Washington Valley Park
Encyclopedia
Washington Valley Park is a 715 acres (2.9 km²) public park between the first and second Watchung mountain ridge
in the Martinsville
section of Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
that is administered by the Somerset County
Park Commission. It contains the Washington Valley Reservoir and the Chimney Rock Hawk Watch.
with Martinsville. The terrain is rocky and mountainous and covered with pine and hemlock. At the center of the western section of the park is the 21 acres (84,984.1 m²) Washington Valley Reservoir that was created in 1920 when the western branch of the Middle Brook
was dammed, - formerly it was called the Bound Brook/Elizabeth Reservoir. The eastern section of the park has the much smaller East Branch Reservoir and the Buttermilk Falls of the eastern branch of the Middle Brook.
Adjacent to the park is the Chimney Rock Quarry built atop the old Chimney Rock Copper Mine a.k.a. Bound Brook Quarry or Washington Mine. Copper mines over 165 feet (50.3 m) deep exist and active mining continues to this day
as owned and operated by the Stavola group of companies. The most famous copper find was used to mold a small brass cannon later used at the siege of Yorktown. Calcite
has also been mined from the nearby Chimney Rock Quarry. Many marble and granite companies continue to operate in this area
. In 1886, William Haelig leased the land from copper miners to establish his Chimney Rock Quarry. Before 1900, stone was carried out of the quarry to the railroad in Bound Brook by horse-drawn wagons. Haelig persuaded the Central Railroad of New Jersey to lay a spur to the stone pit. Trap rock quarrying was more profitable than mining, and the quarry is still active.
The reservoirs have no boat access and are of interest to angler
s. Species that can be caught include largemouth bass
, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch. The park contains numerous trails that are used by hikers and mountain bikers.
s and other birds. In the 2008 season, they recorded 12,275 sightings, of these over 10,000 were hawks including 7,836 broad-winged hawks, 1,745 sharp-shinned hawks. Also there were 140 bald eagle and 17 golden eagle sightings. Hawk watching lasts from early September into November, the second half of September being the peak time.
near the site of the 1777-78 Middlebrook encampment
. Remnants can be found in the shape of earth walls. A look-out point is preserved that was used to observe movements of the British Army in the plains towards New Brunswick
.
Watchung Mountains
The Watchung Mountains are a group of three long low ridges of volcanic origin, between 400 ft. and 500 ft. high, lying parallel to each other in northern New Jersey in the United States...
in the Martinsville
Martinsville, New Jersey
Martinsville is an affluent unincorporated area located within Bridgewater in Somerset County, New Jersey. Martinsville is located in northeastern Bridgewater near Warren Township; the 08836 ZIP Code takes in the southern extension of Bernards as well...
section of Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. , the township population was 44,464.Bridgewater Township was originally created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of...
that is administered by the Somerset County
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
Park Commission. It contains the Washington Valley Reservoir and the Chimney Rock Hawk Watch.
Park development
The only partially developed park has a western and eastern section separated by the Bound Brook Gap with the Chimney Rock Road that connects Bound BrookBound Brook
Bound Brook may mean:*Bound Brook, New Jersey, a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey**Battle of Bound Brook**Bound Brook , a railroad station in the borough...
with Martinsville. The terrain is rocky and mountainous and covered with pine and hemlock. At the center of the western section of the park is the 21 acres (84,984.1 m²) Washington Valley Reservoir that was created in 1920 when the western branch of the Middle Brook
Middle Brook (New Jersey)
Middle Brook is a tributary of the Raritan River in Somerset, New Jersey in the United States. The stream can be referred to as Rha-weigh-weiros, a Native American name meaning "running from a deep hole", on early maps of the area....
was dammed, - formerly it was called the Bound Brook/Elizabeth Reservoir. The eastern section of the park has the much smaller East Branch Reservoir and the Buttermilk Falls of the eastern branch of the Middle Brook.
Adjacent to the park is the Chimney Rock Quarry built atop the old Chimney Rock Copper Mine a.k.a. Bound Brook Quarry or Washington Mine. Copper mines over 165 feet (50.3 m) deep exist and active mining continues to this day
as owned and operated by the Stavola group of companies. The most famous copper find was used to mold a small brass cannon later used at the siege of Yorktown. Calcite
Calcite
Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate . The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. Aragonite will change to calcite at 380-470°C, and vaterite is even less stable.-Properties:...
has also been mined from the nearby Chimney Rock Quarry. Many marble and granite companies continue to operate in this area
. In 1886, William Haelig leased the land from copper miners to establish his Chimney Rock Quarry. Before 1900, stone was carried out of the quarry to the railroad in Bound Brook by horse-drawn wagons. Haelig persuaded the Central Railroad of New Jersey to lay a spur to the stone pit. Trap rock quarrying was more profitable than mining, and the quarry is still active.
The reservoirs have no boat access and are of interest to angler
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
s. Species that can be caught include largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch. The park contains numerous trails that are used by hikers and mountain bikers.
Chimney Rock Hawk Watch
At an outcropping of the first Watchung mountain ridge is Chimney Rock Hawk Watch. In the fall, the area is visited by birdwatchers to observe the annual southward migration of raptorBird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
s and other birds. In the 2008 season, they recorded 12,275 sightings, of these over 10,000 were hawks including 7,836 broad-winged hawks, 1,745 sharp-shinned hawks. Also there were 140 bald eagle and 17 golden eagle sightings. Hawk watching lasts from early September into November, the second half of September being the peak time.
Middlebrook encampment
To some degree, the eastern section of the park covers a military fortification that was used by the Continental ArmyContinental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
near the site of the 1777-78 Middlebrook encampment
Middlebrook encampment
The Middlebrook encampment refers to the seasonal encampment of the Continental Army during the American War for Independence near Middle Brook in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey . The site includes part of the ridge of the First Watchung Mountain...
. Remnants can be found in the shape of earth walls. A look-out point is preserved that was used to observe movements of the British Army in the plains towards New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
.