Mary Ann Forge and Cranberries

Ben Ruset

Ben Ruset

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Big kudos goes to RednekF350 for posting the link to iMAP and the 1930's aerial photography. From there I took a snapshot of Mary Ann Forge from 1930, 2000, and a USGS topo from USATopoMaps and put them together in the image below.

It looks pretty clear to me, although I hate to admit it, that there was a bog in that area. Also note the clearing with a lot of roads to it marked "Old Clearing" and how it's now totally gone. Maybe there was a packing house there at one point in time? Maybe there's ruins there now?

Either way, check out how the flow of the Greenwood and Pole Bridge Branches have changed.

 
pinelandpaddler

pinelandpaddler

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Apr 6, 2004
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Ben, what exactly did you see in the 1930's photos that you didn't see in modern photos which indicated to you that there were bogs there?
 
Ben Ruset

Ben Ruset

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If you click through to get to the full size image you'll see my annotations.

In the 1930's view, there's a big clearing marked "bog," which roughly coincides with where the topo shows a bog to be. In the 2000 imagery, you can see that forest has reclaimed that area.

I think I may try to explore that area in greater detail this winter. I'm really curious to see if there is anything that resembles a cranberry operation (ruins, etc.) in the area.
 
bobpbx

bobpbx

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Oct 25, 2002
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bruset said:
If you click through to get to the full size image you'll see my annotations.

In the 1930's view, there's a big clearing marked "bog," which roughly coincides with where the topo shows a bog to be. In the 2000 imagery, you can see that forest has reclaimed that area.

I think I may try to explore that area in greater detail this winter. I'm really curious to see if there is anything that resembles a cranberry operation (ruins, etc.) in the area.
Click to expand...

It would be neat to do Bisphams Mill before and now photos. I was going to show Jeff that there was a resevoir "upstream" of the old dam we found.
 
woodjin

woodjin

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Nov 8, 2004
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Very interesting. I am particularly curious about the area you labeled "old clearing". I have been to that spot but it has been awhile. I remember that you can tell the area was disturbed. That area you labeled "bog" I always believed to be lake bottom. There is a significant drop off right there near the pump house ruins. I wonder if the "substantial ruins" I found back in there could have been a massive packing house, but I don't think so, too old and why have a basement.

Jeff
 
woodjin

woodjin

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Nov 8, 2004
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Near Mt. Misery
bobpbx said:
It would be neat to do Bisphams Mill before and now photos. I was going to show Jeff that there was a resevoir "upstream" of the old dam we found.
Click to expand...

I saw that. I am surprised the reservoir was still there in the 30's. According to some resources it was gone in the early 1900's. I guess Beck did come across the reservoir in his exploration of the area.

Thanks to Scott for turning us on to this 1930 map. Amazing stuff.

Jeff
 
Ben Ruset

Ben Ruset

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When I went back there with Ariadne, she was certain that the substantial ruins that you found were connected with the sawmill. There definitely was a sawmill operation back there, and the base for the saw motor is made of the same type of concrete as the big ruins.

Also, what pump house ruins?
 
woodjin

woodjin

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Nov 8, 2004
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bruset said:
When I went back there with Ariadne, she was certain that the substantial ruins that you found were connected with the sawmill. There definitely was a sawmill operation back there, and the base for the saw motor is made of the same type of concrete as the big ruins.

Also, what pump house ruins?
Click to expand...

Yeah, it just seems to permanent for a saw mill operation, but it does seem logical due to construction, dating, and location.

The pump house ruins are the newer (than the sawmill) ruins that are right along the old road and steep drop to the "bog" There are 3 or 4 celler holes and the pump house, which has a pipe comming from the ground and smells like gas a bit. I showed them to you when you and Stu and I went out.

Jeff
 
woodjin

woodjin

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Nov 8, 2004
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Near Mt. Misery
I got out to make a quick visit to the "old clearing" as depicted on the 1930 photo that Ben posted above, as it is very near my house.

I had been there before, but did not realize it was once very clear as you can see in the 1930 photo. The ticks were awful and it is summer so I only did very moderate poking around for ruins. Nothing. but winter would be the time for that. Here are some pics:

As you approach,the old road leads to the clearing on the left.

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Random shots of the clearing:

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Someone has set up a modest fire ring with a stack of cut timber near it. Looks like a camping ring instead of a party fire ring.

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A steep drop on the edge of the clearing leads toward Mt. Misery brook.

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The very near, pole bridge branch. The water levels are low.

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A quick shot of the nearby rail bed (to the right) and very sugar sandy and whoop de doo invested power line road.

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Like I said, my visit was very brief and the area warrents further investigation after the ticks have mostly left. I was already familar with the area but it was of new interest to go there after seeing the 1930 ariel photo. I have always been curious as to what was going on in this highly disturbed area. I suspect the clearing to have been a turn around area before heading down to the narrow bridge over Mt. Misery brook to perhaps the saw mill or cranberry operations if there were any. The wood or berries were mostly likely loaded onto the trains at the rail by means of this road which leads from the clearing.

watermark.php


Jeff
 
bobpbx

bobpbx

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Oct 25, 2002
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Nice shots Jeff. I don't understand the low water level at Pole Bridge Branch at all. Is that branch tapped at all for cranberry operations over by route 70? It makes no sense to be that low. Even if the bogs are not sucking it up, it is still too low and I wonder if County Lakes is starting to suck up all the ground water.
 
woodjin

woodjin

Piney
Nov 8, 2004
4,342
328
Near Mt. Misery
bobpbx said:
Nice shots Jeff. I don't understand the low water level at Pole Bridge Branch at all. Is that branch tapped at all for cranberry operations over by route 70? It makes no sense to be that low. Even if the bogs are not sucking it up, it is still too low and I wonder if County Lakes is starting to suck up all the ground water.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not sure either Bob. There is a large cranberry bog that utilizes the pole bridge branch on route 70. But between there and it's confluence with Mt. Misery there are several tributaries before and after country lakes.

Jeff
 
pinelandpaddler

pinelandpaddler

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Apr 6, 2004
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Reviving this thread.


In another thread, I said:

Regarding the straight, channelized portion of Mount Misery Brook, notice that it was not there in 1930 and that it was there in 1956. The channel was dug out for the cranberry operation and was not associated with the iron days.
Click to expand...

Guy responded:

Jerseyman would say that careful research comes up with the true facts.
Click to expand...

I must agree.

Guy, are you suggesting that more research is needed to know that the stream was channelized for the cranberry operation, or are you suggesting that more research is needed to even know that there was in fact a cranberry operation there? Let's talk. :)
 
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