FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 8, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Derek Sands
dsands@bergencountynj.gov
BERGEN COUNTY REVOLUTIONARY WAR ROUNDTABLE SERIES TO FOCUS ON THE 1780 BATTLE AT OLD PARAMUS CHURCH
April Lecture to Focus on Strategic Post in Bergen County
Hackensack, NJ – Bergen250, the Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs, and the County of Bergen invite the public and media to attend the fourth installation of the Spring 2026 American Revolutionary War Roundtable Series on Wednesday, April 8th at 7:00 PM at the Bergen County Administration Building’s Multipurpose Room, 1st Floor, 1 Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack.
The April 8, 2026 Roundtable will feature a joint presentation by historian George W. Wright and artist Bill Angresano, highlighting the March 23, 1780 battle at the Old Paramus Reformed Church. The engagement brought together approximately 900 combatants, including 300 Continental Army troops supported by Bergen County militia, and a British force composed of 300 elite Brigade of Guards along with 300 soldiers from the 42nd and 43rd Regiments of Foot (The Black Watch) and Hessian units.
George W. Wright will examine the strategic significance of the Continental Army’s post at the Church and the broader military context surrounding the battle. Bill Angresano will then discuss his newly completed painting depicting the battle scene, created in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence and the Church’s 300th anniversary.
George W. Wright is 45-year member of the New Jersey Bar with offices in Hackensack, NJ and NYC. He is a member of the NJ Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and active in historic preservation work. George has a special interest in Bergen County’s Revolutionary War history.
Bill Angresano is a career illustrator/fine artist working in publishing and advertising. He creates paperback book covers, sports posters and storyboards for film and TV.
Currently, Bill is a drawing and painting instructor at the Ridgewood Art Institute and teaches figure drawing and anatomy as it applies to animation at Montclair State University. Bill is a commissioned artist in the areas of portraiture and various genre scenes.
For those unable to attend in person, the lecture will be recorded and published on the County of Bergen’s official YouTube channel following the event.
EVENT DETAILS
What: Spring 2026 American Revolutionary War Roundtable Lecture on the Battle of Paramus, 1780
Topic: “Thomas Paine in the American Revolution”
Who: Presented by George W. Wright & Bill Angresano
When: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Where: Bergen County Administration Building, 1st Floor Multipurpose Room, 1 Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ
About Bergen250
Bergen250 is Bergen County’s initiative to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, highlighting the county’s critical role in the nation’s founding and engaging the public through lectures, events, and community programming. For more information, visit www.Bergen250.com.
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