The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills

The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills, also known as THSSH is the oldest historical society in the 5 hamlet area known as the Somerset Hills, a recognized area in northern Somerset County, New Jersey. The non-profit organization was founded in 1928 originally as the Basking Ridge Historical Society. The society is housed at the historic Brick Academy in Basking Ridge, which is on the state and national historic registry.

The Brick Academy facility is open typically on the first Sunday of every month as well as whenever there is a program. Special use and appointments are also available.

The focus of THSSH is to preserve and promote history in the Somerset Hills, including Bedminster, Bernards Twp, Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack & Gladstone, New Jersey. The main floor of THSSH is a museum with local history exhibits. The upper floor is a restored school room that runs programs suited for children. The lower level is a research area, complete with file archives, books, and a computer. THSSH is 100% volunteer supported, there are no employees. The organization operates as a 501-c-3 registered non-profit.

THSSH is a member based organization run by a board of trustees along with an executive committee. The committees usually meet monthly and the membership meets socially on a quarterly basis. THSSH also represents and supports the other historic sites/programs in the Somerset Hills including The Jacobus Vanderveer House, the Boudinout Southard Ross House and Farm, the KMS Farmstead, the Peapack Lime Kiln, the Dunster Squibb House as well as other historic sites.

The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills is a member of the League of New Jersey Historical Societies and the Somerset County Business Partnership including the Somerset County Tourism Bureau.

The Brick Academy, home to The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills.

The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills is based at the Brick Academy and is the nickname for a Federal-style brick building built in 1809 to meet the growing needs of the Basking Ridge Classical School located in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township. It is the oldest standing school in the area and existed prior to 1799, at least 10 years before the construction of this building in 1809.

The brick building was constructed by local Presbyterian pastor, Rev. Robert Finley. This was about halfway through Rev. Finley's time at Basking Ridge. During the time he ran the school, attendance grew from fewer than 12 to an average near 25 students, and sometimes as high as 40 students. Students came from near & far, mostly from prominent families. The school was a high end preparatory school for boys who generally continued on to the College of New Jersey, later (in 1896), known as Princeton University. In 1817, Rev. Finley quit Basking Ridge to briefly become president of the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. By 1828, the "Brick Academy" corporation was formed and the building continued use as a private, then public school in 1853, before being used for other purposes.

In 1968, the Board of Trustees made the decision to expand its historic representation to include not just Basking Ridge, but the entire Somerset Hills community. A number of Somerset County and State grants have been approved for the restoration of the facility, most recently being the third floor school room. The latest grant application was approved in 2014 to replace the roof which is expected to be completed in 2018.

THSSH has a 100-year lease with Bernards Township to house their organization at the Brick Academy. In return, THSSH is responsible for maintaining the property and opening the facility to the public. on a regular basis.

• 1928 Bernards Township, New Jersey The Historical Society of Basking Ridge is founded
• 1948 Bernards Township buys the Brick Academy building for continued use for municipal offices
• 1975 Bernards Township government moves to former Astor estate at 1 Collyer Lane
• 1976 Township leases Brick Academy to The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills
• 1976 Brick Academy listed on National Register of Historic Places
• 1978 50th Anniversary celebrating the founding of The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills
• 2008 Dedication and opening of the top floor of the Brick Academy restoration effort. (November 11, 2008)
• 2003 75th Anniversary celebrating the founding of The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills
• 2009 Brick Academy 200 year Bicentennial celebration
• 2028 100th Anniversary celebrating the founding of The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills (Basking Ridge Historical Society)

Annually, THSSH membership along with the Board of Trustees nominates and approves the position of Chair as well as the other executive committee positions. Below is the list of Chair and President positions gathered from the THSSH annual reports.[2]

THSSH is a non-profit organization that relies on the public to volunteer. There are eight committees that are the foundation for the historical society. Each committee has a chairperson that sets the agenda for the committee activities. Committees typically meet on a regular basis and are supported by trustees, members, and volunteers.

• Building Management
• Communications
• Education
• Gardens & Grounds
• Hospitality
• Museum
• Membership
• Programs
• Research

• 1928 Founding executive committee: Mrs. Monroe.F. Ellis - President, Ned O. Howlett - Vice President, Mrs. R. A. Everett - Rec. Secretary, Miss Nettie Allen - Cor. Secretary, Miss Mary Vorhees - Treasurer.
• Samuel Lewis Southard (1787-1842), served as U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, and the 10th Governor of New Jersey[3]
• Theodore Frelinghuysen, United States Senator, Whig candidate for Vice President in 1844, and president of Rutgers College
• William Lewis Dayton, United States Senator, Republican candidate for Vice President in 1856, and Minister to France during the Civil War
• Commodore Robert Field Stockton, hero of the Mexican War

• The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills