Around Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Around and About Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, and Lyons documents the history of these communities who played pivotal roles in our nation's beginnings.

Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, and Lyons form the nucleus of Bernards Township, a region with a history as fascinating as it is long. Originally chartered in 1760 by King George II, the area figured prominently in the American Revolution: Lafayette's troops were quartered here; General Lee was arrested at Widow White's Tavern; and General Washington visited Lord Stirling's estate. After the Civil War tourism and other industries flourished, and the arrival of the railroad in 1872 brought further economic boom to the area. The mid-nineteenth century also brought exciting developments in the art of photography, and the camera has since been used as a tool of both discovery and preservation in the three villages.

Recognizing that this rich local legacy should be shared, June Kennedy has selected photographs from many private collections and family albums to create this delightful visual history. It is a tribute--a salute to the photographers who froze time with their lenses so that we might better understand our past, and to the people of Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, and Lyons who retain a deep sense of pride in the area they call home.