New Jersey Ghost Towns: Uncovering the Hidden Past

Copyright ©2012 by Stackpole Books

Published by

STACKPOLE BOOKS

5067 Ritter Road

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

www.stackpolebooks.com

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Stackpole Books.

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

FIRST EDITION

Cover photo by Patricia A. Martinelli

Cover design by Wendy Reynolds

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Martinelli, Patricia A.

New Jersey ghost towns : uncovering the hidden past / Patricia A. Martinelli. — 1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN-13: 978-0-8117-0910-1 (pbk.)

ISBN-10: 0-8117-0910-8 (pbk.)

1. Ghost towns—New Jersey. 2. New Jersey—History, Local. 3. Haunted places—New Jersey. I. Title.

F134.M127 2012

974.9—dc23

2011028080

To all those who aren’t afraid

to wander down the road less taken

CONTENTS

Preface

North Jersey

New Bridge, Bergen County

Hibernia, Morris County

Ironia, Morris County

Hewitt, Passaic County

Andover, Sussex County

Branchville, Sussex County

Hainesville, Sussex County

Waterloo, Sussex County

Feltville, Union County

Buttzville, Warren County

Central Jersey

Larison’s Corner, Hunterdon County

Ralston, Hunterdon County

Ralston Heights, Mercer County

Fellowship Farm, Middlesex County

Raritan Bay Union, Middlesex County

Raritan Landing, Middlesex County

Roosevelt, Monmouth County

North American Phalanx, Monmouth County

Topanemus, Monmouth County

Harlingen and Belle Mead, Somerset County

Millstone, Somerset County

Pottersville, Somerset County

South Jersey

Amatol, Atlantic County

Batsto, Atlantic County

Catawba, Atlantic County

Estellville, Atlantic County

Scullville, Atlantic County

Brotherton, Burlington County

Chairville, Burlington County

Chatsworth, Burlington County

Ong’s Hat, Burlington County

Pasadena, Burlington County

Timbuctoo, Burlington County

Whitesbog, Burlington County

Ancora, Camden County

Waterford Works, Camden County

Diamond Beach, Cape May County

Goshen, Cape May County

Rio Grande, Cape May County

Bivalve, Cumberland County

Greenwich, Cumberland County

Mauricetown, Cumberland County

Othello and Springtown, Cumberland County

Aura, Gloucester County

Harrisonville, Gloucester County

Plainville, Gloucester County

Barnegat Light, Ocean County

Double Trouble, Ocean County

Alliance, Salem County

Alloway, Salem County

Hancock’s Bridge, Salem County

Oakwood Beach, Salem County

Shirley, Salem County

Bibliography

Index

PREFACE

Growing up in South Jersey in the late 1950s, I always enjoyed going out for a Sunday drive with my parents. As we motored past the remnants of tiny towns in the Pine Barrens, my father regaled us with stories of the Jersey Devil and other creatures that haunted the night. When I got older and developed an interest in American history, I came to appreciate the lives of those early settlers who staked their claim on what had to have been a very intimidating environment. Whether they settled in East Jersey or West Jersey, they faced the dangers of wild animals, disease, and starvation daily, not to mention a population of Native Americans who did not always welcome their arrival. Like immigrants to other regions in America, the colonists in New Jersey had the task of physically building their communities from the ground up, learning different trades, growing their food, and surviving without the help of modern-day conveniences, such as computers, cars, and shopping complexes.

As one of the oldest settled states in America, it comes as no surprise that New Jersey has a large number of ghost towns scattered through the mountains, along its rolling plains, and dotting the seashore. A number of different industries, such as glassmaking, whaling, mining, and later the railroads, drew many newcomers to the Garden State. Unfortunately, the decline of these trades often tarnished the bright future of many places. For every town in every county that has been included here, there are very likely at least another half-dozen still waiting to be explored. Some have been reduced by time and neglect to nothing more than cellar foundations that show the outline where houses once stood, inhabited now only by their ghosts. Others have retained a small population that enjoys a tranquil life rarely marred by the noise and chaos found in larger cities and towns. If their populations were less than one thousand, they were included in this book because they no longer enjoy the industry or activity that once existed there. Not all of them were haunted in the traditional sense, but in a number of cases, it would be easy to believe that something was hovering just out of sight. After all, this is a state that offers everything from a Route 666 and Shades of Death Road to places called Mount Misery, Double Trouble, and Ghost Lake.

This book has been divided into three regions—North Jersey, Central Jersey, and South Jersey—whose people are as diverse as their surroundings. Although these are unofficial designations, most New Jersey residents will passionately dispute the benefits and merits of one area over the other two. Each region has its individual charms and its collective problems, as well as a rich and colorful history. If the pickings seem a little slim in the northern portion of the state, that’s only because the area is more heavily populated than the middle and lower sections, and ghost towns are getting increasingly harder to find.

In the past, I have written extensively about the Garden State, but I learned a lot about my home state during the course of my research for this book. Since I believe that history is not static, I was delighted to find that some of the information that has been handed down as true over the years has been recently challenged by dedicated researchers. Their goal is not to discredit the work of early folk historians, but rather to simply set the record a little straighter as new information comes to light. My goal for this book is to provide a glimpse into New Jersey’s past with the hope that it will help generate continued interest in some of the forgotten places that molded the history of the state. Perhaps by preserving a record of towns that once thrived within New Jersey, I can inspire others to save what they have now before it, too, is lost to future generations.

I would like to thank all of the terrific people who generously provided advice and assistance with this project, including my editor, Kyle Weaver; assistant editor Brett Keener; my research assistant, Karen Smith; my chief reader, Lois Martinelli; Lt. Carmel Capoferri, New Jersey State Park Police; Janet Worrell, Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc.; Mary Ann Curtis Gonzalez, curator of the Stewart Collection, Rowan University; Supt. Rob Auerenmueller, Wharton State Forest; Steven Schimmel, executive director, Cumberland County Jewish Federation; John W. Carr; Frank and Marie Stubbins; Bob and Judy Moore; Joseph Reinhardt, Indian Mills Historical Society; author George Flemming; Joseph Laufer, Burlington County historian; Frank Powell, Salem County historian; Barbara Price, Gloucester County Historical Society; Rev. William S. Sutton, Plainville United Methodist Church; Jack Jennings, Historical Society of Winslow Township; Michael Bancik, director, Mountainside Public Library; Eric Husta and Linda Gilmore, Atlantic County Division of Parks and Recreation; Kevin Wright, Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission; Jean Foley, Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal; David Juliano, director of South Jersey Ghost Research; the Monmouth County Historical Association; and, once again, the dedicated staff of the Vineland Public Library.

New Bridge

Originally known as Ackerman’s Mills, New Bridge in Bergen County became a center of shipping and industry long before America became a country.

History

In 1682, a Swedish explorer named Cornelius Mattyse acquired more than four hundred acres of land along the Hackensack River at Aschatking, a Lenni Lenape word that described the place as where the river narrows. For generations, the river had provided the tribe with striped bass, herring, and shad, while the land offered game, herbs, and other necessities. The Indians, with no concept of land ownership, probably thought they were humoring the newcomers who wanted to buy the region where they had lived for so many years. Little did they know that the initial trickle of Swedes would soon become a downpour of immigrants from all nations. Thirteen years after he bought the land, Mattyse’s property was purchased by David Ackerman, who in 1713 gave a part of it to his son Johannes and his new bride Jannetje (Lozier) Ackerman. The young couple built a house on Steenrapie Road and a gristmill at Cole’s Brook, which was powered by the water from a man-made pond. The mill prospered and a small community known as Ackerman’s Mill slowly grew around it.

The construction of a literal new bridge across the Hackensack River in 1744 brought settlers from other colonies as well as the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and Scandinavia. The growing town was dubbed New Bridge and soon became a thriving commercial center. Jan and Annetje (Ackerman) Zabriskie purchased the Ackermans’ farm and gristmill in 1745 and expanded the mill to accommodate more business from local farmers. In addition to flour and animal feed, New Bridge sent locally mined iron ore by ship to markets in New York and other major cities. Returning ships brought back a variety of goods needed by the townspeople. The Zabriskies apparently made a fortune buying and selling goods during the French and Indian Wars (1756-63) and the town itself prospered for almost fifty years.

In 1771, a stone dwelling house with twenty-five acres of land was advertised in the Pennsylvania Packet as being for sale in New Bridge. The house stood opposite the Zabriskie home and was considered very convenient for fishing and fowling. The property was offered very cheaply, possibly because the owners were loyalists who sensed that change was coming and wanted to move away from the town.

The ad suggested that the house would make a good tavern and might make even more money by taking in boarders from the nearby Latin school. Students paid fourteen English pounds a year for the privilege of attending college preparatory courses at the school, which was originally operated by a Mr. Barber. John Wright succeeded Barber as headmaster by 1771. The school was not the only attraction in town, however. Businesses were growing so rapidly that in 1772, Peter De Marest announced that he would drive a covered waggon twice a week on Mondays and Fridays from New Bridge to Powles-Hook. The wagon, fitted with curtains and a strong team of horses, would leave town at six o’clock on those mornings.

After war broke out between America and Great Britain, New Bridge became the site of frequent battles, because it was a strategic river crossing for both armies. On November 21, 1776, the British attacked American forces who were trying to dismantle the bridge to prevent enemy access into New York. Four years later, as the war raged on, Gen. George Washington made the Zabriskie home his headquarters; the family, loyal to the British crown, had been forced to flee, and their property was confiscated by American troops. Washington was there to rally the fourteen thousand American soldiers who had gathered in the town. After suffering heavy losses at the hands of the British, the Continental Army was preparing to retreat back into Pennsylvania.

In 1783, when the fighting was finally over, the New Jersey legislature presented the Zabriskies’ property to Maj. Gen. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Augustin von Steuben, a German aristocrat, in recognition of his wartime service to the fledgling United States of America. Von Steuben took possession of forty acres that included a twelve-room mansion, a bake house, smokehouse, coach house, barns, and a garden, along with the gristmill. Five years later, however, the baron sold the property to the Zabriskies’ son, John Jr., for twelve hundred English pounds. In the years that followed, the property changed hands many times.

By 1834, the town of New Bridge consisted of a store, a tavern, and a sawmill, as well as about twelve homes. The mill, which had been an integral part of the town’s success, remained in operation until 1852, when it burned and was never rebuilt. For a brief time in 1870, investors who built a train station there thought Cherry Hill would make an attractive name for the town. When local residents protested that Cherry Hill had no historic significance, the name reverted back to New Bridge by the following year. In 1909, the property was purchased by industrialist Charles W. Bell, who reportedly planned to build a large mill there for the production of cardboard. Two years later, however, Bell transferred his ownership of the land to the American Ink Company, which produced newsprint for area newspapers. The company opened a small factory near the intersection of Main Street and Hackensack Avenue that was still standing in 1952.

The Town Today

New Bridge is now an eighteen-acre park situated within the borough of River Edge. While most of the property is owned by the Bergen County Historical Society, some of the structures, including the Steuben House, are owned and operated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Parks and Forestry. The house and one acre of ground were purchased by the state for $9,000 in 1928 and opened as a public museum in 1939. Listed in the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, the Steuben House falls under the supervision of the Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission, which was created to oversee the maintenance and preservation of New Bridge, which is open to the public.

Directions

From Exit 161 on the Garden State Parkway north, travel about two miles on Route 4 east. Take the exit for Hackensack Avenue north and proceed through two traffic lights, then take the exit for Main Street, River Edge. Turn right onto Main Street. New Bridge Landing is located on the left side of the street.

Hibernia

Hibernia in Morris County was a typical mining community operated by European immigrants who first settled in New Jersey in the eighteenth century.

History

Long before the United States was a country, Hibernia attracted a number of European colonists. They weren’t interested in the fertile landscape, created by its