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November 20 - 27
Mines, Metal and Men
There is a thread of heritage and industry that began in the New Jersey highlands centuries ago, before America officially started.
Exploring the past, rather than reading about it, is enchanting. It is the ultimate virtual reality to feel the things that have happened right where you're standing. You can't touch the experience with any video, documentary or Disneyland. Turning off onto a county highway becomes a tour through some of the richest history in America when you really know where you are. And by making personal discoveries about our heritage we find more meaning in what we encounter day to day.
Whose Woods Are These?
What the heck kind of rock is that big brown petrified toad anyway? All those layers... it looks kind of like its growing out of the ground. How did it get here?
A walk in the woods at this time of year can reveal more than you can imagine. The beaten-down forest rewards hikers with visible reminders of a busy past, sometimes in remote tracts high in the hills. And there are less renown, but equally intriguing remnants of history lurking in the woods of Northwest New Jersey.
Try walking the domain of the former Pequest Furnace near Oxford, which played a role in the Industrial Revolution along with dozens of other sites in Northwest New Jersey. The part played here is relatively obscure, pieces of a puzzle hidden in the Warren County woods. Beyond the brown wispy remnants of last summer's green field at the edge of the woods, there sits a small, gray, alien hill, a pile of what might be lunar matter or crushed-up meteor. More...
The Essence of Fluorescence
A thirty-two-foot-long pageant of rocks at the Franklin Mineral Museum that includes many of the ninety-plus fluorescent minerals found here, comes alive under ultraviolet light.
Sparta, Ogdensburg, Franklin and surrounding Sussex County communities are most widely known for their rolling hills, farms, lakes, and back country lanes. Most visitors do not realize that oceans covered this area some 1.25 billion years before, a time when there was little life in the seas and even less on land, but when the astounding volume and variety of minerals in this area was deposited in as what we now know as the Franklin Marble. The area’s unusual geology helped shape a rich stream of historic discoveries, visionary people, successes, and failures. Today, we can follow that history along a corridor running from Sparta northward to Franklin, a fifteen-mile road trip that is fascinating, fun, and well worth taking!
Dry Eye
The only thing remotely good about a drought is what the lack of water might reveal. On a walk along Spruce Run Reservoir's north shore, just off Van Syckle's Rd., the remnants of the historic, iron producing Union Furnace from early 1700s are now clearly visible. And in the far left of this photo you can also see an old turnpike that has rarely seen the light of day since the reservoir's construction in 1961.
What's In A Name?
It is not difficult to track down the Andover mine's location. But beware that the property is private and that trespassing is prohibited.
As far back as the early 1700s the name Andover was used by the Penns, owners of a large tract here granted to them by the Proprietors, to refer to the whole general area in Sussex County. Over the years, various sites have borne the Andover name, including local iron mines, forges, furnaces, factories and settlements with a connection with these early iron interests. More...
On The Way
Specializing in British foods and candy, and a wide selection of hard-to-find items, Wilbur's Country Store is the perfect source for a unique country gift. Located in a charming barn complex on Rt. 94 in Frelinghuysen ( between Newton and Blairstown), Wilbur’s is the perfect destination on a drive through the New Jersey countryside. Find a unique gift for someone special!
Three historic buildings, will be open with talented crafters and interesting vendors to fill your holiday shopping list. Presented by the all-volunteer, nonprofit, Heritage and Agriculture Association, Inc., in cooperation with the NJ DEP/Division of Parks and Forestry.
Tap our calendar for the best events for you and your family, or check our current stories.
Pick from a multitude of daytrip itineraries and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed.
For the more aerobically inclined, the Outdoor Map shows the way to go, or
choose among dozens of natural attractions or outdoor activities suggested on our website. Choose your own adventure!
Like many other small, independent and specialized information sources, our budget will increasingly rely on reader donations. Help us keep you informed about all the great stuff to do in and around Northwest New Jersey! If you like what we offer, we hope you'll consider a contribution.
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