| Page Views: 2,318 Last Visit to Atsion: August, 2008 I Visit Here Frequently | Pine Barrens Haven by KiKitC - last update: Nov 17, 2008 |
Booming Pine Barrens Industrial Town...in 1800s | Richards Mansion - being restored |
The pine barrens of New Jersey played a vital role in our country's tumultous history. Offering the natural resources needed for iron production, lumber, terra cotta and more, this desolate, isolated area gave rise to numerous company towns. These industry towns saw rise and ruin over time. Atsion was one of the most profitable and impressive in the barrens history.
Atsion is now a sleepy, historical stop in Pine Barrens History. A place where people enjoy swimming, kayaking, hiking, riding and more...Atsion is the first stop of our historical tour.
Just off of 206 in Shamong Township...this is our favorite place to hit the trails as well...
In 1766, Charles Read dammed the Atsion River and established the Atsion ironworks. By 1820, the town was in ruins and Read faced foreclosure proceedings. Samuel Richard bought the company and by 1824 the ironworks was reopened, and saw it's highest levels of production.
Richards built the mansion that still stands just off 206 in Shamong Township. He lived here until his death in 1842, which happens to coincide with the discovery of a better grade of iron ore in Pennsylvania. With the demand for south Jersey iron died out, so did the ironworking industry in the area. As a result, the timber industry, charcoal industry and other supporting industries shut down. The employees, now unemployed, left this barren land for work elsewhere. Industries that depended on the employees, such as grocers, inns, bakers, blacksmiths could not survive.
Atsion, like many other iron towns became a ghost town. |
| Way back in the swamps of Jersey... |
|  | If I'm ever missing, start looking from here... If you've visited any of my other NJ pages, you may have surmised that I love getting "lost in the pines" of south Jersey. I don't know why, maybe it's just a little of the "Jersey Devil" in me. |
|  | What does the "Jersey Devil" look like? Long before they took to the ice...hehehe
Really. The "Jersey Devil" was a scare tactic created by moonshine runners, that used the cover of the pine barrens to transport their goods. With the impact of the railroad on the local area, the beauty of the pines was accessible to more people...making it riskier to run the goods. So...create the story of this "devil" to try and keep tourists out of the woods at night...very clever...
You can take a leisurely cruise down the creeks, or hit the trails. There are trails for all kinds of explorers, from hiking and horses, to BMX and ATV.
So, if I'm ever missing...just pick a trail and follow the tire marks... |
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| Pros: | "500 miles of unpaved roads to explore" | | Cons: | "500 miles of unpaved roads to explore" | | In A Nutshell: | "I've got maps and a GPS...let's go..." |
KiKitC's Atsion Travel Tips
KiKitC's Atsion Travelogues | | | |
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Comments for KiKitC about Atsion | | | | |
Bwana_Brown Sun Sep 20, 2009 18:48 UTC Great tips on how to go about seeing the backwoods! Excellent shots of the ups and downs of off-roading too! | vinc_bilb Tue Sep 15, 2009 15:53 UTC No tips about nightlife?? He, I'm wondering why ... May be only mosquitos hunting party? (I'm kidding). I'm "admiratif" (in French) | lynnehamman Fri Jul 31, 2009 01:01 UTC Excellent tips on hiking in the woods, Christine. Love the SUV tips and the pictures say it all. Good warning on tick repellent & Lyme's Disease . | Yaqui Tue Jul 21, 2009 23:06 UTC Very good warning tips about Lyme's Disease Christine. My friends brother hikes all the time and he contracted it. It is better now, but for awhile it was up and down. Nice page! |
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