Bolger Heritage Center, Ridgewood Public Library

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Bolger Heritage Center, Ridgewood Public Library Check out the Heritage Catalog: https://ridgewood.catalogaccess.com/home The Center is located on Level 2 and is open during all library hours.

The Ridgewood Public Library Bolger Heritage Center has a wide variety of resources for the study of genealogy and of Ridgewood and New Jersey history. Special assistance is available by emailing [email protected]. For more information about the Heritage Center see www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/localhistory.

Woolworth's opened its Ridgewood location almost exactly 97 years ago, in early October 1929, a couple of weeks before t...
10/12/2026

Woolworth's opened its Ridgewood location almost exactly 97 years ago, in early October 1929, a couple of weeks before the stock market crash. The Ridgewood News reported that the store opened "amid a setting of palms and to the strains of orchestral music."

When it closed in January of 1994, the headline read: "Customers, employees wonder where they'll get those thig-a-ma-jigs that go under the whatchamacallit."

Photo is from 1987.

We hope you'll join us for the 23rd Annual Genealogy Lock-In which is being held Saturday October 24 from 4 to 9 pm at t...
10/09/2026

We hope you'll join us for the 23rd Annual Genealogy Lock-In which is being held Saturday October 24 from 4 to 9 pm at the Ridgewood Public Library. This co-sponsored event between the library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, NJ offers genealogists of all levels the chance to spend the evening researching, learning and sharing. For more details please go to our website ridgewoodlibrary.org. Registration is required for this after-hours event.

Was looking for an interesting early October photograph in the Heritage Catalog and tripped across this one -- On Octobe...
10/05/2026

Was looking for an interesting early October photograph in the Heritage Catalog and tripped across this one -- On October 1, 1948, a fire on East Ridgewood Avenue "wiped out" two Ridgewood businesses (to use the Bergen Record's phrase) -- Winchell's Art Store and Foster's Paint and Hardware Store. It also threatened the chemical lab and shop of the Muster & Bauman drug store, but the volunteer firemen worked hard to keep that from happening -- and largely succeeded.

Muster & Bauman opened in 1915 and underwent some name and location changes until it closed in 1979, then known as the Ridgewood Drug Company. Over the years, the store became known for its "elegant" soda fountain which became a "mecca for villagers" (again, from the Bergen Record).

If you've ever been to the 2nd floor of the Ridgewood Public Library, you've probably seen our 1869 photographs document...
10/02/2026

If you've ever been to the 2nd floor of the Ridgewood Public Library, you've probably seen our 1869 photographs documenting Ridgewood when it was an agricultural area. We're happy to announce that you can now view these images on our website, on our local history page under Ridgewood history (https://localhistory.ridgewoodlibrary.org/ridgewood-history/1869-ridgewood-panorama/)

These interactive images allow you to click on the information button to learn about Ridgewood's way of life; the history behind the buildings and houses; and how to learn more about how the Village changed over the years.

The Heritage Center recently received a donation of old newspaper articles found as work was being done on the building ...
09/28/2026

The Heritage Center recently received a donation of old newspaper articles found as work was being done on the building at 63 E. Ridgewood Ave., turning it into the new "Milkshake Factory." This Back-to-School edition from August of 1951 shows the new Ridgewood schools, Travell and Somerville, and offers parents a lot of advice for the new school year:
"Buttons Are Guide to Well Made Clothes"
"Coats Make Exciting News"
"Electric Irons on College List"

09/23/2026

It’s time for another episode of Today in History!

On September 23 of 1949 Bruce Springsteen, first child of Adele and Douglas Springsteen, was born at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. This singer, songwriter, and musician was nicknamed “The Boss”, and has released 21 studio albums over the span of six decades. And through the Ridgewood library you can listen to his music by streaming on Hoopla or by borrowing one of our CDs…you can also learn more about The Boss by reading his biography or listening to the eaudiobook.

(do you think he was born to run?)

09/21/2026

We hope you'll join us at the 23rd Annual Genealogy Lock-In, held Saturday October 24 from 4 to 9pm at the Ridgewood Public Library. For more details please go to ridgewoodlibrary.org

You can also call local history librarian Sarah at 201-670-5600 x2135 or email [email protected]
Genealogical Society of Bergen County, NJ

This time of year brings change to view such as this one which was taken at Dunham Trail in Ridgewood NJ (September 2024...
09/18/2026

This time of year brings change to view such as this one which was taken at Dunham Trail in Ridgewood NJ (September 2024). We encourage you all to take a moment and enjoy the beautiful scenery at the different parks in Ridgewood. And if you happen to capture the landscape in a photograph, feel free to send it to us to store in our archive ([email protected])

Today marks 25 years since the tragedy of 9/11. Ridgewood was profoundly affected by the loss of a dozen residents, alon...
09/11/2026

Today marks 25 years since the tragedy of 9/11. Ridgewood was profoundly affected by the loss of a dozen residents, along with the impact it had on everyone across the country. We want to take a moment to remember those residents: Richard M. Blood, Michael Carroll, Daniel F. McGinley, James Munhall, Charlie Murphy, Steven B. Paterson, Michael V. San Phillip, Bruce E. Simmons, Steven F. Strobert, Gina Sztejnberg, Jon C. Vandervander, and Christopher W. Wodenshek.

The Bolger Heritage Center Ridgewood Public Library preserves their stories, along with their families and the community’s in our archive.

The Bolger Heritage Center wishes everyone a safe and relaxing Labor Day. But we would be remiss if we didn't take a qui...
09/07/2026

The Bolger Heritage Center wishes everyone a safe and relaxing Labor Day. But we would be remiss if we didn't take a quick moment to explain the historical significance behind the holiday...which began in the late 19th century as an annual celebration of the social along with economic achievement of American workers. It is held on the 1st Monday in September. At first it was celebrated by labor activists and individual states, and by 1894 Congress passed an act making it a legal holiday.

**Image is from the archival collection and is just identified as a "parade". Please feel free to share your photographs from Labor Day weekend so that we can add them to our collection (email [email protected])

Address

125 N Maple Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ
07450

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

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