Trail of the Blue Comet

Teegate

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Sep 17, 2002
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Jerseyman,


Since I am reading the Blue Comet at work during break, I figured I would throw out some questions and make comments as I progress.

On page 34 it mentions J. D. Beers who was a NY Broker in the 1850’s, at least at this point in time in the book. He purchased land in the pines to capitalize on the coming of the RR. I have a large map of the Jones Mill Tract from 1919 and it says Beers Realty owned the tract. I am assuming this is either the same person 60 years later, or the family business was Realty?

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It seems odd that 60 years later and investment broker or Realty company would still own the property. BTW, it is a huge piece of property.

Guy
 

Tom

Explorer
Feb 10, 2004
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Guy/Jerseyman,

Where was the Jones Mill Tract situated? And, was this tract associated with the Hanover iron business/family?
 

Teegate

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Guy/Jerseyman,

Where was the Jones Mill Tract situated? And, was this tract associated with the Hanover iron business/family?

Jones Mill is Chatsworth, but the property is deceptive. Starting in Chatsworth right at the firehouse the property follows the Jersey Central all the way across 72 until it meets what now is Lebanon. It then turns east and meets the Hanover Furnace tract right where I took you Tom that had the old sandstone stones and the state cement monument. Remember when you exited my car to move the branch in the road? Right there. It then follows the Hanover tract, which later became the Union Clay Mining property to where we are going to look for the stone. It curves around along the Hanover tact to Lauries road working it works it’s way to Union Clay Works. From there it heads to Red Oak Grove and then makes an abrupt turn and travels through the plains to the Shoal Branch by Long Causeway. Then to Dukes Bridge, and then it follows the road from Dukes Bridge right back to the firehouse in Chatsworth.

Basically being very vague,

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...288&spn=0.102582,0.244446&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr

This vicinity.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.85...9752&spn=0.10252,0.244446&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr

This vicinity

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.83...207&spn=0.102547,0.244446&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr

Then all the way here.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.80...722&spn=0.102602,0.244446&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr

Then Dukes Bridge

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.79...384&spn=0.102614,0.244446&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr

Then back to the Firehouse



Guy
 
Jones Mill actually is not Chatsworth as many sources say it was.. It was located south of Chatsworth on the road to Dukes Bridge where the Governors Branch meets.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.80...375&spn=0.025647,0.061111&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr

I would assume it was a sawmill.

BTW, further reading shows Beers died in the 1860's.

Guy

Guy:

Actually, a portion of the Beers land DID extend into Chatsworth; whether it was part of the Jones Mill Tract, I cannot say at the moment without digging into my files. Two of Beers's granddaughter, heirs of the Joseph D. Beers estate, established the Chatsworth Park Company in the early 1890s and the Chatsworth Club on a portion of the land in 1904 on a portion of the 25,000 acres that Beers had amassed in Shamong. See page 133 and page 197 in the book.

If you have additional questions, I will do my best to answer them.

Best regards,
Jerseyman
 

Teegate

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Thanks for the info.

In further reading I see he died in the 1860's. Here is the portion of the tract that shows it ending right in the middle of the road by the firehouse.

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Guy
 

Teegate

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I read page 133 today. It mentions that Beers great grandchildren inherited the tract, and it also lists their names. One of the females was Mrs. Jonathan Godfrey which is quite interesting. In the middle of the Jones Mill tract there is only one exception shown, and it shows her husbands name on it.

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This piece of property later was sold to “Rocco” DeMarco and eventually his son Garfield DeMarco inherited it, and now obviously it is one piece of the Parker Preserve.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.82...376&spn=0.011932,0.030127&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr

Guy
 

Teegate

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No I did not. I have never viewed that plate before. I just get an email when something with the name of the book shows up on ebay and I sent the link. I did not check to see if it was a plate because I did not know there was one.

Thanks for the heads up.

Guy
 
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