Bond with your family and relive a bygone era by visiting the Paramus Fritz Behnke Historical Museum. This historic site owes its name to Fritz Behnke and his passion for Paramus and the farming industry. In 1951, the Behnke brothers established a construction store, which sparked Fritz’s interest in local agriculture.
Being the unofficial historian of the family, Fritz decided to build the Paramus Fritz Behnke Historical Museum to commemorate the region’s early farming years, much to the delight of local townsfolk and tourists. If you and your family want to understand the origins of modern farm life, consider visiting the Paramus Fritz Behnke Historical Museum.
What to Expect at the Paramus Fritz Behnke Historical Museum
1. Revisit Farmlands of the 1950s
The Paramus Fritz Behnke Historical Museum showcases original farm equipment, supplies, and artifacts from the early 1950s. It features barns and greenhouses, tractors and trucks, and chicken and dairy farms in the style of the period.
The farmhouse’s first floor showcases relics that include utensils used for cleaning, washing, dining, and other day-to-day activities. You’ll also find the prototype for the first electric washing machine.
Other interesting artifacts include the icebox these ingenious farmers used for refrigeration, a wood-burning stove, and a crude gas stove. Take a trip down memory lane by enjoying the toys, board games, and dollhouses on display.
Back then, farmers worked six days a week and dedicated their Sundays to rest, when their only entertainment was the jukebox. You can treat your ears to some old-fashioned tunes in the parlor.
The farmhouse also features replicas from the period, situated among historic landmarks such as local farmhouses, the old fire and police departments, and the Bergen Pines County Hospital.
Inside is a showcase of farming technology used in the 1950s to cultivate the land. There’s also the famed Eggomatic egg-sorting machine.
2. View the Artifact of the Week
The Paramus Fritz Behnke Historical Museum holds rotating weekly exhibits that delve deeper into artifacts’ origins and how they have evolved over the years. Examples include the Stromberg Carlson Radio, the Admiral phonograph, and the early scooter. It’s a direct way of appreciating how innovation has moved us forward to the technologies we have today.
3. Marvel at the Award-winning Oberndorf Art Collection
A tourist favorite at the Paramus Fritz Behnke Historical Museum is its collection of artwork by realist painter Mark Oberndorf, which showcases paintings dating back to his early childhood. Historic landmarks of New Jersey and New York feature prominently in his work.
How to Get to the Breslow Center from the Paramus Fritz Behnke Historical Museum
The Breslow Center for Plastic Surgery is a mere five-minute drive from the Paramus Fritz Behnke Historical Museum. Head north toward the Paramus Food Center, passing through Orchard Hills Golf Course. From the Paramus Food Center, you’ll be passing by Victoria’s Nursery and passing the Assyrian Orthodox Church of Virgin Mary. Turn right onto East Ridgewood Avenue, continue on, passing Stoney Lane and CareOne at Ridgewood Avenue, then make a slight left toward the Mercedes-Benz of Paramus showroom. Our Paramus plastic surgeon clinic provides non-invasive and surgical cosmetic procedures to qualified candidates. Book an appointment with us for your free consultation.
