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
Please Register (for Seating Planning) >
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.
23rd Annual RPL–GSBC Genealogy Lock-In
Saturday, 24 October, 4 pm—9 pm
Library-wide, Ridgewood Public Library
125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ, 07450
Registration Required >
Co-sponsored by the Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, the 23rd Annual Genealogy Lock-in offers genealogists of all levels the chance to:
- Spend the evening researching, learning and sharing
- Ask the Experts your brick wall questions
- Attend workshops such as Beginner Genealogy, Tracing Your Revolutionary War Ancestors, AI for Beginners, DNA Roundtable, Jewish Genealogy Roundtable and more!
- Receive individual assistance from a genealogy expert
A light supper will be provided.
Please see more information and register at, https://ridgewoodlibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/23rd-annual-genealogy-lock-in-3/
Please Note: Due to a renovation of the Ridgewood Library Auditorium this event will take place at the Old Paramus Church Fellowship Hall.
The Traitor and the Spy: Benedict Arnold, Major André, and the Plot to Surrender West Point
Friday, November 20 @ 11 am
Old Paramus Reformed Church Fellowship Hall, 660 E Glen 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 >
