Bergen County Historical Society
About the Organization Historic New Bridge Landing Museum Collections Events Library and Research
Links to History in Bergen County Marker Program Publication Sales Map and Directions Message Board Search Site Contact Us
The Campbell-Christie House is located on 7 acres of Bergen County Historical Society land at HNBL. BCHS operates the historic house museum and provides all programing at the site. Other activities include placement of blue roadside historical markers, educational events, museum exhibits, monthly lectures, and library collection. We are not a government agency and we have never received regular or significant public funding, we rely on private donations, membership and volunteer efforts. BCHS opens HNBL for special events. The Steuben House has not been open regular hours since the April '07 nor'easter.
BCHS featured in Non-Profit Article in the Record - 11-16-09
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Historic
New Bridge Landing
The Public is welcome to attend
Winu gischuch, the Ripe Corn Moon Festival, at Historic New Bridge Landing
Sunday, August 15, 2010 – 4:30 to 8:30 pm
The Bergen County Historical Society marks the ancient Algonquian festival of Winu gischuch with an old-fashioned picnic, musical entertainment, and corn roast. Historian Kevin Wright will speak on the Cycle of Seasons from his book 1609, A Country That Was Never Lost at 6:30 PM in the Steuben House. Tour the Campbell-Christie House, Demarest House, Steuben House and Jersey Dutch Out Kitchen. $7 Adults, $5 Children, BCHS members free.

The Dark Moon of August, Winu gischuch, was associated with ripened corn, ready to roast. At this time, native farmers pulled cornstalks that produced no ears and sucked out the sweet sap or syrup. Fresh ears of corn in the milk were roasted.

Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201-1209 Main Street River Edge, NJ 07661.

Click here for more info about the event
BCHS membership
application
Now on Exhibit at the Steuben House:
For the first time in 15 years the New Bridge Charleville Musket will be on view. The musket was pulled out of the Hackensack River in 1903 by a nine year old boy who was fishing from the bridge; The Burdette Frying Pan is said to be used by Rachael Burdette to serve George Washington Indian cakes in Nov 1776. Gen. Greene used the Burdette's home as his headquarters. It is on exhibit for the first time in a quarter of a century. The bottom of the pan was painted with a portrait of Washington;  Exhibit of stone tools, projectile points and pottery made by the Original Inhabitants of Bergen County; Exhibit of 18th century artifacts associated with the Revolutionary War in Bergen County and early artifacts associated with the Steuben House including the original front door box lock; Exhibit of photographs taken at New Bridge in the 1950s, including the opening of the 1956 new New Bridge Road Bridge. Say that 5 times fast! See the Elsie Heiss Button Exhibit and the 15 ft Hackensack Dugout Canoe.

The former autoparts yard has been remediated! The equipment is gone. Meadow flowers and split-rail to follow. Can a visitor center be far behind? Photo taken 06-08-2010.
BCHS Facebook Page
Continuing our outreach program to reach more people and increase awareness of the Society's various resources, activities and events, we have recently created a page on Facebook. In the few weeks that it has been up it has already started to attract fans from up and down the East Coast. The purpose of the page is to present the information on the Society website through a different channel.
 
We have begun a fundraising drive to raise money to meet the challenge to preserving Bergen County's rich history. We seek the support of caring and interested persons and public-spirited businesses.

We are kicking off a coin drive by the school children of New Jersey October 2008. We hope to raise the funds to build a safe museum environment where we can professionally conserve, research and exhibit the Bergen County Historical Society's collection.

You can start now...find out how!

Watch the video now.

HNBL BCHS Brochure
Walking Tour of Historic New Bridge Landing 
Map and history of HNBL, BCHS collections .
504k file size pdf.
8-1/2 x 14" Legal Size
Sampling of the collections and research.
The Bergen County Historical Society's Collections
The Bergen Dutch were an agricultural community who settled and farmed the valleys of the Hackensack, Saddle and Passaic Rivers, beginning in 1640. The Campbell-Christie and Demarest Houses display a small part of the BCHS collections (objects made or used in Bergen County from 1680 to 1860) which span folk art, ladderback chairs, Hackensack cupboards, kasten (Dutch cupboards), redware pottery, coverlets, quilts and spoonboards.

Shown here: This is 1760's era French Musket, possibly of Charleville manufacture, confirmed by Don Troiani, military collector and artist. The musket was pulled out of the Hackensack River in 1903 by a nine year old boy who was fishing from the New Bridge 1889 bridge. It is full-cocked, ready for firing. The rollover image is close up of the trigger. The gun measures 57". Now on display at the Steuben House.

Thousands of these guns were shipped to the colonies, obtained from the French in support of the American Cause. One could opine it was dropped by a shot Bergen Militia soldier while defending the bridge.

Todd Briasted provided advice and contact to Don Troiani.

The BCHS message board is an online forum for queries, discussions, and alerts about Bergen County history. Enter your event or look for an activity in the Calendar. List your BC history-related website in History Links. 

Anyone can browse the forums, but you must register to post messages. Registrants may also receive periodic e-newsletters.
Please join us. The  more participants, the better!

To contact BCHS, email us to below address.
contact@bergencountyhistory.org

BCHS Membership form
The Bergen County Historical Society (BCHS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization, promotes preservation, study and appreciation of local history. Beginning in 1939, our museum collections were displayed at the Steuben House, a State Historic Site. The house is now open for special events. Most of the 4,000 items in the collection are in storage.

The Campbell-Christie House is located on Bergen County Historical Society land. BCHS operates the historic house museum and provides programing. Other activities include placement of informative roadside historic markers, educational events, museum exhibits, monthly lectures, and a library collection. We are not a government agency and presently receive no regular or significant public funding, we rely on private donations and membership. For a more complete description of BCHS.
Are you a member? Here's how to join. Or scroll down to learn more. BCHS Board 2010-2011. We now offer to members 3 library queries per year, see Research Request.

The BCHS purchased the land between the Steuben House and north of Main St. in 1944 to buffer and protect the Steuben House from the c.1930s auto parts junkyard.
The end of the junkyard began in 01-2000 when HNBL Park Commission secured a $1.1 million Federal grant to buy & clean the junkyard thru Sen. Torrecelli.
The junkyard is being cleared. Note the Campbell-Christie House in background.
Photo taken 02-11-07.
New Bridge was a prosperous mill hamlet, centered upon a bridge strategically placed at the narrows of the Hackensack River, Bergen County, New Jersey.
The
Steuben House, Campbell-Christie House and Demarest House are landmarks of Bergen Dutch sandstone architecture, popularly called "Dutch Colonial" and frequently seen and admired throughout northern NJ. The Steuben House stands on its original site. The Steuben House is open for special events by BCHS volunteers. Closed since the April '07 nor'easter, we await funding to the HNBLPC so it may be reopened regular hours.
Visit the HNBL Park Commission's website.
HNBLPC is an example of public/private stewardship and continues the protection of this NJ cultural landmark/resource. BCHS is proud to be a member and lead force for preservation.
New Bridge Landing
The Steuben House
New Bridge in the Revolution
Crossing at New Bridge, Washington saved his army from its certain defeat in November 1776, inspiring Thomas Paines' American Crisis.

New Bridge was a strategic river crossing throughout the American Revolution. Its homes served as military headquarters. Deadly skirmishes echoed about its walls, earthworks were thrown upon its hills, and consuming armies camped upon its fields. Soldiers passed this gateway so often that the Steuben House is said to have seen more of the Revolution than any other house in America.

The Society's Library collection comprises family genealogy, diaries, and manuscripts; church, cemetery, and bible records; books, clippings, and on local and county history, the Revolutionary War, and historic architecture; postcards, photos, videos, atlases, and maps. They are located at Felican College (Lodi campus library) and available regularly once a week. Click here for a more complete description of collections and directions. No microfilm census records.
Open Wednesdays, 11:30 am to 5:00 pm (Staffed by BCHS volunteers). Closed for month of August.
We have a new research policy, please see the library webpage for more info.

Research articles of interest -
Please remember to obey US copyright laws. The articles have been previously published in BCHS newsletters.
BCHS Newsletter – Spring/Summer 2009
1.1 mg (pdf)
BCHS Newsletter February 2010
Demarest House Museum History, Demarests at New Bridge, 1781, Historic Flag Project, A Century Ago, Charles Livingston Bull, 907k pdf

BCHS Newsletter – Early Winter 2008
1.1 mg pdf

BCHS Newsletter – Spring 2008 (pdf) HNBL Train Stop, Outhouse History, Bergen Trolley, A Century Ago, Colonial-era Broadside

BCHS Newsletter – Winter 2006-2007 (pdf) Modern Steuben House history, Haworth House, Marginalia From Ancient Almanacs, Zabriskie Mystery, Franklin Lakes’ Contribution to The Battle of the Atlantic

BCHS Newsletter - Winter 2006 (pdf)
Article on Tenafly, Frank A. Morrison Indian Artifact Collection and a Century Ago

BCHS Newsletter - Spring 2005 (pdf)
articles on Rev War Massacre at the Steuben House, 1780 events at New Bridge, Hackensack Raid in 1780 and a Century Ago

BCHS Newsletter - Fall 2004 (pdf)
articles on Indian Castle at New Bridge, Nike Base NY & Dear Friends by Ruth Paci and a Century Ago

The Steenrapie Encampment Sept 25, 2005
Washington at the Steuben House in 1780

225th Anniversary of the British Grand Forage, Bergen County, New Jersey
October 11 & 12, 2003

Retreat to Victory 2001
Bergen County Commerorates the 225th Anniversary of the Retreat Across New Jersey

Publications For Sale
BCHS has some great books to purchase. Click here for a complete listing and order form that you can print out and mail us. Sorry, no orders via the internet. Includes postcards of New Bridge Landing and other sites in Bergen County.
Map & Directions
How to get to us and when we're open
Publication Available!
"1609: A Country That Was Never Lost".
Through these pages readers step back in time for a visit with ancient Algonquian and Iroquoian communities of Native Americans, including the original Manhattans, the Minisinks of Bachom's Country, the Lenape of the Schuylkill estuary, the Mahicans, Susquehannocks, Mohawks and others whose names have been lost in the mists of time. Available in our gift shop.
Many Bergen County homes are listed and described in the BCHS Historic Site Markers booklet. Click here for a description of the Marker Program and a pdf of the booklet.
Website created and maintained by Deborah Powell, contact: contactBCHS@bergencountyhistory.org
I will forward questions to be answered by all-volunteer organization. This site updated 07/29/10
Albert Dib created and maintains the BCHS message board.
Painting of site by L.Feigel. Painting of Retreat by B.Spencer Newman.
All photos by D. Powell unless otherwise noted. This website was first created in 1996.

Bergen County Historical Society
P.O. Box 55, River Edge, New Jersey 07661 • www.bergencountyhistory.org
(201) 343-9492

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