Star Tree Corner Revisited

[Teegate]

Since we have a new member named Star Tree, I thought it would be interesting to see if we can learn more about Star Tree Corner(s). It has become apparent to me that there are numerous Start Tree Corners since I believe they are 5 road intersections. A member who no longer posts (behr655) brought the subject of Star Tree Corner to our attention back in 2003 when he found a blurb about it on the state website. That site no longer works but I did some searching and found it. The link is at the end of this post. The part we are interested in is this.

Sometimes all that remains of a vanished town is a clearing in the woods. "Star-Tree Corner" is an area in the woods named for the convergence of five sand roads. It marks the spot where the town of Washington, one of the more prominent of the vanished towns of the Pinelands, once stood. During the period of the Revolutionary War, the Washington Tavern was an important meeting place. Soldiers were recruited there and weddings were held there.

Later, I acquired a map that showed the location of a Star Tree Corner to be the intersection just before the old Cedar Bridge Fire Tower coming in from 539 on the road to the Forked River Mountains. It also showed the intersection at the old fire towner location to be called Moon Tree Corner.

Star Tree Corner with Moon Tree at the intersection to the right. Star Tree is now basically not a 5 road intersection.

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.831081811411295&lng=-74.34506177902222&z=17&type=h&gpx=


My map

BTW, the stone mentioned on the map is no longer there, but the old Union Township Monument is.

Does anyone have more info on Start Tree Corners?

Guy

 

[MarkBNJ]

Are two different areas being described here? The snippet you posted seems to be referring to the intersection near the Sooy place (tavern? hotel? I don't know) near Washington, but then you go on to talk about a spot a good bit further north. Or perhaps I am confused.

 

[Teegate]

You are correct. I mentioned that it was obvious that a Star Tree Corner is any intersection with 5 roads. That paragraph pretty much tells us that. Then I discussed the one I know of in the next paragraph with the operative words being "of a."

Later, I acquired a map that showed the location of a Star Tree Corner

Guy

 

[MarkBNJ]

You are correct. I mentioned that it was obvious that a Star Tree Corner is any intersection with 5 roads. That paragraph pretty much tells us that. Then I discussed the one I know of in the next paragraph with the operative words being "of a."

Later, I acquired a map that showed the location of a Star Tree Corner

Guy

Ah, I see, thanks for the clarification. There's two up in the Lebanon that would qualify: a six-way at Woodmansie, Glassworks, and Egg Harbor, and a five-way at Coopers, Butterworth, and Plowed.

 

[Jerseyman]

Guy and Mark:

Roadway intersections carry various monikers, depending on the number of roads radiating from the intersection. These nicknames include: turkeyfoot (4 roads), crossroads or X-roads (2 roads), and wyes or forks (2 roads). One famous sharp-angled intersection just outside of Pemberton morphed from Conical Corners to Comical Corners—probably due to “ear conditioning.” After musing on the name “Star Tree,” I can only conclude our ancestors added the word “tree” to the term to indicate the overall shape of the intersection, i.e., the intersection appeared like the trunk and main branches of a tree.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[MarkBNJ]

Guy and Mark:

Roadway intersections carry various monikers, depending on the number of roads radiating from the intersection. These nicknames include: turkeyfoot (4 roads), crossroads or X-roads (2 roads), and wyes or forks (2 roads). One famous sharp-angled intersection just outside of Pemberton morphed from Conical Corners to Comical Corners—probably due to “ear conditioning.” After musing on the name “Star Tree,” I can only conclude our ancestors added the word “tree” to the term to indicate the overall shape of the intersection, i.e., the intersection appeared like the trunk and main branches of a tree.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

"Turkeyfoot," that's great. Never heard that one before.

 

[Jerseyman]

Mark:

Your comment surprised me, considering one of the best turkeyfoot intersections in this area is still extant in your hometown. Here is a detail from the 1856 Barnes & Vanderveer map of Camden County:

The arrow is pointing to the intersection of Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Burnt Mill Road, and Browning Lane in the Woodcrest Section of present-day Cherry Hill, Camden County. You can easily see how it received the name “Turkeyfoot,” but this is certainly not the only turkeyfoot intersection in southern New Jersey.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[MarkBNJ]

I know that intersection well! But I don't recall hearing the term 'turkeyfoot' applied to a junction like that until I read your post. I find it very colorful and descriptive, and I'm trying to work it into a story I'm writing.

 

[Bachman's Ivory]

I wonder if there is any correlation to the "turkey tracks" and "wandering foot" quilt patterns of pioneer days.
http://www.patternsfromhistory.com/pioneer_patterns/wanderingfoot.htm

 

[Jerseyman]

Chase:

I have not found any correlation between a turkeyfoot intersection and the patterning of early quilts. I can see how the quilting designs received their names, just as the roadway intersection has the physical appearance of a turkey foot. I do not, however, observe any connectivity between them.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[Jerseyman]

Mark:

As a variation on Turkeyfoot, there is also Crowfoot:

Scott, 1876:41

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[MarkBNJ]

Jerseyman, the property owner on the far right of that map... is that meant to mean "Widow Conrad?"

 

[Jerseyman]

Mark:

Yes. Cartographers often abbreviated such titles on their works. The Widow Conrad owned 10 acres of land in 1876.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[Bachman's Ivory]

Chase:

I have not found any correlation between a turkeyfoot intersection and the patterning of early quilts. I can see how the quilting designs received their names, just as the roadway intersection has the physical appearance of a turkey foot. I do not, however, observe any connectivity between them.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

Just taking a shot in the dark.
Thanks for the response!
-Chase