Nearly forty years ago when John T. Cunningham, New Jersey's famous historian, was a young reporter for the now-defunct Newark Evening News, he authored a series of travel articles for Sunday's glossy insert. Here's part of Cunningham's "Let's Explore" for Sept. 3, l950: "It would take an intense student of New Jersey to say right off where Dock Watch Hollow, Millington Gorge, Dead River and Round Top can be found. Mt. Horeb, Stone House or Union Village might be a bit easier to locate although none ranks among the state's best-known spots. "Hence, it's almost certain that in visiting these places today the motorist will be seeing some new scenes on a special holiday jaunt through that section where Somerset, Union and Morris counties cluster around the Passaic River. The area is familiar -- it embraces the Watchung Mountains and Long Hill -- but the back roads taken will be generally new to motorists. A pleasant ride is assured although it will be left to the visitor to see if he agrees with an early author that this is "the greenest place in New Jersey." "A right turn...leads to the crossroad at Union Village, whose quiet rural aspect often attracts artists. At the corner two roads come in like a "V" and today's route takes the second road, diagonally left past the attractive little Union Village Methodist Church with a history dating back to l832. "Now the way is open through surprisingly extensive farm country, dominated by some good-sized dairies. Pleasant meadows dotted with grazing cattle extend beyond split-rail fences. At the first "stop" street look for a little old stone house to the right. Long ago this was one of Warren Township's schoolhouses; now it's an attractive cottage. The huge stump near the house is all that's left of the once well-known towering elm stricken in the l948 ice storm. "The second "stop" sign beyond is the signal for a left turn to Mt. Bethel, where a right turn is made to continue the trip. First, however, Mt. Bethel corner invites a stop. The old Baptist Church is peaceful beneath of huge button-wood tree while across the street is an old hotel. The church dates back to l767 and has been in its present location since l785. Inside the square plain church the small pew section beneath a sparkling white balcony lends emphasis to the sign of welcome in front of the church. Outside a far-off view of the valley to the north can be seen beyond the old cemetery. "The first road right beyond Mt. Bethel leads to a side jaunt down to Dead River past an abandoned and crumbling brick-making plant, one of many such brick yards formerly spotted near the Passaic River valley to take advantage of the heavy clay found in abundance. Dead River scarcely moves as it makes its way through swampy surroundings to a junction with the Passaic. It's easy to turn around north of the river to return to the main trip over Round Top, reached via a gravel road to the left a tenth of a mile west of Dead River road. "Round Top rises 300 feet and then falls as suddenly away down the other side as the road becomes hard-surfaced for the descent to unique Dock Watch Hollow. The "Hollow" is an eye-filling treat.... "The "Hollow" is something worth viewing. A little stream pounding down through boulders is the first indication of how precipitously the mountain drops into the hollow. To the east (left) a tree-covered cliff is visible proof that the mountain has been hacked down almost 250 feet, possibly by a large stream of long ago. The rock ledges by the road are interesting, since they are among the few of true basaltic character found in the state. That means that instead of being stratified horizontally in the usual manner the ledges are in vertical prismatic columns, which split away from the main body in long slivers. "Beyond Dock Watch turn right at the "T" intersection, then take the next left down the long pleasant valley to see Chimney Rock...." Despite all of the development since l950 when Cunningham wrote his article, Warren remains one of "the greenest places in New Jersey." |