UPCOMING EVENTS

Bloomfield Green Historic District Upcoming Walking Tours Saturday, October 19, 9:30 AM We conduct walking tours of the Bloomfield Green Historic District once a month on the third Saturday. Walks begin in the parking lot at Oakeside Cultural Center at 240 Belleville Ave. Parking is available there. The walk is on paved sidewalks and is approximately 3 miles and 2 hours long. To register: Bloomfield Green Historic District Walking Tour or email MorrisCanal@gmail.com to register. We also have a self-guided version of the walking tour available for free download: Self Guided Walking Tour of the Bloomfield Green Historic District.

HSOB presents Early Aeronauts of Bloomfield & Essex County Tuesday, October 22, 7:30 PM, Bloomfield Civic Center, 84 Broad Street by Dean Cole Bloomfield teenager Leyland Dorrothy with his home-made glider on June 29, 1913 In the years just before the start of The First World War, interest in all things aeronautical was at fever pitch. All across the country in backyards, garages and barns, inventors and would-be aviators were trying to get airborne in homemade contraptions with varying degrees of success. And Essex County had its fair share of these intrepid aeronauts! In 1909, a pair of young inventors would become suspects in a series of "Mystery Airship" sightings in the skies above Montclair. By 1910, Belleville had its very own airship company. In 1913, two teenagers from Bloomfield would launch themselves from the rolling hills above Broad Street in the first ever gliders with rudders, flaps and landing gear. The program is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the Public Library lot behind the Library on State Street.

NEW ADDITIONS to Our Web Site

1865 Map of Bloomfield and Belleville

This map shows Bloomfield before Montclair and Glen Ridge split off and Belleville before Nutley split off. The map includes pictures of prominent buildings at the time. Each of the house pictures have been digitally repaired and enhanced and are featured in our photo gallery: Bloomfield and Belleville, 1865

We are grateful to Adriana O'Toole for donating this mape to the Historical Society's collections.

Warren Baldwin's home and store on Broad Street. This is where Gencarelli's Bakery is today.	This was James Bartholomew's estate on Blomfield Avenue. Berkley Heights Park is in this location today.	Residenced of Augustus T. Morris, Morris Place and Bay Avenue.

Charles Warren Eaton's Photos of Bloomfield

Photos by Charles Warren Eaton taken between approximately 1905 to 1915 of scenes in Bloomfield including photos of Eaton, his home and garden, Mills and mill ponds in Bloomfield (Diamond Paper Mill, Davey's Pond and Davey's Mill, and Oakes Pond and Oakes Mill), scenes along Third River and newly improved photos of the Morris Canal in Bloomfield.

Charles Warren Eaton	Garden in Eaton backyard	Oakes Pond and Oakes Mill

Rev. Phraner's Photos of Palestine Mission Trip

In the early 1900s, Rev. Wilson Phraner took a Mission trip to Palestine. These are photos he took and made into Magic Lantern Slides that he used in his ministry at the Montgomery Mission Chapel in the Soho neighborhood in Belleville. These photos have been added to our Photo Gallery.

We also have collections of his photos from trips to Switzerland and Germany, Cuba and Alaska and, of course, his collection of photos of Bloomfield.

Damascus Gate	Dragomen (Interpreters/Guides)	Mary's Well

Camp Pinelock

An Anecdotal History, Candid Observations, and Memories of Camp Pinelock, Once a Unique Bloomfield Girl Scout Camp in Knowlton Township, Warren County, NJ (1946- 1961), by S. David Phraner

Camp Pinelock Entrance Postcard	Lake at Camp Pinelock Postcard	Remaining Camp Pinelock building, 2021