Pascack Historical Society

Pascack Historical Society Pascack Historical Society
John C. Storms Museum in Leach Chapel & Berdais Hall The Museum is admission-free and open to the public on Sundays from 1 to 4 PM.

Group tours are accommodated at other times by prior arrangement. It is maintained by the Pascack Historical Society and all are welcome.

Coming soon!
05/29/2026

Coming soon!

And the next station is Etna (Emerson). We continue our 1909 - 1910 journey south on the Pascack Valley line, having alr...
05/28/2026

And the next station is Etna (Emerson). We continue our 1909 - 1910 journey south on the Pascack Valley line, having already passed through Montvale, Woodcliff Lake, Hillsdale, & Westwood.

Known as Etna from 1877 to 1909, the name was changed to Emerson because mail was sometimes misdirected to a NY town named Etna, and the growing Italian population wasn't thrilled being associated with a volcano in Italy. Also, local lore suggests that the fire department had just purchased new equipment affixed with the letter "E" so the town needed a replacement name that also started with that letter🙂!

On Memorial Day, Americans honor all those members of the US Military who lost their lives in service of our country, th...
05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, Americans honor all those members of the US Military who lost their lives in service of our country, the cost of freedom. "Find the cost of freedom buried in the ground".

In this 1968 image of Westwood, the Memorial Day Parade moves down Westwood Avenue while spectators with American flags line the sidewalks.

Look closely at the photograph and long-time residents will get a sense of nostalgia seeing storefronts like F. W. Woolworth Co. department store or Town & Country Music at the intersection with Center Avenue (where Starbucks is currently located).

Although the stores change over the years, Westwood's remembrance of those that gave their last full measure has not wavered.

We decided to look past today's lousy weather & instead, focus on memories of swimming at Pine Lake in Washington Twp on...
05/23/2026

We decided to look past today's lousy weather & instead, focus on memories of swimming at Pine Lake in Washington Twp on hot, sunny days. Did you know that there was once a footbridge to an island for picnicking?

And the next station is Westwood! We continue our 1910 journey south on the Pascack Valley line, having already passed t...
05/21/2026

And the next station is Westwood! We continue our 1910 journey south on the Pascack Valley line, having already passed through Montvale, Woodcliff Lake, & Hillsdale. Note that the Westwood station was on the other side of the tracks compared to the location of the current station. The houses along Railroad Ave (now Broadway) are residential and have not become business-oriented yet.

Marcy's in Park Ridge. Pizza was king, cold beer, families, friends, all the usual suspects, noisy, musty, laughter, cha...
05/15/2026

Marcy's in Park Ridge. Pizza was king, cold beer, families, friends, all the usual suspects, noisy, musty, laughter, character, cluttered memorabilia adorning the wall like museum artifacts. Here's looking at you kid!

And the next station is Hillsdale! We continue our 1910 journey south on the Pascack Valley line. In 1870, Hillsdale was...
05/12/2026

And the next station is Hillsdale! We continue our 1910 journey south on the Pascack Valley line. In 1870, Hillsdale was actually the end of the line heading north, with a turntable for reversing the train's direction and storage sidings. A rail yard occupied the space that is now a large parking lot with a variety of stores and a supermarket.

To the world you are a mother, but to your family you are the world.To all the past, present, and soon-to-be moms...Happ...
05/10/2026

To the world you are a mother, but to your family you are the world.

To all the past, present, and soon-to-be moms...

Happy Mother's Day

From the Board of Trustees of the Pascack Historical Society

In this photo—Sarah Elizabeth Haring Demarest holds one of her young children during the 1860s. Sarah and husband Jacob G. Demarest lived in Westwood and had at least three children, including Estella, George and Eva.

(Text & Photo from Kristin Beuscher)

"Blums!"The Pascack Valley's settlers of the 18th & 19th centuries were primarily of Dutch descent. In their homes they ...
05/09/2026

"Blums!"

The Pascack Valley's settlers of the 18th & 19th centuries were primarily of Dutch descent. In their homes they conversed in the Jersey Dutch dialect that was unique to this part of New Jersey.

Here are some words that might have been spoken on the farm in spring!

And the next station is Woodcliff Lake. We continue our 1910 journey south on the Pascack Valley line. When the water co...
05/07/2026

And the next station is Woodcliff Lake. We continue our 1910 journey south on the Pascack Valley line. When the water company flooded the area in the background, Woodcliff became Woodcliff Lake!

Address

19 Ridge Avenue
Park Ridge, NJ
07656

Opening Hours

1pm - 4pm

Telephone

(201) 573-0307

Website

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