Rockwood visited, and a few "Then and Now" photo's

[TeeGate]

All,

With all the discussion on Rockwood in previous posts, Steve and I decided to visit the area today and check it out. Scott had mentioned Rockwood road off of 206 as a way to enter, but both Steve and my GPS showed Rockwood to be located at the cranberry bogs that Scoot had mentioned, so we entered from Atsion.

We first visited Locks Bridge where Steve earlier this year had visited, and mentioned it in a post. Because it is in such bad shape, the bridge sways when you walk across it.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/IMG_4129.jpg



We then arrived at Rockwood to find another flimsy bridge. This one had been set on fire and the state has installed a large aluminum pipe to replace it.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/IMG_4143.jpg


I also photographed this there.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/IMG_4141.jpg


The vegetation at Rockwood was quite thick, but we managed to see the remains of the structure that once was there. It is shown on the left of the below photo. A trip in the fall is required to see the extent of what is left of the foundation.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/IMG_4151.jpg


After exploring there for a while we headed toward Constable Bridge, where we arrived at a stream gaging station that I remember from years ago. It apparently not in use or they don't waste their time locking it anymore.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/IMG_4155.jpg

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/IMG_4152.jpg


After visiting Constable bridge we headed back toward Atsion when we finally found what I had been looking for along the route. I had been there in 1979 and below is a "Then and Now" photo of it viewed from a slightly different angle. I was doing it from memory and I was slightly off.

The photo on the left shows it in 7/79, and the one on the right was today. Notice the horizontal pipe on the right are almost covered from the accumulation of vegetation over the years. Also, the top has been altered to apparently allow access with a measuring device. You will have to scroll right and left to view these.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/gagepipe7_79_9_04.jpg



Steve then walked around and found something else that I had visited years ago. It is hard to believe but this "Then and Now" photo is from 1979 and today, with the 1979 photo at the top taken at a slightly different angle.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/7_79_9_04.jpg

And another one.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/7_79_9_2004.jpg

As you can see the USGS has gone high tech, as they have done with the gaging station in Lebanon.



And the last thing we searched for was the hardest to find, but we eventually found it. You have seen the photo before with my Land Cruiser next to the marker, and today after finding it we now have one with Steve's vehicle also. Notice the marker shown in todays photo is quite a bit rounder on the top edges from wear and possibly abuse. But it is in quite good shape in any event. This marker is on the Burlington/Atlantic County line, and this it the far NE point of the township of Hammonton. Again, you have to scroll to the right to view both photo's.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/5_78_9_04.jpg


As we left this area we saw the only vehicle and person of the day. It was a man taking photo's at the entrance to the Rockwood bog. Was it anyone from here??????


Guy

[kingofthepines]

Amazing stuff. I'm envious of your knowledge.

[TeeGate]

Thank you for your compliment, I really do appreciate that.

Guy

[BEHR655]

Guy. Great photos. It was a productive day. That area needs more exploring. Too bad I got a few chiggers. :(

[TeeGate]

Guy. Great photos. It was a productive day. That area needs more exploring. Too bad I got a few chiggers. :(


We did also.


Guy

[bobpbx]

Guy that flower is pine barren gentian. An endangered species and a nice shot........... 8)

[TeeGate]

Guy that flower is pine barren gentian. An endangered species and a nice shot........... 8)


Bob,

I knew you would pass the name of the plant along, and I have added it to my records. Thanks again. If it is an endangered plant, they are everywhere. And that shot was one of only two that turned out after taking about 10 or them. :(

I had photo's of another plant but everyone was blurry. I have to really find a better system for taking photo's of plants with my camera.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/IMG_4144.jpg

Guy

[gagliarchives]

Really great shots. The marker is amazing too. Is constable bridge even worth walking on?
Speaking of chiggers, we went to Harrisville today, and my fiancee was so happy after only reading about the place, I turned my back and she jumped over the fence with the camera. I started panicking because first of all, I have never been over that fence, and second of all a Ranger pulled up just as she was jumping back over. She paid the price. Her pants were infested. Oh, and a deer tick. Rangers were actually pretty cool. Told us to come back in the Autumn and they would unlock it if it was ok and let us in. Can the Rangers allow that?

[Boyd]

If one is only slightly resourceful they will realize how to get in there without opening a gate or jumping a fence. 'nuff said...

I've had a few bad brushes with the chiggers this season myself, and am still not completely recovered. They are NASTY. Interesting that you found a tick. I have literally not seen a single one since the big rainstorm that caused the Burlington County flooding. Really unusual.

[TeeGate]

Is constable bridge even worth walking on?


If you are talking about the bridge in the first photo that sways, that is Locks Bridge not Constable. It is always interesting walking across old bridges, especially when it is a slight challenge. Plus, the view on the other side is quite nice.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/IMG_4130.jpg

It actually must have been two bridges, but the bridge in the above view is long gone.

Another view.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/IMG_4132.jpg

As for Constable Bridge, if you ever go there, look for the USGS marker attached to it. Sorry the photo is blurry, I am still having problems with it focusing close up even in macro mode.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/teegate/8042004/IMG_4156.jpg


If one is only slightly resourceful they will realize how to get in there without opening a gate or jumping a fence. 'nuff said...


A sightly harsh way of putting it, but the point is quite true. Fences only extend so far :)


Guy

[TeeGate]

Rangers were actually pretty cool. Told us to come back in the Autumn and they would unlock it if it was ok and let us in. Can the Rangers allow that?

Any Ranger who said that to you deserves respect. They could have made the Chiggers seem mild, but apparently didn't. Nice to hear that for a change. Thanks for informing us of that.


Guy

[Boyd]

A sightly harsh way of putting it, but the point is quite true. Fences only extend so far :)

Oh, sorry... I didn't mean that to sound like I was criticizing anyone. But now that I read it again it could be interpreted that way. I was just trying to be a little vague, since Harrisville is really pretty clean and well preserved. I'm sure the fence is helping with that...

[TeeGate]

Oh, sorry... I didn't mean that to sound like I was criticizing you. But now that I read it again it could be interpreted that way. I was just trying to be a little vague, since Harrisville is really pretty clean and well preserved. I'm sure the fence is helping with that...

It wasn't me that you were posting to.

Guy

[BEHR655]

I had photo's of another plant but everyone was blurry. I have to really find a better system for taking photo's of plants with my camera.



This is the plant. I had to do a little re-touch to bring it out a bit. Notice the fringe on the petals.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/albums/album93/Pink_Flower.sized.jpg

[bobpbx]

Very Nice. That pink flower is Pine Barren Gerardia. Agalinis purpurea

[gagliarchives]

These are what Meg caught with the digital camera. It was bittersweet for me. Not to sound corny, but I felt like a kid asking her what it was like to the see the ruins. With all the foilage in place, I could only see the wall from the front of the fence. She said the land was littered with foundations. My question is, what was the brick and cement landmark in front of the fence with water coming out of the back of it?

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/forums/modules.php?set_albumName=Harrisville&op=modload&n ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

[Boyd]

It's quite a remarkable place. I had the feeling that I was walking through one of Piranesi's engravings of a lost civilization! I put some pix online awhile ago myself: http://www.njpinebarrens.com/forums/modules.php?set_albumName=album150&op=modload&name =gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

[TeeGate]

My question is, what was the brick and cement landmark in front of the fence with water coming out of the back of it?



That is the artesian well.

Page 181 in Forgotten Towns.

In the below photo's my brother is sitting on the well in 1973, and my daughter is on the far right sitting on it last year.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/forums/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=album55&id=aaz&op =modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_phot o.php


Guy

[gagliarchives]

Hey Guy, thanks for the info. The book says it all. In that awesome Now and Then photo, what did the sign say you were next to?

[TeeGate]

Hey Guy, thanks for the info. The book says it all. In that awesome Now and Then photo, what did the sign say you were next to?

Wall Unsafe
Keep Out


Guy

[BEHR655]

This is one of my favorite shots of the ruins taken throught the fence at the back.
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/albums/album93/3_23_03_Pines_14_crop_Large.sized.jpg

[TeeGate]

This is one of my favorite shots of the ruins taken throught the fence at the back.
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/albums/album93/3_23_03_Pines_14_crop_Large.sized.jpg


Nice one. Makes it mysterious!


Guy

[BEHR655]

Nice one. Makes it mysterious!


Guy

That is why I like it. :)

[pinelandpaddler]

Guy, could you give me the precise location of the rockwood ruins. I've been trying to figure out just where they are for a few weeks now, and am still at a loss. What are the black dots near the red x on this topomap? Are they part of rockwood?
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4394106.00011446&e=523761.000000001 &datum=nad83

Thanks alot.

Gabe

[TeeGate]

Guy, could you give me the precise location of the rockwood ruins. I've been trying to figure out just where they are for a few weeks now, and am still at a loss. What are the black dots near the red x on this topomap? Are they part of rockwood?
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4394106.00011446&e=523761.000000001 &datum=nad83

Thanks alot.

Gabe


Yes, that is the location of Rockwood. I originally thought it was somewhere else, but that appears to be in error. I will have more info on Rockwood hopefully later this year if I get lucky, and get around to doing something that I have not had time to do because of work. When and if I get around to it I will post.

As for what the buildings are, I would take an educated guess and say they were used in the storage and production of cranberries. The buildings in some way reminds me of the cranberry warehouse at Hampton Furnace. The addition on it was more than likely done by the owners there during Becks time and visit. The older section by the original owners of the bogs. Just a guess.

Guy

[Rubibee]

I've been a member on this board for quite some time now, and regretfully I have not posted a single thing yet. I love this board as it is always soooo informative in our exploration of the pines. I post more on the yahoo ghost town group. I am known there as letterboxingbee.

I am always amazed and in awe of all your then & now photos. I can't get over the destruction, the depletion, the vegatative overgrowth, the state letting things "go to pot" so to speak, and just the plain errosion over time. But I guess some things are just better left for nature to take back.

Thank you for posting your pictures. And to everyone else thank you for all your pics and bits of info too.



4WheelingBee

[BEHR655]

I've been a member on this board for quite some time now, and regretfully I have not posted a single thing yet. I love this board as it is always soooo informative in our exploration of the pines. I post more on the yahoo ghost town group. I am known there as letterboxingbee.

I am always amazed and in awe of all your then & now photos. I can't get over the destruction, the depletion, the vegatative overgrowth, the state letting things "go to pot" so to speak, and just the plain errosion over time. But I guess some things are just better left for nature to take back.

Thank you for posting your pictures. And to everyone else thank you for all your pics and bits of info too.

4WheelingBee

WOW! Almost a 2 year lurk! :wink:
Glad you finally desided to post.

Steve

[TeeGate]

I am assuming your post is directed toward my Then and Now photo's, and I appreciate the kind words. I have noticed that all of your posts on the Ghosts Town boards have been positive. Glad to see you have continued that here.

I also noticed you are an APH fan. Do you explore in the woods around the hill much?

Guy