Rockland Historical Society to host Bergen County daytrip

The Rockland Historical Society invites area residents to take a day trip to a collection of historic sites in Bergen County, N.J., on April 7.

Participants will leave the Historical Society's headquarters in New City at 9 a.m. and return at 5 p.m.

The first stop will be the A. Haring historic house on Piermont Road in Rockleigh. The house has been meticulously restored and is rarely open for public viewing.

The next stop will be to Fort Lee Historic Park overlooking the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge. The 33-acre park is situated on the cliff-top bluff where the Continental Army positioned its batteries over the Hudson River in 1776.

Then, the group will travel to River Street in Hackensack to visit the USS Ling Submarine Museum. The USS Ling is the last of the fleet boats that patrolled American shores during World War II. Participants will also get the chance to view displays of Polaris, terrier and Talos missiles, as well as three small craft - a Japanese Kaiten, a German Seehund and a PBR Mark II.

The group will stop for a gourmet lunch at The Old New Bridge Inn, currently known as Sanzari's New Bridge Inn, in New Milford.

Following lunch, guests will travel by bus or on foot to the nearby New Bridge Historic Site where George Washington led his troops in retreat from British forces. First constructed in 1744, the bridge was nicknamed "The Bridge That Saved the Nation." However, the American retreat from Fort Lee over the same bridge in 1776 inspired Thomas Paine to write, "These are the times that try men's souls." The site also includes the Maj. Gen. Baron Von Steuben Mansion, constructed in 1752, and other revolutionary war structures.

The cost of the trip is $89 for society members and $99 for non-members. The trip includes bus transportation, guided tours and lunch at Sanzari's New Bridge Inn.

Reservations, full-payment and lunch selections must be made by March 23. To sign up and for more information, visit www.rocklandhistory.org or call 845-634-9629. The Historical Society of Rockland County is located at 20 Zukor Rd.