Unexpected Road

[johnnyb]

This strangely named road starts on Rte 54 and runs roughly northwest.
Anyone have info on why the strange name?
Speaking of which, we noticed a street sign in Glamssboro: "No Name Road".
That set some kind of a record. There must be an interesting story behind why it got that moniker.

 

[bobpbx]

Is that near Unexpected Wildlife Refuge?

A.K.A. Beaver Resort.

 

[johnnyb]

Bob, it runs due west (not northwest as I had thought) from 54 past the Unexpected Refuge towards Blue Bell and Malaga.
If its named for the refuge my question moves over to the refuge........

 

[Boyd]

Yes: http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.56598124944451&lng=-74.92745954196931&z=16&type=terrain&gpx=

The road runs from Rt 54 to Piney Hollow Rd, but I'm not sure if you can drive the whole way through, seems to me there is a gate somewhere. Clearly that is where the refuge got its name, but I don't know the history of the road name. I recall there was an article somewhere about strange road names and Unexpected Road and and Shades of Death Road were the top two favorites. I think we have discussed this before here.

 

[Boyd]

Bob, it runs due west

A link to NJPB Maps is worth a thousand words.

 

[Boyd]

If its named for the refuge my question moves over to the refuge........

I think it's the other way around. The road has been there for a long time, the refuge is relatively new. This was discussed a few months ago. A search should find more threads… https://forums.njpinebarrens.com/threads/unexpected.10934/

 

[Spung-Man]

Unexpected was where the ancient Blue Anchor trail (Cumberland Furnace to Buena to Inskeeps Ford) split off at a spung to cross a beaver dam on Marsh Lake Branch. If you went due west instead turning north towards Piney Hollow you ended up at Blue Bell Tavern (c.1761) on Tuckahoe Road and shortly after at "The Lake" or giant spung that headed Marsh Lake Branch and its early settlement.

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.576390205082525&lng=-75.00008437436105&z=16&type=nj1930&gpx=​

The modern straight Unexpected Road appeared on Beers (1872) where Pancoast of Pancoast Mill had a siding on the Vineland Railway, at which lumber products, charcoal, and hoop poles could be conveniently transported. Before rail service his forest products were hauled to Mays Landing and Schetterville (near Millville).

Beers 1872, Pancoast Station, a blue hole, Benson Farm
​

I have never found an origin for Unexepected, but suspect it might be the cranberry operation that shows up on the 1887 Cook/Vermeule map where the modern road crosses Marsh Lake Branch. I was told there once was a long shack built over the bog that became a speakeasy but see no evidence of such on the c.1931 aerial photomosaics. One of three blue holes on Three Pond Branch can still be seen near Route 54 & Unexpected Road, and was used for Baptisms. None of the three original Great Ponds exist today, but modern excavation renewed one of the water bodies.

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.56474573230556&lng=-74.88790366452218&z=16&type=nj1930&gpx=​

Does anyone know the significance of the circled R. Benson Place near Unexpected Road's start?

S-M