Historic New Bridge Landing

Historic New Bridge Landing
Name	New Bridge Landing
Caption	Steuben House at New Bridge Landing
Location	River Edge and Hackensack, Bergen County, New Jersey
Built	18th century
Governing body	Bergen County Historical Society

Historic New Bridge Landing is a historic district in Bergen County, New Jersey centered on an 18th‑century crossing of the Hackensack River where the communities of River Edge and River Edge meet Hackensack. The site grew around a toll bridge, ferry, mills, and merchant houses and became strategically important during the American Revolutionary War and as a transportation node in colonial New Jersey and New York commerce.

History

The settlement at the crossing developed around a colonial bridge constructed by Dutch and English colonists in the 17th and 18th centuries, connected to landholdings of families such as the Van Buskirk family and the Ackerman family. In the 18th century the landing hosted taverns, mills, and warehouses frequented by merchants from New Amsterdam, New York, and ports along the Hudson River; figures associated with the site include John H. Stone and other colonial entrepreneurs. During the Revolutionary era, commanders such as George Washington, Lord Stirling, and militia leaders maneuvered troops in the area, while British officers including General Howe conducted operations in the region. Postwar, the site continued to serve as a regional transport hub connecting to the Erie Canal era trade and later 19th‑century infrastructure projects undertaken by Bergen County officials and private companies such as early turnpike corporations.

Geography and Setting

New Bridge Landing lies on the western bank of the Hackensack River near its confluence with the Pascack Brook and within the geological setting of the New Jersey Meadowlands. The area is bounded by municipal lines of River Edge and River Edge’s neighbor Hackensack and is proximate to regional arteries including historic routes to Jersey City, Newark, and New York. The landscape features tidal marshes associated with the estuarine system studied by environmental groups such as the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and conservation organizations including the Ramapo River Watershed Association and Hackensack Riverkeeper. Nearby transportation networks that altered the setting include the New Jersey Transit corridors and earlier turnpikes tied to the expansion of Bergen County commerce.

Historic Structures and Landmarks

Surviving buildings and reconstructed sites at the landing include the Steuben House, an 18th‑century stone dwelling associated with Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, the Bergen County Historical Society's collections, and the Campbell–Van Horne House. Other notable properties in the district are vernacular residences linked to the Van Buskirk family, the site of colonial mills, and archaeological remains documented by scholars from institutions such as Rutgers University and the New Jersey Historical Commission. The district forms part of listings in registers maintained by the National Register of Historic Places and coordinated through partnerships with the National Park Service and local preservation entities.

Role in the American Revolutionary War

New Bridge Landing was the scene of military movements during the New York and New Jersey campaign when Continental forces withdrew across the Hudson Valley and sought river crossings. The loss and recapture of the bridge affected maneuvers related to the Battle of Fort Lee, the Battle of Paulus Hook, and subsequent actions around New Jersey Highlands. Leaders including George Washington and Baron von Steuben used the area as an assembly point for troops, supply wagons, and ferrying operations tied to logistics for the Continental Army. British raids and maneuvers by forces under commanders like Charles Cornwallis and General Howe aimed to secure crossings and disrupt Continental lines connecting Philadelphia and New York.

Preservation and Restoration

Preservation of the landing has involved municipal, county, and state actors including the Bergen County Historical Society, the New Jersey Historic Trust, and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Restoration projects have stabilized the Steuben House and other period structures with input from preservationists affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and academic partners at Columbia University and Princeton University. Archaeological surveys by teams linked to Rutgers University and the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office have documented artifacts, while interpretive planning has been supported by grants from agencies such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and private foundations.

Public Access and Interpretation

The district is interpreted by the Bergen County Historical Society through museum exhibits, guided tours, and educational programs that reference the Revolutionary era, colonial commerce, and local genealogies tied to families like the Van Buskirk family and Ackerman family. Public events include living history demonstrations, school programs in partnership with River Edge Public School District and Hackensack Public Schools, and walking tours connecting to broader regional heritage trails promoted by organizations such as ExploreNJ and county tourism offices. Visitor information and seasonal hours are provided by local heritage staff and volunteer docents coordinated with the Bergen County parks and recreation offices.

Category:Historic districts in Bergen County, New Jersey Category:National Register of Historic Places in Bergen County, New Jersey