I begin this multi-part series about Monmouth Battlefield where most people would begin their visit - the Visitor Center and Combs Hill.
Monmouth Battlefield State Park is located in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It is the site of the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778 and is considered one of the pivotal battles in the American Revolution. This series of posts will take you through the battlefield as I retrace the steps of General George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette, General Charles Lee and Mary "Molly" Ludwig Hays, aka Molly Pitcher. I will explore Old Tennent Church and Old Tennent Cemetery, the church having been used as a make-shift hospital during the battle and the cemetery containing graves and tributes to those who fought there.
The image above is a view of the battlefield shot from atop Combs Hill. The lone structure in the distance is the Sutfin House; it stands in the middle of the battlefield with General Washington to the west (left) and Major General Charles Cornwallis to the east (right). The Sutfin House stands about 1 mile from where this photo was shot.
This image was shot a few days prior to the annual battle re-enactment. These fences can be found throughout the battlefield but the ones shown here do not stay up year-round, they are only in place for the re-enactment and then removed.
This is one of two footbridges that span the ravine at the bottom of Combs Hill.
The Visitor Center has a lot of exhibits and information about the battle and there is always someone available to help with any questions you may have. I would suggest you start your exploration by picking up a map of the park and then set out to explore. There are tables for picnics and a playground for the kids. Some of the trails are paved while others may just be dirt or very short grass in the case of the fields. You can enter the woods where you will find several trails. I usually will start by traversing down Combs Hill and entering the woods to the left of this footbridge, that way I don't have to hike up on the way back. The wooded trails are my favorite in this section of the park; if you look carefully and walk quietly you may come across some deer along the way.
Well, that wraps up this initial installment of Hiking Through History: Monmouth Battlefield. The upcoming weeks will bring more installments from Monmouth Battlefield before moving on to another site.
I have been going to Lake Topanemus for a few years now; I discovered it one afternoon during my lunch hour. If you read my earlier post, Mayor of the Park, you have already been introduced. Lake Topanemus is a 22-acre man-made lake that is enjoyed by boaters, fisherman and nature-lovers alike. I don't think there has ever been a time when I visited during fishing season and didn't see at least one boat and a number of people standing on the banks wetting their lines. I often see egrets, herons and cormorants competing with the fisherman to see who comes away with a better catch. If you look hard enough and are quiet, you may catch some turtles sunning themselves on a large branch or log in the lake.
There has always been an abundance of vegetation around the perimeter of the lake but I have noticed more algae and what can best be described as a film over the water. There is a Facebook page named, Freehold Pond - Lake Topanemus, (click here to go to the page) that I like to check out from time-to-time and I noticed there were posts about the water quality. I contacted the administrator and asked about the problem. The response is shown below, in it's entirety:
As you can see, the lake is an incredibly beautiful place to be on a nice day and it would be a great loss if it were allowed to continue along it's current path. The images above were made over the last few years and are just some of my favorites. I could spend hours sitting on one of the lakeside benches watching all of the activity on the lake and listening to the birds in the trees.
The images below were taken during a lunchtime walk this afternoon. You can see the buildup of algae and how dull the water looks. It is sad to think that it is only going to get worse in the coming months if nothing is done.
For further information or to offer assistance, check out their Facebook page or Twitter feed.
