Schooley's Mountain
Encyclopedia
Schooley's or, officially, Schooleys Mountain is a mountain ridge in northern New Jersey
that stretches from Lake Hopatcong
in the north to Hampton
in the south. It is the last ridge in the group of parallel mountains that includes Allamuchy Mountain and the Kittatinny Mountains
before the Piedmont Plateau and drop off to New York City
.
by a gap and the valley of Spruce Run, which bifurcates the mountain itself higher in its course. The mountain ridge extends about 20 miles northeast, being separated by Budd Lake
and the South Branch Raritan River
from Mooney Mountain. The northeasternmost point looks out upon Waterloo and the Musconetcong River
, the valley of which lies upon its northwestern side; on the southeastern side is German Valley, drained by the South Branch Raritan River.
Prominent subsidiary peaks include Mount Kipp (951 feet (290 m)), at the southeastern tip, and Point Mountain (935 feet (285 m)), overlooking Anderson in the Musconetcong Valley. The summit of the ridge proper lies in a wooded area behind private homes on Kim Lane, on the northeastern part of the ridge.
The community of Schooley's Mountain
is on top and in the middle of the ridge, which rises about 400–800 ft (121.9–243.8 m) above the surrounding valley.
landowners in the area during the 1790s.
The mountain air and the chalybeate
springs on the mountain once made it a fashionable summer destination. For similar reasons, a state tuberculosis
sanatorium
was once located around Mount Kipp.
Many small iron mines were worked on the mountain in the late 19th century; remains of some are still visible today. Granite was also quarried from the mountain.
The main crossing at the mountain is Schooley's Mountain Road, formerly Washington Turnpike. General George Washington
noted in his diary that he considered the route from "Dutch Valley to Schooley's Mountain a hazardous and round about thoroughfare."
Camp Washington, encloses the valley of Long Valley
and small Lake George on the southeastern side of the mountain. Lake George has been drained and dredged but swimming is no longer permitted. The Electric Brook runs from Lake George over several waterfalls in the park before it reaches the south branch of the Raritan River. The park offers boat rental and numerous amenities above and beyond hiking. One of the completed segments of Patriots' Path
runs through the park.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
that stretches from Lake Hopatcong
Lake Hopatcong
Lake Hopatcong is the largest freshwater body in the state of New Jersey, USA, approximately 4 square miles in area. The lake is located in the mountains of northern New Jersey, north of Netcong and along the border between Sussex and Morris counties.The lake is within the borders of four...
in the north to Hampton
Hampton, New Jersey
Hampton is a Borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,401.What is now Hampton was originally incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature as Junction Borough on February 20, 1895, from portions of both Lebanon...
in the south. It is the last ridge in the group of parallel mountains that includes Allamuchy Mountain and the Kittatinny Mountains
Kittatinny Mountains
The Kittatinny Mountains are a long ridge traversing across northwestern New Jersey running in a northeast-southwest axis. It is the first major ridge in the far northeastern extension of the Ridge and Valley province of the Appalachian Mountains...
before the Piedmont Plateau and drop off to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Geography
Schooley's Mountain is separated from Musconetcong MountainMusconetcong Mountain
Musconetcong Mountain is a ridge in the Highlands region of New Jersey running south of and parallel to the Musconetcong River. The ridge travels through Alexandria, Holland, Bethlehem and Lebanon Township.-Central Delaware Valley American Viticultural Area:...
by a gap and the valley of Spruce Run, which bifurcates the mountain itself higher in its course. The mountain ridge extends about 20 miles northeast, being separated by Budd Lake
Budd Lake (New Jersey)
Budd Lake, the largest natural lake in New Jersey, is the source of the South Branch Raritan River. It is located in the community of Budd Lake, New Jersey, an unincorporated portion of Mount Olive Township....
and the South Branch Raritan River
South Branch Raritan River
The South Branch Raritan River is a tributary of the Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States.The source of the South Branch is the outflow from Budd Lake, a glacial remnant located a few miles northeast of Hackettstown...
from Mooney Mountain. The northeasternmost point looks out upon Waterloo and the Musconetcong River
Musconetcong River
The Musconetcong River is a tributary of the Delaware River in northwestern New Jersey in the United States. It flows through the rural mountainous country of northwestern New Jersey. Part of it is a National Wild and Scenic River....
, the valley of which lies upon its northwestern side; on the southeastern side is German Valley, drained by the South Branch Raritan River.
Prominent subsidiary peaks include Mount Kipp (951 feet (290 m)), at the southeastern tip, and Point Mountain (935 feet (285 m)), overlooking Anderson in the Musconetcong Valley. The summit of the ridge proper lies in a wooded area behind private homes on Kim Lane, on the northeastern part of the ridge.
The community of Schooley's Mountain
Schooley's Mountain, New Jersey
Schooley's Mountain is an unincorporated community in Washington Township, in Morris County, New Jersey, named for the Schooley family who owned a considerable amount of land there in the 1790s, is on Schooley's Mountain, a mountain with an elevation of about directly north of Long Valley. It...
is on top and in the middle of the ridge, which rises about 400–800 ft (121.9–243.8 m) above the surrounding valley.
History
The mountain is named for the Schooley family, QuakerReligious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
landowners in the area during the 1790s.
The mountain air and the chalybeate
Chalybeate
Chalybeate waters, also known as ferruginous waters, are mineral spring waters containing salts of iron.-Name:The word "chalybeate" is derived from the Latin word for steel, "chalybs", which follows from the Greek word "khalups"...
springs on the mountain once made it a fashionable summer destination. For similar reasons, a state tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
was once located around Mount Kipp.
Many small iron mines were worked on the mountain in the late 19th century; remains of some are still visible today. Granite was also quarried from the mountain.
The main crossing at the mountain is Schooley's Mountain Road, formerly Washington Turnpike. General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
noted in his diary that he considered the route from "Dutch Valley to Schooley's Mountain a hazardous and round about thoroughfare."
Recreation
While much of the flatter terrain on the ridge has been cultivated or, more recently, developed for residential housing, much of Schooley's Mountain is still wooded. On the northwest side, Cataract Park, along Schooleys Mountain Road (Route 24), preserves a waterfall and an old mine opening on the steep side of the ridge. Schooley's Mountain County Park, the former YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
Camp Washington, encloses the valley of Long Valley
Long Valley, New Jersey
Long Valley is an unincorporated area located within Washington Township, in Morris County, New Jersey. Known as German Valley since its foundation during the colonial era, the community was renamed in response to anti-German sentiment during World War I...
and small Lake George on the southeastern side of the mountain. Lake George has been drained and dredged but swimming is no longer permitted. The Electric Brook runs from Lake George over several waterfalls in the park before it reaches the south branch of the Raritan River. The park offers boat rental and numerous amenities above and beyond hiking. One of the completed segments of Patriots' Path
Patriots' Path
The Patriots' Path is a multi-use trail in New Jersey, United States, with a total length of .- References :...
runs through the park.