March 23, 2015
Lakota Wolf Preserve | Columbia, New Jersey
Lakota Wolf Preserve
Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, New Jersey is a special place.
Wolves that were born in captivity are able to live out their lives in the beautiful outdoors.
There are also bobcats and foxes at Lakota. Wolves, and bobcats, and foxes, oh my!
The couple who run Lakota are dedicated to their animals and have run the preserve for over 15 years.
They take wonderful care of their animals and truly love them. They have been committed to educating the public about wolves.
I’ve been there, and I can see how much they love their animals!
The public can take wolf-watching tours – don’t worry, the wolves are behind fences. They will also howl on cue!
The surroundings are beautiful.
Columbia is actually part of Knowlton Township, in the Kittatinny Valley.
I took these photos last October.
Sadly, this winter has been a struggle for the preserve because of the terrible weather and other unexpected issues. Sometimes the preserve has been closed for weeks.
If you'd like to help, you can sponsor a wolf!
There are other ways to help out, too.
Check out their website and Facebook page, too, for some gorgeous photographs and more information!
There is a wonderfully detailed description of how the wolf preserve got started here, and links to websites containing professional photos of the wolves!
You can also check out Watching Bees Make Honey at Delicious Orchards.
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
December 15, 2014
Northlandz, Part 2 (With Dolls!) | Flemington, New Jersey
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| 2,000 pipe organ which the Northlandz owner sometimes plays |
Northlandz Dolls
Last week I told you about Northlandz, the model railroad located in Flemington, New Jersey.
I showed you some trains and the spectacular scenery and settings that were created by the owner.
This week I will show you some other interesting parts of Northlandz.
Here is a Christmas village:
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| Christmas Village |
The World’s Only Toothpick Farm:
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| The World's Only Toothpick Farm |
There is a room where there is a control panel to run the trains on schedule.
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| The Control Panel |
And now . . . the DOLLS!
Northlandz contains a doll museum called La Peep Doll House, and very creative it is!
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| La Peep Doll House |
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| La Peep Doll House Living Room |
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| La Peep Doll House jam session |
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| La Peep Doll House |
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| La Peep Doll House dance |
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| I spy Pee Wee Herman on the right |
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| Old time chamber music group |
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| Lucille Ball, Groucho Marx, Marilyn Monroe, Louis Armstrong |
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| Our Gang, a.k.a. The Little Rascals |
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| Rag Dolls |
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| Raggedy Ann is the boss |
UPDATE 2022:
The original creator and owner of Northlandz decided to retire several years ago.
Northlandz was almost torn down until a businessman came upon it, was impressed, and decided to renovate the place:
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
December 08, 2014
Northlandz, Part 1 | Flemington, New Jersey
Northlandz
Northlandz is considered the “world’s largest model railroad” by some, although others have claimed that title for a place in Germany.
It is certainly one of the largest in the world. Northlandz started with the owner building trains and villages for his own amusement after a hard day’s work.
Eventually it was housed in an enormous building (16 acres!) on Route 202 in historic Flemington, New Jersey.
The settings are impressive, with tiny villages and large cities, and huge mountains with long bridges. The little trains run up and down and around these structures.
It’s a great place to visit for train enthusiasts, small children, and just about anyone.
There is also the doll museum and a pipe organ (which the owner plays).
It’s a little expensive to visit, but it is the creation of one man’s passion and vision, and is a special place.
The owner even is in charge of the little shop on the site. He was there when we went!
You may also visit my next post about Northlandz, which includes dolls!
UPDATE 2022:
The original creator and owner of Northlandz decided to retire several years ago.
Northlandz was almost torn down until a businessman came upon it, was impressed, and decided to renovate the place:
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
July 21, 2014
The Buzz Aldrin Rock | Montclair, New Jersey
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| The Buzz Aldrin Rock, Montclair, New Jersey |
The Buzz Aldrin Rock
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first two men to walk on the moon. Yesterday marked the 45th anniversary of that historic feat.
Buzz was from Montclair, New Jersey, and he had attended the township schools and is probably the most famous graduate of Montclair High School.
His mother's maiden name was Marion Moon.
Yes, Moon. If you don't believe me, you can read this article about Buzz where he swears it's the truth.
The town was wildly proud of him, and in September of that year they threw a "Buzz Aldrin Day" celebration, complete with parade, and dedicated a rock in front of his lovely childhood home.
Apparently, it's not a moon rock.
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| The Buzz Aldrin Rock, Montclair, New Jersey |
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| Buzz Aldrin's childhood home, Montclair, New Jersey |
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| Buzz Aldrin's childhood home, Montclair, New Jersey |
You can also check out Positively New Jersey!
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
June 22, 2014
The Brainy Borough | Metuchen, New Jersey
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| Metuchen, NJ Post Office, Brainy Boro Station |
The Brainy Borough
As I wrote in my post about the Lake Hiawatha Firehouse, many New Jersey town names are derived from Native American words.
For example, the very nice borough (sometimes spelled "boro") of Metuchen is named for the Indian chief Metuching.
Metuchen is located in Middlesex County, completely surrounded by the much larger Edison Township, like a hole in a doughnut.
Just about 100 years ago, Metuchen had many intellectuals living and working in the town.
The prosperous community of Glen Ridge had many intellectuals of their own and they decided that they were obviously a smarter town and they would claim bragging rights to the title.
Metuchen responded to the challenge, and had a contest with Glen Ridge to decide which was the “brainy boro.”
Metuchen won, and the name has stuck.
Metuchen has never forgotten this, and has been bragging about this for the last century.
To prove this, here are some links:
Metuchen: The Brainy Borough's 'Overnight' Success
Metuchen Living: People Events and Places in the Brainy Boro: Co-Working in the Brainy Boro
Recently, there was a vaguely worried article on NJ.com about Metuchen’s downtown area, although the author assured readers that “plenty of people have moved to the Brainy Borough because they liked its vibrant, walkable downtown."
Not to worry. Not only is the official motto of the town “The Official Brainy Borough” but one of the two post office branches is still called the “Brainy Boro Station.”
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| Brainy Boro Station, Metuchen, NJ Post Office |
You may also want to read my post about the Lake Hiawatha firehouse.
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
June 21, 2014
Lake Hiawatha Firehouse | Parsippany, New Jersey
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| Fire Department, Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey |
Lake Hiawatha
Lake Hiawatha is one of several communities within the large township of Parsippany.
Towns and areas with names of Native American origin are common in New Jersey.
The name “Parsippany” is derived from a Lenape word which means “where the river winds through the valley.”
Lake Hiawatha has many streets named after Native American words: Iroquois, Mohegan, Oswego, Seminole, Navajo, and my favorite, Minnehaha Boulevard.
On the front of the building are the following words:
The Desire to Serve. The Courage to Act. The Ability to Perform.
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| Fire House in Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey |
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| Fire House in Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey |
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You may also want to read my post about The Brainy Borough | Metuchen, New Jersey.
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
May 13, 2014
Watching Bees Make Honey At Delicious Orchards | Colts Neck, New Jersey
Watch Bees Make Honey
Remember Delicious Orchards?
I wrote about them in 2012. It is a wonderful gourmet country food market where you can get delicious produce, doughnuts, etc.
They also make their own honey right inside the store.
The bees come through a tube in the wall and go into a “beehive” and produce fresh honey.
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
