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Wow! Sorry if I offended anyone. My comment about the "uselessness" of bog iron was more off the cuff than anything else. It was not a serious comment. However, as to why bog iron was thought "useless" I have heard that it was an extremely difficult product to generate (and I may be...

Ben, I like your reply. Bog iron was definitely a sub-par product, whose own uselessness contributed to its failure. I would be interested to see how long and what sorts of items made from bog iron stood the test of time. I believe that the Ocean County Historical Society has a salt pan...

Ben, Great article. It was very comprehensive regarding the Pine Barrens iron industry. I think that it will be a building block for further work in the area. And, it was really nice that Budd got a chance to chime in. He is a tremendous resource when it comes to the NJ Pinebarrens. He...

Besides accumulation of iron ore at the water table, I also thought that much plant life in the pines, especially as it dies and decomposes, also left iron accretions-from its saturation into the cell tissue-behind. While digging sites in the pines I have come across these little iron tubes and...

Sure, I would like to see some of the places you found. Scott

The answers are yes, and yes. I am back and I have begun my new job. Finally, back into archaeology. Now, I have been monitoring this thread for a while, and think that Mary Ann may be a good fit for EBSI's site. It was used, I believe, as a charcoal manufactory after its occupation...

As another archaeologist, I have to say that the courses are interesting. Though, I can understand that where a person takes the class expecting to go out into the field but merely sits in class with lecture could be a real disappointment. However, history of or theory of archaeology classes...

The location for Halfway, in my mind at least, is only partly based on this data. I also have found a foundation pit of good size near the location marked on the map, NW of the Lewis Neill Brickworks, and some of the basic artifacts handy could suggest a pub or tavern. After all, a Halfway...

This one is really quite easy. I would want to go to the ROG area in the mid 1850s. In this way, I could see not only ROG, but also Townsend Clay, the Half Way mines, the Lewis Neill Fire Brick Co, and how all of them interacted. This way, I would also have abundant data for numerous articles...

Interestingly, there is a modern spin on the "cave" system still in play in parts of New England. In Maine, it is not uncommon for a family to excavate and build a foundation; and live in it while the house is being finished on top. This process usually takes several years as people build on a...

Ebsi, I just looked at the 1833 Thomas Gordon and compared it to my USGS. It would appear that the other post road you detailed is, at least in part, now Route 72. And, that Ong's hat is now near Four Mile (closer to the State Hospital). I hope that this is a help. Also, in one of my...

Ebsi, I have not yet checked the deeds for Monmouth and Burlington. As soon as I move back to New Jersey, it is one of the projects on my list. Scott W.

I am not entirely sure how big these communities were, however, the timeframe for the school falls into the 1850s / 1860s and does coincide with several industrial ventures in the region. The Lewis Neill Brick works, and later Union Clay, would have needed a place to care for the intellectual...

Another possibility for where lumber was shipped could be Cedar Bridge, especially since it shows up on maps as early as 1833. There were a number of places to ship lumber for milling. It is also plausible that they used a steam-powered mill, though I would need to double check when they were...

Good observation. As I mentioned in my article, I do not have all of the answers, but I am sure that over the next few years they will all be pieced together. Guy has a good deal of information regarding this area, and I am sure so do many others. Once all the information is collected, then...

Guy, If this is the same Samuel Bryant from my Red Oak Grove research, then it may predate 1899. Bryant occupied ROG in the 1850s. He was the Postmaster, and helped form a school in the area. His earliest land acquisition was in 1851. Also, his land was later purchased by Charles...

"Most people who follow Weird NJ are kids that like to destroy things for the thrill of it. " Well, as a former Adjunct History Professor and Archaeologist, I can confidently say that this is a gross misrepresentation of the readership of WeirdNJ. I have known many professionals who enjoy...

Guy, here is the link: http://historicals.ncd.noaa.gov/historicals/histmap.asp all you need to is to click on it, change the region to NJ and enter 1833 as the year. This should direct you to the 1833 Gordon. You will need to download their software to view and navigate the map...

To look at the 1845 map, it appears that the routes charted actually follow old postal routes. These are actually detailed by the postal service and you can get copies of the info. In fact, the Making of America web project has several editions scanned in for browsing online. You can read the...

Here is the NOAA link. http://historicals.ncd.noaa.gov/historicals/histmap.asp all you need do is put in the region (nj) and year (1833) for the map to come up in the catalog. You will need to download their viewer to see the map. Scott W.