Letter from Kenton Kilmer to Aline Kilmer (addressed to c/o Bob Holliday), November 18, 1929. quoted in Hillis, John. It was abandoned by Conrail in the late 1970's. Today New Jersey Transit is conducting studies to restore the cutoff and restore passenger trains between Hoboken, Newark, Stroudsburg, the Poconos, and Scranton. There is a huge need to fill in the railroad void for this region. Chuck Walsh, also of Knowlton, recalled spotting bungee jumpers as far back as the 1980s. Kristen, Poured in Cement, Workers Ghost Wanders the Trestle, A man is supposed to haunt the trestle. . Dams were erected to power various small-town gristmills, sawmills, oil expellers, and fulling mills,[28] and the electrical power plant at Branchville established in 1903. Officials installed fencing making it difficult to toss anything off the viaduct in that area, he said. Mathez recalled boarding the train in Blairstown, but never actually rode across the viaduct. Follow him on Twitter@RobJenningsNJ. More common species include: American robin, barn swallow, field sparrow, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, northern cardinal, red-winged blackbird and the American goldfinch. There are no doubts about it. [15], Two other possibilities for the naming of the Paulins Kill are more likely. 5 stars. The time spent on the road by such long commutes by thousands of fellow Pennsylvanians and New Jerseyans from Lackawanna, to Monroe, to Warren, and other neighboring counties like Northampton, and Sussex Counties. Mostly its kids with motor bikes, he said when asked what he typically sees up there. Identifiers. Our main issue is the township of Knowlton does not own the (viaduct). Mathez said efforts have been made, to varying degrees of success, to limit access to the viaduct from the woods on either side, or at least minimize the potential harm. 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]. Sign up with Facebook or Sign up with email However, this projectcontroversial from the start because of environmental concerns and the federal government's abuse of eminent domainwas canceled during the 1970s. Rail lines were like todays interstates, he said, adding that restoring the Lackawanna Cutoff would especially benefit commuters from eastern Pennsylvania seeking an alternative to driving on Route 80. Knowlton Mayor Adele Starrs said she would prefer seeing the viaduct incorporated into the regions extensive rails-to-trails network. 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. Paulinskill Viaduct, Columbia New Jersey (Knowlton Township)Exploring one of the past wonders of the world, Paulinskill Viaduct AKA Hainesburg Trestle. This allows the explorer to actually travel through the inside of the structure. When completed in 1910, it was the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world. Neighborhood fight stopped it. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. In 2016, it took a lengthy rescue to free a 20-year-old women who fell down a manhole cover and injured her ankle. Common game animals include white-tailed deer, eastern coyote, red fox, gray fox, opossum, eastern cottontail rabbit, raccoon, gray and red squirrel, beaver, muskrat, and woodchuck or groundhog. A rope had broken. Privacy Policy. [51] Along Kittatinny Ridge in the northern part of the watershed are parts of Worthington State Forest (west), Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (central), and Stokes State Forests (east). There are tunnels within it. Paulinskill Viaduct. I have seen dozens of disclaimers stating your views on trespassing and other criminal acts resulting from exploring abandoned places. [12], Local tradition says that the Paulins Kill was named for a girl named Pauline, the daughter of a Hessian soldier. 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). Columbia, a hamlet near the mouth of the Paulins Kill in Knowlton Township, was known for a large glass manufacturing factory. At the time it was built in 1910, it was the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world. Pahaqualong is roughly translated as "end of two mountains with stream between", from a combination of the words peuck meaning "water hole," qua meaning "boundary," and the suffix -onk meaning "place. Our fire and rescue has responded multiple times to people who got stuck up there, Starrs said. Though trespassing and even bungee jumping have long been popular at the abandoned site, both are now illegal, not to mention life-threatening activities. Begun in 1908, this bridge was deemed an engineering marvel for its use of reinforced concrete. Structurae structure ID. The viaduct was built by the Delaware, Lackaw The rest of the time, its a hidden treasure. 47 bridge that leads into the Wildwoods, a popular south Jersey beach destination and home to Morey's Piers. Now the following question would probably be cost. Building began in 1908 and by the time the structure was completed, it was considered the Eighth Wonder of the World. About four or five years ago, some enormous concrete blocks, about 10 feet long and 3 feet wide, were installed to block ATVs and other vehicles. Other mammals include eastern chipmunk, porcupine, black bear, striped skunk, river otter, and bobcat. Neither do we. Get more stories delivered right to your email. 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. The route has another, more massive viaduct (the Tunkhannock Creek . Nicholas Dnistran. 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. . No matter how wide Interstate 80 in New Jersey is, even up to the Interstate 95 interchange in Bergen County, theres clearly demand for additional commuter and traveler capacity even if taking into account COVID-19s impact on future workflows. The service was mixed between passenger and freight throughout the years, however for its remaining years, only freight was running through the corridor. paulinskill-viaduct- references. Paulinskill Viaduct My first view of the viaduct is from the south side along Station Road. Both Shafer and Windemuth were married to Bernhardt's daughters. Ever since that time strange ghostly occurrences have been reported surrounding Kendall Hall. Schaeffer, Casper M.D. An adventurous (and illegal) trek by two young women from Mendham, N.J., turned into a full-scale rescue Thursday when one of them fell down a manhole in the Paulinskill Viaduct, an abandoned. Content titles and body; Content titles only NJ Transit did not immediately respond to a follow-up request for comment. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 8 h 22 min to complete. The park resided near some marshland right before the Rt. Freebase ID /m/0g2jqy. The 1,100-foot-long, 115-foot-tall seven arch span was built by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1910. State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn said that troopers respond both to complaints and do periodic checks of unattended cars in the area. It was the largest trestle of its type in the world for years, until a larger one was built in Pennsylvania. [21][22], Typically, early European settlement along the Paulins Kill was by Palatine Germans who had emigrated to the New World via the port of Philadelphia from 1720 to 1800. 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. Contents 1 History 2 Notes 3 References 4 External links History [ edit] 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. That seems to have abated, Mathez said. The train line went out of service in 1979, the railroad tracks were torn up in 1985 and the Viaduct was abandoned. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). [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. Chuck Walsh, also of Knowlton, recalled spotting bungee jumpers as far back as the 1980s. The people who live around the Viaduct as well as the town of Blairstown are annoyed about the drinking, graffiti anddrug use that has happened there. NJ Transit is lengthening the current line about three miles to Andover Township, in Sussex County, but there is no plan at present to head farther west, a spokesperson said. 1 stars. All rights reserved (About Us). Support lehighvalleylive.com. [57] Likewise, Warren County has preserved 100 farm properties, comprising over 12,200 acres (4,900ha). This article is part of Unknown New Jersey, an ongoing series that highlights interesting and little-known stories about our past, present, and future -- all the unusual things that make our great state what is it. This page was last edited on 28 April 2022, at 12:34. Neither do we. New Jersey Transit is working to restore commuter service along the Cut-Off, with the 7.3-mile (11.7km) section from Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, to Andover, New Jersey, currently under construction and slated to open in 2025. Built by the Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western Railroad, the seven arch span is an awesome 1,100 feet long, and towers 115 feet above the Paulinskill River. Jul 13, 2018 - Discover Paulinskill Viaduct in Columbia, New Jersey: Once the world's largest reinforced concrete structure, this abandoned bridge now beckons urban explorers. 20051042. Located just outside of Blairstown there is a bridge back in the woods. In the neighboring Monroe County, a 2017 CBS article puts the reality of East Stroudsburg Boroughs residents in perspective The roughly 20,000 residents who call the Monroe County borough home have the dubious honor of enduring the countrys longest average commute, Census Bureau data show, topping even notorious traffic magnets like Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. And that is 20,000 in East Stroudsburg Borough only. The river owes its fly fishing reputation largely to the prolific populations of various species of the mayfly and caddisfly. All rights reserved (About Us). The thing I dont like is the impetus for development if the train comes through here, he said. Cookie Notice [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. Now on foot, photos pan left to right from the north side just off Station Road. [10] The Wallkill River drains the northeastern portion of the valley, flowing north to the Hudson River watershed. 7 8 It's completion marked the opening of the Nicholson Cutoff. Historical stocks and bonds, Autographs, Americana, Ephemera, Numismatics and all forms of paper collectibles specializing in Uncancelled bonds (and Johnson, William M.). 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 He said he doesnt favor restoring the rail line. Variously known as the Paulinskill Viaduct, or the Hainesburg Viaduct, the bridge still sits there, casting its broad shadow across a river frequented by fly casters and kayakers. U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, whose office helped cobble together about $1 million in local, state and federal grants to help pay for the new study, called it inching forward in restoring a train service. 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. They may even thank you for trying to warn people about going there. After their death, the castle passed down through many owners until it met its demise at the hands of arsonists in the 1960s. Paulinskill Viaduct - Knowlton, NJ Paulinskill Viaduct Bridge, Trail, and Scenic Lookout Knowlton Save Share Tips 4 Photos 7 See what your friends are saying about Paulinskill Viaduct. I dont like the idea of having a train through here. Support NJ.com, Rob Jennings | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. reviews. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. English Wikipedia. and our 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [36], Still, pollution reaches the Paulins Kill from nearby residential developments and farm run-off containing agricultural pesticides and fertilizers. In those days, there was no fast way to get ahold of anyone. Its a constant, ongoing problem to get the graffiti off, Starrs said in 2019. About 6% of the workforce in Warren County have super commutes in excess of 90 minutes, that is roughly 3,900 people. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. After thirty minutes of watching them, we heard a splash. [26] English, Scottish, and Welsh settlers located in the Paulins Kill valley throughout the latter half of the eighteenth century, often traveled north from Philadelphia, or west from Long Island, Newark, and Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth). In 1979, the train line went out of service and by 1985, the property was entirely abandoned. [13][14] However, the fact that the name Paulins Kill is present on maps and surveys dating from the 1740s and 1750stwo and three decades before the Revolutionnegates the veracity of this tradition. If you park your car on the side of the road and walk up a steep hill you can climb into the bridge. It's also known as the Hainesburg Trestle. In an era before interstates, and before automobiles were common, everyone traveled by rail. 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 Viaduct, or Hainesburg Trestle, is a long abandoned railroad bridge over the Paulinskill River near Blairstown. if one weren't afraid of certain death. Paulinskill Viaduct. Mathez said efforts have been made, to varying degrees of success, to limit access to the viaduct from the woods on either side or at least minimize the potential harm. Unused since the road was abandoned by Conrail in 1984, it has now become . Officials installed fencing making it difficult to toss anything off the viaduct in that area, he said. Born and raised in New Jersey, sharing all it has to offer is her passion. There are plans to restore service to the area. 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. The preceding article is an excerpt from Weird NJ magazine, Your Travel Guide to New Jerseys Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets, which is available on newsstands throughout the state and on the web at www.WeirdNJ.com. Continue reading , They say that at one time a farmer killed his entire family, then went to the tree to hang himself. Remnants of their chiefly agricultural settlements are still found in local architecture, cemeteries, farms and mills, and the area remains largely rural. and Brinton, Daniel G. Schaeffer, Casper, M.D. Kristen is a writer, editor, and social media maven who loves her state. Newark hoped to use the bed for a water pipeline connecting to the proposed dam and reservoir project on the Delaware River. Need to fill in the world a steep hill you can climb into the regions extensive rails-to-trails network manhole and. 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