All,
I have been wanting to revisit all of the Lawrence Line stones that I spent 2 months looking for back in 2004 and today was the day I started that project. I have been looking over aerial photo's and have been concerned that at least one of them was in danger of being permanently destroyed, so I decided to visit that one first. On my last visit it was deep in the woods where the chances of it being found was quite remote; however, today it is in easy sight of a wide road that has been ployed by it less than 50 feet away. I stood there today and saw a person just a 100 yards away from us as we closed in on the stone. It's days are numbered.
Lawrence stone #7 surveyed in 1743 and most likely placed there after 1839. It is cracked in half.
We then moved on to # 11 which I have visited at least twice before. This is from my first visit in 2004.
Then again right after the Warren Grove fire. It is right in the middle and I am standing in a road.
Unfortunately, today it is completely in pieces and only the portion of the stone in the ground is there. Within a few years it will be impossible for someone with a hand held GPS to accurately find it. I suspect the heat of the fire and cold weather is the culprit.
Then on to #10 which I looked for last weekend and could not find. I found it today hidden in some brush about 10 feet from where I was looking. It still looks the same.
I also visited #11 and it still is in good shape, but well hidden in the brush. I skipped photographing it for that reason.
On our way home I decided to not take the main roads and headed down Beaver Dam Road towards Stevenson Road. When we arrived at the little lake just before Stevenson Road the road was lined with Forest Fire Service and Warren Grove fire trucks. It was a tight fit but they waved us by. As we were passing them Jessica noticed a vehicle far out in the field with only the top of the vehicle showing.
The view we saw.
I stopped and asked a few questions to one of the fire personnel, and Jessica jumped out of the car and said "What and idiot ....what was he thinking." Unfortunately, the owner of the vehicle was standing right next to us at the time making it an awkward moment. She does that sometimes
Anyway, he informed me his relatives own the property and he was riding out there to visit the far end but did not know there was a ditch out there. Look closely for the ditch he went into at this link.
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.76300789212058&lng=-74.40245032310486&z=19&type=h&gpx=
He then informed me that after he got stuck the tall grass there was touching his engine and it started on fire. The vehicle was a total loss.
Notice the ditch with no water to fight the fire with.
He seemed really upset and a decent person, and he told me his luck has been pretty bad lately. I wish him well. As we were leaving I heard on the fire radio that the State Police were at 72 and Stevenson Road. They either needed a ride back or needed someone to show them and a FFS vehicle headed out that way as we headed home. I guess it is a police matter once the fire started. I hope he does not have problems because of that.
Guy
I have been wanting to revisit all of the Lawrence Line stones that I spent 2 months looking for back in 2004 and today was the day I started that project. I have been looking over aerial photo's and have been concerned that at least one of them was in danger of being permanently destroyed, so I decided to visit that one first. On my last visit it was deep in the woods where the chances of it being found was quite remote; however, today it is in easy sight of a wide road that has been ployed by it less than 50 feet away. I stood there today and saw a person just a 100 yards away from us as we closed in on the stone. It's days are numbered.
Lawrence stone #7 surveyed in 1743 and most likely placed there after 1839. It is cracked in half.
We then moved on to # 11 which I have visited at least twice before. This is from my first visit in 2004.
Then again right after the Warren Grove fire. It is right in the middle and I am standing in a road.
Unfortunately, today it is completely in pieces and only the portion of the stone in the ground is there. Within a few years it will be impossible for someone with a hand held GPS to accurately find it. I suspect the heat of the fire and cold weather is the culprit.
Then on to #10 which I looked for last weekend and could not find. I found it today hidden in some brush about 10 feet from where I was looking. It still looks the same.
I also visited #11 and it still is in good shape, but well hidden in the brush. I skipped photographing it for that reason.
On our way home I decided to not take the main roads and headed down Beaver Dam Road towards Stevenson Road. When we arrived at the little lake just before Stevenson Road the road was lined with Forest Fire Service and Warren Grove fire trucks. It was a tight fit but they waved us by. As we were passing them Jessica noticed a vehicle far out in the field with only the top of the vehicle showing.
The view we saw.
I stopped and asked a few questions to one of the fire personnel, and Jessica jumped out of the car and said "What and idiot ....what was he thinking." Unfortunately, the owner of the vehicle was standing right next to us at the time making it an awkward moment. She does that sometimes
Anyway, he informed me his relatives own the property and he was riding out there to visit the far end but did not know there was a ditch out there. Look closely for the ditch he went into at this link.http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.76300789212058&lng=-74.40245032310486&z=19&type=h&gpx=
He then informed me that after he got stuck the tall grass there was touching his engine and it started on fire. The vehicle was a total loss.
Notice the ditch with no water to fight the fire with.
He seemed really upset and a decent person, and he told me his luck has been pretty bad lately. I wish him well. As we were leaving I heard on the fire radio that the State Police were at 72 and Stevenson Road. They either needed a ride back or needed someone to show them and a FFS vehicle headed out that way as we headed home. I guess it is a police matter once the fire started. I hope he does not have problems because of that.
Guy
