The Pompton Plains Railroad Station Museum at 33 Evans Place.
I was visiting Morris County for the “Pathways to History” tour, I visited the Pompton Lakes Railroad Museum. This tiny museum served once as the depot for the local railroad but now houses its history. Piled all over the building is the history of the rail service in this area. Small displays are located all around a pot belly stove that serves as the center point of the museum. The memorabilia includes a series of pictures, maps and schedules.
(From the Pathways to History tour pamphlet 2024):
Pompton Plains Station, home to the Pequannock Township Museum, was erected in 1877 by the Montclair and Greenwood Lake Railway as a replacement for an earlier structure built when passenger service began in 1872. After closing in 1966, the station remained in private hands until 2006 when it was purchased by Pequannock Township with Morris County and Township Open Space funds, as well as, funds from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust. It was listed on the NJ and National Registers of Historic Places in 2008 and was restored to its “Turn of the 20th Century” appearance in 2010 (PPHS website).
The Historic Marker at the station.
The building’s simple wood construction is characterized by its late 19th Century American “Stick style” architecture, with its notable exterior embellishments being the distinctive “Dutch cap” trim over each window and door and its decoratively patterned slate roof. The museum supports an extensive collection of photographs and artifacts illustrating the Township’s 300 years of recorded history. Featured is a collection of over two dozen models of historic buildings, as well as, exhibits about Civil War veteran, Medal of Honor recipient, station agent and prior owner of the nearby Martin Berry House, James R. Evans (PPHS website).
The Pompton Plains Railroad Station Museum gallery.
Other exhibits cover the history of the station, and the pioneering 1940’s rocket engine factory Reaction Motors. Plans for 2023 construction, which will include restoration of the decorative 19th century slate roof and chimney, will be on display.
The Conductor’s Office is part of the display at the museum.
A video promoting the Pompton Plains Railroad Station.
The Martin Berry House from the top of the hill at 581 Route 23 South. It is on a road hidden from the highway.
When I went to visit the Martin Berry House for the “Pathways to History” tour, I found it impossible to find. The Google Map has it in the middle of a parking lot in front of the strip mall along the highway and there is no pathway to the home from the parking lot. What you have to do is go the street behind the mall, head up the hill and make a right down a gravel road and there is the house at the end of the street.
There is not much parking here but with an isolated home like this, the Historical Society needs to put some things in place before they start having events here. The Society had bought the house not too long ago and there is still some renovation work that is being done, so the Society is in its first stages of opening the house to the public. It has some nice revolving displays and an interesting Colonial kitchen. The gardens are also beautiful when in bloom. Visiting the house in the future will offer many surprises.
(From the website of the Martin Berry House and the Pequannock Township Historical Society):
The Martin Berry House, or MBH, was built on this spot in about 1720. The original house was smaller than what you see here. This is the the result of the second major enlargement or renovation of the original construction as well as later renovations and remodeling.
The Martin Berry House from the gardens.
The MBH is owned by the Township of Pequannock and operated in partnership with the Pequannock Township Historical Society (PTHS). PTHS was formed in 2015 out of a movement that was original called the Friends of the Martin Berry House that had itself been initiated in 2014 to support the Township in its efforts to acquire the MBH.
The Martin Berry House Furniture display in May 2024.
When the Friends organized as the PTHS, it was decided that a broader vision was needed so that both the house and its context could be preserved and interpreted.
The Martin Berry House Art Exhibition during the “Pathways to History” tour 2024.
The Martin Berry House Living Room.
The PTHS is an all volunteer and membership -based organization with a mission to preserve, interpret, and promote the history and diverse heritage of Pequannock Township. We are working to preserve and maintain historic buildings, sites, and collections, and to create and present programs, exhibitions, publications, and other activities for the public that celebrate and interpret the history and heritage of Pequannock Township and neighboring communities. Our primary activities at this point, though, are centered around the preservation, restoration and management of the MBH as an historic learning center and living museum (MBH website).
The Martin Berry House gardens in bloom in the Spring of 2024.
The preservation of the MBH began with Eleanor and Charles Bogert purchased the house the 2.75 acres of land that surrounds it today in 1951. Lovers of history and historic buildings, it was their intent to restore the house as a Dutch Colonial manor. Along with the slow and laborious efforts of restoring the house, they raised three children, briefly operated an antique shop, gave tours for local school and scout groups and became active in organizations such as the Highlands Historical Society.
The Colonial kitchen section of the home.
Their intent was to restore the MBH and to provide it to Pequannock Township as a museum. In the winter of 2014 Mrs. Bogert informed the Pequannock Town Council and Township Historian that she was ready to begin the process for selling the MBH to Pequannock Township. Township Historian Ed Engelbart and the Pequannock Township Historic District Commission began generating support and The Friends of the Martin Berry House emerged in June (MBH website).
Martin Berry House Colonial kitchen and displays.
The Township submitted an application to and then received a matching grant from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund to purchase the home in 2015 and then contracted with HMR Architects for a Preservation Plan.
The Colonial Kitchen display in the old Dutch Kitchen.
The Plan was received in the winter of 2016. It recommended that the Township complete the purchase of the MBH and provided information regarding its renovation and interpretation. Final negotiations began with Mrs. Bogert and the sale was completed in January 2017. Negotiations then began with the PTHS on a management agreement that was adopted and signed in September 2017 in time for the PTHS to open the MBH to visitors for the Pathways of History Tour.
The history of the Martin Berry House and renovation.
The History of the house:
(from The Martin Berry House historical pamphlet)
In 1695 and 1696, a group led by Captain Arent Schuyler, Major Anthony Brockholst and six others including Samuel Berry, negotiated purchase of the land from both the Lenape Tribal Americans and the East Jersey Board of Proprietors. The land was later divided to eight separate owner including Samuel’s son Martin Berry born in 1693, who acquired the property and likely built his fine home sometime after his marriage to Maria Roome in 1720.
Historian Emil R. Salvini noted that Martin built his house of stone, with walls two feet thick for insulation, set into the hillside facing south, typical of the Dutch homes of the period. Its has six bedrooms, two center halls, shallow fireplaces to reflect the heat back into the rooms, servants quarters and a massively framed Gambrel room built without the benefit of a ridgepole.
Besides being a successful and prosperous farmer, Martin served in positions of community leadership, both as a deacon and later elder in the newly established Dutch Reformed Church which was built in 1736 and was accessible via “Martin’s ford” across the river from his farm. The house passed out of the Barry family in 1862 during the Civil War.
The Butler Museum is housed in the former New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad station. Constructed in 1888, it was remodeled in the 1890’s and in 1907, when a freight room was added to the northwestern end of the building. A major restoration took place from 2011 to 2015. Purchased by the Borough of Butler for a museum just in time for the Bicentennial Celebration in 1976, the museum houses a large collection of artifacts of local and regional significance.
The Butler Fire and Police Department artifacts.
Exhibits highlight the social, educational, fraternal, political, and business life of the community. Unique to the Butler Museum are artifacts pertaining to the Statue of Liberty, statue designer Frederic Bartholdi, and his friend Richard Butler, for whom the town is named. Mr. Butler was an important member of the committee that raised the funds to construct the statue’s pedestal (Pathways to History of Morris County website).
The Statue of Liberty exhibition.
Displays also include products manufactured by the American Hard Rubber Company, the area’s largest employer from the 1880’s to the late 1950’s. Development of items such as Ace Bowling Balls and Ace Combs can be traced from blueprints and salesman samples to the finished products.
The Ace Company exhibit
The resource center presents the opportunity to view past copies of local newspapers, almost a century of Butler High School yearbooks, and a pictorial history of Main Street, Butler.
The Butler Museum main gallery with the Ace Rubber exhibition as well as the Butler Fire and Police departments. The displays represent years of tradition in the town.
The Butler Museum main gallery. The Ace Company exhibition.
The Butler Museum’s local town history display.
The Printing industry of the town of Butler, NJ.
The display of vintage clothing.
The museum has a wonderful display of artifacts that tell the story of the town and show the progression of the town’s growth. The docents do a nice job of telling that story of the town they love so much. It is a very fascinating museum when you tour all the interesting things that the museum has in its collections.
Though it is not a museum, it is a view of the world. I had been to the original World Trade Center three times before 9/11 and the views were just amazing. There is nothing like it as the Empire State Building’s are a bit different.
The building itself is very impressive to visit (quite frankly I would NEVER want to work here) but with its past leery of anything else. Too many people died on this site and I would not want to work in an office here no matter what company. I would want a parachute in my office at all times. Still this was going to be my second trip to the top of the building since 2015 when I visited with my best friend, Kris.
I had won two tickets to the Observatory from a contest at NYU and had set VIP tickets to skip the line to go to the top. At 10:00am in the morning, there was no line to skip. I went right to the top with not that many people there at that time. If you get there early in the morning in the off season, there are no crowds.
The site is still so impressive. This is the Occulus right by the Tower.
One World Observatory is at the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, One World Trade Center. The Observatory is located on the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floors encompassing over 125,000 square feet. You’ll take an incredible Sky Pod Elevator ride to the top. Once aloft guests can explore three levels of the Observatory filled with innovation and inspiration. One World Observatory offers views of New York City’s iconic sights, surrounding waters, and iconic skyline – amazing 360 views for up to 45 miles in every direction (One World Trade Center website).
The views from the top are so impressive of downtown and Governors Island.
Governors Island in the foreground and lower Manhattan. This is the original colony.
The views of Downtown Jersey City and the Waterfront are so spectacular.
The Statue of Liberty seemed so close.
The views of Downtown Brooklyn were amazing.
Midtown was so impressive on a clear day. You can see all the way up to Central Park.
Even the Battery was so impressive from this vantage point along the Hudson River.
Another shot of the Battery and Jersey City.
The views of New York Harbor are spectacular.
The Oculus and the Memorial Pools of the 9/11 Memorial from the top of the Observatory.
This interesting sculpture, XO World Project, is at the entrance when you leave the building.
The XO World Project was created by artist Daniel Anderson, features two sculptures, “XO PLAY” and “XO WORLD,” that encourage peace and love around the world. “XO PLAY,” on display in the Oculus, depicts children playing a game of jacks, symbolizing childhood innocence and harmony with the world. “XO WORLD,” on display just outside One World Trade Center at West Plaza, features a 12-foot “Jack” from the game of Jacks with an “X” representing “love” in universal sign language and “O” representing the world (World Trade Center website).
Contemporary abstract sculptor and painter Daniel Anderson was born and raised in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. His interest and passion for art began at an early age and led him to be recruited and to receive a scholarship to attend the College of Visual & Performing Arts at Syracuse University in New York. He continued his formal education in Florence, Italy, and was the sole artist from New York City selected to participate in an annual residency program in Melbourne, Australia (Artist’s website).
The sculpture is a visual expression of the powerful message of equality, unity, peace, and love. This use of iconography and symbolism is meant to connect with the hearts and minds of the masses as it is intended to motivate, activate, and further progress humanity (Artist’s website).
“As our society faces unprecedented challenges stemming from a global pandemic, economic recovery, racial inequity, and territorial conflicts, World Peace Day offers the perfect backdrop to unveil these two inspiring sculptures intended to bring people together,” said Anderson (Business Wire.com)
The view from the bottom when you leave.
The view from the 9/11 Memorial Park.
The 9/11 Memorial Pools which are the footprint of the original Trade Center Buildings.
This memorial still gets me choked up with what happened here over twenty years ago. I still see flags and flowers of near loved ones names along the edges of the pools. It is nice that family members still remember their family here.
The skyline of the park from the Memorial pools.
The pools are reminder of time when the world went mad. Those feelings are still simmering under the surface of society today.
Visiting a Museum: The Unique, Unusual, Obscure and Historical 