While our family from Idaho was visiting us, Clark went with them to hike at Hartshorne Woods Park. Truth be told, I was exhausted from kid activities and needed a rest break. After everyone had returned to Idaho, Clark asked me to go with him to hike at Hartshorne Woods. He had somethings he wanted to show me. Clark was born here in Monmouth County and had never seen a section of the park classified as Secret. I had seen less of the park than he had.
Our son, Jeff, had traversed sections of the park when he ran here in high school as part of training for cross-country races. He knew secrets the park held that we did not! He shared those secrets with Clark while visiting the park.
The park is huge and has several entrances. I had never visited the park via the Rocky Point entrance, and this is where Clark showed me all the interesting history the park held! Some of the walking areas are paved and some are rustic!
Clark knew, but I did not know, that a portion of what is now Hartshorne Woods park was a military base in World War II. Clark said that in the past this was a restricted area and not open to the public as it is now. I have known as long as I have lived here in NJ, almost 50 years, that bunkers were installed on Sandy Hook during the war. I did not know that they existed in Hartshorne Woods as well.
Clark said, "There's something down this trail I think you should see." Wow!"
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| Battery Lewis 1942 |
The gun on display here is not the original weapon that was located here. Taken from the USS New Jersey, the gun displayed was offered up by the US Navy as surplus. The parks system jumped at the chance to add the weapon to the battery display.
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| 16-inch diameter projectile; 2240 pounds |
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| Loading the weapon |
When the kids were with Clark here, they climbed all over the gun!
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| On the trail |
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| Reading about the weapon - where's Zoe?? |
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| Here she is! |
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| Exploring! |
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| Climbing! |
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Behind bars!
Maybe they shouldn't climb on the gun?! |
Battery Lewis is just one of several bunkers located here. We also found Battery 219
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| Battery 219 near Lower Rocky Point |
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| Battery 219 |
and another one on the Bunker Loop trail. Neither was as well preserved as Lewis Battery. Walking the trail, we could see a huge pile of dirt with trees growing on top. Yep, it was a bunker!
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| Clark checking out the bunker entry |
The Highlands, being a tall point on the Jersey coast, has more interesting history. We followed the "Lighthouse Link" trail that took us to the Twin Lights Lighthouse. We wove our way through the winding trail in the woods to arrive at a beautiful view of the Shrewsbury River and the Atlantic Ocean.
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| Twin Lights shown at top of map |
Unlike Hartshorne Woods park, we have visited Twin Lights multiple time. Still, I always find it interesting to read about the site's history.
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| Two towers - north and south of the building |
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Mystery Cannon ... found when lighthouse
constructed - presumed Dutch / Danish
purpose unknown |
The Fresnel lens from the lighthouse is impressive.
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Fresnel Lens ...
9.5' in diameter and ~ 3000 pounds |
Also, on display at the lighthouse is a portion of the 1892 Electric Buoy Station at Sandy Hook, NJ. The picture below gives an idea of what the engine-dynamo operation might have looked like as no pictures of the inside of the station exist.
Near the lighthouse stands the Spermaceti Cove Life Station. Built and used in the 1800s, the building was moved to this site in 1956. It is the only one of the eight built that still remains standing.
Marconi did his wireless telegraph testing on this site.
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In 1899, Marconi used the Twin Lights site
to set up his history-making wireless telegraph station. |
Fort Monmouth engineers tested radar at this location. Testers were able to follow the flight of B-17 bombers over Long Island, NY at a distance of 138 miles.
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From 1932 to 1939 (when England joined the fight in WW II),
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As we hiked Hartshorne Woods and explored Twin Lights, we caught many glimpses of the river, ocean, and homes far below us.
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New Hiking Stick
provided by my sister! |
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| Peeking through the trees / bushes |
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| Mostly obscured view at Lower Rocky Point |
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| Ah! a clearing! |
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| View of Bahr's Restaurant from hilltop |
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| Lower end of the Highlands Bridge |
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Boaters on the Shrewsbury River and
out in the Atlantic Ocean |
On a side note ....
Early August we attended my granddaughter Lillian's soccer tournament in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Her team won second place in their age group. She's nine. Their team of 7 players had no subs on a scorching hot day but, thankfully, low humidity. The Hershey Cup had more soccer fields in one place than I ever could have imagined possible. Finding the field she played on each time, and locating a parking space within walking distance of that field, proved challenging.
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| Lillian as Goalie |
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Lillian on Defense
(she has an amazing foot!) |
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| Hershey Cup Medal |
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| Lillian with Trophy |
My sister and her husband live near Hershey, so Clark and I visited them overnight to attend the games. On our way home, coming out of the street at their development, Clark said, "I see a balloon!" What a surprise when I looked up to see a Balloon!!
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| Hot Air Balloon over Lebanon, PA |
Just prior to tournament weekend, we had the Woodworth Clan together at our house - sometimes 11 of us; sometimes 7. It was exciting times.
Soon after the Idaho group arrived, they took a trip into NYC to see the Harry Potter play and checkout some museums.
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| Reading on the train |
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| Souvenirs at the theater |
Ice Cream Museum later ...
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| They sure like to climb! |
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| Contemplative Jeff |
A couple of days in, the Connecticut group joined us for more fun.
Boating on Rumson Creek near our house ...
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| Sierra Kayaking |
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| Lillian (aka Lil) Kayaking |
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| Clark and Jack in row boat |
Crabbing ...
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Lil & Zoe Crabbing on the dock
(Others not far away) |
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| Whoops! One got out of the bucket! |
Time at the park ...
Victory Park, Rumson, NJ
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Violet - showing her strength ...
High off the ground, just getting up there was a feat! |
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| Zoe - emulating her big sister |
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| Big Swing |
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Sierra Collecting Sea Shells
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Crazees ice cream after the park ...
Sickles Park, Little Silver, NJ
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| Kite in tree (thanks Jack) |
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Can I reach it???
(Later, "Daddy, help me down now?") |
I was told to go home and get a boat hook! Ten minutes later ...
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| Needed a ladder and a boat hook |
Someone at the park just happened to carry a ladder in his car for his business and came to the rescue. Still, we needed the boat hook to complete the extraction of the kite tail from the tree branches.
Soccer in the park ...
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Impromptu soccer game
(all kids but Sierra)
Violet in goal |
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Lil, Jack on the field
Zoe in goal |
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| Will he make the goal??? |
The kids (including the 6-foot tall one, i.e. Clark) decided to see how many could fit on the swings at the same time!
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| Lillian showing off her strength |
Carvel ice cream after the park ...
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| Lillian, Zoe, Sierra |
The many faces of Miss Violet ...
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| Lil and Nana |
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| Sierra and Nana |
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| Jeff and Zoe |
Outside at Carvel ...
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| Jack finally joined in |
At home activities ...
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| Music with Papa Clark |
Violet and Clark built a marble launcher. They had more fun putting it together than playing with it!
We had multiple failed science projects using food coloring. Messy!
Zoe playing kitchen with a mixer I got her at the dollar store.
She used pretend food - cotton balls, super balls, and other miscellaneous things found in my sewing room. Meanwhile, Sierra, Violet and I played 'Park and Shop' nearby.
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| Zoe's Food Truck |
Sierra wanted to learn how to embroider, so I taught her the satin stitch and chain stitch to make Clover, her dog, a bandana. It has clovers on it using satin stitch. The name Clover is in chain stitch.
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Sierra's first attempt at embroideryl
She's 11. |
Zoe decided to build a tower she designed herself - she's 5.
Violet decided she was a turtle. She's almost 9.
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Nintendo Game Time - a favorite activity
with 4 controllers |
Of course we took the boat out to Sandy Hook for fun.
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| All aboard ... Trip to the beach |
Off the boat fun ...
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| Big and Little Kids! |
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Jack and Violet
Ready, set, ... |
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| Walk on water! |
The yellow dinghy is always a favorite.
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| Jack & Lillian |
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| Zoe |
To top off their time together, the grandkids found out they have a trip planned to Disney World together later this year. Mickey Mouse ears for all!
No wonder I was too tired to go on that first hike to Hartshorne Woods!
