Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • May 30, 2012 Area ‘Bringing the Civil War Home’ now available In honor of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, the Coalition of Northwest Bergen County Historical Organizations has put together a book on local history in the Civil War era, 1850-65. Each of the historical groups contributed stories, photographs, and cemetery lists from their towns. In the process, the history of northwest Bergen’s participation was brought to light, the political climate in the 1850s, the names of soldiers and the part their regiments played in the war, some fascinating vignettes of soldiers, and cemetery lists where Civil War veterans are buried. Included in the book are 12 letters from Garret Ackerman, a private in the 22nd New Jersey Regiment Infantry Volunteers, Company D. Ackerman lived on East Saddle River Road in Saddle River. The 22nd was made up of 939 Bergen County soldiers, most of whom were farmers. They had a correspondent from the “Bergen County Democrat” traveling with them and some of his letters are also included. Many others served in other regiments. Men from northwest Bergen fought in all the major battles. Some were in for the whole war and were at Antietam and Gettysburg and marched with Sherman to the sea. There were several in cavalry units that fought in the Shenandoah Valley. The 94-page book also contains color photographs of Civil War artifacts from northwest Bergen that are on display at the Schoolhouse Museum and the Mahwah Museum. The book can be purchased for $15 at the Schoolhouse Museum, 650 East Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, on Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Sundays 2 to 4 p.m. and at The Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike in Mahwah, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Email info@ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.org. Far left: The dust jacket from the new book. Left: A photo of a Civil War soldier.