History

A special interest is in history, with special interest on railroads and related social and economic factors. Also includes personal interest and local flavor.

Marl

Marl: Past and Present Marl is a product in the ground of historic natural forces, typically found where coastlines or shallow bodies of water once existed. It is found in various colors, often greenish, with a number of key mineral ingredients and other characteristics that were valuable to farmers, and later, to chemists. It often […]

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Eminent Domain

A Legacy of Hurt:Eminent Domain at Tocks Island The dam was never built, but Annie Oftedal died alone at home because of it. “Why fight a losing battle?” commented Joseph H. Cook, Jr., chief of the Corps of Engineers real estate division in Philadelphia. “We wish we never heard of the damn thing.” “We uprooted

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Dr. Ely’s Legacy

Dr. Ely’s Legacy: The Mount Holly, Lumberton and Medford Railroad James Alexander Jr. ©2018 Lumberton Station TERRIFIC EXPLOSION OF A LOCOMOTIVE IN MOUNT HOLLY — LOSS OF LIFE — A HORRIBLE SCENE. — Excerpted from the Mt. Holly New Jersey Mirror. May 26, 1869. A train operated by the Camden and Amboy Railroad, running on

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Tocks Island Controversy / Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The Tocks Island Dam Controversy/Delaware Water Gap National Rec. Area Following the disastrous flooding on the Delaware River in 1955, the Army Corps of Engineers secured Congressional approval to build a dam just above the Delaware Water Gap, at a location called Tocks Island. The results were equally disastrous, with thousands of people being displaced

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