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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
HAMILTON, 4 miles (100 alt., 400 pop.), is a small, sunny old town on
hillside, almost entirely R. of the highway. Prior to the Civil War it was
known as Greenville; during the Revolution it was called Trap because of
the 200-year-old TRAP TAVERN (private) at the fork in the road (R). It
is a large, plain, two-and-one-half-story weatherbeaten box with a patched
clapboard front and shingled ends. Like many Colonial houses it was built
exactly facing the four points of the compass and is not square with the
road. Trap Tavern was so named because during the Revolution local men
invited suspected British spies for a convivial evening here. They were
plied with liquor, inveigled into the cellar, and locked up until the militia
could take them prisoners. The tale is told of one patron named Slocum
who had a rendezvous with death and kept the appointment. Slocum, a
heavy drinker, was lifted into his wagon night after night, and his horses
took him home. Suddenly, he stopped drinking, saying that in a dream
the devil had told him he had just one year to live. The year passed in
total abstinence. On the anniversary Slocum stopped at the Trap, had one
drink, and drove off alone. A few minutes later several men arrived at the
tavern, declaring they had heard violent quarreling on the road in the
darkness. Next morning Slocum was missing. A searching party found the
place where Slocum's horses had gone over an embankment into the millpond. The man's body was in the water, tangled in the reins. People still
say that the devil did it.
West of Hamilton are many log tourist cabins in a flat country of sand
and pines.
Shark River, crossed at 5.9 miles, is well known as an excellent crabbing
spot, but no shark has been seen in recent years.
At 6.4 miles, at a traffic circle, is the junction with State 34 (see Tour 21).
State 33 and State 34 are united for the next mile.
At a complicated overpass and underpass, 7.5 miles, State 34 (see Tour
21) separates (R) from State 33.
The highway runs through a sparsely settled country, with occasional
picnic groves, to Marsh Bog Brook, 9.4 miles, where once flourishing cranberry bogs have been overgrown by weeds.
State 33 descends into a region of stunted oak and pine growth.
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