Decorated 539 Stone

[johnnyb]

Used "Search" on this site but came up empty.
While going north Ro & I did a "Uey" on 539 about a mile south of Webbs Mill when we saw all the flags and the newly repainted stone. Really a wonder, someone spent a lot of effort (and money) to show honor for our Flag.
Who?
Anyone know how that BIG stone got 'way out there, when, why? .. and why just there?
We weren't the only curious ones, judging from the barren area on the opposite side shoulder.
Ro took iPhone pix, I'll post them here tomorrow.

 

[Teegate]

That is the "Painted Rock" as many people call it. The origins of it are uncertain. About 10 years ago someone painted it and others followed by painting it differently. Eventually, the authorities stepped in and the decision was made to paint it the way it is and leave it that way. I don't remember the full details but that is basically what happened.

 

[Teegate]

There even was a book written which eluded to the rock. The link does not work but you get the idea.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/threads/secret-of-the-painted-rock.4568/

 

[dogg57]

Used "Search" on this site but came up empty.
While going north Ro & I did a "Uey" on 539 about a mile south of Webbs Mill when we saw all the flags and the newly repainted stone. Really a wonder, someone spent a lot of effort (and money) to show honor for our Flag.
Who?
Anyone know how that BIG stone got 'way out there, when, why? .. and why just there?
We weren't the only curious ones, judging from the barren area on the opposite side shoulder.
Ro took iPhone pix, I'll post them here tomorrow.

HERE is another link
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/threads/rt-539-patriotic-boulder.4402/

 

[bobpbx]

Eventually, the authorities stepped in and the decision was made to paint it the way it is and leave it that way. I don't remember the full details but that is basically what happened.

That sounds like an urban legend Guy. My theory is that it was decided by some person or group that we should all be patriotic at all times. In other words, it was taken over as their personal billboard to make a statement.

 

[h2ochild]

A little more info:http://suite101.com/a/the-painted-rock-of-route-539-a220455#ixzz1CBSONE6y

 

[46er]

Who?
Anyone know how that BIG stone got 'way out there, when, why? .. and why just there?
We weren't the only curious ones, judging from the barren area on the opposite side shoulder.
Ro took iPhone pix, I'll post them here tomorrow.

The story goes is that it fell from a truck hauling the stones for the building of the south jetty at Barnegat Light in the 90's, but I recall it being there, unpainted, earlier than that. Over the years it had been decorated for each holiday season by a man that lived nearby. Upon his death in 2004, another person, a Vet I think, took on the task. The original caretakers wife passed on several years back. The rock is occasionally refreshed, by whom I don't know. At one point it was vandalized pretty bad. There have been the occasional story in the local papers, most when the original caretaker passed on.

A bit of 'rock' history;

http://www.jamesrahn.com/personal/rock.htm

 

[johnnyb]

You guys did it again.. mystery dispelled (mostly).
Many thanks.
Picture up next.

 

[johnnyb]

 

[Teegate]

That sounds like an urban legend Guy. My theory is that it was decided by some person or group that we should all be patriotic at all times. In other words, it was taken over as their personal billboard to make a statement.

I remember a feud going on over it and some sort of agreement was reached to stop it. I don't think it was an urban legend Bob.

 

[Teegate]

I fixed your photo johnnyb. You need to shrink them to about 800 pixels wide or the site apparently turns them sideways.

 

[oji]

I remember it being there in the late 60's. Back then it just had grafitti and names painted on it. At that time there was a steady flow of tractor trailers with these large stones on them heading to LBI.

 

[oji]

lol, Johnny U-turn!

 

[NJBill]

The story goes is that it fell from a truck hauling the stones for the building of the south jetty at Barnegat Light in the 90's, but I recall it being there, unpainted, earlier than that. Over the years it had been decorated for each holiday season by a man that lived nearby. Upon his death in 2004, another person, a Vet I think, took on the task. The original caretakers wife passed on several years back. The rock is occasionally refreshed, by whom I don't know. At one point it was vandalized pretty bad. There have been the occasional story in the local papers, most when the original caretaker passed on.

A bit of 'rock' history;

http://www.jamesrahn.com/personal/rock.htm

I believe I had read an article years back in "The Sandpaper" that it did fall off of a truck delivering the larger boulders for construction of the south jetty at Barnegat in the early 40's when the first inlet jetty was constructed. I think the rocks were shipped from the quarries around the Hopewell - Kingston areas.

 

[turtle]

lol, Johnny U-turn!

 

[Teegate]

This rock is as big if not bigger than the painted rock. The question to you is "where is it located?"

Guy

 

[Teegate]

That sounds like an urban legend Guy. My theory is that it was decided by some person or group that we should all be patriotic at all times. In other words, it was taken over as their personal billboard to make a statement.

The article now requires a payment so we can't see it all, but this line in the post pretty much proves that the county was ready to remove the rock if the bickering did not stop.

"The sad thing though, both Gilliam and Carton agreed, was knowing that the state/county might do something stupid like remove the rock to avoid such controversy that if it continues."

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/threads/rock-becomes-battleground-for-passers-by.1691/#post-14572

Guy

 

[johnnyb]

Teegate:
If the "you" is me, I flunk. Don't think I've ever seen the pictured stone.
Not on subject but on our way home from this area today we passed the Green Bank Inn and it looked like really closed.

 

[Teegate]

I was asking anyone.

The Green bank Inn has been closed for a long time. Mid summer 2012. There are posts about that on this site.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/threads/green-bank-inn-closed-for-good.8431/

 

[Teegate]

The rock in question is hidden somewhat and if you don't know about it you will really be surprised where it is located. I suspect it was on the same vehicle as the painted rock as it is basically along 539. I bet some of you have gone right by it hundreds of times and don't know it is there. It is the secret rock that needs a good name.

Guy