and Johnson, William M. Viet, Richard F. "John Solomon Teetzel and the Anglo-German Gravestone Carving Tradition of 18th century Northwestern New Jersey" in, "Branchville Sewer Plant May Still Be Built" by Jamie Goldenbaum in. Likewise, the former Pahaquarry Township in Warren County derived its name from this origin. With a long-term median flow rate of 76cubic feet of water per second (2.15m/s), it is New Jersey's third-largest contributor to the Delaware River, behind the Musconetcong River and Maurice River. The name Tockhockonetcong (or Tockhockonetcunk) roughly translates to "stream that comes from Tok-Hok-Nok"Tok-hok-nok being an Indian village believed to have been within the boundaries of present-day Newton, New Jersey,[18] near which the eastern (main) branch of the Paulins Kill begins, and the Lenape roots hannek meaning "stream" and the suffix -ong denoting "place". This is a treasure and it needs to be kept up, not left to fall into disrepair, Starrs said. Mostly its kids with motor bikes, he said when asked what he typically sees up there. 40.9480, -75.0613. At the time of its completion in 1910, the Paulinskill Viaduct held the title of the largest reinforced concrete structure on the planet. Map of Jonathan Hampton (1758) in the collection of the New Jersey Historical Society, Newark, New Jersey. Shop Create Sell Wall Art All Wall Art Framed Prints Canvas Prints Art Prints Posters Metal Prints Acrylic Prints Wood Prints Tapestries Paintings Photographs Illustrations Digital Art Mixed Media Remnants of their chiefly agricultural settlements are still found in local architecture, cemeteries, farms and mills, and the area remains largely rural. After the New York, Susquehanna and Western decommissioned the route in 1962, the right-of-way along this corridor was purchased by the City of Newark the following year. The Paulins Kill (also known as Paulinskill River) is a 41.6-mile (66.9km)[1] tributary of the Delaware River in northwestern New Jersey in the United States. [59] Hunting and trapping are permitted in season in many of these protected areas. The passenger train known as the "Phoebe Snow" is seen heading west on April 8, 1951, with the Paulinskill Viaduct in the background.John Treen, from the collection of Mike Del Vecchio / Tri-State Railway Historical Society. Paulinskill Viaduct Creepy, Decaying, Abandoned, Haunted Weird NJ, Stree. It was the largest trestle of its type in the world for years, until a larger one was built in Pennsylvania. It is fascinating how time can turn the mighty into the weak. The time thousands of fellow Pennsylvanians and New Jerseyans spend commuting from Lackawanna, Monroe, Northampton, Sussex and Warren counties can be a waste for not only work productivity, but also a tax on health. (A sister bridge of similar design but smaller dimension, the Delaware River Viaduct, carries the Lackawanna Cut-Off over the river, Interstate 80, and the New Jersey-Pennsylvania state line.) Swartswood State Park, established in 1914 as the first and oldest state park in New Jersey, is on 2,272 acres (919ha) just north of Paulins Kill Lake in Sussex County. Mike Del Vecchio, president of the Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Inc., hasnt given up on fully restoring the Lackawanna Cutoff. Neither do we. Mathez recalled boarding the train in Blairstown, but never actually rode across the viaduct. Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail Easy 4.3 (119) Newton, New Jersey Photos (466) Directions Print/PDF map Length 25.4 miElevation gain 990 ftRoute type Point to point Experience this 25.4-mile point-to-point trail near Newton, New Jersey. Now you have cell phones, said Walsh, who runs the Lackawanna Cut-Off Historical Committee Facebook group. [36], Still, pollution reaches the Paulins Kill from nearby residential developments and farm run-off containing agricultural pesticides and fertilizers. About 6% of the workforce in Warren County have super commutes in excess of 90 minutes, that is roughly 3,900 people. At the time of its construction, the bridge was the largest reinforced concrete railroad bridge ever built. Many had trekked north through the valley of the Delaware and settled along the Musconetcong, Pequest and Paulins Kill valleys in New Jersey and along the Lehigh River valley in Pennsylvania. [5][6], The Paulins Kill drains a portion of the Kittatinny Valley watershed. The Paulins Kill was a conduit for the emigration of Palatine Germans who settled in northwestern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania during the colonial period and the American Revolution. He said he doesnt favor restoring the rail line. Photos of the interior are not included in this article as it was difficult to find graffiti without vulgarity. The Paulins Kill was a conduit for the emigration of Palatine Germans who settled in northwestern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania during the colonial period and the American Revolution. More common species include: American robin, barn swallow, field sparrow, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, northern cardinal, red-winged blackbird and the American goldfinch. [57] Likewise, Warren County has preserved 100 farm properties, comprising over 12,200 acres (4,900ha). An abandoned railroad bridge which spans the Paulins Kill in Hainesburg, NJ. Amongst non-railfans, the Paulinskill Viaduct is known for its internal chambers (used to inspect the structural integrity of the bridge), which are popular among those who enjoy urban exploration. Visit ourSHOPfor all of your Weird NJ needs:Magazines,Books, Posters,Shirts,Patches,Hats, Stickers, Magnets, Air Fresheners. "In those days, there was no fast way to get ahold of anyone. There are no doubts about it. It is also the definition of an attractive. The tracks were removed in 1982 and the Viaduct abandoned. Got a story to pitch? An eastbound freight train crossing the Paulinskill Viaduct en route to Hoboken in March 1952.John Treen, from the collection of Mike Del Vecchio / Tri-State Railway Historical Society. Our fire and rescue has responded multiple times to people who got stuck up there, Starrs said. The cutoff also opens up opportunities for people to access the area for a ski getaway, especially in snow-rich seasons like 2021, or other recreational activities like hiking, kayaking or white-water rafting. Theyre approved for a reason, Flynn said. The Pocono Mountains and the venues in the area spend a lot on advertisements, but the area lacks an additional, major transportation option for the millions of people from the densely populated New York City/North Jersey area and beyond. Upon Ruth's death in 1940, the castle sat empty . We would tell people that, aside from it being illegal to go back there, its not deemed a safe area to hike, Flynn said. Updated: Feb. 28, 2021, 9:00 a.m. | Published: Feb. 28, 2021, 9:00 a.m. Aerial view of the 111-year-old Paulinskill Viaduct. Trees that add to the beauty of the fall foliage include maple, birch, hickory, elm, and crab apple. The Paulinskill Viaduct, also known as the Hainesburg Viaduct, is a reinforced concrete railroad bridge that crosses the Paulins Kill in Knowlton Township, New Jersey. All rights reserved (About Us). Improve this listing All photos (9) Top ways to experience nearby attractions BEST Boston, New Haven and Rhode Island 2-Day Tour from New York 3 Bus Tours from $243.00 For another unique bit of New Jersey history, check out our article on WWII espionage. While some may suggest adding additional lanes on I-80 in New Jerseys Sussex and Warren counties, it doesnt solve the transportation issues with regards to Northwest New Jersey and Northeastern Pennsylvania. I have seen dozens of disclaimers stating your views on trespassing and other criminal acts resulting from exploring abandoned places. Today. When completed in 1910, it was the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). The route has another, more massive viaduct (the Tunkhannock Creek . Privacy Policy. [28], Chiefly a pastoral river in a largely undeveloped area of New Jersey, the Paulins Kill has remained generally unaffected by industrial pollution. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Situated within the Catskill Mountains, the giant resort used to host notable guests from all over, considering it was only two hours from the city and was a popular skiing spot. 1. We would encourage people, if they want to hike in the woods, to do it in a state park or on the state trail system. Historical stocks and bonds, Autographs, Americana, Ephemera, Numismatics and all forms of paper collectibles specializing in Uncancelled bonds [1] When completed in 1910, it was the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world. The viaduct was built by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad as part of the Lackawanna Cut-Off, a project that replaced an older route with a straighter and flatter route through the mountains of northwestern New Jersey. The region would be donating possible future guests who prefer to ride the train to their destinations to Vermont and New Yorks Catskills. A highway could have connected Routes 280 and 78. WallyFromColumbia/Wikipedia True or not, visitors to the area do report a strange presence or eerie feeling. We packed our equipment up and left. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. The railbed on top provides a breathtaking view of the valley for miles around. Fruit trees in orchards produce cherries, apples, plums, peaches and pears, while native wild grape vines, and blackberry bushes are also found in the valley. Also sighted are several species of woodpecker, including red-headed, red-bellied, and downy, and the pileated woodpecker, as well as the yellow-bellied sapsucker. Often sighted are water fowl such as the mute swan, the wood duck, and the mallard, wading birds such as the killdeer, and predators such as the red-tailed hawk. When first constructed in 1908, the Paulinskill Viaduct was considered to be one of the wonders of the world. For a brief period of time the reinforced concrete arched bridge was the largest structure of its kind in the entire world (until a more massive one was built in Pennsylvania). [41][42][43] It was the largest concrete viaduct in the world until 1915,[citation needed] when the Lackawanna Railroad opened the Tunkhannock Viaduct in Nicholson, Pennsylvania, spanning over twice the Paulinskill Viaduct's length. Chuck Walsh, also of Knowlton, recalled spotting bungee jumpers as far back as the 1980s. . The train itself remains a distant memory, even if the Paulinskill Viaduct - aside from the graffiti - looks much as it did from more than a century ago. No one seems to know what, if anything, the future might hold for the viaduct, which for a time was the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world. The Paulinskill Viaduct has been a bridge to nowhere since 1978, when the last train rumbled across this majestic crossing 115 feet above the river. Structurae structure ID. New Jersey Public Interest Research Group, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad, USGS National Water Information System: Web Interface - Real-Time Data for New Jersey: Streamflow, Landscape Classification for the Hudson Valley Section of New Jersey, History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, The early Germans of New Jersey: Their History, Churches, and Genealogies. The park resided near some marshland right before the Rt. Once on the trail, after about a mile from the Brugler Road trailhead, you will pass under the Paulinskill Viaduct, which was built by the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1910. [35][failed verification] New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection occasionally brings civil actions against local firms that pollute in the Paulins Kill watershed, such as a $121,500 fine for a Sussex County shopping mall sewage treatment facility which discharged pollutants into a tributary of the Paulins Kill between 1996 and 1998. Its a constant, ongoing problem to get the graffiti off, Starrs said. Paulinskill Viaduct 3.5 5 #6 of 6 things to do in Columbia Bridges Write a review About Suggested duration < 1 hour Suggest edits to improve what we show. Of course, I would like positive improvements for all ski destinations in the Northeast, from the Green Mountains in Vermont, to the Catskills in New York State, to ours in the Poconos and Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. Of all the abandoned places that Weird NJ has explored over the years none match the awe inspiring architectural magnificence of the Paulinskill Viaduct. Now you have cell phones, said Walsh, who runs the Lackawanna Cut-Off Historical Committee Facebook group. Newark sold their claim to the corridor in 1992 to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for $600,000, and the Paulinskill Valley Trail was created. Summer cottages were built to attract vacationers from nearby New York City. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Why should people settle with limited transfer points in New York City? [48] Historically, the Paulins Kill was known to be populated with American shad, but with the construction of mill dams across the river in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the shad were unable to spawn in the river. Artifacts (often of stone, clay or bone) of the Native American culture are often found in nearby farm fields and at the site of their ancient villages. History of Paulinskill Viaduct Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. #njhistory #knowltonnj #blairstownnj #paulinskillviaduct #paulinskill #hainesburgviaduct #warrencountynj #warrencounty #viaduct #newjersey #just_newjersey #njspots #gardenstate #architecturedesign #architecture #architecturelovers #trainbridge #urbanexploration #urbanexploring #graffiti #graffitiart # . ", http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/NJSUSSEX/2002-09/1032918263, National Park Service: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, State Acquisitions Current Projects, Green Acres Program, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: Wildlife Management Areas, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: Division of Fish and Wildlife: Small Game Hunting in New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: Division of Fish and Wildlife: Mammals of New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: Division of Fish and Wildlife: Reptiles of New Jersey, Paulinskill Valley Trail at Rails-to-Trail Conservancy, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: Division of Fish and Wildlife: Birds of New Jersey, "Louis Finkelstein: The Late Pastels in the Context of His Artistic Thinking" at Lori Bookstein Fine Art, The Bridges Of New Jersey: Portraits Of Garden State Crossings, Memoirs and Reminiscences: Together with Sketches of the Early History of Sussex County, New Jersey, Indian habitations in Sussex County, New Jersey, Archaeology of Warren and Hunterdon counties, Map of Paulinskill Valley and Sussex Branch Trails, U.S. Geological Survey: NJ stream flow-gauging stations, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paulins_Kill&oldid=1085103753, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from January 2015, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from January 2015, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with failed verification from February 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. The passenger train known as the "Phoebe Snow" is seen heading west on April 8, 1951, with the Paulinskill Viaduct in the background.John Treen, from the collection of Mike Del Vecchio / Tri-State Railway Historical Society. [9] The upper northwestern area is drained by the Big Flatbrook River to the Delaware River watershed in the south. However, very few records are extant detailing Bernhardt's family. Neither do we. I dont like the idea of having a train through here. More rare birds sighted in the Paulins Kill valley include: purple martin, scarlet tanager, indigo bunting, Baltimore oriole, purple finch, and a variety of owls, notably the barn, eastern screech, great horned, snowy, barred, and northern saw-whet owl.[64]. Continue reading , They say that at one time a farmer killed his entire family, then went to the tree to hang himself. In 2016, it took a lengthy rescue to free a 20-year-old women who fell down a manhole cover and injured her ankle. . [24][25][failed verification] The German cultural impact of this community can still be seen in local architecturemost notably in barns and in stone housesand in cemeteries containing intricately carved gravestones often bearing archaic German text and funerary symbols. 7 8 It's completion marked the opening of the Nicholson Cutoff. For a while, viaduct visitors were throwing stones into the Paulins Kill, but sometimes their aim was off and the rocks were landing on Station Road. The main branch of the Paulins Kill begins to form immediately north of Newton, in the marshes that straddle the town. When completed in 1910, it was the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world. [27][28][29][30], The area around present-day Stillwater was first settled by the family of Casper Shafer (17121784), a Palatine German who had emigrated to Philadelphia a few years earlier. NJ DEP Attains Settlement Over Water Pollution Violations affecting Paulinskill River, Defend New Jersey's Waters Release List of Top 30 Waterways To Save, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: Division of Fish and Wildlife: Amphibians of New Jersey, History and Heritage of Civil Engineering: "Tunkhannock Viaduct", Weird New Jersey Magazine, 2001 Weekly Story Archives, "Trout Fishing in New Jersey - The Good 'Ole Days are Now! English Wikipedia. First, that the wife of one of the area's first settlers, Johan Peter Bernhardt (died 1748), was named Maria Paulina and that she had died prior to the first settlement at Stillwater in 1742. The Spy House was once a local inn that served as a safe haven for American revolutionaries. They were coming down right over the river. I dont like the idea of having a train through here. We would tell people that, aside from it being illegal to go back there, its not deemed a safe area to hike, Flynn said. Wikimedia import URL. [8], The lower southern and eastern portions of the valley are drained by the Paulins Kill and the Pequest River, which flow generally south to the Delaware River watershed. The railroad corridor, known as the Lackawanna Cutoff, was built by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (DL&W) Railroad from 1908 to1911 between Port Morris Junction in Port Morris, New Jersey to Slateford Junction in Slateford, Pennsylvania. When completed in 1910, it was the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world. Both dangerous an illegal, many have failed to heed the law and the structure is filled with graffiti. Aerial view of the 109-year-old Paulinskill Viaduct. Home United States Pennsylvania Monroe County Tourist attraction Paulinskill Viaduct. Need A Guide For Exploring Paulinskill Viaduct Trail(Can Compensate) Because I want to compile a case to make it a protected NJ Historical Landmark on the basis of feats of engineering, record of largest concrete structure when built, and the rest of the Lackawanna Line's Oddities Too [7] High Point, near the northeastern end of the ridge, is the highest peak in New Jersey, reaching an elevation of 1,800 feet (550m). This is a treasure and it needs to be kept up, not left to fall into disrepair, Starrs said. Ohio, the Northwest Territory, the Southern Tier of New York) and those that remained had assimilated into English-speaking culture, and the German Reformed or Lutheran Churches often became Presbyterian. They were jumping off the middle of the bridge on the south side, Walsh said. [31][32] Shafer, who operated a grist mill at Stillwater starting in 1746, transported flour, fruit, and other products by flatboat down the Paulins Kill and the Delaware River to the market in Philadelphia. Tourist attraction Paulinskill Viaduct Not Available/5 - based on reviews. [61] Common northeastern American reptiles found there include snakes such as the American copperhead, northern water snake, common garter snake and milk snake, and turtles, including the eastern box turtle, and common snapping turtle. Paulinskill Viaduct, Columbia New Jersey (Knowlton Township)Exploring one of the past wonders of the world, Paulinskill Viaduct AKA Hainesburg Trestle. 47 bridge that leads into the Wildwoods, a popular south Jersey beach destination and home to Morey's Piers. [37], The New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG) has ranked the Paulins Kill as the seventh in a collection of rivers and creeks in a Top 30 listing of New Jersey waterways to Save[38] The Paulins Kill is home to a wide variety of amphibians, including the spotted salamander, red-spotted newt, American toad, Fowler's toad, American bullfrog and others. Our main issue is the township of Knowlton does not own the (viaduct). Very few passable, large roads were built in this section of New Jersey, then largely a sparsely populated wilderness, before the creation of turnpike companies in the early decades of the Nineteenth Century. Bristol Qian, of Tobyhanna Township, is a member of Lackawanna Cutoff Historical Committee, a moderator of the American Rail Club and a Northampton Community College alumni. The rest of the time, its a hidden treasure. My fellow adventurers on this mad quest were Kagemushi, Giza, and Carmine. Support NJ.com, Rob Jennings | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. There are many manmade wonders in New Jersey, one of which is the Paulinskill Viaduct. reviews. paulinskill-viaduct-2. [23][failed verification] Often villages established and settled by German emigrants remained culturally German well into the Nineteenth Century, with German Lutheran and Reformed churches (often as "Union" churches) established shortly after the first settlements (as was the case in Knowlton and in Stillwater). Knowlton, N.J. Oct. 27, 2019.Andre Malok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, A version of this story published on November 3, 2019. Begun in 1908, this bridge was deemed an engineering marvel for its use of reinforced concrete. Thomson, who removed to Changewater in Hunterdon County, became an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and served two terms in the House of Representatives. The Paulinskill Viaduct, also known as the Hainesburg Viaduct, is a reinforced concrete railroad bridge that crosses the Paulins Kill in Knowlton Township, New Jersey. The assumption is that the name Paulins Kill was derived from "Pauline's Kill". If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. One should not have to try to battle for a parking spot in New Jersey in order to cut down their commute times into New York City. In addition, over in Colorado, they even have seasonal ski trains, including one known as the Winter Park Express. Along the shore of the Sandy Hook Bay lies a white wooden building that has stood since the mid-1600s. Trout Brook, which rises on Kittatinny Mountain, flows into the river near Middleville in Stillwater Township. No one seems to know what, if anything, the future might hold for the viaduct, which for a time was the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world. Sussex County has permanently preserved 12,242 acres (4,954ha) of woodland and farmland. Explore. Giving up the corridor, which is currently in safe hands NJTransit and gaining interest by Amtrak for their 2035 rail network vision for another recreation trail would be the worst possible decision for the region. At the time it was built in 1910, it was the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world. In an era before interstates, and before automobiles were common, everyone traveled by rail. DOT spokesperson Mairin Bellack, in an email, reiterated that public access is strictly prohibited.. The state, working together with agricultural development boards in Sussex and Warren Counties, and with the Ridge and Valley Conservancy, a local nonprofit land trust, share land acquisition costs to enter tracts of real estate into the program. Pinterest. All contents Weird NJ and may not be reproduced by any means without permission. William Armstrong, a local settler, built the first grist mill there along the river in 1768, and the village took root. [4] The river drains an area of 176.85 square miles (458.0km2) across portions of Sussex and Warren counties and 11 municipalities. It just passes our land. Unfortunately the Paulinskill Viaduct is now closed to the public. By creating an account you are able to follow friends and experts you trust and see the places they've recommended. [1] It flows southwest for the rest of its journey, through Hampton and Stillwater townships in Sussex County. The Paulinskill Viaduct is a reinforced concrete railroad bridge that crosses the Paulins Kill in Knowlton Township. The train itself remains a distant memory, even if the Paulinskill Viaduct aside from the graffiti looks much as it did from more than a century ago. With its impressive 115-foot clearance and seven majestic supporting arches, the 1,100 foot-long bridge was a marvel of modern engineering at the time. We leaped into the water and pulled the guy out. These days if you may see people walking a dog, someone proposing, or base jumpers, or unfortunately even risk takers or worse. The benefit doesnt stop just for commuters in the area. [10] The Wallkill River drains the northeastern portion of the valley, flowing north to the Hudson River watershed. This doesnt even include the rest of Monroe County plus neighboring Lackawanna and Northampton counties. Vtg 1943 Wayland, New York RR Railroad Accident photo Train Wreck Lackawanna: $225.00.