January 24, 2026

Back in Time

Kristin Beuscher, columnist and president of the Pascack Historical Society, takes readers on a journey back in time through the Pascack Valley and Northern Valley’s rich history. Her “Back In Time” column offers a glimpse into the bygone days of these communities, shedding light on the lives of the people and the places that have shaped the area. With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for local heritage, Kristin brings to life stories of the past, helping residents connect with their roots and gain a greater appreciation for the unique history of their towns.

Fond remembrance: Valley Fair

September 26, 2022 Kristin Beuscher

HILLSDALE—Fries and a Coke, anyone? We have a sneaking suspicion that many people reading this pulled up a seat at this luncheonette counter on more than one occasion. You could […]

Montvale had ‘McDonald’s’ first

September 18, 2022 Kristin Beuscher

MONTVALE—The name McDonald’s stirs up a lot of nostalgia for Pascack Valley natives of a certain age—but their fond memories have nothing to do with Happy Meals or Big Macs. […]

How many had entered that archway?

September 10, 2022 Kristin Beuscher

EMERSON—When this photo was taken, in 1930, this building, at 184 Kinderkamack Road in Emerson, was home to Bamond’s Grocery Store. Note the Ford Model A coupe. The store was […]

School daze: When the insults flew

September 3, 2022 Kristin Beuscher

PARK RIDGE—If you think small-town politics is bad today, you should have seen Park Ridge of the late 19th century. The coming of the railroad in 1870 had brought a […]

Beloved Woodcliff Schoolhouse still building on success

August 28, 2022 Kristin Beuscher

WOODCLIFF LAKE—Last week we featured the old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Montvale, sometimes called the Old Stone Church, designed in 1895 by Woodcliff architect Samuel Burrage Reed. With school […]

Mayor’s wife, town marshal square off at the church

August 21, 2022 Kristin Beuscher

MONTVALE—This week 125 years ago, Montvale’s first lady faced down the town marshal. He threatened to take her church organ; she threatened to shoot him. Here is that story. The […]

Cooling off, late-19th-century style

August 14, 2022 Kristin Beuscher

WESTWOOD—While the recent heat and humidity in the Pascack Valley has been pretty brutal, let’s all take a moment to be grateful for a couple of things: first, the fact […]

Back in Time: Farmers flock to Westwood at Thanksgiving

November 20, 2021 Kristin Beuscher

WESTWOOD—This week we go back a century to a much different Pascack Valley — one in which a good portion of the land was still occupied by farms and the […]

Celebrating our vets: Enlisted men of Westwood High, 1945

November 8, 2021 Kristin Beuscher

WESTWOOD—The Westwood High School yearbook for 1944–1945 featured this page of students who, having reached enlistment age prior to graduation, had already joined the military during World War II. On […]

BACK IN TIME: A Vintage View Into Downtown Tenafly

March 6, 2020 Kristin Beuscher

We go back to the winter of 1957 for this vintage view into downtown Tenafly. The photographer is looking north on West Railroad Avenue from the train tracks. The railroad […]

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