Is Hermann all but gone?

[TommyP]

I was going to resurrect this old thread below, but figured I ought to start a new one.
I went looking for the cellar hole of the Hermann hotel, the glassworks, and the unfinished house on the Mullica this Saturday. I started at Crowley's landing, where supposedly some glass was around, but that seems overgrown or cleaned up.
Then I walked down the closed-off end of Bulltown Road, and didn't find much. Finally, I walked down whatever road is near LB's Lunch Box (good corn fritters and crab cake sandwich, btw) and I found some old sycamore trees, and what looked like what had been the lakefront land of a hotel, with some yucca or similar plants in a row.
I walked around looking for the glassworks and the house ruins, but I couldn't find a thing.
Has anyone been out there recently? Is it worth returning in winter, when visibility may be better, or can you only see anything from the water?

the olden thread:

Ruins on the Mullica

So I'm paddling the Mullica during low tide often. Just before Bull Creek, whats the story behind the ruins that are just the stone foundations? Is that the Herman Hotel? And also the home next to it that looks as though it may share the same fate someday soon? And why are there so many...

forums.njpinebarrens.com

 

[Teegate]

The ruins have to still be there. Wait until the winter and go back. Especially right along the edge of the woods by the river.

 

[TommyP]

Thanks. I need to head up Apple Pie Hill again, too. Find the soda bottle factory.

 

[Teegate]

Who said it was a soda bottle factory?

 

[woodjin]

The ruins are still there. You somehow missed them but you were right there. The hotel, sadly burnt down in the ‘90’s and is mostly just some scattered bricks and some scant foundation. Yucca and buttonwood, and catalpa are around. But the glassworks foundations and the illegal house and the cellar holes of the store and boarding house are still around. After the chiggers are gone is the best time to check it out. . A very brief working history to Herman city but the hotel was around for a very very long time before it burnt down.

No soda bottling at Apple pie hill but the best tuberculosis cure all money could buy. If you look a little you will find the bottling house.

 

[gipsie]

I was going to resurrect this old thread below, but figured I ought to start a new one.
I went looking for the cellar hole of the Hermann hotel, the glassworks, and the unfinished house on the Mullica this Saturday. I started at Crowley's landing, where supposedly some glass was around, but that seems overgrown or cleaned up.
Then I walked down the closed-off end of Bulltown Road, and didn't find much. Finally, I walked down whatever road is near LB's Lunch Box (good corn fritters and crab cake sandwich, btw) and I found some old sycamore trees, and what looked like what had been the lakefront land of a hotel, with some yucca or similar plants in a row.
I walked around looking for the glassworks and the house ruins, but I couldn't find a thing.
Has anyone been out there recently? Is it worth returning in winter, when visibility may be better, or can you only see anything from the water?

the olden thread:

Ruins on the Mullica

So I'm paddling the Mullica during low tide often. Just before Bull Creek, whats the story behind the ruins that are just the stone foundations? Is that the Herman Hotel? And also the home next to it that looks as though it may share the same fate someday soon? And why are there so many...

forums.njpinebarrens.com

A little further east from the hotel are the ruins of a glassworks and town from the late 1800s. The hotel was the old Sooy homestead which was turned into the Hermann City Hotel. The town itself was short lived, but the hotel remained for quite some time, eventually being turned into a boarding house. It remained in the family's (Rapps, I think) possession until the 1980's when the last family member passed on and the property was taken over by the state.

I can message you the coordinates if you want the exact spot it stood! Check your messages!

 

[Wick]

The illegal house is right on the Mullica. Wait for a low tide and just walk along the exposed beach from the end of Bulltown rd where it meets the water. You cant miss it. It is brick walled and has no roof.

 

[TommyP]

Thanks, all! I'll try again at low tide. I think I see the illegal house ruins on the satellite map now.

 

[Teegate]

I have been slow to respond to this. I have not been there in almost 20 years and apparently much of the ruins are gone. Is that correct? In any event, here are a few photos from 1/5/2003. The first time I actually visited there was 10/5/2002 with Ben and others.

If this is the illegal house mentioned it was not a house.

I have some other interesting info that I will try and get together.

 

[Teegate]

I usually don't post my maps but Herman is not one of my primary interests. Some of you may find this interesting. I have kept the map as big as possible while still trying to save storage space on this site. The map is from 1955 and shows the leases the state was either dealing with or were about to deal with when they fully acquired Wharton. Most likely once they did they threw these people out just like at Sandy Ridge and other places. It is interesting to note they were on the other side of the road along Bulltown Road.

 

[TommyP]

I have been slow to respond to this. I have not been there in almost 20 years and apparently much of the ruins are gone. Is that correct? In any event, here are a few photos from 1/5/2003. The first time I actually visited there was 10/5/2002 with Ben and others.

View attachment 18310

If this is the illegal house mentioned it was not a house.

View attachment 18311


View attachment 18312

View attachment 18313


I have some other interesting info that I will try

 

[Wick]

Guy, your pics are of the ruins of the glass factory, and a duck blind on the end of the point where the Bull Creek meets the Mullica. The house is along the water, the factory ruins are more inland. Pic 1 is the house ruins with Mullica in background. Pic 2 is what the beach looks like during a west wind. Pic 3 is proof that its a duck blind on the point

 

[woodjin]

Lol I just referred to it as the illegal house because apparently it was built (or started to be built) after Wharton died and before the state purchased his estate. At a time when there was little enforcement to deter trespassers. Allegedly, someone thought they could build the house and no one would notice they didn’t actually own the land.
Well, that’s the going theory and seems as good as any.
I don’t know that anybody has ever referred to it as the illegal house before. But maybe we should. I bet they stored shine in it during prohibition.

 

[TommyP]

thanks for the photos, y'all. Especially helpful are the leaves on the ground... reminding me what time of year makes it easier to find stuff!!

 

[Beach&Barrens]

I was going to resurrect this old thread below, but figured I ought to start a new one.
I went looking for the cellar hole of the Hermann hotel, the glassworks, and the unfinished house on the Mullica this Saturday. I started at Crowley's landing, where supposedly some glass was around, but that seems overgrown or cleaned up.
Then I walked down the closed-off end of Bulltown Road, and didn't find much. Finally, I walked down whatever road is near LB's Lunch Box (good corn fritters and crab cake sandwich, btw) and I found some old sycamore trees, and what looked like what had been the lakefront land of a hotel, with some yucca or similar plants in a row.
I walked around looking for the glassworks and the house ruins, but I couldn't find a thing.
Has anyone been out there recently? Is it worth returning in winter, when visibility may be better, or can you only see anything from the water?

the olden thread:

Ruins on the Mullica

So I'm paddling the Mullica during low tide often. Just before Bull Creek, whats the story behind the ruins that are just the stone foundations? Is that the Herman Hotel? And also the home next to it that looks as though it may share the same fate someday soon? And why are there so many...

forums.njpinebarrens.com

Oh, is that where LB's Lunch Box moved to? I remember them from when they were next to the River Road Clam House. Good po'boys too. I'll have to stop by again and explore the area. Sounds like some interesting stuff to see back there.

 

[TommyP]

Yeah, they apparently had all sorts of issues because the town council doesn't like food trucks. Once they bought land, they still had issues until it was clear they weren't using the truck. The food is still good, I had some fritters and crab cakes and they were tasty. I wish they were open all year round!
I'll be going back once the leaves drop to see if I can find the ruins people have shared. I have trouble finding the glass of water I just poured myself, much less forgotten ruins...

 

[Ben Ruset]

Here's a pic of the house ruins from back in 2002 or 2003. Taken on my old Sony camera that stored photos on a floppy disk.

We had the very first "get together" for the site there.

 

[TommyP]

Here's a pic

Thanks! Now I know what to look for!

 

[Ottavio08]

It’s still there, you’re very close. When you walked down that path towards then Mullica, to the right is all of the dwellings and what’s left. With all the over grow and sticker bushes it’s hard to find. Depending on the tide is if u can see the old wharf or not. I’ve been twice, once I could see the ward the other it was under water. 2021

 

[TommyP]

Thank you! I went back and found the house ruins that Ben shared, but I didn't see the wharf or anything like that tunnel or bricks.