Harrington Park Historical Society

04/21/2022

HARRINGTON PARK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
SAVE OUR HISTORY!

You are looking at photographs of two recently damaged headstones at the Old Burying Ground on Tappan Road in Harrington Park.

The broken headstones of Abraham Quackenbush (1768-1854) and his wife, Elizabeth Myers (1770-1807)) are part of the Abraham Myers family burial plot at the Old Burying Ground. In the middle of the 18th century, Abraham Myers received a royal charter from King George III to build a grist mill on the Hackensack River which his grandson John Bogert later operated and it thereby became known as “Bogert’s Mill.” The Myers family members interred in the plot are Abraham Myers, his wife Cathrena Nederman, daughter Cathrena, daughter Elizabeth and Abraham Quackenbush, son John Myers and wife Rebecca Durie. The markers are red sandstone.

“Monuments are the grappling-irons that bind one generation to another.”
Joseph Joubert
(18th/19th century French moralist and essayist)

As the sole caretakers of this cemetery, the Harrington Park Historical Society will repair these monuments with your generous financial support, and the professional expertise of Mr. Robert Carpenter, Master Stonecutter. Bob learned his craft in Germany forty years ago. He has repaired headstones in many Bergen County historic cemeteries, restored the 1923 façade on the Verizon building after 9-11, restored and carved many reliefs on churches and buildings in New York City and throughout the U.S.A. and Canada. And, he has restored headstones in the Old Burying Ground.

The Old Burying Ground cemetery is part of the land apportioned to Garret Huybertsen Blauvelt, son of one of the original sixteen grantees of the Tappan Patent approved by the Governor of New York in 1686. Although there are believed to be earlier ones, the first known burial was in 1732 and the last in 1905.

If you would like to help the Society repair these stones, please send your donation to P.O. Box 105, Harrington Park, New Jersey 07640. After the stones are restored, the Society will host a Tour of the Old Burying Ground for the donors who made the restoration of the stones possible. The tour will be followed by a reception.

If you have any questions or would like to get involved in this effort, please contact Gerri Gibney at 201 768-2615 or visit their website at www.harringtonparkhistoricalsociety.com or visit them on Facebook. The Harrington Park Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation.

Thanks for helping the HPHS!

The Board of the HPHS:
Lou Apa, VP, Cemetery Chairman
Marie D’Amico, Treasurer
Gerri Gibney, President
Karen Goddard, Membership Chair
John Mager, VP Emeritus
Inge Nebel, Archivist

04/19/2022

PRESS RELEASE
The Harrington Park Historical Society invites you to a lecture “Bergen County 101 – A Brief History of Early Bergen and the War” on Monday, May 2, 2022, 7:30 P.M. at the Harrington Park Library, 10 Herring Street in Harrington Park. The guest speaker is Mr. Todd Braisted a life-long resident of Bergen County and an expert in local Revolutionary War history. Todd is known for bringing new information to light, and heavily relying on the people of their time telling their stories in their own words. This is heavily reflected in his works “Bergen County Voices from the American Revolution” (History Press, 2012) and “Grand Forage 1778” (Westholme Publishing, 2016.)

Todd Braisted is an author and researcher of Loyalist military studies. His primary focus is on Loyalist military personnel, infrastructure and campaigns throughout North America.

Since 1979, Braisted has amassed and transcribed over 40,000 pages of Loyalist and related material from archives and private collections around the world. He has authored numerous journal articles and books, as well as appearing as a guest historian on episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? (CBC) and History Detectives (PBS).

He is the creator of royalprovincial.com, the largest website dedicated to Loyalist military studies. Braisted is a Fellow in the Company of Military Historians and a past-president of the Bergen County Historical Society.

While the American Revolution was supported by a majority of the population, it was not universal, and in some places was a minority view. Such was the case in Bergen County. While many shared the popular views that there were grievances with Britain over colonial rule, it did not rise to the level of armed opposition. Bergen County in the late 18th century was generally prosperous, certainly by European standards, and the residents enjoyed representation through a provincial assembly, under the governorship of William Franklin, son of Benjamin. The governor was certainly popular in the county, with one of its townships named after him. Under these circumstances, it’s understandable that a number of residents would support the British, hoping to maintain a lifestyle that many enjoyed.

Other Bergen County Loyalists chose different paths of service. Royal Governor William Franklin, on his exchange in November 1778, organized a less formal military organization known as the King’s Militia Volunteers to make nuisance raids into the countryside. Operating out of Hoboken and Bergen Point from 1777-1779, the group included such Bergen County officers as Captains Peter Earle, David Peek and Samuel Peek; Lieutenants Johannes J. Ackerman and Theunis Blauvelt; and Ensigns Weart Banta and Peter Myer, the last mentioned officer being killed in a raid on Closter in March, 1779. Others such as Jacob Brower and John Berry served locally in a corps of woodcutters Commanded by Thomas Ward of Orange County, New York. This unit successfully defended a blockhouse at Bull’s Ferry (modern West New York) against over a thousand Continental troops commanded by Brigadier General Anthony Wayne and latter fought against the Bergen County Militia while attempting to establish a new post at Fort Lee in 1781.

Immediately following the lecture and Q&A, there will be a light reception and the opportunity to meet and greet Mr. Braisted.

For more information about the Society and its activities, please call Gerri Gibney at 201 768-2615 or visit the Society web page; www.harringtonparkhistoricalsociety.com. All general meetings are open to the public at no cost.

02/18/2022

10/30/2021

PRESS RELEASE
“History and Mystery of Iona Island”

The History and Mystery of Iona Island will be the topic of a talk by noted historian, photographer and environmental educator Donald 'Doc' Bayne at 7:30 P.M., Monday, November 1, 2021. Sponsored by the Harrington Park Historical Society, the event is open free to the public.
In a powerful PowerPoint program of words and pictures, Mr. Bayne will illustrate the intriguing and mysterious history of the 556-acre bedrock island that juts out from the west shore of the Hudson River below Bear Mountain.
He will show early evidence of both Native American settlements and Colonial farms on the island. In the late 1800s, the site attracted tourists with an amusement park, hotel and picnic grounds. He points out that from 1900 to 1946, it served as a major U.S. naval arsenal, complete with explosions and saboteurs.
Following World War II until the early 70s, the famous "mothball fleet" of decommissioned warships were moored near the island at Tomkins Cove.
A seasoned expert in trail hiking, forestry, and plant and wildlife habitats, Mr. Bayne notes that since 1965 when the Palisades Interstate Park Commission took possession of the island, much of the site and surrounding marshes have become a wildlife preserve. "It provides a valuable habitat for many species, including winter nesting for Bald Eagles, during which time the island is off limits to human visitors," he explains. With one of the largest tidal wetlands along the Hudson, Iona Island is part of a national estuarine sanctuary and research preserve.
A retired New York State Forest Ranger, Doc Bayne has been the Environmental Educator and Historian for Sterling Forest State Park for many years. In this position, he has exhibited his vast knowledge of the forest and wildlife and Native Americans by conducting nature and history hikes in Sterling Forest and Bear Mountain State Parks, as well as lectured on many aspects of the environment and ecosystems of the region. One of his areas of expertise is the iron history of New York State. He has been acclaimed for his program: "How Iron Ore is Made---The Forging of Iron in the Hudson River Valley during the American Revolution."
In his role as an environmental educator, he has conducted countless "eco explorer" classes for young people in the tri-state area through their schools, scouting groups, and 4-H clubs.
He has also lectured on 22 historic topics and presented programs at Johns Hopkins University, New York University and the American Museum of Natural History, as well as assisting Ithaca College with their bird research program.
When he was awarded the New York State Archaelogical Association Meritorious Service Award in April 2014, he was referred to as a "walking encyclopedia" of his knowledge and experience, and recognized as "a passionate researcher and educator who has the ability to feel the history of the land and transmit it to the people."
In addition to his lifelong pursuit of history and the environment, his early background was in analog computers and lithography. After service in the U.S. Army, he became a commercial pilot, and then worked as a photographer for the Minolta Corporation, where he eventually became Manager of Minolta Information Systems, traveling the world for the company and pursuing his passion for archaeology, paleontology and the study of world history. After his stint at Minolta, he worked for an audio/visual company designing distance learning classrooms for two universities in New Jersey.
Mr. Bayne is the President of The Friends of Sterling Forest and a member of the Historical Society of Greenwood Lake (New York), where he makes his home. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Historical Society, and the boards of the Fort Montgomery Battle Site and the Incorporated Orange County Chapter of the NYS Archaeological Association.
The Harrington Park Library is located at 10 Herring Street, Harrington Park, New Jersey 07640.
For more information, visit: www.harringtonparkhistoricalsociety.com, or call Gerri Gibney, 201 768-2615.

02/11/2020

PRESS RELEASE
“Mrs. Benedict Arnold: The Story of Peggy Shippen”

The Harrington Park Historical Society’s next general meeting is March 2, 2020, 7:30 P.M. at the Harrington Park Library, 10 Herring Street.

Historian Myrna Nahas will present "Mrs. Benedict Arnold: The Story of Peggy Shippen.” The Belle of Philadelphia, Margaret “Peggy” Shippen married war hero Benedict Arnold. In 1920, the University of Michigan acquired the Clinton papers. Sir Henry Clinton was Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of British forces in North America during the War of Independence. Under his supervision, Major John Andre, now adjutant general, negotiated terms with Major General Benedict Arnold of the Continental American army to betray America and hand over West Point in return for a fee.

Up until the Clinton papers were released, Peggy Shippen’s role in her husband’s betrayal was uncertain. It was widely believed that she knew nothing of the plot and that she was simply another victim of Benedict Arnold, the sinister traitor. Now, it is understood that not only was she fully aware of the plot and participated in the planning, but it is entirely possible that it may have been her idea to begin with.

Myrna Nahas offers highly academic, informative historical lectures designed to be both educational and entertaining. Her presentations appeal to a wide range of audience, from the hobby historian to those unfamiliar with the topic. Each lecture is accompanied by a PowerPoint slide show, giving the audience a visual as well as a verbal presentation. She has lectured at numerous libraries and institutions throughout Bergen County, presenting historical lectures on early American history. Ms. Nahas also does a 6 week American civics class for US Citizenship and a 3 part series on the American Revolution.

The Historical Society welcomes everyone to attend their free lectures. A light reception is offered after the presentation. Questions about the Society or its activities, please call Gerri Gibney at 201 768-2615.

01/13/2020

PRESS RELEASE
“The Chain that Saved the Colonies”
To stop the British invasion of the New England Colonies during the American Revolution, Peter Townsend manufactured a Great Chain at Sterling Forest for the Continental Army. The chain was placed across the Hudson River at West Point. Please join the Harrington Park Historical Society and Doc Bayne on Monday, February 3rd, at the Harrington Park Library, for an eye opening presentation on how he discovered the forge in Sterling Forest that made the chain. Doc will share the history of the iron industry that started in 1736 in Sterling Forest and how the Sterling Forge was used to create the Great Chain that was placed across the Hudson.
Donald “Doc” Bayne has been interested in history since the age of 8. After a long career with Minolta during which time he worked as a part time Forest Ranger for Sterling Forest State Park, Doc ultimately accepted the position of Environmental Educator and Historian for the Park. Doc has acquired a vast knowledge of the forest, animals, Native Americans, and iron history.
In his position he planned and conducted history and nature hikes in both Sterling Forest and Bear Mountain State Parks. He has lectured on many aspects of the environment such as the iron history of New York State. Doc is a passionate researcher and educator with the ability to feel the history of the land and transmit it to the people.
The Harrington Park Library is located at 10 Herring Street. The presentation will start at 7:30 P.M. with a light reception after the lecture. For more information please call Gerri Gibney at 201 768-2615. The public is invited, and reservations are not required. You can also visit the Society at their web page; www.harringtonparkhistoricalsociety.com, or on Facebook.

10/09/2019

PRESS RELEASE
“The Fall of the Berlin Wall”

On Monday, November 4, 2019 the Harrington Park Historical Society is delighted to welcome back as their guest lecturer, former Bergen County Executive William “Pat” Schuber, Esq. presenting “The Fall of the Berlin Wall.” There is no cost to attend the lecture starting at 7:30 P.M. in the Harrington Park Library located at 10 Herring Street in Harrington Park.
At the end of the Second World War, Germany was divided into four zones of occupation under the control of the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. Berlin, although located within the Soviet zone, was also split among the four powers. The American, British and French sectors would form West Berlin and the Soviet sector became East Berlin. The division of Germany and the nature of its occupation had been confirmed by the Allied leaders at the Potsdam Conference, held between July 17 and August 2, 1945.

In 1961, rumors spread that measures would be introduced to strengthen the border and stop East Germans from leaving for the West. On August 12-13 a wire barrier was constructed around West Berlin.

Established crossing points between the Western and Soviet sectors were closed, dividing neighborhoods and separating families overnight. From this barbed wire barricade, the Wall would eventually develop into a fortified concrete structure encircling West Berlin and isolating it from the surrounding East German territory.

In 1989, political changes in Eastern Europe and civil unrest in Germany put pressure on the East German government to loosen some of its regulations on travel to West Germany.

The fall of the Berlin Wall was the first step towards German reunification. The political, economic and social impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall further weakened the already unstable East German government. Germany reunited on October 3,1990, eleven months after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Mr. Schuber is currently Assistant Professor at the School of Administrative Science at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He lectures frequently on government, law, military history, historical leadership, ethics, communication and conflict resolution. He has written many scholarly articles and co-authored books on topics of history, leadership and Homeland Security. A Captain in the US Army Reserve (Ret.), his extensive travels have given him a bird’s eye view of historical sites and situations all over the world.
Mr. Schuber’s passion, knowledge, and keen interest of American history should make the lecture a standout for all history buffs.
Immediately following Mr. Schuber’s presentation there will be a reception. All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information on the Society and its activities, please contact Gerri Gibney at 201 768-2615, or visit the Society at www.harringtonparkhistoricalsociety.com or on Facebook.

10/05/2019

PRESS RELEASE
“From The Colonial Period to Today: The Architecture of Bergen County N.J.”

The Harrington Park Historical Society is delighted to announce the return of Jim DelGiudice, historian, author, and photographer as their guest lecturer on Monday, October 7, 2019. The presentation will begin at 7:30 P.M. in the Harrington Park Library, 10 Herring Street. The lecture is entitled “From The Colonial Period to Today: The Architecture of Bergen County, N.J.”

Walk or drive through any of Bergen County's seventy communities and you will find telling reminders of a wonderfully rich and diverse architectural history, the legacy of three hundred years of settlement, growth, and change. The Architecture of Bergen County presents an accessible overview of the county's architectural heritage and its historic structures.

Mr. DelGiudice’s presentation begins with the arrival of European settlers in the seventeenth century and ends in the late twentieth century. He’ll also present some delightful surprises; including a large number of picturesque houses that were built from the designs published in mid-nineteenth century architectural pattern books, the home of an early African American newspaper publisher, and two homes in Paramus and Washington Township whose exterior walls are made of mud.

Jim DelGiudice has used his eyes and voice to document the New Jersey scene for more than half his 56 years. His architectural photography for books published by Rutgers University Press twice won him the state’s Historic Preservation Award, and his plays have been produced by such venues as the Bickford Theatre and Kean University. In the millennium year, Jim was cited by both the state and county legislatures for his lifetime contribution to the arts. He is an adjunct assistant professor at County College of Morris, and also lectures frequently at Drew and Columbia Universities, as well as adult and professional groups around the metropolitan area. Most recently, he served as photo editor for A Lifetime with Shakespeare, published by McFarland & Company. A lifelong Morris County resident, Jim is inordinately proud of his one, tiny Wikipedia entry.

Immediately following the presentation is a light reception. The public is invited to all the Society’s free lectures. For more information on the Society’s activities, please call Gerri Gibney at 201 768-2615.

09/12/2019

PRESS RELEASE
“From The Colonial Period to Today: The Architecture of Bergen County N.J.”

The Harrington Park Historical Society is delighted to announce the return of Jim DelGiudice, historian, author, and photographer as their guest lecturer on Monday, October 7, 2019. The presentation will begin at 7:30 P.M. in the Harrington Park Library, 10 Herring Street. The lecture is entitled “From The Colonial Period to Today: The Architecture of Bergen County, N.J.”

Walk or drive through any of Bergen County's seventy communities and you will find telling reminders of a wonderfully rich and diverse architectural history, the legacy of three hundred years of settlement, growth, and change. The Architecture of Bergen County presents an accessible overview of the county's architectural heritage and its historic structures.

Mr. DelGiudice’s presentation begins with the arrival of European settlers in the seventeenth century and ends in the late twentieth century. He’ll also present some delightful surprises; including a large number of picturesque houses that were built from the designs published in mid-nineteenth century architectural pattern books, the home of an early African American newspaper publisher, and two homes in Paramus and Washington Township whose exterior walls are made of mud.

Jim DelGiudice has used his eyes and voice to document the New Jersey scene for more than half his 56 years. His architectural photography for books published by Rutgers University Press twice won him the state’s Historic Preservation Award, and his plays have been produced by such venues as the Bickford Theatre and Kean University. In the millennium year, Jim was cited by both the state and county legislatures for his lifetime contribution to the arts. He is an adjunct assistant professor at County College of Morris, and also lectures frequently at Drew and Columbia Universities, as well as adult and professional groups around the metropolitan area. Most recently, he served as photo editor for A Lifetime with Shakespeare, published by McFarland & Company. A lifelong Morris County resident, Jim is inordinately proud of his one, tiny Wikipedia entry.

Immediately following the presentation is a light reception. The public is invited to all the Society’s free lectures. For more information on the Society’s activities, please call Gerri Gibney at 201 768-2615.

08/16/2019

PRESS RELEASE
“LOST AMUSEMENT PARKS OF THE NORTH JERSEY SHORE”

The Harrington Park Historical Society starts off the new Society year with a lecture by Rick Geffken, “Lost Amusement Parks of the North Jersey Shore.” The meeting is on Monday, September 9, 2019, 7:30 P.M. at the Harrington Park Library, 10 Herring Street in Harrington Park.

The Jersey Shore has always attracted people seeking relief from summer heat and humidity. Long before Europeans came here, the native Lenape clammed, fished, and played games on the beach and in the surf. These original people could scarcely have imagined that, by the end of the 19th century, the 120-mile-long coastline of New Jersey would be dotted with amusement parks featuring gentle kiddie car rides, terrifying roller coasters, merry-go-rounds, and fast-food emporiums. James Bradley in Asbury Park and William Sandlass Jr. in Highland Beach created mass entertainment for hundreds of thousands of people. Their seaside recreation centers, along with those in Long Branch, Bradley Beach, Pleasure Bay, and others, endured for years but are just fond and fading memories today.

Rick Geffken is an archival historian retired from careers in the computer industry and teaching. He is a member of the Shrewsbury Historical Society as well as the Monmouth County Historical Association. Rick is the former publisher of The Monmouth Connection, the newsletter of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society. Historical and genealogical articles he's written have been published in The Howell Times, the on-line Patch blogs, The Crown newsletter of Christ Episcopal Church in Shrewsbury, and in many other publications. Rick is a well-regarded speaker at many local and state-wide historical societies and preservation conferences. His most recent book for Arcadia Publishing is Lost Amusement Parks of the North Jersey Shore, widely acclaimed during his current book tour.

The Society welcomes everyone to their lectures, all free of charge. After Mr. Geffken’s presentation there will be a Q & A, followed by a light reception. For more information about the Society and its activities, please call Gerri Gibney at 201 768-2615, or go to the Society webpage; www.harringtonparkhistoricalsociety.com, or visit them on Facebook.

05/17/2019

HARRINGTON PARK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PRESS RELEASE
“A Civil War Story of the Men and Their Families from Alpine who Served the Union”

The Harrington Park Historical Society is pleased to welcome back good friend and historian Eric Nelsen as their guest lecturer on Monday, June 3, 2019, 7:30 P.M. at the Harrington Park Library located at 10 Herring Street in Harrington Park. Mr. Nelsen’s lecture is entitled “A Civil War Story of the Men and Their Families from Alpine who Served the Union.”
The American Civil War is the most studied and written about episode in United States history; there are books, articles, movies, courses, documentaries on the major and minor battles, the leaders of the time, the generals who conducted the war, the social upheavals in the north and the south, and so it goes. So what did the people of Alpine (as it was to become known) where the Palisades Interstate Park is located have to do with this well documented war?
Eric Nelsen, Director of the Kearney House, a 19th century tavern and homestead, located in the Park has been researching this question to enhance the knowledge base of this distinctive area to learn more about the men who volunteered to serve the Union in the Civil War. Eric describes this new program he is developing;
“I can honestly say this talk is unlike any I’ve worked on before, and I’m having a hard time coming up with a simple description, but here goes: I’ve been looking at the group of men who volunteered from Alpine (as it was to become known) to serve the Union in the Civil War. As my starting point, I’ve used the plaque the town would later place for them, which lists nine men. I’ve been able to put together biographical details for each, who they were before and after the war, and what their service consisted of. But I’ve also found at least half a dozen men who served from Alpine who are not on the plaque—including Charles Conklin, who grew up at the Kearney House, a grandson of Mrs. Kearney’s. In starting to piece together the stories of all these men, I’ve also begun to gain new insights into the unique community they hailed from—and the families they left behind.”
Mr. Nelsen’s talk is an ambitious project, which in his always thorough and engaging style will sure to delight, engage, and educate his audience. The Harrington Park Historical Society invites everyone to hear the maiden voyage of this presentation, given on June 3rd at 7:30 P.M.
A lifelong resident of Bergen County and a graduate of Montclair State University, Eric Nelsen has been an historical interpreter for the Palisades Interstate Park's NJ Section since 1992 and director of the Park's historic Kearney House, a 19th-century riverfront homestead and tavern now serving as a living history museum, since 1998. He was project coordinator for the video documentary A New Deal for the Palisades (2001) and coauthor of New Jersey's Palisades Interstate Park (2007, part of Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series). He is best known for the "history hikes" he leads, during which hikers explore beautiful views of the Hudson - along with the ruins of grand cliff-top estates and fishermen's villages, all part of a unique Interstate Park that is both a National Historic and National Natural Landmark.
He brings a rich understanding of the many facets of the Palisades to his presentations. Day to day in the park, Eric creates park publications including the njpalisades.org website, brochures, interpretive signs, and social media. When he’s unplugged from his office, he can be found leading one of his popular history hikes — or dressed to party like it’s 1849 at a living history program at the Kearney House.
The Society welcomes everyone to come, enjoy, and learn from their lectures which are free of charge. A reception will follow the presentation. For more information about the Society and its activities please call Gerri Gibney at 201 768-2615 or follow the Society on its page, or at its web site, www.harringtonparkhistoricalsociety.com.

05/06/2019

Reminder - Harrington Park Historical Society meeting tonight at the HP Library, 7:30 P.M.

Billy Neumann, historian, photographer will discuss Robert Erskine, map maker for General George Washington, with special emphasis on local history. Refreshments to be served.