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  1. Spung-Man

    Bobwhite article

    I noticed that quail were declining in Atlantic/Cumberland/Cape May Counties a little before the coyote returned. We had big covies here in the 60s. Three observations: 1) forest-fire extent dropped markedly; 2) outdoor poultry ranges disappeared; and 3) wetlands were drying up. Quail were most...
  2. Spung-Man

    Advice on waterproof boots?

    We had about 16, maybe 17 inches of snow, too much for the Subarus to handle, so I dug 700-feet of toe path from the house – past the duck pen – to our cars parked by the road. It was a good excuse to grease the 16-inch Maine Hunting Shoes, relace them, and test their performance. I am...
  3. Spung-Man

    First snow

    Just got our electric back (Saturday, 11:30 AM)!
  4. Spung-Man

    Anyone planning on hiking or exploring during the blizzard?

    What? There is no bad weather, just bad underwear... Ukrainian proverb.
  5. Spung-Man

    Oil drilling in Plumstead/Jackson?

    Also see, Drillers still have hope for gas storage area (Corinne Olson, Atlantic City Press, 10/29/64), which has photos of the rotary rig associated with a joint venture between three companies (South Jersey Gas, New Jersey Natural Gas – Asbury Park, Anchor Gas – Pittsburgh). Olson reports...
  6. Spung-Man

    Walkers Forge Mansion

    Sorry, been busy with work and talk preparation for the Philadelphia Geological Society presentation (01-21-16). Below is a poor copy of a Walkers Forge survey that I've enhanced to show water features and roads. The lower millpond is Naomi Steelman's on Stephens Creek and the upper millpond...
  7. Spung-Man

    Advice on waterproof boots?

    I have a calf-high pair of Bean's duck boots purchased in college ('79?) that still are in good shape. These are only used in snow, which may account for the remarkable longevity. I wonder if the wool-felt inserts are still available? Good maintenance pays off...
  8. Spung-Man

    Shop keeper wanted; must love Pine Barrens

    T65, I am glad you agree that it would be silly to tear down valued architecture for redevelopment like in Richland Village. Do you see the folly in redevelopment expenditures in my village, where nearly $4-million has been spent in project infrastructure so far, with another $8-million...
  9. Spung-Man

    Any information on Thelma Ave?

    The link is a little old. Everything on personal Pinelands research is now updated through this site: http://loki.stockton.edu/~demitrom/home.html Carl Farrell (Hamilton Township Historical Society) and others have been working on the Thelma colony history along with Estellville's forgotten...
  10. Spung-Man

    NY Public Library Releases 180k archival items into Public Domain... all online.

    Yes, it is really so! There is a four-page paper I found on the rare and wonderful Palma plasticus Wildwoodae (the Wildwood Palm). The undated anonymous paper (need for anonymity understood) was found in the Wildwood Historical Society collection. The report states, "At a 1964 meeting of...
  11. Spung-Man

    Walkers Forge Mansion

    BKNJ, I was born in 1959, and remember talk of the ruins so suspect the structure burned down a half-century ago. What remained was later bulldozed so little will remain. Walker's ironstone homestead is where the 1872 map shows it. What I am calling Old Baker Trail is N/S between Walkers Ford...
  12. Spung-Man

    Walkers Forge Mansion

    The house burned down some years ago and the property owner salvaged the ironstone to build a house up along the eastern shore of Lake Lenape by Dry Run. I've marked the Walker Mansion site (white arrow) in the figure below. Monroe Forge is also known as Walkers Forge, not to be confused with...
  13. Spung-Man

    Hamilton Historical Society Speakers Series

    Held the second Wednesday – 7:30 PM – January to April at the Fellowship Hall of the Presbyterian Church, 6001 Main Street, Mays Landing, NJ. 2016 • JANUARY 13 Soggy Ground: Valuing Hamilton Township Wetlands Mark Demitroff • FEBRUARY 10 Privateers and Pirates of the Great Egg Harbor River Lee...
  14. Spung-Man

    Advice on waterproof boots?

    Overshoes are an alternative. I really like NEOS Trekkers. These 500-denier tough nylon-upper shoes are 100% waterproof, and super lightweight. Even though my boats are sized to fit over 11.5 boots, they easily fold away into a small dedicated packing kit that still fits in carry-on luggage. I...
  15. Spung-Man

    Good Morning

    Boyd, I couldn’t think of an inspiration video either. Then it struck me that Harshberger’s monograph, The Vegetation of the New Jersey Pine Barrens: An Ecological Investigation, is now a century old! We often think of McPhee or McCormick as initial champions of the Pines, but check out what...
  16. Spung-Man

    Unexpected

    My daughter and her classmates on occasion volunteered at the refuge. Many local residents had close ties with the director, Sarah Summerville, who recently handed over that position to Veronica van Hof. Daughter and classmate painting the outhouse in 2007. Daughter, classmate, and S...
  17. Spung-Man

    Dennis?

    Menantico, New Kuban has an interesting vernacular architecture that hearkens back to the old country. Here are photos taken just before my daughter's prom (April 30, 2010), where she is standing by the house that burned down. I knew it well. S-M
  18. Spung-Man

    Pinelands Villages as Sewer Service Areas

    Agency Docket No. 16-12 – Administrative Action Complaint In the Matter of Paul W. Tyshchenko, esq., Former Principal Planner, Pinelands Commission, July 7, 2015, Pages 9–10 excerpt.
  19. Spung-Man

    The NEW Beer Thread

    Chilled out Tuesday with the US Permafrost Association at San Francisco’s ThirstyBear Organic Brewery to microbrew and Spanish tapas. It is my task as board member to make sure the beer is cold, and to facilitate research on past permafrost features like those found in the Pine Barrens. On tap...
  20. Spung-Man

    Pinelands Villages as Sewer Service Areas

    According to OPRA-obtained documents, six Pinelands Commission staffers were aligned with the Highbridge Group consulting firm. Agency Docket No. 16-12 – Administrative Action Complaint In the Matter of Paul W. Tyshchenko, esq., Former Principal Planner, Pinelands Commission, July 7, 2015...
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