Another theory of Mary Ann Forge

[woodjin]

I recently bought the Scotts Atlas of 1876 at the Pemberton Railroad Museum. As a volunteer and I were looking at browns mills in the atlas, he commented "this was when the lake was still there at Mary Ann Forge". I was thinking "what Lake" when I looked at the map. there on the map was an enorumous lake at Mary Ann forge. It is approx. the same dimensions as the "cranberry bogs" that are seen on the more recent topo maps. I was always skeptical that there were ever cranberry bogs at this location and now I am wondering if this isn't what happened: After Mary Ann closed they dammed the river creating a huge lake that would have covered the straight canal between pole bridge branch and MA. and extended to the very high banks on either side of the swamp. Perhaps even creating that swamp. Then the dam broke at some point giving us what we have now, that might explain the canals that go off to the sides of the river the the high banks as boat launches/docking areas.

Just a theory!!

 

[bobpbx]

I'd really like to see that map closer Jeff. Can you do that?

 

[BEHR655]

Go to his gallery and click on the picture. You get a huge map.

Steve

 

[woodjin]

You know, on my ride home tonight I was thinking about it more and more. I am pretty much convinced it was a lake and never a cranberry bog. Hey Ben and Stu, remember the bridge near the "substantial ruins"? If you recall the pilions (spelling?) continued well beyond the oppisite bank. Indicating the river at that point was much wider. I think that bridge was over the lake just a little upstream from pole bridge branch, that is why it is so wide. The widest part of the lakewould have been down stream of course. There is no indication what so ever that there was ever a cranberry bog there except for the topo maps. No water control, no canal along the perimeter, nothing. Those canals you see on google have nothing to do with water control. I think they were canals around Islands.

I noticed the 1903 topo of area does not indicate the Lake. I think the Lake was there circa 1860 (after Mary Ann) and up to circa 1900. It was close to the rail and browns mills was a lake community at the time (mirror lake) I bet the old bridge at Mary Ann was a dam! Maybe a bridge at one time also, but I think it was a dam after that. This summer I am going to dive down to the bottom there and see what is underwater, I bet a dam. Plus I will finally know just how deep it is there.

Jeff

 

[Ben Ruset]

Jeff,

The other bridge we saw near the sawmil ruins dates to much later than the forge or sawmill, judging by the nails used in it's construction. However it could have been repaired at one point in time.

The bridge near Mary Ann may also have been a dam, although at one time it was a major crossing (by looking at the Atlas you can see it was a main road). I have never heard of a dual-purpose bridge and dam, although it may explain the high causeway built on either side of the bridge.

I *personally* have a hunch that the dam was located farther upstream. I wanted to get some chest waders and walk up the river/canal system but I have a feeling that it's probably deeper than I am tall.

 

[bobpbx]

I have never heard of a dual-purpose bridge and dam, although it may explain the high causeway built on either side of the bridge.

Ben! Rethink that statement buddy!

 

[Ben Ruset]

Ben! Rethink that statement buddy!

What part didn't you like?

 

[Oriental]

I was always skeptical that there were ever cranberry bogs at this location and now I am wondering if this isn't what happened: After Mary Ann closed they dammed the river creating a huge lake that would have covered the straight canal between pole bridge branch and MA.

I'm really not too familiar with the site, however, isn't it true that every forge and furnace needed a pond to power it? Mary Ann must have had a dam and pond large enough to power the bellows at the time it was processing iron. It shouldn't really be much of a surprise to see the pond depicted on early maps. With respect to cranberries being grown there, believe it. I am very hard pressed to think of any mill pond, forge pond or furnace pond where cranberries wern't tried at some point. When the craze swept through SJ after the civil war, they tried growing cranberries in places you couldn't even imagine.

Rich

 

[woodjin]

All good points. Ben, I don't know that the bridge and dam were necessarily one in the same. I think it is more likely that the bridge was converted into a dam. I kayaked the river and did not see any remains of a dam up stream from Mary ann. It is possible I missed it. Hip waders won't get you far, way too deep. Rich, while it is possible there was a cranberry bog there, I think it would be a streach based on the physical evidence present there now, I think a lake seems more likely. A pond might have been present during Mary Ann's day, but it would not have needed to be anywhere near as large as the lake indicated on the map. The river between pole bridge branch and Mary Ann was cut into a straight canal, presumably for carrying iron from Hanover, that is why I think the lake was "made" after Mary Ann was gone. If you google earth the area, the outline of the swamp looks just like a lake. tapering off near Mary Ann.

Jeff

 

[woodjin]

It is possible that cranberrys were attempted in addition to the lake. But I don't see any remains of a well organized long term bog.

 

[Ben Ruset]

You're going to need much less power to run a forge than a furnace.

 

[bobpbx]

What part didn't you like?

Think about Hanover furnace dam, Presidential Lakes, Medford lakes, Mirror lake, Batsto, all those locations that put up a dam to trap the water for fishing, cranberries, whatever, and then used it also as a bridge to cross the stream.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Think about Hanover furnace dam, Presidential Lakes, Medford lakes, Mirror lake, Batsto, all those locations that put up a dam to trap the water for fishing, cranberries, whatever, and then used it also as a bridge to cross the stream.

hm. yeah you're right.

 

[Tom]

On the Jones or Hanover Tract map, the lake appears to be of quite a substantial size. This is around 1846.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Tom Gagliardi and I walked through the swamp and around where the RR would have crossed or butted up against the lake.

There is no evidence of a bridge. There is also no evidence of any sort of drainage system to let water flow under the tracks. The swamp pretty much butts up right to the edge of the tracks.

Walking around the swamp you can clearly see evidence of canals. There is nothing to indicate a former cranberry bog - especially as there are cedars growing throughout. That's not typical for a reclaimed bog.

 

[diggersw]

Ben,
It's funny, but the 1833 map of NJ places Mary Ann at a different location than the cranberry bogs. It would be further west where Mount Misery Branch splits with Gum Branch. Ironically, (according to USGS) there is a mine at the location. Perhaps some remains may be found there as well.

Scott W.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Ben,
It's funny, but the 1833 map of NJ places Mary Ann at a different location than the cranberry bogs. It would be further west where Mount Misery Branch splits with Gum Branch. Ironically, (according to USGS) there is a mine at the location. Perhaps some remains may be found there as well.

Scott W.

Hey Scott,

I've looked through the area that the topo claims there is a mine. There's nothing but unremarkable forest. I have to check the 1833 map (is that the Finley map?). Most maps show Mary Ann right where the road from Hanover crosses Mt. Misery Branch.

 

[woodjin]

I know this area where the gum meets the Misery. It is often labeled as a pit on more recent topos. It is an old dumping ground, that looks like a one time sand pit or ore pit of some sort. It is filled with old junk and has become a dumping ground for alot of unwanted lumber recently. The earth was clearly disturbed there for some purpose. The are no structures or foundations there that I know of.

Jeff

 

[woodjin]

Tom, I find it interesting that the lake appears on a map from 1846. I don't have that map. I am certain that Mary Ann forge preceeded the lake...why else would they have made the river straight, a lake would have slowed the iron barges. that means that Mary Ann was probably history by then. Interesting. Scott, is there a lake on the 1833 map?

Jeff

 

[jokerman]

I also wanted to re-point out that the man that I met, who used to live in the immediate area of Mary Anne, said his Father was in the berry business. That doesn't prove that there was a berry farm there though. I think it's almost certain that the lake seen in the old maps IS the old forge pond. Sometimes they had ponds that were huge for relatively small operations. I don't know about berry farming later-on, but it also very probable and the foundations found nearby may be the remnants of the farming industry. I can't think of what else in that area would require large buildings just up the road from the old forge area. The man said these buldings were just foundations when he was a young boy. It's also possible that the potential berry farmers altered the water-holding bodies, but the low-lying area of the former forge pond would have been the same area used for bogs, if cranberry bogs were installed. I know the area was in the basic format as the original Mary Anne Forge in 1859 regarding the forge pond, raceways, and roadways. There was a road that cut across 2 raceways (1 for the forge, 1 for the sawmills). The dam was located to the east of this road and was not part of it. Maybe the bridge mentioned represents that road and the remains of an old dam would be to the east.