I've lived in New Jersey for more than 40 years, but I'll never be a real New Jersey girl. I grew up in Pennsylvania where there was lots of snow, one traffic light in town, and 90 kids in my grade--from kindergarten through graduation. I didn't know anything about The Shore, or baked ziti, or Chanukah until I came to Jersey. But, I've come to love all of that and much more--especially the history. I now know about the Jersey Dutch, strawberry baskets, railroad suburbs, the bridge that saved a nation, and so much more. I've learned that to tell the local stories about regular people I need to read wills, estate files, census records, pension applications, letters, tombstones, newspapers, and anything else I can find. So, that's some of what I want to share with you!

Monday, February 24, 2014

The Birth of Ridgewood

I've been working on a program for the Ridgewood Public Library.  It is based on a remarkable series of photographs taken about 1869 and we'll be focusing on the time period 1865 (when the first Ridgewood post office was established) to 1876 (when the township was established).  Along the way are many interesting stories and look at life and architecture in Ridgewood during that time.  In working on this program I've been exploring ways of enhancing Bergen County research and will be sharing those in the next few weeks.

Do you know what products were grown in Ridgewood?  Did you know that we had two octagonal buildings at one time?  Did you know that Ridgewood was once known for its rowdyism?  Join us Wednesday evening to learn about these things and more.  Hope to see you there, Peggy

Wednesday, February 26, 7 pm . The Birth of Ridgewood, 1865-1876: From Post Office to Township, From Farm to Suburb.

Join Peggy Norris and Joe Suplicki as they use documents, maps, and the historic panoramic photos taken of Ridgewood, ca. 1869, to present a slide lecture focused on the critical years between 1865 and 1876, from the establishment of the local Post Office to the formation of Ridgewood Township.

In 1865, Ridgewood, a place of barns and fields, was becoming a suburb of houses and streets.  The four Ridgewood panoramic photographs taken ca. 1869 from Prospect Street provide the basis for exploration of this critical time in Ridgewood’s history.  What was life like then?  Why were people from New York moving to Ridgewood?  What crops were growing on the farms?  What were the newcomers doing to earn a living?  What connects us in 2014 to Ridgewood-ites of 1870?

Come and Learn!

Bolger Heritage Center is on Facebook.
 
Thanks for all who've liked our facebook page!  I hope you are enjoying the posts from Archives Intern, Jessica Stauffer.

Our Bolger Heritage Center facebook page has information on our upcoming events, local history highlighting our collections, and classes. Plus, we have postings about Ridgewood neighborhoods for the 2014 Village calendar theme and are sharing information on other local events. Check it out at www.facebook.com/pages/Bolger-Heritage-Center-Ridgewood-Public-Library/279348035520307!


Best Regards, Peggy

Peggy W.Norris
Bolger Heritage Center
Ridgewood Public Library
125 No. Maple Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450

201-670-5600, ext. 135

pnorris@ridgewoodlibrary.org
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