South Mountain Reservation

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South Mountain Reservation
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)

Nearest city:	Newark, New Jersey
Coordinates:	40°45′00″N, 74°17′34″W
Area:	2,047 acres (8 km²)
Established:	1895
Governing body:	Essex County

South Mountain Reservation covers 2,047.14 acres (8 km²) in the central section of Essex County, New Jersey, extending through the municipalities of West Orange, Maplewood, and Millburn, bordering South Orange, between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountain Range. The presence of the early Delaware Native Americans lingers in the name given to the Watchungs — the "high hills."

In 1896, John Durand, the son of Asher Brown Durand, described the mountain that includes South Mountain Reservation as

“a wilderness, as it probably existed at the time of Hendrick Hudson, a primitive forest abounding with deer and other wild animals, and traversed by streams alive with trout. Game was plentiful – partridges, quail, woodcock, rabbits, squirrels of every species, raccoons and foxes; while occasionally a hungry bear that had trespassed on the farmyards in the vicinity would be tracked to its den and shot.”

In 1680, wolves, bears and cougars were observed in the area, and there was a bounty on them.

The reservation has changed only slightly through the years. It's been preserved primarily in its wild state. Woodlands abound in a variety of hardwood trees, and tall hemlocks tower above streams, creeks and ponds. The west branch of the Rahway River flows through the valley. A reservoir and watershed owned by the City of Orange lies in the northern tract.

Turtle Back Zoo and the South Mountain Arena lie within its boundaries. The vistas of New York City, Elizabeth, Union Township, Staten Island, and Newark can be viewed from the eastern ridge, 550 feet (168 m) above the community of Millburn. Deep in the woods, a 25 foot (8 m) waterfall at Hemlock Falls is a dramatic feature.

In front of the pond called Campbell's Pond is a factory that was abandoned when its interior burned. The adjacent pond has a bridge going across it that is falling apart and is considered dangerous to cross over.

[edit] History

Foliage at Campbell Pond in the reservation

The reservation was built from land purchases begun in 1895. It took a decade to untangle the deeds and assemble all the lands at South Mountain. Before he delegated design of the Essex Parks to his stepson's firm, Frederick Law Olmsted visited the newly acquired reservation. He regarded it as some of the most beautiful and promising terrain he had ever seen anywhere. The design of South Mountain was finalized by the Olmsted Brothers in stages over the years. A good deal of construction work — trails, footbridges, shelters, etc. — was carried out by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

[edit] Body parts

Four garbage bags containing human body parts were found on January 8, 2006, alongside South Orange Avenue in the reservation, according to authorities who are investigating the grisly discovery. This is the fifth time in the past decade that a body or body parts have been found in the reservation.

The body parts that were discovered belonged to that of a Viktor Alekseyeva, 35 of Brooklyn. The remains were verified as Alekseyeva's after a DNA sample was taken from his mother. The identification came five months after the remains were discovered.