PW1 World War II veteran Mike Parchomcik in his uniform before the fighting began. (Photo courtesy of Bill Parchomcik) Sussex County History Today: Bataan Death March Part II Before Memorial Day, I wrote about three Franklin lads who joined the Army before World War II and were shipped off to the... Columns 12 Jul 2025 | 06:57
Sussex County History Today: Basketball dynasties In this column, the usual roles are reversed, and I answer questions about my new book, “Franklin High School: Two Basketball... Columns 03 Jul 2025 | 02:01
A Fourth of July parade in Sparta in the 1960s. When the parade passes by My Lake Mohawk experience began in the summer of 1963 when my parents bought our home on East Shore Trail. The house was... Columns 28 Jun 2025 | 10:33
The State We’re In: Saving the Palisades This year, we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, a pioneering model of environmental... Columns 14 Jun 2025 | 11:05
The Monroe one-room schoolhouse in Hardyston. (Photo courtesy of Bill Truran) Sussex County History Today: Raising the flag An American tradition is to honor our country on Flag Day, June 14. This year, the holiday falls on a Saturday. Flag Day commemorates... Columns 06 Jun 2025 | 10:50
A general store is recreated for the Back in Time Yuletide Stroll last December in Stillwater. (File photo by Maria Kovic) Sussex County History Today: Stillwater’s bicentennial Stillwater is celebrating the 200th anniversary of its incorporation. The township has a beautiful country landscape in Sussex... Columns 03 Jun 2025 | 01:22
Interior of a Morris County iron mine, 1859. (Photo courtesy of Ron Dupont) Sussex County History Today: Route 80 blues This week, this column was written by my friend Vernon historian Ron Dupont. Sinkholes on Route 80 in Wharton have caused... Columns 24 May 2025 | 11:19
Three friends from Franklin - Mike Parchomcik, Mike Concoy and Joe Auche - joined the Army in 1940 and shipped off to the Philippines. (Photo courtesy of Bill Parchomcik) Sussex County History Today: Bataan Death March Memorial Day weekend is upon us. Enjoy your picnics and parades. Speaking of parades, let’s talk about the Bataan Death March... Columns 16 May 2025 | 10:57
The drummer boy. (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress) Sussex County History Today: The drummer boy We recently recognized an Army soldier from McAfee, Roy Sisco, who was killed in action in Belgium near the end of World... Columns 09 May 2025 | 11:16
BT1 Sussex County historian Bill Truran holds a Patriot Marker. They will be placed at about 20 county cemeteries where ancient ancestors are buried. (Photos courtesy of Bill Truran) Sussex County History Today: What’s coming up This seems like a good time to go over a busy schedule of historical events that will be occurring in our county. What follows... Columns 04 May 2025 | 06:09
Waiting for hay at Bellvale Farms in Warwick, N.Y. (Photos courtesy of Amy Noteboom) Sussex County History Today: Bellvale Farms The view from the mountaintop is wonderful. The warm west wind blowing over the white picket fence is invigorating. All this... Columns 04 May 2025 | 06:01
George DeGroot, left, and his son Jack. (Photo courtesy of Bill Truran) Sussex County History Today: Farmers are the best Most of us love Sussex County as a wonderful place to live. Among its many attributes are the farmers. Farmers have been... Columns 20 Apr 2025 | 09:05
The Minute Man statue in Concord, Mass. (Photo courtesy of Bill Truran) Sussex County History Today: The British are coming! Listen, my children, and you shall hear ... On the 18th of April in ’75. “One if by land, two if by sea.” “The shot heard... Columns 11 Apr 2025 | 07:18
Remains of Windham Forge. (Photo courtesy of North Jersey Highlander, Ralph Colfax and the John Royle Co.) Sussex County History Today: Windham Forge With sinkholes populating Route 80, our region’s mining history has become of great interest. We recently spoke of the mines... Columns 06 Apr 2025 | 09:09
The Hurd Mansion. (Photo courtesy of Bill Truran) Sussex County History Today: Hurd Mine With the commotion about sinkholes on Route 80, it might be time to look closer into one of the mines in that area. This... Columns 29 Mar 2025 | 04:20
