Newsletter of the 2011 Bergen County Historical Society
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Fall Newsletter of the 2011 Bergen County Historical Society We have again faced down another of our heritage and the most significant storm of historic proportions. About a surviving fragment of the Jersey Dutch President’s Message foot of water countryside. Johannes Ackerman chose invaded the this site at the confluence of Coles Brook main floor of the Zabriskie-Steuben and the Hackensack River in 1720 as House, but it receded with the tide, a suitable location for a tidal gristmill. leaving a coat of muddy sand. Unlike in April 2007, however, we now have Statue of Steuben access and volunteers were able to move in Lafayette Park, everything of value to the upper floors Washington, DC. by Albert in plenty of time. We can always mop Jaegers, 1910. muddy floors and air out rooms, but at We have a 4 least there is no damage to significant ft tall plaster artifacts or furnishings. Since the display model in cases were set on blocks and tables, collections, which we keep handy for such purposes, – needs we only have to wipe off their bases restoration. and arrange the exhibits. We also raised furnishings in the Demarest House, where floodwaters filled the basement, barely reaching the main floor. The Campbell-Christie House, Out Kitchen and Westervelt-Thomas Barn stood above the flood. We also set that portion of our museum and library collections, presently stored in a warehouse considered safe above the century-flood mark, on pallets D. Powell and tables. Obviously, it is better to be safe than sorry. Obviously, being located at the narrows Since 1850—the approximate date of of the Hackensack River, site of the the close of the Little Ice Age—sea level in Bridge That Saved A Nation, it survived New York Harbor has risen 15 inches, so more of the American Revolution than we must adapt to circumstances beyond any other extant site in America. Having our control. Otherwise, we would have served as a fort, military headquarters, to be willing to abandon a priceless piece encampment ground and battle ground in every year of the war, it literally is the Crossroads of the American Revolution. In this issue We cannot move a Revolutionary President’s Letter . 1 & 19 War battleground and Washington’s Fundraising. .2 & 4, 5 headquarters (in September 1780) to New Trustees. 3 higher ground, so we stand prepared to Events & News. 13 & 18, 19 do all we are called upon to do for its Saving the Army . 6-12, 17 safety. Coytesville. 13-17 We are now working on resolving issues that will allow us to open our Bergen County Historical Societycontinued Fall 2011 on page 17 We thank ROOSEVELT SCHOOL, River Edge for their generous donation to the BCHS Museum & Library Building Fund! Retiring teacher Anne Marchetti and her fourth grade class raised $844 in 2 days! Their efforts, on our behalf, will resume in the fall. We are deeply grateful to all those who recognize the need and who meet the challenge of preserving our irreplaceable heritage! Pictured here: Past BCHS President Kevin Wright with representatives from Anne Marchetti’s fourth grade class. We thank Outwater Milita for their generous donation of $1,000 to the BCHS Museum & Library Building Fund! Pictured here: Meredith Dansak, Michele Dansak, George Skic (Deputy Commander of Outwater’s Militia) Mike Trepicchio, BCHS President accepting the check, Richard Dansak, Jim Smith and Caroline Dansak. 2 Fall 2011 Bergen County Historical Society Welcome new BCHS trustees Jim Smith, Scott Barone and Janet King. A resident of I am Scott Barone Janet King traces Ridgewood, James M. and I have been married her interest in history Smith has always had a to my wife Jodi for to family road trips passion for history and seventeen years. We have with stops to visit is excited to be joining twin nine-year-old boys historic sites and read the Board of Trustees. He and live in Paramus. I all of the “hysterical” attended The Catholic am a Network Engineer markers along the way. University of America, for Verisk Analytics in Soon she was bringing receiving a BA in History Jersey City, NJ. I have along library books and continued his studies always loved history about territory they at St. Peter’s College and for as long as I can were passing through is a State Certified Social remember. I especially to paraphrase for her Studies Teacher. enjoy the colonial little brother (who However, Mr. Smith’s period. For this reason ended up majoring in interest in history does I joined a living history history). She also began not reside solely in the group called the Third compiling information classroom. He is also NJ Regiment, which is a for a family tree and an officer of Outwater’s member organization of dreamed about going Militia, which is based on a larger group called the West on a wagon an actual unit that served Brigade of the American train. Born in Denver in the Hackensack & New Revolution (aka BAR). and growing up in Bridge area during the We portray Continental Los Angeles, Phoenix, Rev War. While other soldiers and re-enact Seattle and Cincinnati, areas of the Colonies saw battles and events that she had a Western bent, fighting through different happened between 1775 but is happy to have periods, it was Bergen and 1783. I like to camp ended up in Bergen County and its militia that out at events with my County, where colonial was on constant duty. We kids, where they learn and Revolutionary War may know the names of about history and get to days are also part of the George Washington and stay a some pretty cool picture. Anthony Wayne, but how historic sites. I enjoy Janet retired last year much is known about participating in all the after teaching English John Outwater, Adam wonderful BCHS events and ESL for 40 years. Boyd, John Fell, and Major they hold throughout She is happy to be part Goetchius? the year. of BCHS. Bergen County Historical Society Fall 2011 3 Fundraising Efforts for BCHS Museum & Library DONATIONS: $38,024 Updated 8/17/2011 BENEFACTOR: $1,000 to 4,999 Deborah Powell & Kevin Wright, Naomi Rothschild, Englewoood River Edge by Jennifer Rothschild Sgt. Walter Scott Brown American Irene Stella, Closter Legion, Post 226, River Edge by Jennifer Rothschild Outwater Militia, New Jersey Bob & Eleanor Roth, Bergenfield PATRON: $500 to $999 Carol Greene, Mahwah Roosevelt School, River Edge Klaus & Jerri Angermueller in memory of (lead by Anne Marchetti’s Class) Willard & Marjorie Somers, Oakland Mac Borg, Woodland Park CIRCLE: $100 to $499 Firth Haring Fabend, Montclair, NJ Michelle Novak, NYC Dennis and Nancy Buttacavoli, Eleanor Roth, Bergenfield Hasbrouck Hts Bob Roth, Bergenfield Thomas Jordan, Hackensack Alex and Gail Dever, Bergenfield Kathleen Moran, Bogota Rusty Relics Car Club, Paramus Norwood American Legion Post 272, James Purcell, Norwood Norwood Jim Madden, Wood Ridge Clifford Zink, Princeton Maywood American Legion, Al & Jeanne Dib, Hackensack Post No. 142 Dee Ann Ipp, Teaneck Tim & Noelle Beckemeyer, River Vale Judith Kilcullen, Studio City, CA John & Nancy Locke, Woodcliff Lake Dr. Joe and Annie Salvatore, Cape May, Ed Purcell, Ramsey NJ (formerly of Alpine, NJ) George Menditto, Hackensack Barbara Bosch, Hasbrouck Heights James E. Purcell, Dumont Martin and Eleanor Gruber, Ridgewood Richard K. Purcell, Rochelle Park Martin and Norma Goetz, Teaneck Joseph & Judy Sparacino, Middletown Sgt. Walter Scott Brown Post 226 Courtney Powell, FL American Legion Post , River Edge Jan Pranger, Hinsdale, IL Keith Brickman, Cary, NC DONOR: $25 to $99 Sandy Loft, Teaneck George Emma, Mahwah John Gidney, Bergenfield Judith Grace, Teaneck Wendy & Barry Salkin, River Edge Dawn Langmaack, Fort Lee Flo Muller, Ridgefield Park Marie Haisan, Tannerville, PA Ben Im, Fort Lee Dr. Steven Laifer, Cresskill Bob and Jo Conger, Park Ridge SOCIETY: $5,000+ Be the first 4 Fall 2011 Bergen County Historical Society Every donation counts We thank Eleanor Roth Will you help? and her son Bob for their PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN: longtime support! Calvin Coolidge School, Wyckoff Roosevelt School, (Mary Miller) Ramsey Historical Association River Edge Averil L. Genton,Woodridge Demarest Middle School George and Phebe Banta, (Miss Caitlin Carroll) Demarest Poughkeepsie, NY Cliffside Park School 4 Stephen Flagg, M.D. of Hamden, CT (Christie Giancola) Mark and Linda Stovall, Cresskill Cliffside Park Judith VanBuskirk, Wayne, PA Gibbs Elementary School, William and Judith Joyce, Paramus New Milford Albert and Jeanne Dib, Hackensack Berkely Street Elementary (Patricia Aufiero) New Milford William Romaine, Irvington, NY Country Road School, Demarest Nicholas Voorhis, Jr, NM Luther Less Emerson Stuart Schneider, Oradell (Gladys Grossman), Demarest Rose Harvey, Delhi, Ontario. Eleanor Roth, Bergenfield Donations made in Memory of Mahwah Museum Society, Mahwah Albert (Gus) and Jeanne (Mann) Eric Newman in honor of Newman: Albert and Jeanne Newman, YMCA of Greater Bergen County Hackensack Kelly Family of Hackensack W. John Oddie, Teaneck Dowd Family of Livingston Kwilos Famiy Teresa Wright, Newton Friends and Colleagues of James Devine, Waldwick Lois (Maggie) Newman at Carol Greene, Mahwah NORC at the University of Chicago Martin and Eleanor Gruber, Ridgewood Lawrence Newman of Florida Todd Post, Arlington, VA Bobek and Pierson Families Edward Schreyer, River Edge of Hackensack The Holland Society of NY & NJ Griffith Family of Hawthorne Priscilla Stahl, CT Grambone Family of Hawthorne Wallace Family of Sarnac Lake, NY Robert and Florence Jennes, Teaneck Schoonmaker Family of Hackensack Mike Trepicchio, Teaneck Donations were made