Dyl's Roads & Travels: Old Mine Road

The Old Mine Road is one of the oldest continuously used roads in not just the state, but the entire United States. The route started out as a Native American trail, specifically for the Lenape.

However, legend and reality need to be separated here. While the Dutch did settle in lands that would become New Jersey, they did not establish the Pahaquarry Mine or use Old Mine Road. This is further backed because archaeologists have not found evidence of Dutch camps in the area. A mine was eventually established at Pahaquarry, however, the mine was not used on a large scale. The area around Old Mine Road would later be settled by the English, who would establish farms in the area. And it just so happened the site of the Pahaquarry Mine was nearby. The Old Mine Road would be crucial during the American Revolution, as there were fortifications along the Middle Delaware and guest houses were Founding Fathers such as John Adams spent a night or two. And for a while, the pastures on Old Mine Road stayed continuously farmed, yet far from urban development. This is even during the start of the automotive age and the establishment of state highways. Old Mine Road became the northernmost portion of the Delaware River Drive, New Jersey's second-ever state highway, legislated in 1911. Segments of the road would be upgraded as New Jersey legislated more highways, and this led to the northernmost segment of Old Mine Road in Montague being upgraded to become present-day CR 521.

Fast forward to the 1950s. A plan was made to dam the Delaware River at Tocks Island. Eminent domain was used to seize all the land around Old Mine Road because the area would be flooded, including Old Mine Road. However, the dam was never built, and the land became the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This leads to the Old Mine Road we see today.

The beginning of the NPS designated Old Mine Road at I-80 in Hardwick Township. The historical trail continued further south to Columbia, but that was superseded by I-80. In fact, this used to not be Hardwick Township, but Pahaquarry Township. Pahaquarry Township is the segment of Hardwick Township that borders the Delaware River. The municipality was dissolved in 1997 after its last two residents agreed to liquidate the township and merge into Hardwick Township. Additionally, this used to be the southern terminus of Warren CR 606, which used Old Mine Road until the start of federal maintenance. CR 606 was downgraded by 1982.

The beginning of NPS maintenance. This was the northern terminus of the former Warren CR 606.

The abandoned Calno School. This is near the site of the former Pahaquarry Mine, which starts the "mine" section of Old Mine Road.

More abandoned buildings along Old Mine Road.

At Flatbrook Village. NPS Route 602, the northernmost extension of Warren CR 602, has its northern terminus here.

Old Mine Road intersects Flatbrookville-Stillwater Road which connects to the Blue Mountain Lakes, a complex of artificial lakes originally built as part of a resort home complex but would later be razed as part of the eminent domain process for the failed Tocks Island Dam. Also significant is that Flatbrookville-Stillwater Road is former Sussex CR 624.

The abandoned Delaware View House on Old Mine Road.

The old Flatbrookville Bridge on Old Mine Road. After this bridge, NPS 615 begins to provide a straight route to Wallpack Center and Peters Valley, while Old Mine Road follows the bends of the Delaware River.

Yes, that's a house. And yes, people still live there. This is where one of the few remaining citizens of Walpack resides, a town of just around a dozen people.

On the west side of Old Mine Road is an abandoned farm.

The mainline road curves right, but that's not Old Mine Road. That's Pompey Road, another connector between Old Mine Road and NPS 615. Old Mine Road turns off the mainline and downgrades to a gravel road. Along this section of the road is the Van Campen Inn.

A directional sign for traffic at Pompey Road.

Look at how narrow that is. Definitely one of the most primitive roads in New Jersey. Unbelievable to think that NYC and Philly are so close.

Another open field near the Van Campen Inn. These are abandoned farms dating back to colonial times.

And now, the Van Campen Inn itself. Originally built as a farmhouse, the Van Campen Inn became a guest house for travelers. The most notable visitor to the house was American Founding Father John Adams.

Another one of the few actively inhabited residences in Walpack.

Once again, the mainline road turns, and Old Mine splits from the mainline again. The wider road is Kuhn Road, connecting to Peters Valley and Layton via Sussex CR 615, the northern extension of NPS 615.