Eureka Gun Club Ruins near Aserdaten

[Ben Ruset]

These four photographs were taken at the site of the Eureka Gun Club riuns near Aserdaten on our second-to-last Yahoo group outing.

I plan on going back sometime soon and exploring the area in greater detail.

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showgallery.php/cat/136

You can also read about the site on pg 178-179 of the 1991 printing of Jersey Genesis. Supposedly this is where Asa Dayton might be buried.

 

[bach2yoga]

Love the chair! :lol:
The sky on the second picture is really nice...
renee

 

[Teegate]

Ben,

Where did you see that it was named Eureka, and the Bridge was Black's bridge?

Also, why not make that another outing for next month. I know Bob probably would be interested, and I know I am. There are plenty of other places in that area to visit, or for that matter to just ride around in. If Bob does go he could take us to the place where he has photo's of the damaged property, and we may be able to walk to the high area we ended our day on the last time. And it probably is the closest drive for you.

Guy

 

[bobpbx]

I remember that the missing grave in the area is one "thomas black", which explains the name of blacks bridge.

I will give $2.00 to the finder of that grave and I will bow down at your feet in front of all.

I will be thinking of a date for that trip. Sounds fun.

We always have fun, don't we!

 

[Ben Ruset]

I found the name out in Jersey Genesis. The gun club was called Eureka in Becks time, but had been called Chislers Club. Before that, Tilly Collons.

There was a stone with "T.G. Black -- 1858" which is probably what the bridge is named for. Perhaps he built the bridge and the club in the first place?

Although the cement floor would make me think that it was newer. Perhaps a newer building replaced the old?

Lets make an official outing for it, then. How about Feb 8th or 15th?

 

[bach2yoga]

I remember that the missing grave in the area is one "thomas black", which explains the name of blacks bridge.

I will give $2.00 to the finder of that grave and I will bow down at your feet in front of all.

I will be thinking of a date for that trip. Sounds fun.

We always have fun, don't we!

bow down in front of all? oh, I have to see this one...Ben, be sure to bring that camera! :wink:

and you know of course...count me in!!!

Renee

 

[Teegate]

Renee,

How come this new grave is worth more than the one you found? Twice as much! That don't seem right to me. An the finder even gets a bow!

And yes Bob we do have fun.. That is what life is about.

Thanks Ben and Bob for the info.


Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

I've been pouring over the topo maps for this area. I think I found some interesting things to check out.

You'll notice first that the Brookvile Quad (1957, revisted 1972) has dropped the name of Aserdaten from the map. You'll also notice a building right down the road from Aserdaten. I don't know if that is still there or not, but it might be worth a look.

Secondly there is also another small gun club to the West of Aserdaten. I wonder if that's still there.

Finally, there's the words "BM" written on the map. Wonder what that means?

 

[bach2yoga]

Renee,

How come this new grave is worth more than the one you found? Twice as much! That don't seem right to me. An the finder even gets a bow!

And yes Bob we do have fun.. That is what life is about.

Thanks Ben and Bob for the info.


Guy

dunno...was wondering that myself.... :lol:
as long as I get a picture of the bow I'll be happy... :bow:
laughs...

Renee

 

[Teegate]

Ben,

BM stands for Bench Mark. It is not a NGS marker, and probably is a survey marker. There are hundred's of them throughout the pines, but only the NGS marker coordinates are available online. To get the info on those markers you must write or fax to the appropriate agency. I have tried just going to those locations, and most times I could not find them. I did find one a month ago with Ed , but that is rare.


Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

Guy,

Thanks for the info. Who puts the bench marks out there?

 

[Teegate]

Ben,

Many of the Bench Marks are put there as reference points for state an local boundary lines, and other reasons. Recently I went looking for the one at Washington that I had visited years ago.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/BM55.jpg

This probably is the photo of it taken in the 70's, but not certain of that.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/BM_.jpg


After visiting there twice recently I finally found it destroyed. The cement base had been removed from the ground and was laying in the hole at that intersection. The steel re-barb was still connected to it, but the marker was missing. If you go through that way again, look in the hole for it's remains. I did a quick search for BM 64 which can be viewed in the top photo, but could not find it. I have found that when you put a marker near a road, it usually is destroyed or missing such as this below.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/destroyed.jpg


Guy

 

[Teegate]

Lets make an official outing for it, then. How about Feb 8th or 15th?

Either day is fine by me.

Guy

 

[Teegate]

While at Aserdaten we need to walk farther into the woods across the road to the hill in your map. There are a few of them that give a really nice view of the Forked River Mountains and the surrounding area.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/1_79.jpg

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/5_79.jpg

I am going to either go to my camp on Forked River Mountain before our outing starts, or I am leaving the outing early to go at the end of the day. I want to get there and that will be the day I will.

Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

Why not swing by your camp as a group? I'm sure we won't be spending hours at Aserdaten and Eureka... we'll need other places to visit.

Where is your camp in relation to Old Half Way and Union Clay Works? I noticed that they're south of Aserdaten, so maybe we can start North, work South and then West, and maybe end the day at Pasadena?

 

[Teegate]

My camp is not far from Aserdaten and the old footings of the Cedar Bridge Fire tower. It probably would be best to meet at the 16 and a half mile marker on 539, or at the present Cedar Bridge fire tower right there. Then if we want to add my camp on the trip, we would again head to the Forked River Mountains, where I know of a short cut behind them to get to camp so we won't have to deal with that water as we did the last time. Then we could go to Bobs photo spot, and any other place of interest in that area he wants to go to, and then head back to Aserdaten. Or we could hit Aserdaten first, then to the FRM and Bob's photo spot. Then back across 539.

Then if you want to go to Old Half Way we can cross over 539 and head across on the road we went on to find the high spot. We will eventually arrive behind Old Half Way and can go in that way. I have been there in my car so it is no problem, unless the road from 539 to there is bad, which is unlikely. Old Half Way has two lakes so we can walk between both of them. I have more photo's from there than any other places I have ever been, so I can reminisce till someone hits me .

By this time I believe the day will be over. But first I noticed on the way from 539 to the back of Old Half Way, there is what appears to be a dwelling on the map. Maybe Bob can tell us if it is still there, or if it would be worth the stop. It is just below the red target symbol. Have you been there Bob?

http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4410441&e=549986&s=25&size=m

Guy

 

[bobpbx]

Maybe Bob can tell us if it is still there, or if it would be worth the stop. It is just below the red target symbol. Have you been there Bob? http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4410441&e=549986&s=25&size=m
Guy

Many of the gun clubs you cited are long gone, just charred remains and a concrete foundation. This link shows my club at one of the foundations 4 years ago. Its the one west of Aserdaten, and inaccessable by car:

http://www.mikebaker.com/pbx/

The one you cite above is unfamiliar to me, but that is an area I really love, since 4 watersheds begin there; the Cedar, the Rancoacas, the Wading, and the Oswego. Its sacred ground. Note the elevations in your map.

Suggest we start a list of places you want to see and then put them in a logical visiting order.

bob

 

[Teegate]

Bob,

Have you ever been to either of the Gun clubs to the right and left of the target symbol.


http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4408038&e=560492&s=25&size=l

I have been trying to find the location of the building in the photo below. I have posted it before, and mentioned it was above Martha, but looking over the maps I have come to the conclusion it is not. So these are the locations I am going to try next.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/8_79building.jpg

I hesitate to offer $3 for it's location because I don't want everyone rushing out to find it and get lost. :lol:

Guy

 

[Teegate]

This link shows my club at one of the foundations 4 years ago. Its the one west of Aserdaten, and inaccessable by car:

Is this the place?

http://www.mikebaker.com/pbx/images/P000254.jpg

Guy

 

[Teegate]

Ben,

My copy of Jersey Genesis is from 1963 and Blacks bridge is mentioned on page 180. So two paragraphs past where it says Black's Bridge, notice he mentions they were climbing Doe Hill. Since Aserdaten was a dear farm, the hill that is shown on your map, and I mentioned we should climb, may be Doe Hill. Opinions anyone?

Also, I have not read this book in years, so when I brought it out of storage it had a sticker on it saying Sale Price $1. A very good deal, and I did not have to search for anything. :wink:

Guy