The lost and forgotten Sandy Ridge Station

[woodjin]

The only ruins I could find of this long gone train station.

out house pit probably

over grown celler hole

another out house hole a bit further away from the other ruins

Jeff

 

[ecampbell]

Is that here Jeff?
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.785053302038655&lng=-74.60840005081178&z=16&type=nj1995&gpx=

 

[Gibby]

Woodjin, I believe that is a sawmill.

IMO, it is to far away from the tracks to be a station. Look at the 1931 aerials, the roof line is clearly visible. Next to the tree were the visible brick is you will see a large washer and a piece of chainlink.

 

[woodjin]

Is that here Jeff?
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.785053302038655&lng=-74.60840005081178&z=16&type=nj1995&gpx=

very close, it is south east of the tracks

 

[woodjin]

Woodjin, I believe that is a sawmill.

IMO, it is to far away from the tracks to be a station. Look at the 1931 aerials, the roof line is clearly visible. Next to the tree were the visible brick is you will see a large washer and a piece of chainlink.

Woodjin, I believe that is a sawmill.

IMO, it is to far away from the tracks to be a station. Look at the 1931 aerials, the roof line is clearly visible. Next to the tree were the visible brick is you will see a large washer and a piece of chainlink.

I had thought of that Gibby, the one depression depicted in photo #6 was very indictive of a saw pit, but i've never seen a saw mill foundation made out of brick that I can recall. It also very much appeared as a wall within the depression. Do really think it is too far away to be a station (I take it you are familar with the location)?

 

[Gibby]

I had thought of that Gibby, the one depression depicted in photo #6 was very indictive of a saw pit, but i've never seen a saw mill foundation made out of brick that I can recall. It also very much appeared as a wall within the depression. Do really think it is too far away to be a station (I take it you are familar with the location)?

I am familiar with the location and area. If you take a look at the Chatsworth station you can see why I would say it is to far away, unless there was a rail siding.

Did you happen to notice the long and low mound behind the site?

 

[woodjin]

I am familiar with the location and area. If you take a look at the Chatsworth station you can see why I would say it is to far away, unless there was a rail siding.

Did you happen to notice the long and low mound behind the site?

Yes, I did notice that. Are you thinking saw dust mound? It would not surprise me, however, the brick work seems very odd for a saw mill base. There might be overlapping histories there. the brick foundation might preceed the sawmill. I think that Jerseyman said that sandy ridge station was just a platform, so maybe the foundation isn't even related to the station. can you link the 1931 aerial with the roof? I see a 1930 aerial and don't see the roof.

Jeff

 

[woodjin]

over in this area somewhere is a pit that is indictive of a sawmill pit but I didn't find any base for the saw
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.75579737924717&lng=-74.60397373538495&z=20&type=hybrid&gpx=

over here also, no base but a typical sawmill depression
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.78728033297207&lng=-74.52411833804132&z=19&type=hybrid&gpx=

 

[Gibby]

Jeff,

I was mistaken. The aerial I was looking at was from 1930. My memory was a bit cloudy. I had casually mentioned to Teegate several months ago if he had any ideas to what this may be and who may have operated it.

Yes. I was thinking saw dust mound.


Robert

 

[Ben Ruset]

Good thread!

 

[Teegate]

Jeff,

There are quite a few sawmill foundations made from brick.

Guy

 

[woodjin]

I don't recall any and I know I've found a bunch of them, but if that is the case then perhaps this area was nothing but a saw mill.

 

[Gibby]

Woodjin,

You have seen this brick base at Union Clay haven't you?

- I have always thought that this was an engine base for a sawmill, but I could be wrong.

 

[Jerseyman]

Gibby:

If this is the correct foundation that I recall, it once supported a stationary engine used to power the factory at Union Clay Works. An issue of the New Jersey Courier, published in Toms River, from sometime between 1858 and 1860, carried a squib about moving a stationary engine by wagon(s) from the Raritan & Delaware Bay Railroad tracks to the Union Clay Works at Plainville. I cannot recall the exact date of the newspaper mention, but if you need it, I can look it up in my files.

Provocative quote from Voltaire's Candide, Gibby!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[Teegate]

The foundation at Union Clay which held the steam engine is still there with the bolts intact. I don't believe Gibby's photo is from that location.

 

[Gibby]

The base I have pictured is alongside of an older fire road several hundred yards away from where Teegate's picture was taken.