At the base of Campbell’s Pond, in the South Mountain Reservation, there is the foundation of an old bridge that you’re probably not supposed to walk on. There are no railings, and the wooden beams are rotting, and the “no trespassing” fence has collapsed, and there’s a 15-to-25-foot drop off one side.
But it seems pretty sturdy, and this fisherman is hanging out on it, so why not?
Initially, I thought it might have been part of the New Jersey West Line railroad, which was never finished but had some functional tracks that passed through the Reservation… unfortunately, this bridge is too far north to be a part of that. As such, I have no idea why this bridge was originally constructed, or for whom, or by whom. Any thoughts?
Edit, 6/21/12: Campbell’s Pond was formed from a branch of the Rahway River, dammed in 1882 to be a supplemental reservoir for the City of Orange. It was in use at least into the beginning of the twentieth century, possibly longer. For references and additional information, see a more recent post about the Campbell’s Pond pumping station.
Edit, 8/14/12: The “No Trespassing” fences have been re-erected on both sides of the bridge. It is now almost impossible to cross here.
