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New York Television Celebrates New York and New Jersey During the 1970s and 1980s
New York Television Celebrates New York and New Jersey New York in the 1970s was a tough place. New York City was teetering towards default, crime was rampant, and times were dark. New York City was in serious trouble, and the federal government, reeling from Watergate, refused to help: The New York Daily News printed one of the most infamous newspaper headlines ever written about the President of the United States: FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD As Rare Historical Photos writes: In the 1970s, New York City was a broken, ungovernable metropolis barreling into anarchy. New Yorkers remember this decade as the bleakest, most crime-ridden, and most uncertain time the…
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Branch Brook Park and the Beautiful Cherry Blossoms 2024 | Newark and Belleville, New Jersey
The New Cherry Blossom Welcome Center A new Cherry Blossom Welcome Center opened at Branch Brook Park in November 2023. You may learn all about the magnificent cherry blossom trees that grow in the park. Branch Brook Park has more than 5,000 cherry blossom trees – even more than the famous cherry blossom trees in Washington. DC! My husband and I visited the park in April 2024. We were excited to see the new Welcome Center and of course, wanted to admire the beautiful cherry blossoms! The new center is beautifully decorated with plenty of information about the park. This is an interesting quote about the Essex County Executive, Joseph…
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Mount Tabor | Parsippany, New Jersey
Mount Tabor Was An Independent Religious Community Mount Tabor, New Jersey in Morris County was started as a Methodist Camp Revival Meeting town, just as Ocean Grove was in Monmouth County. According to the Mount Olive Historical Society: Mt. Tabor, New Jersey, is a fine example of a 19th century community. Established in 1869 as a Methodist summer camp meeting ground, Mt. Tabor is now a full-time residential community. While walking through Mt. Tabor, one can see Victorian cottages, complete with gingerbread, and several historic community buildings. Trinity Park is still a busy and central focus of the community. In addition to residences surrounding the park are three octagon structures.…
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The Historic and Lovely Town of Belvidere, New Jersey
Belvidere, New Jersey Belvidere considers itself “the best-kept secret in New Jersey”. No more! It is a lovely town with more Victorians per square mile than any other in New Jersey. Every year they have a Victorian Day. This year it will be on Saturday, September 7th. According to Belvidere Heritage: Most New Jersey towns created before 1800 were unplanned with irregular street patterns. Usually situated on major roads or waterways, these villages grew in random manner. Belvidere, the first county seat erected in New Jersey on a new site after 1800 was laid out in a clear rectangular fashion with a central public square which faced the courthouse. Plotted as…
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Pequest Trout Hatchery | Oxford Township, New Jersey
Pequest Trout Hatchery The Pequest Trout Hatchery in Oxford Township, New Jersey, is the only state-owned-and-operated trout hatchery. It is run by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. My husband and I visited it in October 2023. The Hatchery celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023: Up to 700,000 trout annually are prepared for eventual release into the lakes, rivers, and streams of New Jersey. In my previous post about Hot Dog Johnny’s, I mentioned that the Pequest River (which runs behind the hot dog stand) was stocked with trout for fishing. Self-Guided Tour You can go on a self-guided tour. According to their website: Learn about the Pequest…
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The Sopranos’ Opening Credits and Super Bowl Commercial 2022
The Sopranos The Sopranos was an incredibly successful HBO series that ran from 1999-2007. It became a cultural touchstone. This year is the 25th Anniversary of The Sopranos. It is considered by some critics to be the greatest television show of all time. According to Urban Pitch: At its heart, The Sopranos was a story about a brooding mob boss who does whatever he feels is necessary to accomplish his agenda including steal, cheating, and killing all while trying to balance a regular home life with his family. Through thought-provoking conversations with his psychiatrist, we were offered deep insight into his psyche and what ultimately drove his actions. Contrary to…
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Hot Dog Johnny’s | Buttzville, New Jersey
Hot Dog Johnny’s . . . in Butzville? Hot Dog Johnny’s is a very famous hot dog stand in Buttzville, New Jersey. Buttzville? Yes, the name has been the butt of many jokes. It is the name of a census-designated place within rural White Township, New Jersey. The names are indeed bizarre. But there are good reasons for the names Buttzville and White Township. Buttzville was named after a person. According to Wikipedia: Buttzville was founded in 1839 by Michael Robert Buttz, and named for his son, Liam Oakes Buttz. It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names. White Township was named after Alexander White, who built…
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Christmas at Canfield-Morgan Farm & Museum | Cedar Grove, New Jersey
Canfield-Morgan Farm & Museum in Cedar Grove, New Jersey Canfield-Morgan Farm & Museum is a historic house located in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. According to the Canfield-Morgan House website. The Cedar Grove Historical Society welcomes you to the Morgan Farm and Museum. This special property is a 14-acre site that was farmed continuously from the mid-1800’s until 1985 when Courtenay Morgan donated the farm to the Township of Cedar Grove. Today the circa 1845 house functions as a museum depicting it much as it was in the early 1900’s, with related farm equipment in the barn. The Mission The site is still open to this day. In the summer…
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Christmas at The Farm at Green Village 2023 | Green Village, New Jersey
Christmas at the Farm at Green Village Back in 2015, I introduced readers to The Farm at Green Village in lovely Green Village, New Jersey. The Farm at Green Village is ready for the holidays! There are plenty of poinsettias and Christmas trees, wreaths, and decorations! There are also beautiful potted plants, pots for those plants, and accents and decor for your garden! A Plant Lover’s Paradise According to The Farm at Green Village website: With over 30 acres of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals, The Farm at Green Village is the New Jersey/New York metro area’s premier nursery and garden center. Our selection of plants is unparalleled. Our 30,000-square-foot…
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Christmas at Van Tassel 2023 | Bloomfield, New Jersey
Van Tassel Funeral Home The funeral home was established in 1883. They are now decorated for the holidays! Further Reading Christmas at Canfield-Morgan Farm & Museum | Cedar Grove, New Jersey Christmas at The Farm at Green Village Christmas at Kip’s Castle 2023 Christmas at Kingsland Manor | Nutley, New Jersey Christmas at Zenas Crane Homestead | West Caldwell, New Jersey The Haunted Deserted Village of Feltville and the Enchanted Forest 2023 | Berkeley Heights, New Jersey Delicious Orchards 2023 | Colts Neck, New Jersey First Presbyterian Church of Oxford at Hazen and the Spooky Graveyard 2023 | Belvidere, New Jersey The Historic Cooper Gristmill | Chester Township, New Jersey…
