Jones Road Fire Effects

bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
15,285
5,771
Pines; Bamber area
Fall colors coming in fast. About 1/4? mile east of the RR on the south side of the South Branch.

DSC02550.JPG
 
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bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
15,285
5,771
Pines; Bamber area
By the way, this is puzzling. I’m curious to know why this area South of the South Branch is dug in rows like it is. It was done prior to the 1970’s. It's near 150 acres by my calculation. The mounded part is something like 2 feet high, I think? Maybe blueberries?

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Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
26,616
9,621
By the way, this is puzzling. I’m curious to know why this area South of the South Branch is dug in rows like it is. It was done prior to the 1970’s. It's near 150 acres by my calculation. The mounded part is something like 2 feet high, I think? Maybe blueberries?
The 1995 aerial makes it look like a development was planned there.

 

Oriental

Explorer
Apr 21, 2005
258
150
The 1995 aerial makes it look like a development was planned there.


By the way, this is puzzling. I’m curious to know why this area South of the South Branch is dug in rows like it is. It was done prior to the 1970’s. It's near 150 acres by my calculation. The mounded part is something like 2 feet high, I think? Maybe blueberries?
Looks like this is from the mid to late 1960s. The property was owned by Norman Finninger at the time. I am just guessing but perhaps they were mining a shallow layer of gravel for highway projects. The "mounds" might be the overburden or topsoil that was scraped away prior to removing the gravel. The Parkway already existed at the time so not sure if it would have been used there. Again, I am just guessing.
 
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Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
26,616
9,621
Can't be Guy, the rows are only 30 feet apart, if that.
I was not referring to the rows, it was the wider area's that looked liked possible roads. The rows were them just clearing the area.
 

bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
15,285
5,771
Pines; Bamber area
Looks like this is from the mid to late 1960s. The property was owned by Norman Finninger at the time. I am just guessing but perhaps they were mining a shallow layer of gravel for highway projects. The "mounds" might be the overburden or topsoil that was scraped away prior to removing the gravel. The Parkway already existed at the time so not sure if it would have been used there. Again, I am just guessing.
That's a thought worth considering. I've never heard of that kind of mining.

Here's another thought; there is heavy clay on the surface at many spots. Maybe it was that they were after.
 
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slingblade

Explorer
Sep 15, 2016
110
195
MakePeace Lake NJ
Looks like this is from the mid to late 1960s. The property was owned by Norman Finninger at the time. I am just guessing but perhaps they were mining a shallow layer of gravel for highway projects. The "mounds" might be the overburden or topsoil that was scraped away prior to removing the gravel. The Parkway already existed at the time so not sure if it would have been used there. Again, I am just guessing.
Seen this type of mining in a parcel between routes 47 and 347, near their northern merge. We assumed it was used for the building/improving of 347.
 

Wick

Explorer
Mar 6, 2016
481
382
Forked River
When you are in that area it is nothing but pine trees and super soft sugar sand. Especially on the railroad bed and the main trails
 

Boyd

Administrator
Staff member
Site Administrator
Jul 31, 2004
10,425
3,410
Ben's Branch, Stephen Creek
I've wondered about that place for a long time, I included the basic features on my 2023 topo. But, on the 1970 aerials, it looks a lot like some kind of nursery to me, with closely-spaced rows of shrubs or trees that appear well maintained. If not that, then maybe some other kind of agriculture?

Screen Shot 2025-10-13 at 2.23.52 PM.png
 

Gibby

Piney
Apr 4, 2011
1,670
492
Trenton
If you search over the maps you will come across several locations that look similar. I have no idea for the reason these exist, maybe for a controlled test for fire suppression? One spot that I remember is close to the Lakehurst runways.
 
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