On April 24, 2024, Bernardsville celebrates it’s 100 year Centennial Anniversary.
In 2024, we will be hosting a series of events and celebrations for both adults and children to commemorate a century of history while actively fostering enthusiasm for the promising future ahead.
We hope you’ll join us throughout the year at some of these exciting events, the first of which was our kick-off celebration in November of 2023 at Upton Pyne.
Thanks to the Davi family for allowing us use of their historic carriage house, the event showcased a concert by America’s Sweethearts and an incredible food spread by local restaurant, Tsuki, and Verrilli’s of Morristown with wine and beverages arranged by Adelphia. KenRent provided tables, chairs and the cook tent and our sponsors were incredible supporters. A silent auction capped this amazing evening! Thanks to all who participated!
EVENTS
History, Coffee and Conversation
February 23rd at 3:30pm
NO CHARGE TO ATTEND
The Coffee Shop – 23 Olcott Square
Host: Barry Thompson of the Bernardsville Historical Society
Love our Library
February 15th at 1:00pm
NO CHARGE TO ATTEND
The Bernardsville Library
A display of the history of the town starts the month off with a reception and discussion.
FUTURE POSSIBLE EVENTS
Bernardsville
April 2024 – Seniors “Grease Sock-Hop”
May 2024 – Memorial Day Parade
June 2024 – Town Softball Game
July 2024 – Movie Nights
September 2024 – Town-wide Festival
Kick-Off Event
BACK IN TIME AT UPTON PYNE
On November 4, 2023 we kicked-off the 100th Anniversary with a centennial celebration at the iconic Upton Pyne Carriage House on top of Bernardsville mountain! Thanks to the generosity of the Davi family, the support of a number of local companies – Ken-Rent, Tsuki Japanese Restaurant, Verrilli’s and Adelphia Wine Market and some amazing sponsors and great auction donations – the event was a huge success! A concert from America’s Sweethearts rounded out the evening and was a great way to kick-off the rest of the year’s events.
HISTORY
HISTORY
During the Revolutionary War, General Charles Lee stationed his troops in Vealtown on the night of December 12 to 13, 1776. Around 3 miles southeast, General Lee and some of his guards stayed at White’s Inn on the southeast side of Basking Ridge, near the manor house of Continental Army General William Alexander, Lord Stirling. On the morning of December 13, General Lee was captured by the British and transported to New York. The Vealtown Tavern, now known as the John Parker Tavern, served as a regular stop during the 1779–1780 winter encampment at Morristown.
After the Civil War, a significant number of affluent and prominent New Yorkers began settling in the area, initially as summer visitors and later as permanent residents of Bernardsville Mountain. Typically, the men commuted to work in New York City, while the women and children spent their summers in Bernardsville. The construction of the Gladstone Branch on the existing railroad line in 1872 played a crucial role in the borough’s growth. The Gladstone line, featuring a five o’clock train aptly nicknamed “the millionaire’s special” for its direct route to Penn Station, enabled the men who owned the grand estates in Bernardsville to commute to the city daily, rather than only visiting their families on weekends.
100 Years of Bernardsville
Originally named Vealtown, Bernardsville was initially a part of Bernards Township. In 1840, it adopted the name Bernardsville in honor of Sir Francis Bernard, the Colonial governor of New Jersey from 1758 to 1760. The borough has maintained the Mayor/Council form of government chosen by its original leaders in 1924. The first mayor, George Cross, served from 1924 to 1930, as detailed in the history book “Among The Blue Hills” last updated in 1999.
Bernardsville only became an independent municipality in 1924 when it separated from Bernards Township. The borough received official incorporation through an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 6, 1924 and affirmed by local referendum on April 24, 1924.
Millicent Fenwick, elected to the council in 1959, became the first woman to hold the position and later served in Congress. Her son, Hugh Fenwick, was elected mayor in 1994. Peter Palmer served as mayor from 1986 to 1994 before being elected to the Somerset County Freeholder Board.
Mary Jane Canose, inaugurated for her second four-year term in January 2023, made history as the first woman elected as Bernardsville’s mayor.
Bernardsville Borough Hall, relocated in 1958 from the Essex Building on Claremont Road to the former Bunn’s Mill on Mine Brook Road, still stands today, as documented in “Among The Blue Hills.”
Despite the borough reaching its centennial, some buildings and organizations have roots extending over a century. The Old Library building on Morristown Road, dating back to the 1750s, served as the Vealtown Tavern during the Revolutionary War and was a regular stop in the 1779-1780 winter encampment at Morristown.
Other historic buildings in town include:
- The Old Stone Hotel on Mill Street – now Ristorante MV – dates back to 1849.
- The Bernardsville News was established in 1897
- The Olcott School building was constructed in 1905. Now used for administrative offices, it has served as the district’s high school. Bernards High School was later built in 1926.
- The Bernards Inn was built in 1906.
- The Bernardsville Cinema was built around 1910 and is the oldest continuously running movie theater in New Jersey.
- Established in 1897, The Bernardsville Fire Company marked its 125th year in 2022.
BLOG
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BERNARDSVILLE? CHECK OUT THE BLOG POSTS WRITTEN BY PETER PALMER – Peter is a life-long resident of Bernardsville and its former mayor. Peter writes about the history of the town – and his recollections and comments on events that happened – make these a great read! This continuing blog post will be published monthly.
