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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
SCOTCH PLAINS, 13 m. (150 alt., 11,186 pop.), is largely rural;
most of its workers are employed in nearby towns. A group of Scottish
Presbyterian and Quaker immigrants came here in 1684 after refusing to
swear allegiance to the British Crown. At the corner of Park Ave. and
Front St. is a tavern now operated as YE OLDE HISTORIC INN, built 1737,
a two-story, yellow clapboarded building with two wings.
NORTH PLAINFIELD, 16.2 miles (100 alt., 9,760 pop.), on the Watch-ung slope, provides homes for many businessmen and workers in adjoining
Plainfield.
The WILLIAM MOGEY & SONS, INC. PLANT, 46 Interhaven Ave. (open
weekdays 8:30-5:30), is one of the five factories manufacturing telescopes
in the United States. In a squat, two-story cement building, William
Mogey (who founded the business in 1882), his sons, and seven other
men each year turn out about 200 complete telescopes, a large quantity of
optical parts for rifle sights, and lenses for other goods.
Hydewood GOLF CLUB (R) is east of the main intersection with
Watchung Ave. (greens fees 35¢-50¢; 75¢ Sat., $1 Sun. and holidays).
Along the North Plainfield section of the highway are roadhouses, restaurants, diners, and flower stands of exotic types from an open lean-to,
or a Dutch windmill, to a much-gabled stucco structure. Darkness comes
late to this highway; neon signs, tremulous bulbs, flares, and spotlights
create an illuminated nightmare until the early-morning hours.
At 18.8 miles is the junction with a hard-surfaced road.
Right on this road, up a steep grade, to WASHINGTON ROCK STATE PARK,
0.9 miles. Here, in the midst of stone fireplaces and other standard picnic facilities, including a tea house and hot-dog stand, is WASHINGTON ROCK, from which the General watched the movements of the British forces on the plain below during the
months of May and June, 1777, A flag flies from a pole bedded in a stone column
on which a tablet has been placed. On a clear day the view stretches for nearly 30 miles over northern New Jersey to Staten Island and Manhattan.
miles over northern New Jersey to Staten Island and Manhattan.
The transmitting mast of radio station WJZ is L., off the highway (see
Tour 13).
At 22 miles the highway passes through the northern fringe of BOUND
BROOK (50 alt., 7,372 pop.) (see Tour 17).
At 22.5 miles (L) are the REMAINS OF BREASTWORKS thrown up by
Washington's men during June 1777 and the winter of 1778-79. These
are slight hummocks on both sides of the road, well overgrown.
At 22.9 miles is the junction with a hard-surfaced road.
Right on this steeply upgraded road to the junction with a dirt road, 0.2 miles; R.
on this road to the flagpole (L) on the SITE OF THE MIDDLEBROOK HEIGHTS
CAMPGROUND, 0.3 miles, where the first Betsy Ross flag is believed to have been flown after its official adoption on June 14, 1777. Each June 14 a new 13-starred flag is hoisted and allowed to remain flying day and night for a year. This strong position in the hills was never attacked by the British while Washington's forces held it. In 1779, however, after the army had moved away, the British in New York staged a
night raid into this area. They failed to burn the log huts because the timber was
too damp.
At 23.9 miles is the junction with a hard-surfaced road.
Right on this road past a large stone quarry to a short but steep footpath that
leads to CHIMNEY ROCK, 0.6 m. From this formation, similar to a chimney, Washngton often watched troop movements in the plains to the east. The spectacular
rock serves as a laboratory for geology students.
At 26.5 miles, SOMERVILLE (80 alt., 8,255 pop.) (see Tour 17) is bypassed.
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