A special interest is in history, with special interest on railroads and related social and economic factors. Also includes personal interest and local flavor.
A Delaware Water Gap National Park? Evaluating the Redesignation Controversy By Jim Alexander, updated October 18, 2022 See Our Full Tocks Island / Recreation Area History The Setting | The Park Proposal | The Opposition |Comparability Argument | National Parks Generally |Happening at the Water Gap | Lesson from the Past for the Future The …
The Breakdown of Law, Order and Social Fabric During the Tocks Island Project The destruction of homes was accompanied by a breakdown in the established order. How it was before … “It seems that the only problem I have with this job is to find a place to move or build.” As John Uporsky settled …
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 …
Tocks Island Project Resistance Publications The Minisink Bull was a periodic newsletter circulated in the area of Pennsylvania and New Jersey that would have been impacted by the proposed Tocks Island Dam construction. It was published by Joan Transue Matheson, a resident of Dingman’s Ferry, PA, with the assistance of unpaid local writers and supporters. …
Women of the Delaware Nancy Shukaitis Thoughts on Women’s History Month 2021 By Jim Alexander March was Women’s History Month. On the fourth day of that month, an elderly woman died in a nursing home in Nazareth, PA, her granddaughter at her side. Outside the region, her passing was little noticed. There is nothing unusual …
Tocks Island Dam – Video Main Tocks Island Page
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 …
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 …
Tocks Island Controversy / Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Read More »
Burlington County History Having relocated to Burlington County, NJ, Jim has become aware of its rich heritage. Research initially focused on the Mt. Holly, Lumberton and Medford Railroad. Seen at right is the sole remaining milepost of that railroad, now relocated to a nearby historic venue, which Jim restored in the summer of 2018. It …
History and Research Jim has done extensive research and writing, much focused on American railroad history. For a number of years, he served as Associate Editor of Milepost, the Journal of the Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. His articles have also been published in magazines such as Trains and Pennsylvania Heritage. Here are …