Ridgefield: Local History and Church Architecture

If you are interested in local history and architectural heritage, Ridgefield offers several specific points of interest: a church dating from 1793, a former film studio, the history of a natural spring, and municipal offerings related to the town’s history. These topics give you several ways to understand Ridgefield as a travel destination.

Church architecture with regional significance

The English Neighborhood Reformed Church of Ridgefield is located at 1040 Edgewater Avenue and was built in 1793. It is one of eight stone churches in Bergen County associated with the Dutch Reformed religion. This places the individual building in a broader regional religious context. Its original appearance has largely been preserved. A white aluminum apse and a cement-stuccoed church office were added at the rear; both additions are located at the back. Thus, the construction date and largely preserved appearance sit alongside specific later changes. For visitors interested in architecture, this combination of building history and architectural development is a distinct highlight.

Film history and the story of a spring

Another historical trail leads to the Grantwood Movie Studio. Ridgefield was home to the studio, which belonged to E.K. Lincoln. It was destroyed by fire in the 1960s. Unlike the church, the focus here is on the story of a former use: the site’s connection to film history adds another topic to the picture of its architectural heritage.

The Ridgefield Nature Center is located at the site of Trinity Spring. The natural spring supplied the former Great Bear™ spring water bottling plant. This site therefore brings together the history of a natural place and its former use for bottling water. This is a different way of exploring local history than church architecture or a film studio: here, the focus is on the relationship between a natural spring and a former commercial use.

Announced exhibits at Borough Hall

In October 2025, two new display cases about Ridgefield’s history were announced for the main foyer of Borough Hall. Rotating exhibits featuring photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia were planned. The planned rotating displays may interest travelers who want to explore different aspects of the town’s history. Since exhibit content and arrangement may change, check what is currently planned before visiting.

Meetings and eligibility requirements

A program schedule recorded in October 2025 lists monthly History Club meetings on the third Tuesday of each month from September through June, at 6 p.m. at the Public Library. If you would like to plan your trip around a meeting, check the current events calendar in advance.

The Ridgefield Recreation & Parks Department offers a six-week summer camp for children from the upcoming kindergarten class through 8th grade. The program is open exclusively to Ridgefield residents. This restriction is important for families planning a trip: the camp is for the local community, not a generally available visitor activity.

The topics also differ in how they can be used for travel planning. The church, film studio, and Trinity Spring represent historical connections to the town; the announced display cases and History Club meetings require checking the latest information. By contrast, participation in the summer camp is expressly restricted to residents. If one of these topics is important to your stay, you can compare it with your travel dates and then look for hotels in Ridgefield for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Carlstadt, Elmwood Park, Ramsey, Garfield, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Edgewater, Englewood

Return to the regional travel guide: Bergen.