Hartshorne Woods Park

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Location of Hartshorne Woods
Location of Hartshorne Woods

Hartshorne Woods Park (pronounced: hearts horn) is a 736-acre (298 ha) county park located in Northern Monmouth County in New Jersey's Bayshore Region. The park has 16 miles (26 km) of trails, several old military bunkers and a small beach with a fishing pier. It is roughly bordered to the north and west by Navesink Ave and Route 36. Its southern borders are Hartshorne Road and the Navesink River. Its eastern border is the Upper Shrewsbury River. The Park is split into three sections from west to east: The Buttermilk Valley Section, the Monmouth Hills Section and the Rocky Point Section.

Contents

[edit] History

The park is named after Richard Hartshorne, who acquired the land from the Lenape for thirteen shillings after sailing to the Highland in 1670. Rocky Point, the 224-acre easternmost section of the park, contained a World War Two era Coast Artillery site known as Battery Lewis. Later, the Highlands Air Force Station, a long-range air defense radar installation and the Highlands Army Air Defense Site (HAADS) were constructed here. The Air Force closed its installation in 1966. The Army continued to operated HAADS through 1974 to support Nike missile batteries throughout the region.the deffense base bunkers are dangerous so it would be a good idea to bring a flash light going through the bunkers

[edit] Sections

[edit] Buttermilk Valley

The Buttermilk Valley section of Hartshorne Woods Park can be accessed from a parking lot on Navesink Rd. This section of the park has several moderate and easy trails and two overlook spots: the Navesink overlook and the Claypit Creek Overlook. This section of the park has maps and information as well as facilities located near the parking lot.

[edit] Monmouth Hills

The Monmouth Hills section of the park is accessible by trails from the other two sections of the park. The Grand Tour Trail (a challenging trail) and the Cuesta Ridge Trail (a moderate trail) traverse this section. The Cuesta Ridge Trail goes along the northern section of the park and is the most direct connection from Buttermilk Valley to Rocky Point. This section of the park has facilities located along the southern loop of the Grand Tour Trail.

[edit] Rocky Point

The Rocky Point section of the park is accessible from Portland Road in Highlands. This area is the highest natural point on the Eastern Seaboard from Southern Maine to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. There is ample parking, facilities and information at this entrance to the park. This section has of the park has some of the easiest and some of the most challenging trails in the park. There is a pier at Blackfish Cove (on the Navesink River) and a small beach where fishing is permitted.

As well as having great views of the Atlantic Ocean and barrier beaches, Rocky Point has several coast artillery batteries dating back to its use as a military installment named Atlantic Highlands Military Reservation. Most of the concrete emplacements are still intact, but few or no wooden structures remain.

Four such emplacements exist.

1. During World War 1, there was an unnamed battery of four 12-inch mortars, models M1896, on M1891 carriages. The mortars were transferred from Fort Hancock, Battery Reynolds (S/N 20 and 21), and Battery McCook (S/N 18 and 58). Installation of the guns was completed on July 18, 1918. The guns were finally removed to Fort Hancock for storage in July of 1920. It has been reported that one of these gun positions is still visible, and the other three are buried.

2. In World War 2, this base was the site of Battery Isaac N. Lewis (Construction Number 116), which consisted of two 16-inch Navy guns, Model MkIIMI on M4 barbette carriages, installed in concrete casemates. These guns weighed over 128 short tons (116 metric tons) each, were 68 feet (20.7 m) long, and could fire a 2,240 lb pound (16-inch diameter) (1,020 kg, 406 mm) armor-piercing projectile at targets up to 25 miles away. The crewmen worked inside the protection of the concrete casemates and used overhead hoists to load the projectile and the 648 lb (294 kg) of powder contained within three separate powder bags. These two guns had an interlocking field-of-fire with the twin 16-inch guns of Fort Tilden that could hit any enemy ship approaching the New York Harbor. These guns had a service life of only 200 rounds each and were only fired during the proof firing and annual service practice. Although German submarines were operating within visual range of this facility, these guns were never fired at an enemy ship. Along with the other fortifications of the New York Harbor, this facility safeguarded the New York Harbor during World War 2. This gun battery was named in honor of Colonel Isaac N. Lewis. Born in New Salem, Pennsylvania on October 12, 1858 and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1884, Lewis died in New Jersey on November 9, 1931. His most notable contribution was the invention, development, and full-scale production of the world's first lightweight machine gun for aircraft. Installation of the equipment was completed and the guns were transferred on February 16, 1944. This battery was equipped with a Battery Commanders Station, a casemated Switchboard and Plotting Room (the bunker located behind both gun casemates), 8 Base End and 8 Spotting Stations. The battery was also equipped with one SCR-296 fire control radar, 2 ammunition magazines, and 1 diesel powerplant. The guns were removed in 1948, but the concrete casemates still remain.

3. Battery 219 consisted of two 6-inch (152 mm) guns, Model M1903A2 on M1 shielded barbette carriages. Installation was completed on February 16, 1944. This battery was equipped with a Battery Commanders Station, 5 Base End and 5 spotting stations. The battery was also equipped with one SCR-296 fire control radar, 2 ammunition magazines, and 1 diesel powerplant. These guns were removed in 1949.

4. This same plot of land on the Atlantic Highlands was later used as a control center for Nike air defense missiles during the Cold War. The facility was jointly operated by the Army and the Air Force to allow coordination between the two services in their air defense missions. Some of the WW2 casemates were reused as fallout shelters.

The casemates are not completely open to the public due to concerns for public safety and the security of the structures. You may walk along the marked trails through the Battery Lewis gun positions and climb atop the casemates for a great view of the New York Harbor.

[edit] Major trails

Classification:

  • Green Circles indicate: Easy Trails for walking.
  • Blue Squares indicate: Moderate Trails for hikers, equestrians and all-terrain bicylces.
  • Black Diamonds indicate: Challenging Trails for experienced hikers, equestrians and all-terrain bicylists.

[edit] Buttermilk Valley

  • Kings Hollow Trail- easy loop (0.7 mile)
  • Candlestick Trail- easy (1.5 miles) - Navesink Overlook
  • Laurel Ridge Trail- moderate loop (2.5 miles)

[edit] Monmouth Hills

  • Cuesta Ridge Trail- moderate (1.6 miles)
  • Grand Tour Trail- challenging (6 miles)

[edit] Rocky Point

  • Lewis Overlook- easy loop (0.2 mile) - There is a trail to the top of Battery Lewis with great views.
  • Battery Loop- moderate loop (1.3 miles) - Paved surface
  • Black Fish Cove- moderate (0.3 mile) - Steep trail to pier
  • Command Loop- moderate (0.4 mile) - Paved surface
  • Bunker Loop- moderate (0.3 mile)
  • Rocky Point Trail- challenging (4.1 miles)

[edit] External links

[edit] References