Draft: September 2006
Detailed history, wonderous stories, and outstanding photography separate these books from all the rest.
The Mountain Colony, as it's known to long time Somerset County New Jersey locals, is a region within another locally named area called the Somerset Hills. Still don't know what we're talking about? How about Bernardsville? Ever hear of Bernardsville? Want to sound like you're a local? then don't pronounce it Ber - NARDS-ville. It's pronounced Ber-NERDS-ville. Great, now we're back to talking about the book.
Produced by the Mountain Colony Press, it's New Jersey Country Houses - The Somerset Hills.
As a history buff, and local researcher, I've found that there's lot's of places to research local history of the area. While the Somerset Hills area used to be one large area in the early 20th century, the region still exists, but each township now holds many of the historical artifacts, archives, and photographs. So while there's a bit of competition to hold historical artifacts, it's sometimes hard to find out just were to go to get good solid historical information. And then came these two books. I'll admit it right now, these two books, are a, if not THE best place to start if you want to learn about the families and homes that were built by the founding families of the Somerset Hills area.
One of my key missions here is to get some of this history out for others to learn. What better place then the internet. I've volunteered to create internet strategies for a number of local historical organizations including the Historical Society of the Somerset HIlls, the Bernardsville Historic Preservation Association, and the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House in Bedminster. All are great places if you want to learn more about local history.
But if you want to learn about the people, the places, the social aspects of the area, and see it all in one place, the New Jersey Country Homes volumes one and two, are a great place to get your background down before venturing off to any of the research facilities. Believe me, with the limited hours of access to the research areas, and the limits they place on taking materials home for reading, the books are a great way to go!
The research was gathered and accomplished by W. Barry Thomson, a person with deep roots to the history of the area, who grew up in Peapack, New Jersey. In addition, he linked up with two others, John Turpin and Brooke Hyde Goode. John Turpin, from the famed Turpin Realtors, also grew up in the area, and held a wealth of information on local history, as well as an invaluable archive of historic photographs from the Turpin Realty listing archives. Brooke Goode is a member of the famed Hyde family and also grew up in the area and held great insight to the stories and history of the area as well. Put the three together, add years of research and editing, and you get two outstanding historical archives.
You can purchase both volumes of New Jersey Country Homes for $159. If you find that it might be a bit expensive for your taste, the books are available for checkout at the the following libraries: Basking Ridge Library (Bernards Twp) and the Bernardsville Public Library (have to be a resident or part of the MAIN system - Morris County resident). The books can also be signed out for any member of the Historical Society of the Somerset Hills. Membership is something like $20 per year and they support the efforts of restoring and archiving history around the Somerset Hills area.
In case you want to venture out and research the Somerset Hills area, here's a list of some of the local organizations.
Historical Society of the Somerset HIlls - Research Museum at the Historic Brick Academy in Basking Ridge
Bernardsville Preservation Association - (No physical address) Bernardsville
The Bernardsville Spinning Room - Bernardsville Public Library
Bernards Township History Room - Basking Ridge Public Library
Bedminster Anne O'Brien History Room - Bedminster Public Library
Bedminster/Pluckemin History at the Jacobus Vanderveer House - Historic Vanderveer House
Bedminster HIstoric Preservation Association - (Govt Entity)
Peapack Preservation Association - Peapack Municipal Offices
Somerset County Historical Society - (County Information) Historic Van Veighton House - Bridgewater, NJ
Heritage Trail Association - Historic Van Horne House (Bridgewater, NJ)
Here's a list of estates and homes that you will find in each edition:
http://www.mountaincolonypress.com/
