, but inside Andrea offers visitors a taste of 18th c. libations from her lovely display of Switchel, the power drink of its day for arduous farm work of vinegar, ginger and molasses mixed with water; Strawberry Water, an Indigenous drink made with fresh berries and maple syrup; Ginger Beer, this non-alcoholic version uses lemon and ginger; and 18th c. Lemonade of fresh lemons and sugar, but does not taste like today’s lemonade. Outside, visitors had the opportunity of making take-home sachets, scented bundles placed with linens, in a bowl for a pleasant aroma, or carried in your pocket. Summer Herbs were Rosemary, Lavender, Red Rose Petals, Orange Rind, Mint; and Autumn Spices were Cloves, Cinnamon Sticks, Star Anise. [That’s Aimee helping a visitor.] ‘Benjamin. Franklin’, in the Steuben House, stepped out to the Out Kitchen. By the Campbell-Christie House, the kids were able to fly kites they decorated; a breeze ran through the site all day. Buildings were open with tours, displays and in the CCH, treats were available.
Join the fun on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 for BCHS’s ANNUAL BARON’S OKTOBERFEST to celebrate the Baron’s birthday with three local breweries in the beer garden, traditional foods, family activities, live music, buildings are open and baking in the OK. For details BergenCountyHistory.org -pdaurizio See less

08/27/2026

Volunteers Shelly, Lia and Travis painted a fancy bench this week that was out in the barn to use in the Steuben House for public use.
It’s not an antique and it will be a nice addition for seating including out on the porch when we’re open.

Historic New Bridge Landing, 1209 Main Street, River Edge, NJ.

08/26/2026

Weeding Wednesday 9 am, Today, August 26,2026

This Wednesday we'll get to the herb garden next to the Out Kitchen. It needs thorough weeding and I'll try to see what's out there to fill in a few bare spots.

The (Pizza Town) parking lot planter needs some attention and in the coming weeks we can work on the Steuben House beds.

If you visited the Tavern during Sunday's Summertime Social I hope you noticed the re-planted front beds. The annuals - Celosia (Cockscomb) and Marigolds - add the most color in the back row. We supplemented the perennials selection with new pink Salvia plants; the blue Salvia continue to bloom a bit. The silvery leaves in the center of both beds are Rose Campion/Lychnis, a biennial which will start to produce bright magenta flowers next spring along with the blue Nepeta (Catmint). We transplanted some Lambs' Ears from the herb garden -- more silvery leaves. The Marigolds, Sweet Alyssum and (soon to be added) Thyme are all strongly scented plants that help to deter the deer. Kathy Moran contributed some tall purple Asters that have yet to bloom. Being No. American natives, they are more suited to a period collection for fall color than Chrysanthemums which were not introduced to these shores until the Victorian era.
Our thanks to Rich Ciero who did the heavy lifting and arranged the stone edging for the enlarged beds.

Beverly Hashimoto
BCHS Buildings & Grounds Committee Co-Chair
HNBL, 1201 Main St, River Edge, NJ

Photos: The sandstone building is the Campbell-Christie house.
The new planned museum building is highlighted in the red circle on the map.

08/24/2026

One of the scenes yesterday from the back door of the Zabriskie Steuben House, taken by Muriel Robert, BCHS trustee.

08/23/2026

And the 250th Commemoration comes to Bergen County’s backdoor! Think about the timeline here…independence was declared at the beginning of July but late August…the largest amphibious operation up until D-day is launched against NY and the American Cause…a city, like today, that Bergen County was tied to economically. Very difficult decisions are going to have to be made as events unfold. But more on that in November…

Brooklyn streets came alive with reenactors to mark 250 years since the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Brooklyn. Click the link below to see all of the photos ⬇️

📸 Angelina Katsanis, REUTERS

08/22/2026

Interesting AI description/video of battle of Springfield.

08/21/2026

A throwback but always great reading primary sources

Captain Levin Handy, Maryland to his Brother George Handy discussing the Battle of Paulus Hook, August 19th 1779

Paramus, August 22, 1779.
DEAR GEORGE

Before this reaches you, I doubt not but you have heard of our success at Paulus Hook, where the enemy had a very strong fort, within one and one-quarter miles from New York. We started from this place, on Wednesday last, at half-past ten o'clock, taking our route by a place called New Bridge, on the Hackensack River, where my two companies were joined by three hundred Virginians, and a company of dismounted dragoons, commanded by Capt. McLane.

We took up our line of march, about five o'clock in the evening from the Bridge, the nearest route with safety to Powles, distant there, about twenty miles, with my detachment in front, the whole under command of the gallant Major Lee, the works to be carried by storm, the whole to advance in three solid columns, one of which I had the honor to command.

The attack was to commence at half-past twelve o'clock, but havmg been greatly embarrassed on our march, and having a number of difficulties to surmount, did not arrive at the point of attack till after four o'clock in the morning, when after a small fire from them we gained their works, and put about fifty of them to the bayonet, took one hundred and fifty-seven prisoners, exclusive of seven commanding officers.

This was completed in less than thirty minutes, and a retreat ordered, as we had every reason to suppose, unless timely, it would be cutoff. Our situation was so difficult, that we could not bring off any stores. We had a morass to pass, of upwards of two miles, the greatest part of which we were obliged to pass by files, and several canals to ford up to our breasts in water.

We advanced with bayonets fixed, pans open, and c***s fallen, to prevent any fire from our side, and believe me, when I assure you, we did not fire a musket. You will see a more particular ac count of it in the papers than I can give you at present. It is thought to be the greatest enterprise ever undertaken in America. Our loss is so inconsiderable, that I do not mention it.

LEVIN HANDY

Originally transcribed by Daniel Van Winkle on Old Bergen
Published 1902

08/20/2026

Not to be outdone by Anthony Wayne, Lighthorse Henry Lee launched an attack on Bergen County’s other fort located at Paulus Hook (Hudson County didn’t exist yet). Planning and ex*****on took place at the Von Steuben House and the fortification was taken briefly, but, Lee pulled back after 30 minutes or so. Further, the boats that were supposed to take
them across the river and to Essex County were not there…so it was a long march BACK to New Bridge.

August 19, 1779
A Continental Army unit, with 400 infantry and a troop of dismounted dragoons, led by Major “Light Horse” Harry Lee marched 14 miles from New Bridge to Paulus Hook to launch a nighttime attack on the British controlled fort in what is today downtown Jersey City, New Jersey.
Lee and his patriots captured 158 British soldiers, but did not capture the fort. The result, however, was to halt British expansion in the region.