Hoffman Grove slowly slips away

I first wrote about Hoffman Grove back in 2006 when I explored the area after one of the homes there was listed in the paper for sale. $200K for a house in Wayne? Yeah, what’s the catch? Oh yeah… constant flooding. Read the original post for the full story, but I found much had changed since I last visited in 2008. here’s some pics. At that time the community was still vibrant and most had refused to be bought out. There was an attitude of “this is what we have to put up with” and the desire to stay was string. After several floods in 2008, the state took action and in 2009, 36 homes were slated to be bought out.. There were several bad floods in early 2011, but Hurricane irene in August of 2011 was the final blow. FEMA stepped in and most of the remaining homes were bought out.

I took a visit to Hoffman grove this morning and what I saw was depressing. There were still many homes left, but most had plywood over the 1st level windows. Some had them over the doors and garage entrances as well. Yet I could clearly see curtains and items inside the 2nd floor windows. And some had cars in front of them. After driving around several times it became clear: cars meant there was a current resident. No cars meant no one was there and never would be again. Many left behind gas grills, toys, lawn furniture and other personal possessions. Saddest of all was the sight of this flag, upside down, the official sign for distress.

here are some pictures I took, the rest are on Flickr

cannons make big boom

Ringwood manor will be having a cannon demonstration at Sunday. They will be showing of cannons, talking about their manufacture and use, and at noon and 2 pm: BOOM!

Lad, A Dog: Albert Payson Terhune

Albert Payson Terhune was a children’s storybook writer, as well as a breeder of Collies. Eventually he combined his two interests and wrote a children’s book “Lad, a Dog” based a real Collie of his. The book proved quite popular and he went on to write a whole series of “Lad” books.

Terhune lived in Pompton Lakes on the shores of the Lake for which the town is named. He buried Lad and all his other Collies right there on the property. The Wayne Police also bury their K-9 dogs here. Lad’s grave is right off the parking area. You can read more about Terhune and his dogs here

Ghost in a tree?

These photos were submitted to me by Diane, a reader.

My friend and I met you today at the Weird Us book signing in Clifton. I gave you tips about the Heartland Mail Box, You showed us your down Jet pictures and I took your picture for you and you took mine ; Anyway I think that is enough clues as to who this is. Sorry, I did not introduce myself , I’m Diane and my friend’s name is Dolores. Anyway here is the picture of my ghost face in the Trees at Skylands Manor. The one picture looks like a clown face and other picture, I see another face. look within the circled area’s . Let me know what you think.