Today Tom Gagliardi and I went out to explore Mary Ann Forge.
While waiting for Tom at the intersection of Rt. 70 and Mount Misery Road, a group of guys in pickup trucks and SUV's pulled up and told me my Jeep wasn't muddy enough, and offered to let me tag along as they went four wheeling.
I kindly declined, although it would be nice to put the Jeep through it's paces one day.
Speaking of Mount Misery Road, every time I have gone to Mary Ann, I either come in from Presidential Lakes or by New Lisbon. Mount Misery Road is a much quicker and easier way to get to the site - and would be safe for cars as well.
Tom brought a book containing reprints of old maps that he bought at Buzby's last year that shows two structures at Mary Ann. Using that, some Google Maps that I printed out, and a historic topo we got the lay of the land pretty easily. We visited the spot where the bridge used to be:
This is an old pic from a get-together that we did a few years ago...
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=57&pos=-1907
We found quite a few pieces of slag, and less trash than usual. It seems like they built the road up using slag from the forge/furnace.
Then we followed the fire break trail that winds through all the way to the abandoned Pemberton and NY RR right of way, and walked up it a bit. I found an old computer that someone threw away, opened it up, and saw that it had wasps living in it. I ran pretty quick.
The right of way:
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=0
Coming back we walked along the Pole Bridge Branch. The USGS Topo Map shows a Cranberry Bog in that area, but all we found was swamp.
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=1
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=2
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=3
It eventually grew to a nice river around the forge site:
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=6
I am fairly sure I know where the actual forge was located, but I need to do some more research to know for sure.
The weather was beautiful. I was able to explore in just a T-Shirt and jeans, and had the top down on the Jeep for the ride out there. Also, I have only seen one tick on my pants leg and it seems like no chiggers!
One more bonus pic, I really like this one:
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=5
While waiting for Tom at the intersection of Rt. 70 and Mount Misery Road, a group of guys in pickup trucks and SUV's pulled up and told me my Jeep wasn't muddy enough, and offered to let me tag along as they went four wheeling.
I kindly declined, although it would be nice to put the Jeep through it's paces one day.Speaking of Mount Misery Road, every time I have gone to Mary Ann, I either come in from Presidential Lakes or by New Lisbon. Mount Misery Road is a much quicker and easier way to get to the site - and would be safe for cars as well.
Tom brought a book containing reprints of old maps that he bought at Buzby's last year that shows two structures at Mary Ann. Using that, some Google Maps that I printed out, and a historic topo we got the lay of the land pretty easily. We visited the spot where the bridge used to be:
This is an old pic from a get-together that we did a few years ago...
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=57&pos=-1907
We found quite a few pieces of slag, and less trash than usual. It seems like they built the road up using slag from the forge/furnace.
Then we followed the fire break trail that winds through all the way to the abandoned Pemberton and NY RR right of way, and walked up it a bit. I found an old computer that someone threw away, opened it up, and saw that it had wasps living in it. I ran pretty quick.
The right of way:
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=0
Coming back we walked along the Pole Bridge Branch. The USGS Topo Map shows a Cranberry Bog in that area, but all we found was swamp.
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=1
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=2
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=3
It eventually grew to a nice river around the forge site:
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=6
I am fairly sure I know where the actual forge was located, but I need to do some more research to know for sure.
The weather was beautiful. I was able to explore in just a T-Shirt and jeans, and had the top down on the Jeep for the ride out there. Also, I have only seen one tick on my pants leg and it seems like no chiggers!
One more bonus pic, I really like this one:
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=352&pos=5
