GSBC July General Meeting
Skeletons in the Family Tree: The Relatives They Didn’t Talk About and the Secrets They Didn’t Tell
Monday, 27 July 2026 @ 7:00 pm
In-Person at the Ridgewood Public Library Auditorium
Free and open to the public
Every family has them—the mysterious relative who suddenly disappeared, the ancestor whose story never quite added up, or the family secret carefully guarded for generations. In this entertaining and informative program, we’ll explore the “black sheep,” hidden scandals, long-buried secrets, and forgotten stories that often surface during genealogical research.
This open forum invites participants to share stories of these conveniently forgotten ancestors, their secrets, and how families chose to remember (or forget) them. From criminal records and secret marriages to unexpected identities and enduring family legends, we’ll look at how some of the most fascinating branches of the family tree are often the ones left out of the family narrative.
Join us for an engaging discussion about the ancestors they didn’t talk about—and the secrets they thought would never be discovered.
Bring your family stories to share.
Please prepare your presentation to three minutes so that everyone has time to share.
Please limit stories to individuals who are deceased and who have been gone for more than 100 years.
GSBC Summer Meeting
Your Family “Show and Tell”
Monday, 24 August 2026 @ 7:00 pm
In-Person at the Ridgewood Public Library Craft Room
Free and open to the public; Presentation replay available to GSBC Members
Every family has its treasures—photos tucked into albums, documents stored in old boxes, heirlooms passed down through generations, and stories that get retold (and sometimes reshaped) over time. Your Family “Show and Tell” is a relaxed, interactive program where members and guests are invited to share meaningful items from their family history and the stories behind them.
Participants are encouraged to bring objects, photographs, letters, keepsakes, or genealogical discoveries to share with the group. Whether it’s a newly uncovered ancestor, a surprising record, or a cherished object with a story, this program offers a chance to connect personal family history with the broader experience of genealogy.
Join us for an engaging evening of storytelling, discovery, and community as we celebrate the unique pieces that make up our family histories.
Bring your family treasures…
Bring your stories…
Bring your family…
Please prepare your presentation to three minutes so that everyone has time to share.
All are welcome to participate!
Please Note: Due to a renovation of the Ridgewood Library Auditorium this event will take place at the Old Paramus Church Fellowship Hall.
GSBC General Meeting
The Baylor Massacre
Presentation by Ed Moderacki
Monday, 28 September 2026 @ 7 pm
In-Person at the Old Paramus Reformed Church Fellowship Hall, 660 E Glen Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Free and open to the public; Presentation replay available to GSBC Members
Description
September 28, 1778 saw the bloodiest engagement of the Revolutionary War in Bergen County when a British Column under General Charles Grey attacked the sleeping 3rd Continental Light Dragoons under Lt Colonel Baylor at one o'clock in the morning at houses and barns in what is today River Vale. Historian Ed Moderacki will discuss the events leading up to and after the Baylor Massacre and the discovery of some of the Dragoon remains in 1967.
Speaker
Edmund Moderacki was born in River Vale and has taught in the local schools for thirty-five years. He is a member of the Pascack Historical Society and is the River Vale Township historian.
This event is brought to you by the Bolger Heritage Center at the Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County.
Please Note: Due to a renovation of the Ridgewood Library Auditorium this event will take place at the Old Paramus Church Fellowship Hall.
The Turncoat and the Patriot
Guest Speaker: Jim Wright
Monday, October 19 @ 7 pm [RESCHEDULED]
In-Person at the Old Paramus Reformed Church Fellowship Hall, 660 E Glen Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Registration encouraged. (Registration for this event opens Monday, July 27 at 9 am.)
William Franklin, the son of Benjamin Franklin, was the last royalist governor of New Jersey. John Fell, “the great Tory hunter,” led the local opposition to the British during that time. Although their paths probably never crossed, their dual lives provide a unique look at New Jersey in Revolutionary times. In advance of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, noted local author Jim Wright will talk about these two exceptional men, their legacies, and the reason Ridgewoodians should be upset about the name of a certain highway.
The 23rd Annual Genealogy Lock-In
Co-sponsored by the Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, the 22nd Annual Genealogy Lock-in offers genealogists of all levels the chance to spend the evening researching, learning and sharing. Details on registration and workshops to come.
The Traitor and the Spy: Benedict Arnold, Major André, and the Plot to Surrender West Point
Friday, November 20 @ 11 am
Ridgewood Public Library Auditorium, 125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ, 07450
Prepare for the definitive story of Revolutionary betrayal!
This lecture dissects the stunning conspiracy between American hero-turned-villain Benedict Arnold and British Intelligence Chief Major John André. Together, they hatched the high-stakes plot to sell West Point—the strategic key to the entire American Revolution—to the enemy.
Trace the secret, desperate midnight meetings and coded correspondence between the two men. Explore André's daring undercover mission and the agonizing moments of his capture—when the plans for the fortress were found hidden in his boot. This near-miss not only exposed Arnold as America's most infamous traitor but directly sealed the tragic fate of the charismatic British spy.
Discover how one man's wounded pride and another's dedication to duty led to an act of treason that almost crushed the American cause. This is the pulse-pounding, human drama behind the treason that shook George Washington to his core.
Registration for this event opens Monday, August 3 at 9:00 am. Registration encouraged >
