Pasadena and Greenwood Forest Historical Info

[Teegate]

All,

I have only recently acquired this info, but I thought I would throw a small portion of it out there to hopefully set the record straight on some of it, and to try to keep some history from disappearing possibly forever. I have more to come so as I get the info together I will pass it along in this thread.

So here goes...

We have discussed Old and New Half Way here many times before, with very little being known about either, especially New Half Way. Some people think there were the same place, others do not, with me not really knowing and keeping out of the speculating. I have heard they were completely different towns or locations, and have also heard they were what was left of the town after the digging ended. The latter always seemed to me to be unrealistic.

The debate would go on and on until something came to light, at least by those of us here, on what the true facts on this really are. However, I am happy to say that I personally have made my final decision today. It does not come by speculation, but by a map that shows the location of them, ending this perplexing problem.

This 1808 map which appears, but may not have been, reproduced in some fashion from the Survey of George Sykes. It clearly shows two separate but close locations of these two enigmatic towns. The little houses obviously show where houses or homes were located.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegat...DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1957&g2_serialNumber=1

Closer scrutiny of this map shows much more interesting info which will follow. To be continued!

Guy

 

[BEHR655]

Good find Guy. Can't wait to see what else the map reveals.
Steve

 

[Teegate]

Good find Guy. Can't wait to see what else the map reveals.
Steve

Fair enough!

So...most of us have heard of Webb's Mill, and at least a few of us have been there many times. If you have been to the boardwalk on 539 you have basically been to Webb's Mill.

Started around the time our country was formed, it was an important part of New Jersey's industry with it's reported sawmill and tar kiln. By the mid 1800's it was in ruins.

Somebody owned that industry, but where did they live? Can we find the ruins of their home's today? One would think that to be impossible but is it? One day we may visit the home of Jacob or Asa Webb Jr. (Thats right...Asa!)

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegat...DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1959&g2_serialNumber=1


Guy

 

[Boyd]

That's a very cool find Guy!

 

[BEHR655]

I'm getting goose bumps.

Steve

 

[woodjin]

Wow!! that is really cool! I wonder if the house locations are pretty accurate. I don't have a distance perspective with the map, new and old halfway look awfully close to each other.

That is very interesting find Guy!! I look forward to additional information you find with this map.

Jeff

 

[BEHR655]

Interesting. If what the map shows as Old Half Way is the clay pits then my gps software shows the maps location (approxamately) of New Half Way but calls it Old Half Way.

Steve

 

[bobpbx]

Real neat find Guy. Notice the guy left out the "N" in Greenwood? I like how he put the chimney's on the houses, and winders too!

Road Trip!

 

[Teegate]

In this photo you can see Zebulon Collins mentioned again where it is circled in red. As I have mentioned before he had a home right at the location of the Eureka Gun Club nears Webb's Mill. But what is circled in yellow is new to me.

The two hills just south or SSW of Webb's Mill were called according to this map "White Hill" and "2nd White Hill." The "2nd White Hill" is obviously this one.

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39.87929&lon=-74.3772&size=l&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG

The one marked "White Hill" would be this one.

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39.87221&lon=-74.37994&size=l&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG

Guy

 

[bobpbx]

Yup, I know 'em both. Them thar hills.

 

[Ben Ruset]

If you have been to the boardwalk on 539 you have basically been to Webb's Mill.

I would love to find some more evidence of Webbs Mill. A while ago Bob showed me some ruins in the area, on the opposite side of 539, IIRC.

 

[Teegate]

I would love to find some more evidence of Webbs Mill. A while ago Bob showed me some ruins in the area, on the opposite side of 539, IIRC.

Since it was in ruins by the mid 1800's, I doubt there is much to find. But it would be nice.


Adding some more info here, this portion of the map shows Aserdaten and if you look closely to the blob on the right it shows the Forked River Mountains. It shows Aserdaten at the intersection of Dutchman's road and the road to Zebulon Collins house or the Eureka Gun Club which would be as we know it accurate. If the map is accurate it shows the house on the opposite side of the road from where we have always thought it was. The house could have been just placed in the general area.

BTW Ben, I found a map that shows a "Rutherford" tract, but it is more towards Howardsville and at one area crosses over 539 toward Union Clay.

Guy

 

[bobpbx]

Guy, what is that writing on the mountains next to the aserdaten house? And can you show me a wider view of that spot?

PS: know whats funny and kind of neat? I'll bet Dutchman's road was named a long time before the map, and no one at that time can remember who the guy was.

 

[Teegate]

It says "Forked River Mountains". Look closely at it.

Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

Most sane people believe it to be there.

 

[Teegate]

I also acquired a 1950 Chatsworth Quad and found it interesting that on the back is the same quad in aerial view. You can flip back and forth and see aerial or topo.

At Friendship is shows at least 14 buildings, and at Sandy Ridge there are 8. Some are not where one usually goes so it looks like a road trip one day.

It shows a dwelling at the Eagle Tavern location, with one further north on the road. Another place to check out.

The Butler Place Recreation area we have discussed is shown and Pioneer Smelting is described as "Zink Ore Refinery".

And I have hiked here before but never knew the name of the area which I now know as Reeds Place. I guess the Reeds Branch nearby is named after someone called Reed??

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39.83753&lon=-74.52438&s=48&size=l&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG


Guy

 

[ebsi2001]

Guy,
Did I understand correctly, that the map dates back to 1808? Is there any reference to Howardsville on it?
Ebsi

 

[Teegate]

Ebsi,

I want to thank you for posting on this. I just went back over the map to check for you, and noticed that I now know the exact location of "New Half Way". Your request for an answer caused me to notice something I was missing in previous views of the map.

Getting back to your question, it either says 1808 or 1838. By the mid 1800 Webb's Mill was in ruins so it certainly would not be 1888. There is no mention of Howardsville. It shows a multitude of property lots in that area with many of them being owned by a Wm. Eldridge. It is not a precision map for displaying property lines.

Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

Howardsville was, I believe, a product of the early 20th century.

 

[jokerman]

I was very intrigued by this post. I tried to use what was made available of the map on the messages to see where it was showing, but the limited view made it impossible to be sure of where I was looking at because I couldn't be sure of any of the roads. Just wondering if more of the map could be seen somehow?