New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-30
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WASHINGTON ROCK.
AN ATTRACTIVE POINT NEAR PLAINFIEI.D
n j.
THE FINE VIEW TO BE OBTAINED ny EASY
CLIMB IN THE ORANGE MOUNTAINS.

The traveller by the Central Railroad ~ Now
Jersey. whether riding In a luxurious ROYAL Blne
tram on his way to Baltimore Washington or In
Just an ordinary local. WILL II he looks ont on the
rghtha side Just after passing Painned have his
attention arrested by two white spots on the side Of
the mountain about half a mile distant This noun
tam has been In plain view ever since the train was
crossing Newark Bay. 1t j. the Orange Watching
range and the railroad gradually approaches it until
! In the neghbOrhOod Of Plalnied after which they
/ run practically parallel for several miles II one
were In the vicinity OF the Rockies or even OF the
White Mountains there wonld appear TO be an incon-
srulty III speaking Of this mountain at all. II has
an altitude Of only about feet. But for the part
OF Ncw-Jcrsoy which travcrsing II Is an
agreeable contrast to the level country from which
scotch Plains and I1ainneld derived their names.
While maintaining about the general height,
lis outline Is plcaSlngy Irregular with here and there
a low place or pass II Is clad IL rich dark trees,
nearly all OF deciduous varieties.
out OF the OF dark grccnncss the two white
spots emerge. and they present such striking con-
tras to their surroundings that the traveller cannot
help forming mental Interrogation point and asldng
himself what they signify If fortunate enough 10
have a scatmate or a ncighbor who knows something
abont the region. he noei not long remain In igno
lie will be told that this IS Washington Rock.
though II his curiosity the better Of him and he
should ask which OF the Two is Washlngon's. he may
fail TO receive a satisfactory answer Regarding the
reason for the designation he will be told that to
this point Washington came more than once during
! the Revolution when his army was encampcd of to
the northwest in the vicinity OF MorrstOwn In order
! TO INSPECT the movements OF the British troops who
were In the vicinity OF what Is Plainhed. Doubt
less II is a historic fact that Washington did what
/ tradition ascribes TO him: at all events. the writer
has heard of an old who lives near the foot OF
/ the mountain. and not far from Washington ROCK VINO
SAYS that his grandfather accompanied Washington
on some of his visits 10 the point III question: ana
stood beside the Father OF his Country on this historic
ground There are two large powders al the front
! OF an open space which commands view Of a Wide
stretch Of country and every year they are white
washed I'm order TO render them easily visible from
| long distance.
whether Washington iourneyed TO this place
| TO view the landscape Ger" or not Washington
Rock we'll repays a visit. II is lcss than thirty miles
| from New York and yet II Is safe TO say that an
exceedingly small number OF the people living In the
bic city have ever heard Of II. and the number OF
| those who have visited II must be nleagre indeed
| In Plainneld and all the country round about II Is
as familiar as household word. and excursions 10
Of large parties small are of almost everyday
| occurrence during the warm season. In oil ms
rscon inc specl0c designation Washington Is rarely
| or never attached 10 It In conversation The place
Is known as "The Rock Even the ghd"boardS
10 be- found on the roads for several miles III every
direction simply say 80 many miles to the Rock
II IS a sure sign that one Is not to the manner po''
he
The Rock may be approached by several ro"oS e
| and all OF them are Interesting whether for walMhg
or driving The nearest points OF approach are "o'h
| Eyona the second station beyond Plainie OF
| Dunelen, one station further on Evoha Is h'"i"
onnos,te the Rock but no road leads from the station
| I'm 4 straight line 10 IT, From Duneh"h lh' m"'"
road to the mounaln will take one to the ROCK WIZ
| o,so and # can be- driven over In comfort Inc
distance Is about mile and half. very peasant
vov Of going TO the Rock Is 10 leaV" the ""'" o.
plo,nicd and GO up through what Is called inc No'"
1u,, g n mass in the mountain. Somersest runs
| directly 10 IT. The road is excellent ana 'ne aS'n'
| so gradual that one Is on the further sue " '.
| mountain before ne knows II. After going 'hrousn
the pass and proceeding some distance 10 Inv 49,,
| ward a road turning to the LETT pf'neS oh' q" ~
to the objective point The return can th'h De h'uc
| hv the Dunclion road. previously mentioned OF
| I'm another way. by going mile or 80 III Wv
! direction OF Warrcnve. on the west side OF inc
| mountain and then taking road turning 10 NV NV
hich with some twisting and turning leads bark AGAIN
! +, Duncllcn. This route makes an extremely P'''
| an, walk for a saturday sunday on'ihg
Tho view from the Rock or rather from nv op''
| oud = f,v feet higher Is we'll worth the journey
! For q small climb 1t Is uncOmmonly line ana r.
| varding on u clear day the towers OF the hrooh''"
| Bridge the big buildings at the lower emu oi nan
| haitian Island and the Statue OF iApe'N '",
! o.sur coon with the naked eye. The long "ch vi
tho staten Island hills IS in plain sight ana mar,
.t hand are the church spires Of Elizabeth "in'
At thc left rises the white sIare OF one OF the cfo"
| IN Westfcld The Highlands OF the Naves,hk po"""
tho horizon 10 the southeast Cleaning 'a''' ''e
soon on Rsran Bay, and at times along the ""'.rS
- Tho XIII Won Kull. TO the south New BrnhS"ioA
stretches out, zen miles away ana Com ib cbmneys
| W NiIstonn iTanhcld can OF course. be thrn III
At glance and Of the nearby village, OF irs,s
%C%n nTKct etc. and the farming lands ana io 20 eY
l., ~ needless TO speak. While by no means ~ ~ y,
tensive and though there Is no siiVeiy wor.sts
river in the middle distance; me V ny" when one
e an the plazza Of the Mountain HouSe III Nv
@tskllls In many respects !, j. ,e eg"iTl The hand
| factory. II IS an extremely cVliHeu we've
| 81 man IS apparent everywhere. mountain rom.
" There is no other outlook on the ronnan, ANAL
raralJe with this The plateau here j., ,,dp land
There IS perhaps an acre OF pracur,n1LS ,rs.i one
covered with thin growth o. h"nrl'ns xoulS he for
,"nno, holm thinking what fine s' II "ou t ~ =.
cann0, nrR o,rl There was hotel here Jew yenrN
AGO I'm fact but after being burned II va" on1 that
h,niIt t'ndrr proper management u "Dmu tom, Nrw
p,at n am,rr,rise nj this short distance from Nv,
V"r and in a spot easily "ccen,ln,, rg,r dinc
iall on suc" nir within quarter OF mile OF lhi s
wa'sr hountfn spring Of water as pure ana t n,
A. that TO be found in the nf me PEDESTRIAN in
drhgni , we N"mntans 1t Is not surprising ma on
Rock is visited by many Pr fron ali thc towns and
me suu'r',r distance Of a dozen miles or NOR,
cies "i,",u na come once Invariably desire TO con. n
again on sundays some NM nnd bring a supply of
plains come 6,16ms sorts that appeal to the tmrsH
rev. mn wbo asks for beer receive, ~ wniid
answer with such palllmmiInto ,J.t
Tbe Rock remains 10 be dlscoN . ,hcv vim find
majority Of New,YorkSrs: ds ,S scm " viii make
fortune there The writer . H. Win ri,h fresh delight
Of times ,n,S ,"fartion lie unhcsitatingly recon-
w0ndsr az" ir,p 10 the Rock to all VINO are , small
Of superb view that may De on m;,.nc' "''
expenditure OF tme money a"o "
f.Ti