All,
We started today by first trying to visit the saw mill that Scott (RednekF350) mentioned recently, but turned back when we were almost to it when we saw hunters congregating in the area. So we continued on to search for something that I have been wanted to do for a long time.
I have mentioned "Purchase A & Purchase B" here before, but will go over it briefly again. When the Wharton tract was purchased, there were basically two purchases, one a year after the other called A & B. This was mentioned also by Tom Pogranicy the former Superintendent when Ben and I attended the ceremonies there in December, so my facts were collaborated for me at that time.
Anyway, one end of the division line was a stone called "Stone 8" located near the Nescochague river on the Hammonton side just below Paradise Lake, with the other location along the JCRR east of Atsion.
So we then traveled down West Mills road from 206 and soon found out that there was a puddle there that I had concerns about crossing with my car. Looking at my GPS we had a mile and a quarter to go, so we hoofed it. We started on the road and eventually headed into the woods to try to cross the Nescochague.
If you remember a while back Ed and Lorun kayaked down that section from Paradise Lake, so I had asked Ed for the location of a good spot to cross. He mentioned that he had noticed an area that was very wide and had sandstone rocks and cement partially across the river and felt we could cross there. That location coincidentally was another location I had been looking to visit. More on that below.
We eventually made it to this location by Jessica shimmying across a very large tree over part of the river, and wading in hip waders across the rest. We then started looking for the "Purchase" stone.
We had been hearing hunters on a drive getting closer to us, and while traveling up a water filled path we came upon them suddenly all in a group. They noticed us and quickly headed into the woods dragging a deer or more.
We continued on, soon to be at the location where the state's purchase of the Wharton property started at, and we were not disappointed. Located along a path where hunters and not many other people visit, we found what we were looking for.
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1253-1/IMG_6284.jpg
Notice it on the right of the path
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1248-1/IMG_6283.jpg
I searched for the accompanying state stone and came up empty handed, so we headed back to the river to explore where we had crossed.
Now here is where a historian may be able to help us out, so I will just pass on my opinion and the facts.
On May 20 1876 Joseph Wharton sold a 1/4 acre piece of land to Augustus H. Richards along the Nescochague south of Paradise Lake Campground. On this property I am assuming Mr. Richards built a canal that appears to extend completely along the south side all the way down to possibly Pleasant Mills. The beginning of this canal is exactly where Ed found the stone's across the river on his kayak trip with Lorun. I am assuming Ed did not have much time to look around there, so Jessica and I did that today. I am convinced that this location at the Nescochague was at one time a large lake formed by damming of the river for a saw mill or some other endeavor. The reason why Joseph Wharton I believe sold him this property, is that in order to connect the canal to the Nescochague at this location, he had to cross Wharton's property. So Wharton sold him an approximately 40 foot wide easement to reach the river.
Here is the canal today.
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1262-1/IMG_6288.jpg
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1259-1/IMG_6287.jpg
Here is a map showing the canal. The short section from the balloon south to the almost horizontal path is the portion Wharton sold him. If you continue following the canal south it appears to travel all the way down to at least the housing development near Ace Campground. That is debatable.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.674389,-74.714417&ll=39.672462,-74.713318&spn=0.005772,0.012113&t=k
If you want to read more on Augustus H. Richards and you have "Heart of the Pines", you can read where he was involved in canals as far back as the 1820's. Pg 119 & 146-147
We then crossed back over the Nescochague, and hoofed the 1.25 miles back to the car. Here is a photo of a savannah we crossed, and Jessica leaving a cedar swamp.
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1265-1/IMG_6290.jpg
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1268-1/IMG_6292.jpg
Guy
We started today by first trying to visit the saw mill that Scott (RednekF350) mentioned recently, but turned back when we were almost to it when we saw hunters congregating in the area. So we continued on to search for something that I have been wanted to do for a long time.
I have mentioned "Purchase A & Purchase B" here before, but will go over it briefly again. When the Wharton tract was purchased, there were basically two purchases, one a year after the other called A & B. This was mentioned also by Tom Pogranicy the former Superintendent when Ben and I attended the ceremonies there in December, so my facts were collaborated for me at that time.
Anyway, one end of the division line was a stone called "Stone 8" located near the Nescochague river on the Hammonton side just below Paradise Lake, with the other location along the JCRR east of Atsion.
So we then traveled down West Mills road from 206 and soon found out that there was a puddle there that I had concerns about crossing with my car. Looking at my GPS we had a mile and a quarter to go, so we hoofed it. We started on the road and eventually headed into the woods to try to cross the Nescochague.
If you remember a while back Ed and Lorun kayaked down that section from Paradise Lake, so I had asked Ed for the location of a good spot to cross. He mentioned that he had noticed an area that was very wide and had sandstone rocks and cement partially across the river and felt we could cross there. That location coincidentally was another location I had been looking to visit. More on that below.
We eventually made it to this location by Jessica shimmying across a very large tree over part of the river, and wading in hip waders across the rest. We then started looking for the "Purchase" stone.
We had been hearing hunters on a drive getting closer to us, and while traveling up a water filled path we came upon them suddenly all in a group. They noticed us and quickly headed into the woods dragging a deer or more.
We continued on, soon to be at the location where the state's purchase of the Wharton property started at, and we were not disappointed. Located along a path where hunters and not many other people visit, we found what we were looking for.
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1253-1/IMG_6284.jpg
Notice it on the right of the path
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1248-1/IMG_6283.jpg
I searched for the accompanying state stone and came up empty handed, so we headed back to the river to explore where we had crossed.
Now here is where a historian may be able to help us out, so I will just pass on my opinion and the facts.
On May 20 1876 Joseph Wharton sold a 1/4 acre piece of land to Augustus H. Richards along the Nescochague south of Paradise Lake Campground. On this property I am assuming Mr. Richards built a canal that appears to extend completely along the south side all the way down to possibly Pleasant Mills. The beginning of this canal is exactly where Ed found the stone's across the river on his kayak trip with Lorun. I am assuming Ed did not have much time to look around there, so Jessica and I did that today. I am convinced that this location at the Nescochague was at one time a large lake formed by damming of the river for a saw mill or some other endeavor. The reason why Joseph Wharton I believe sold him this property, is that in order to connect the canal to the Nescochague at this location, he had to cross Wharton's property. So Wharton sold him an approximately 40 foot wide easement to reach the river.
Here is the canal today.
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1262-1/IMG_6288.jpg
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1259-1/IMG_6287.jpg
Here is a map showing the canal. The short section from the balloon south to the almost horizontal path is the portion Wharton sold him. If you continue following the canal south it appears to travel all the way down to at least the housing development near Ace Campground. That is debatable.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.674389,-74.714417&ll=39.672462,-74.713318&spn=0.005772,0.012113&t=k
If you want to read more on Augustus H. Richards and you have "Heart of the Pines", you can read where he was involved in canals as far back as the 1820's. Pg 119 & 146-147
We then crossed back over the Nescochague, and hoofed the 1.25 miles back to the car. Here is a photo of a savannah we crossed, and Jessica leaving a cedar swamp.
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1265-1/IMG_6290.jpg
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1268-1/IMG_6292.jpg
Guy
