The First Home in Smoke Rise: Didja Know?

In one of his early Didja Know? articles, Cornie Hubner wrote about the first home built in Smoke Rise in 1947.  Here is his account.

First Home

published 9/15/1985

The foundation for the first home in Smoke Rise was started in 1947. It was built for a world renowned philanthropist, Ms. Isabelle Kemp, a good friend of J. Alden Talbot, to provide tangible evidence of support and her confidence in this unique development.

Ms. Kemp adopted a small village in France after World War II, financed reconstruction of homes and utilities, relocated families and was adopted as its "mother" by all of its citizens.  She planned and supervised the home, a French Stone Farm House at No. 1 Brush Hill from France and scheduled a cocktail party on its completion.  Guests at the celebration in mid '48 were greeted by the hostess who returned to her village the next morning.  On arriving in France she placed her home on the market after having spent just one night in it.


[Note: the only reference I found to Isabelle Kemp came from a Wikipedia entry on Pauline de Rothschild in which Isabelle Kemp is described as "an heiress to a New York drug-store and real-estate fortune." An obituary from 8 July, 1965, in the New York Times is cited as a reference.]

Didja Know? 1947 Smoke Rise Home Prices

Curious about the price of homes in Smoke Rise in 1947?  Here is an article from Cornie Hubner on the matter - one of his early pieces in the "Didja Know?" series.

1947 Prices

Shortly after its opening in 1947, a very enthusiastic article about the Smoke Rise Company development appeared in the New York Herald Tribune. It told of the 5,000 pristine acres of the most scenic area in the East and only 30 miles from New York City.  It described how the air of the developer, J. Alden Talbot, to maintain the natural beauty would be guaranteed by deed restrictions. The lengthy article concluded by admonishing a prospective purchaser "not to consider it unless willing to pay $35,000 to $40,000 for a home and have minimum income of $7,000 per year."

Mt. Olive's Turkey Brook Park Hike - MCPC

We had a terrific hike through Mt. Olive's Turkey Brook Park on August 7th. Here are highlights of the hike I described in a MCPC Hike 8/7/10: Turkey Brook Park, Mt. Olive, NJ.

42 hikers participated in the August hike at Mt Olive’s Turkey Brook Park. As Tom Edmunds, MCPC organizer extraordinaire, details:

"This was a wonderful hike and we thank Laura Szwak from NJ Conservation, Janice Bunce-Escobar from the local girl scout troop and Mt Olive Mayor Dave Scapicchio for joining and leading the hike."

Pictured here are Mt. Olive Mayor David Scapicchio, Girl Scout Leader Janice Bunce-Escobar and our hike leader Laura Szwak from NJ Conservation.

Thank you, Phil Bishop and Barb Page, for the photos!

We started out parking our cars at our hike ending point. From there, we carpooled to the Mt. Olive high school and hiked through some beautiful areas. Our fearless trio is pictured above by a magical pond - part of the pristine Mt. Olive waterways.  We then hiked upward through a variety of terrains.

Total distance: 3.3 miles

Most extraordinary is that our trail had been blazed by the local girl scout troup. Talk about fierce determination and impressive local dedication. They did a beautiful job!

I tracked our trail on Everytrail:

Mt Olive Turkeybrook Hike

EveryTrail - Find trail maps for New Jersey

Thank you, Laura and Janice for an outstanding trail!  Thanks, Tom, Janet and Russ, for another unbelievable hike!  We loved it.

The Smoke Rise Inn In Pictures: Outdoors

Care for a trip through time? Here's a visual one about the Smoke Rise Inn in the early days of Smoke Rise in Kinnelon and some of the outdoor activities that took place.  Please refer to Tom Kline's post about The Smoke Rise Village Inn - part 2 for perspective on those days and these pictures.

Notice where the cars are parked, in what is today the Inn courtyard.

I find this view fascinating. This section is now covered and corresponds to where the current Smoke Rise Inn bar area is.

This view is from the opposite side of the courtyard looking at the barn building.  Notice the Adirondack chairs? Those have to be from the beach... The event taking place is most probably the same fashion show pictured in the first picture above.

Here you have a Ladies' Event... Perhaps tea? Interesting that cars aren't parked in  the courtyard area, but rather along the road, making room for tables.  Notice the field? That's where the current day parking lot and tennis courts are.

Socializing outdoors at the Inn.

In this photo, Louise Prescott and Cappy Dixon. I love seeing the children.  What do you think is in the big bag?

Group photo on the same steps.

Front row: ?, Morkish, Hunzinger, Hennessy, Mrs. Bruce Dixon, Wohltmann, Getty, ?, Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Chandler
Back row: Tuite, Carter, Mary Sims, Serrie, Mrs. Dixon, Cappy Dixon, Alice Johnson, Willette Wight, Mrs. Chantler, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Louis

This looks to be a regular day at the Smoke Rise Inn, with cars parked quite close in.  Note the tables and umbrellas over in the background. That's where the photo of socializing outdoors was taken.

These marvelous pictures are all courtesy of Tom Kline and offer an unique perspective on the early days of the Smoke Rise Village Inn and some of the activities that took place outdoors.

I'll share with you more pictures from the Inn. Those will be of activities taking place within.

MCPC September 18 Hike: Roxbury Township's Ledgewood Pond

The next Morris County Park Commission [MCPC] hike takes place this Saturday, September 18, 2010 at Roxbury Township's Ledgewood Pond.

This hike should be particularly interesting as it will take us along the Morris Canal's Ledgewood Incline Plane with a special commentary from Joe Macasek who will lead a tour of the turbine chamber, the surrounding artifacts and a nearby mine.

[See 4/10/10 News: Hikes & Ramstein Beer Open House and Split Rock Village Furnace Tour & Hike for background information on Joe Macasek.]

From there, we'll do a short hike up and over the lookout mountain behind the mine.

Here are some links detailing the history of this neck of the woods:

• History of Roxbury Township, NJ
• Timeline of the history of Roxbury, NJ
• History of Landing in Roxbury, NJ

[Do let me know if you come across others to add to the list.]

Roxbury Township's Ledgewood Pond Hike Details:

When: Saturday, September 18, 2010, 9am sharp.

Where: Roxbury Township, Ledgewood Pond parking lot.

Total Time:  ~ 3 hours

Fee: $5 per person suggested [Joe hands out some amazing documents]

If you intend to participate, you must let Tom Edmunds from MCPC Trails Mapping/GIS know. Contact him via email at tedmunds@morrisparks.net.

Nitty gritty Roxbury Township Ledgewood Pond Hike details:

We’ll meet at the parking lot on Emmans Rd for a 9 AM start. Be aware that there's a lot of poison ivy in this area and we strongly urge you to wear long pants and shirts. Roxbury Township personnel are going to “rid” the immediate area of the mess but still be warned.

Bring water and a snack. The port-o-john should be available.

If you haven't attended a MCPC hike before, you will need to sign a 'release' form.

Directions for the Roxbury Township Ledgewood Pond Hike:

• From Morristown area: Take Sussex Ave or route 10 west to Roxbury/Succasunna.
• Merge on to route 46 west (at the old Ledgewood circle) and keep to the right. Make a U turn right before the light and come back (eastward) on route 46, keeping to the right again.
• Turn right after the ATV/Motor cycle store on to Main Street Ledgewood. Continue a short distance and turn right on Emmans Rd.
• Go 100 yards and turn right into the Canal Park parking lot. Go to the far end.

Note: For your own customized directions, be sure to use an Internet mapping service to get from your place to 12 Emmans Rd, Ledgewood, NJ 07852.

Once you get there, Tom, Janet and Russ will take care of the rest! And, I'll be tracking our steps via Everytrail!

See you there.

Smoke Rise Spirits Survive!

To answer the question that Tom Kline asks in The Smoke Rise Village Inn - Part 2, Smoke Rise Spirits have indeed survived.

Here is proof thanks to Herb O. Fisher!

Demonstrating unbelievable dedication, Herb dug deeply into his extensive private beverage stock and pulled out a full bottle of Smoke Rise Kentucky Bourbon pictured here below.

[I call your attention to the Smoke Rise artwork behind the bottle.]

As you can see, this is truly authentic Smoke Rise Spirits: Smoke Rise Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Herb explains that, although the bottle is beginning to show signs of age and the label is 'weathering' a bit, the seal has NOT been broken.

Thank you, Herb, for answering the question whether Smoke Rise Spirits Survive and putting Tom's [and our] minds at ease!

Ramstein Oktoberfest Open House and SR Fresh Hot Sauce this Saturday @ 2 PM

Here is reminder for this weekend’s Ramstein Beer Open House and Tour, this Saturday, Sept. 11. Directions are at the website.

There will be 2 tour and tasting sessions, one at 2pm, and another at 3:30 PM

Available will be the Ramstein Blonde Hefe-Weizen, Ramstein Classic Dunkel Weiss, and Ramstein Golden Lager, and Ramstein Oktoberfest.

1 and 2 Liter Growlers are in stock.

The Oktoberfest lager has received the highest rating, a 88 out of 100 by the Beer Advocate Magazine. I think it's pretty good, too!

And SR Fresh Hot Sauce will be there with the Fresh Cayenne-Cherry, Habanero Gold, and XXXXTra Hot Habanero Hot Sauce. Come try them!

Also, we will have some Cayenne Blast and a small amount of Ripe Red Fresno-Jalapeno Hot Sauce. Sweet and Hot.

You Hot Sauce people can check out the new SR Fresh Hot Sauce Website, where the sauces are explained and sold.

As usual, there will be a tour and explanation of the brewing process by Greg Zaccardi, the owner. [See previous post about Ramstein Beer with videos for a primer.]

See you there!

Ted and Christine and Emma