From the Mind of Joe Valencia: Monmouth County

Showing posts with label Monmouth County. Show all posts

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Monmouth County Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk - Let's Find a Cure

I had the pleasure of covering the Monmouth County Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk at Monmouth University a few years ago. I have been volunteering my photography services for a while and always looking for a good cause to support. I found the Monmouth County Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk and, without hesitation, I signed up to volunteer. I was very excited when I received a confirmation email along with some other information about the walk. My thought was that I would do Team photos, like I did for the JDRF, but I was assigned to be an Event Photographer. Uh oh…. I haven’t covered an event this big in a long time but if that was what they needed, that was what I was going to do. I was excited to be part of such an important event – it is important because it raises much needed money for research but it is also important to me on a more personal level. Pancreatic cancer took the lives of my mother-in-law, Joyce, and uncle, Pendy, and I have been looking for a way to honor their memories; this seemed to be the perfect way. If I can do my small part to aid in the research that leads to a cure, I think they would want me to. I was encouraged to hear Nicole read the names of two (2) survivors at the walk that year, but it is my hope that there will come a time when the list of survivors becomes too great to read aloud.

Nicole & her Dad starting the walk

The Monmouth County Walk was founded by Nicole Tuscano and her family in 2010 in honor of her mother, Cleo. Cleo lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2008. The day started for me at 7:00 AM when I arrived at Wilson Hall on the campus of Monmouth University. I was taken aback a little when I approached a small group of people and one of them, Nicole, greeted me by name. I was sure I had never met her before and couldn’t figure out how she knew who I was. I guess my confusion must have shown on my face because she quickly explained that she saw the camera bag and I was the only new photographer to the mix. I helped with a couple tables and a few cases of water and then set about my job. Too often the volunteers and others behind the scenes are treated like scenery but I like to shoot them as-well. In fact, one of the emails that I received from Nicole in advance of the walk mentioned that she wanted photos of the volunteers and her family, in addition to the participants. I soon met Frank, the other event photographer, and we discussed how to best cover all of the action. Frank had been involved with the walk before and knew the route, as well as the important aspects that we needed to cover. This proved to be invaluable and ensured full coverage.

A small part of the crowd

It wasn’t long before the once empty lawn was awash in yellow and purple as participants signed in, checked out the tables of information and grabbed a quick bite to eat. It was then that I decided to try taking a few shots from an elevated platform. The ideal would have been the roof of Wilson Hall but that didn’t seem likely so I chose the top of the stairs leading into the building. It was high enough to give me a good overview; the panoramic shot was taken from this position and then stitched together with Photoshop. Soon the time came for everyone to move to the Start/Finish line and for Nicole to say a few words before cutting the ribbon with her father. That was when everything really started. I tried to catch as many people at the start line as I could and when the last person crossed the line I headed for my next station to get set before the walkers had a chance to get there. I barely made it and I took a shortcut! I admit, the photos at the starting line were taken more to document the start of the walk but now I wanted to try to capture more of the life and essence of the walk and was more selective in my shooting. The most important thing for me is to stay out of the way and so I stayed to the side of the path and only crossed to the other side when there was a big enough break. Occasionally a team would stop and pose for me but mainly I just let the action go by and grabbed what I thought would make for a good photo. Again, I stayed in this position until the last person passed before I headed over towards the Pollack Auditorium to catch everyone passing through.

Camera shy....

The background wasn’t all that special so I walked against the current towards the stadium and set up there. The crowd had thinned out a bit more by this point which made shooting even easier than before. I could see potential shots earlier thereby giving me more time to get ready and frame the shot. There were a few times that I wished I had been shooting video, especially when a mother with her twins sons came by. She had allowed them to push the tandem stroller (they were barely able to reach the handles) but the one on the left was pushing a bit harder than the one on the right and so they kept veering off course. Mom had to keep correcting their tack but eventually they found straight and went on their way. When the last had passed I made my way back to the Start/Finish line but by the time I got there most of the walkers had finished. Luckily Frank was there to catch each and every person crossing the finish line. Did I mention how nice it was having someone else shooting?

The Volunteers (that's Nicole in the white shirt)

The walk was done but my job was not. It was time to catch everyone relaxing with a cool drink or maybe a purple bagel, enjoying the beautiful day. There was also the raffle to deal with. When everything was done and the participants had left it was time for one last photo – the Volunteers! Everyone gathered on the steps to Wilson Hall and I took a shot. I then took a few more, just in case. It was only then that my job was done and I could go home.

I met a lot of people that day – walkers and volunteers – and most of them had a very personal reason for being there, I know that I did. I wish I could share all of their stories but, unfortunately, I cannot. What I can do is to help get the word out and raise awareness with the hope of inspiring more people to get involved. Check out the Lustgarten Foundation website – here – to find ways to help. Volunteer. Walk. Donate. No contribution is too small, whether it be time or money. Thank you for stopping by – if you have a story you would like to share, please feel free to leave a comment below. Stay tuned for a post about the volunteers for this great event.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Hiking Through History: Monmouth Battlefield - Part IV; The Sutfin House

This installment is somewhat different than its predecessors in that it is about a single entity in an historic site. The house was built in 1731 and stands alone amidst the corn and a lone tree. It was owned by Derick Sutfin and at the time of the battle he lived there with his wife, Mary, and four of their eight children. They also owned a number of slaves who are believed to have slept in the upstairs loft of the house. The farm, at one time, covered 265 acres where the family raised livestock and grew grain. He produced wheat, rye, apple cider, beef, pork, poultry, honey and dairy products. There were also other structures on the land but the farmhouse is the only one left standing.

The image at the top of this post is a wide shot of the farm and battlefield. I took this photo while standing at the top of Combs Hill where the Visitor Center now sits. The house is approximately a mile away from where I was standing.

I have hiked this part of the park before and written about the other trails but I had only seen the old farmhouse from a distance. I started the hike on the Washington Trail but when I got to an opening in the fence I turned onto the Farms Trail and Colonel Cilley Trail which took me on to the Sutfin Farm and towards the old farmhouse. It is the Colonel Cilley Trail which ultimately passes by the house. I have always been struck by the weathered appearance of the house and I wanted to take a lot of photos. I took a few shots from different parts of the trail as I approached and then some up-close. As I was walking around the house looking for some interesting features to photograph I started feeling a bit uncomfortable. The house is closed up but many of the upstairs windows are without glass and there are holes in the side of the building so there are many places where you can see inside. I found myself concentrating more on what might be inside the house than I was on photographing the outside. The longer I was there, the more uncomfortable I felt. I just couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't alone and that I was being watched.

Ridiculous! Right? Absolutely! The reality is the longer I was there, the stronger the feeling got until I couldn't stay any longer. I had to leave the house and I couldn't get away fast enough. So it was back to the Colonel Cilley Trail, heading southeast until I came to a wooden fence identical to the one along the Washington Trail behind me. This is where the Colonel Cilley Trail heads north and the Farms Trail goes south. I took the Farms Trail and followed it back to the parking lot.

I couldn't stop thinking about my experience at the house and so the next day I decided to take my walk through the Sutfin Farm again, this time taking the Colonel Cilley Trail which would, once again, bring me to the Sutfin House. As I was walking along I came across a fellow hiker, a gentleman I had actually seen the day before but he was too far away to stop and chat. This time we were on the same trail heading towards each other and when we were close enough we exchanged "hello’s.” I asked him if he was on the trail yesterday and he said he was. I then asked him if he had ever experienced the sensation of being watched like I had the day before. Much to my delight, he said he had. We talked a little more and then I continued along the trail and soon found myself approaching the house. I was coming from the east whereas the day before I came to it from the west. I took some photos while approaching the house but as I drew closer the strange sensation started coming over me again and so I didn't stop until I was well past the house. I have discovered that the hiker and I are not alone - check out a great post by Patrick Browne called Monmouth Battlefield: Just Me and the Ghosts. You can also check out Chuck's Paranormal Adventures, he has done a number of investigations at Monmouth Battlefield (I participated in one and will write about that at a later date) and has some interesting observations of the Sutfin House. I have since learned that, though no one with the New Jersey Parks System or Friends of Monmouth Battlefield has experienced anything like I had, there have been recent reports of "things" from visitors.

Are there spirits walking the grounds of Monmouth Battlefield or stuck inside the Sutfin House. I don't know. I don't even know if I actually believe the possibility even exists but the bottom line is - I don't think I am going to get close to the house again unless I have others with me.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Mayor of the Park

Have you ever walked by something a hundred times and never really looked at it? I mean, you see it there but you never really took the time to look at it. This park bench is something that I walked past more times than I can count but, to me, it was always just a park bench; nothing worth examining. Ah, I turned out to be wrong....

I was out on my usual lunchtime walk through Lake Topanemus Park when some movement caught my eye so I stopped to see what it was. It turned out to be a robin landing on the back of a park bench, this park bench. The bird flew off as quickly as it had come in and was gone before I could get a shot off but I noticed the hats hanging off the back of the bench. I thought it was odd, I could understand one (1) hat - someone could have found it on the ground and hung it there for the owner to see when they realized it was missing - but there were two (2) hats. That had to be significant so I walked over to the bench and looked at it from the front. That is where I saw the plaque dedicating the bench to George & Montana. My first thought was that George and Montana were a couple of lifelong friends who would meet at the park and talk about old times; that would explain two hats. I could picture them sitting on the bench, watching the birds come and go, fish jumping in the lake, squirrels, chipmunks, etc... and talking. What a great way to spend the afternoon!

The more I thought about the two men and the bench the more I thought maybe I was wrong. I have never heard of anyone being named "Montana" (I know it is possible, after all there is a Dakota....) but it wouldn't be unreasonable to think that maybe Montana was a dog. THAT made sense! I could see them walking to the bench, George with his baseball cap and a light windbreaker and Montana walking beside him. Montana would have to be a large dog - possibly German Shepherd or a Labrador Retriever - and he most certainly was George's constant companion and friendly. They would walk to the bench and maybe have lunch while taking in the sun in the summer or watching the leaves change color and fall to the ground in autumn. How many hours did they spend at that bench? How many people stopped to say hello to George or to pet Montana? How many just walked by without noticing like I did with the bench?

The more I thought about that bench the more I wished I had met George and Montana and spent time getting to know them. I don't know why but I think the three of us would have enjoyed sitting in the noonday sun talking about nothing in particular. Now, I may be completely wrong and George may have been married to a lovely lady named Montana who liked wearing baseball caps. They may have been brothers. Who knows? Who cares? It doesn't really matter who George & Montana were, what matters is that they are no longer around but their family and friends loved them enough to set up a memorial at a place that was special for them. That is the real story behind the bench; George and Montana were special. Isn't that what we all want in the end; to matter enough to someone that they would memorialize you for all the world to see?

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Hiking Through History: Monmouth Battlefield - Part III; Molly Pitcher

Molly Hays trailhead

Welcome to the 3^rd "Hiking Through History" post covering Monmouth Battlefield. The Molly Hays Trail (1.07 miles) retraces the steps of Molly Hays during the Battle of Monmouth. The following is the description from the brochure:

A panoramic view of the battlefield from where Molly fought

Molly Hays (aka: Molly Pitcher) was born Mary Ludwig; born in 1754, near Trenton, New Jersey. According to legend, at the Battle of Monmouth, Mary, wife of artilleryman William Hays, carried water to cool both the cannon and the soldiers in her husband’s battery—hence the nickname “Molly Pitcher.” Molly was a common nickname for Mary during this time. Legend also asserts that when William Hays collapsed or was wounded, she took her husband’s place in the gun crew for the rest of the battle. There are other accounts that claim it was not her husband who collapsed but another soldier and that she fought side-by-side with her husband. An eyewitness account of Molly's fighting is on record in the National Archives:

The entrance to the woods where Molly retrieved the water

The trail cuts across a large field heading towards a wooded area where the Perrine Hill Spring runs; this is where Molly retrieved the water to bring to the men on the battlefield. There are two information stations on the wooden platform overlooking the spring which is somewhere at the bottom of a tall, steep hill. One of the placards states that the temperature on the battlefield was 100°F that day. I cannot image what it was like hauling water in that heat, it was only about 62°F when I was there and the sun made it feel quite a bit warmer when I was in the middle of the field.

Panoramic view of the woods - Perrine Hill Spring is below.

Molly stayed with the Continental Army and her husband through the end of the war. In 1783 she and William moved back to Carlisle where they had both met and were married. After William's death she married John M^cCauley, working in Carlisle for the State House. In 1822 the Pennsylvania Legislature honored Molly for her services during the war presenting her with a $40 award; continuing to award her $40 each year until she died in January 1832. There is a monument commemorating her heroic performance on the battlefield. Pitcher remained with the Continental Army until the war ended, then moved back to Carlisle with Hays in April 1783. Following her husband's death, she married a war veteran named John McCauley and worked in the State House in Carlisle. She was honored by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1822 for her wartime services, receiving an award of $40 and an annual commission of the same amount for the rest of her life. She died on January 22, 1832, in Carlisle, where a monument commemorates her heroic acts in battle.

For more information about Monmouth Battlefield State Park, check out the links below:

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Hiking Through History: Monmouth Battlefield - Part II; George Washington

This is the second installment of Hiking Through History and I am still at Monmouth Battlefield. The first post was about the Visitor Center and Combs Hill, today I will take you to the battlefield and the .86 mile Washington Trail. The following trail description is taken from the park brochure:

Now, I think it is important to say that I am not a history buff and that history was always one of my worst subjects when I was in school. That is what makes this hike even more special than just some time in the great outdoors. As I was walking along the trail taking in the beauty of the autumn day I couldn’t help but think back to June 1778 and imagine what was happening in the exact place where I was walking. The wooden fence shown here couldn’t possibly be a relic from the battle but I could almost see men kneeling behind it and taking aim. I often found myself stopping and looking towards the east trying to envision the British soldiers in the field and what it must have felt like to be there during the battle. I stood in the very spot that Molly Hays, aka Molly Pitcher, stood and fired upon the British when one of the soldiers fell – watch for a post about that trail coming soon.

The black & white image above was taken while kneeling behind the battlefield fence, looking towards the Sutfin House. This is a view that the soldiers would have had during the battle. The house is very interesting in on it's own and I will write about it at a later date.

It took longer than usual for me to hike this trail because I stopped at each of the information stations along the way and took pictures from that perspective. I have been to a number of places that claim “George Washington Slept Here” but I was on the ground where he commanded troops and that was somehow magical. If you stand still and are real quiet you can almost hear the roar of the cannons; or maybe it is the roar of the cars speeding by, I can’t be too sure.

When I was approaching the end of the trail I looked ahead and saw a couple of people walking dogs. I looked to my left to take a photo and when I turned back they were gone. The trail had a slight curve to it between where I was and where I had seen them and the grass was high so I thought I would meet up with them as I walked. I didn’t! I got to where the trail turned to go back to the parking lot (this is the spot that I saw the other walkers) and they were nowhere to be seen. The first thought I had was that they were soldiers who never left the battlefield and I was a little spooked. I then noticed that there was a trail to my right (this is the Lafayette Trail, watch for an upcoming post) and they were about 40 yards up that trail. They saw me and we exchanged waves. I actually stopped about 20 feet away and turned, just to make sure they were still there. I felt a bit foolish when I got back to the parking lot; their new, full-size pickup truck was parked next to my car….

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Hiking Through History: Historic Allaire Village

In the coming weeks and months I will be writing a series called "Hiking Through History". I will be visiting sites of historic significance around New Jersey and beyond, taking photographs and presenting them here along with a narrative. The first stop on the tour is Historic Village at Allaire in Wall Township, New Jersey. The village dates back to the early 19th Century when James P. Allaire established Howell Iron Works, a bog iron furnace and a self-sufficient village around it. The village operates today as a "living history museum" demonstrating how life was when the village and iron works were operational.

I decided to try to re-create the era with a black & white image of the Chapel. If you are looking for a special place to hold your wedding ceremony, check out the Chapel at Allaire Village.

The long building above housed the Carpenter Shop.

We move on the the Bakery, shown in the image above. There are large brick ovens where they still bake. I was fortunate to be at the village one day when they were doing demonstrations and watched the bakers - it gets quite hot in the bakery.

The last two images are the Blast Furnace. This is quite an impressive structure and the only non-operational part of the village.

This is just a taste of what is waiting for you at Allaire Village and I encourage you to explore it for yourself. For more information, check out The History Village at Allaire where you can learn more about the village and get a list of upcoming events. You can also visit the Allaire State Park website for information about the entire park, including the trails and Pine Creek Railroad.

You can follow Allaire Village on Twitter - @AllaireVillage. The account is owned by The Historic Village at Allaire and is separate from the other websites.

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Hiking Through History: Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook

I love Gateway National Recreation Area, better known as Sandy Hook, in New Jersey. At the end of The Hook is Fort Hancock and that is the subject of this installment of Hiking Through History. Most of the buildings are long deserted and many areas are closed to the public due to hazardous conditions but there is plenty to see. (Note: The images used to illustrate this post may not necessarily be from the same hike.)

The first image was shot at Horseshoe Cove. This is on the bay side of Sandy Hook and is just before you start to see the sign welcoming you to Fort Hancock and the buildings. This is a popular spot for fisherman and hikers alike. This shot was actually taken on the first day of Spring in 2011. The day before had been absolutely gorgeous but I like to shoot on the first day of each season and had already planned to be at The Hook to shoot spring. I am actually glad for the foggy day, I think it gave the image a mysterious look and it has become one of my favorites.

The Sandy Hook lighthouse is the oldest functional lighthouse in the United States being designed and built in 1764. You can read about the history of the light at the New Jersey Lighthouse Society. I love lighthouses, particularly this one. This was taken from the south side of the lighthouse and I decided to try to do a bit of "playing around" in Photoshop to give it an "old-time" look. If you go during the week you can take a tour of the light but, unfortunately, I have never been there when it was open. If I ever do, I will certainly do a lot of shooting and write about the experience.

If you walk south of the lighthouse you will come to the entrance of Batteries M^cCook and Reynolds. Built in 1898, Battery Reynolds was an Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery built constructed of reinforced concrete. I was named after Colonel John F. Reynolds who was killed in 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg. In 1906, half of the mortar battery was named for U.S. Army Major General Alexander M^cCook who served during the U.S. Civil War and died in 1903. The battery cost $138,371.50 to build and was deactivated in 1920.

The image shown here is looking into Fort Hancock Battery M^cCook B Pit Entrance.

I found this little flower growing out of the rock wall that surrounds the Mortar Battery.

Finally, I leave you with a shot of the Visitor Center as taken from the beach. If you will learn anything about me through my images, you will learn that I love clouds in my landscapes; the more dramatic the better.

From the Mind of Joe Valencia