The Old Hamburg Turnpike. (File photo by Bill Truran) Sussex County History Today: The old turnpike This is a story about a favorite historical hike. I love this route, which you might want to undertake yourself on a nice... Columns 04 Mar 2024 | 07:27
The 1924 concrete mill, including the 90-foot tower/grain silo, on Gingerbread Castle Road just off Route 23 in Hamburg is being demolished. The owner also began demolition of the shorter office tower - without permission. A stop-work order was issued until it is determined what can be saved, stabilized and how. (Photo provided) Sussex County History Today: Wheatsworth Mills The Grinding Down of Wheatsworth Mills By Ron Dupont From Franklin Pond to Hamburg, the Wallkill River runs 4½ miles and... Home 19 Feb 2024 | 03:25
The zinc ore Palmer Plant in Franklin and the remaining buildings. (Photo courtesy of Bill Truran) Sussex County History Today: Palmer Plant in Franklin A significant historical site in Sussex County soon may be lost forever. During the first half of the 20th century, Franklin... Home 12 Feb 2024 | 07:04
GB1 Greg Baty, right, with NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins. (Photo courtesy of Greg Baty) Sussex County History Today: Sparta’s Greg Baty and the NFL The dream of practically every boy who plays football is to make it in the NFL. Greg Baty of Sparta lived the dream for nine... Home 06 Feb 2024 | 12:49
Sussex County History Today: Christmas message from long ago Always an avid fan of history, I frequently ply the internet for new insights. I recently made an amazing discovery and hailed... Columns 15 Dec 2023 | 01:27
Sussex County History Today: Playoffs, upcoming NBA draft Let’s continue with the story of a Sussex County basketball legend in Michael Ferrara’s own words: 1980-81: ECAC playoffs... Columns 10 Dec 2023 | 05:40
Sussex County History Today: Taking on Vermont, Niagara It is my pleasure to leave the floor open to the Sussex County basketball star Mike Ferrara, describing his success on the... Columns 24 Nov 2023 | 09:08
From left, Michael Ferrara, Shaquille O’Neal and Jim Moore in 2015. (Photos provided) Sussex County History Today: Great Alaska Shootout I am pleased to provide another chapter in the continuing story of the career of one of Sussex County’s top athletes, the... Columns 12 Nov 2023 | 05:42
Franklin High School’s basketball team in 1975-76. (Photo provided) Sussex County History Today: More on star’s beginning This is Part 3 of the story of one of Sussex County’s most standout of athletes. Michael Ferrara was exceptional in high... Home 16 Sep 2023 | 04:52
Mike Ferrera (22) up in the air during a Franklin High School game in the mid-1970s. (Photo provided) Sussex County History Today: Star’s beginning This is Part 2 of the story of one of Sussex County’s most standout athletes. Mike Ferrara was exceptional in high school... Home 10 Sep 2023 | 07:27
Mike Ferrara has the ball as Bill Curtain, back left, watches. (Photos provided) Sussex County History Today: Basketball legend It is a rare occurrence when we have the opportunity to document the story of a person who has become a standout, a generational... Home 02 Sep 2023 | 03:24
Wyatt Fieldhouse and his cousins found artifacts from the 1800s in the woods behind his house. Sussex County History Today: Young historian I’d like to introduce you to one of our new Young Historians: Wyatt Fieldhouse. Wyatt is a rising fifth-grader in the Hardyston... Home 18 Aug 2023 | 01:22
Sussex County historian Bill Truran, left, poses with fourth-graders taught by Holly Romahn, second from left, at Hardyston Elementary School. The class wrote letters to legislators, urging that Franklinite be named New Jersey’s official mineral. (Photo provided) Sussex County History Today: Franklinite is now official Sussex County is the owner of a great accomplishment. What one might consider a towering achievement is that two of our Sussex... Columns 24 Jul 2023 | 12:28
Specimens stolen from the Franklin Mineral Museum included gold samples. (Photo provided) Sussex County History Today: History lost to thefts Recent news articles announced charges against nine men accused of stealing well into the millions of dollars of items from... Home 20 Jun 2023 | 08:18
Howard Charles Bach Jr. informs Henry Deluca, left, and Ron Szanyi, about tensors and vectors in a physics class at Franklin High School in 1969. (Photo provided) Sussex County History Today: The spirit of a teacher History includes the passage of times and the events and personalities that are contained within. Figures in history include... Home 15 Apr 2023 | 07:10