Bamber is a section of Lacey Township in Ocean County, NJ. It is in the far western portion of the township, not far from the Whitings section of Manchester township. At various times it has been called Bamber, Bamber Lake, and Cedar Crest.
You can view the 1920 federal census for Bamber here.
You can view the 1930 federal census for Bamber here.
The following information comes to us from Edwin Salter's 1890 History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties:
Originally called Ferrago Forge, it was built in 1809 by General John Lacey, for whom Lacey Township in Ocean County is named. He built dwellings, barns, and other structures at the same time. According to Salter, Lacey also may have owned part of Hanover Furnace. He wanted to build a road to that place by way of Ferrago to Forked River landing; he evidently obtained the necessary approval to construct the road, but Salter does not say if said road was actually ever built.
A Reuben Rockwell of Vermont purchased Ferrago sometime after his arrival in what is now Ocean County in 1843. He was "informed that the milldam was unusually costly, as near $10,000 was expended on it.".
The ore around Ferrago / Bamber had been exhausted by the time Rockwell came into possession of it. He and a business partner, Joseph Austin, obtained ore from elsewhere, possibly around the area of Fishkill.
Sometime after Rockwell's operation of the forge, a fellow by name of William Hurry purchased the land. He is the one that renamed the area Bamber, in memory of a Dr. John Bamber, of Barking, Essex Co., England, who was apparently an ancestor of his mother.
As late as 1858 this area was apparently still known as Farrago--a wedding announcement for Matthew Perrine of Farrago appeared in the Ocean Emblem newspaper on 27 Oct 1858. (He married Rebecca Collins of Greenwood). The Ferrago Forge itself ceased operations in 1865, for the same reasons that all of the South Jersey iron furnaces shut down (competition from Pennsylvania). The area was still known as Ferrago for some time however; when the Tuckerton Railroad came through in 1871, it named the station 'Ferrago Station.'
An infamous murder took place in Bamber (described by famed NJ historian Henry Charlton Beck in one of his books), when James Wainwright's body was found staked down in the creek by several local men, including Zebulon Collins and William Beames. The accused was a local man named Elson Rockwell, who served eight years for the crime (though some locals doubted his guilt), and returned to live the rest of his days in Bamber.
An article in the Sunday Star Ledger from Dec 8th, 1963 by Henry Charlton Beck describes a letter from a former resident of Bamber, one Elizabeth (Beame) Walton, who said she was born at Bamber. She was one of six children born at Bamber according to her letter, which mentioned Wille Beame born in 1870 and herself in 1872. Elizabeth was married in 1892. According to the article, William Beames came to Bamber with his wife, Jane Wolcott, from Eatontown, and worked for William Hurry and his son, William (who lived in a large house by the lake). She recalls some details of life in Bamber--her father ran a store there, and was also station master and Postmaster. Above the store was a one room school house. Other residents she mentions in the letter were the teacher, Cornelia Clayton (who lived in Forked River but taught in the Bamber school); Zeb Collins (discussed below on this page), Tillie Collins, and Hudson Branson (Jr and Sr). There was also Edwin and Raymond Edwards, who relocated to Island Heights, and Nate Austin, who lived in the village of Dover between Bamber and Toms River. Harvey Craft, who appears frequently in later news items from this town in the local paper, was also mentioned in her letter as a Bamber resident. During her family's stay at Bamber, she said there were two good sized vineyards and an apple orchard. The family relocated to Asbury Park in 1886.
At some point, this area began to be called Cedar Crest. The earliest reference I've found so far to this name is 1911, although it may have started to be called that sooner. At least one historian has claimed the name change was an attempt to distance the town from the memory of the notorious murder, but that the name 'didn't stick'. I've not come across any evidence that this is the case, and in 1900, the obituary of Zebulon Collins refers to the area as Bamber, so it seems likely that the town began to be called Cedar Crest sometime early in the 20th Century, possibly at the time the Cedar Crest company was formed to farm peaches in the area. The next reference I have found to it so far was in 1908, when it was still being referred to as 'Bamber'. So if the name change was related to the murder, it appears to have been 40 years or more after the fact. (The murder was apparently notorious enough, however, that the finding of the body got a mention in Zeb Collins' obituary).
Apparently, Bamber lost several families between 1920 and 1930, such as that of Joel Ridgeway, the Brittons, and Pruchtuskyies. There was a school at Cedar Crest, according to the 1915 state census, where most of the children I believe lived in or near Bamber attended. (That school was probably started around 1913, based on an inference from a newspaper article in 1918, though I can't be sure. A proper schoolhouse was not erected until 1917.) Throughout 1914 and 1915, the New Jersey Courier contained many news items from Cedar Crest (see below) and none from Bamber, although there are a handful of references to Bamber in 1916 and 1917. In fact, while Cedar Crest warranted its own section of news in the Courier throught 1914-15, by 1916-1918, every reference to the town I found was listed along with the Forked River news, indicating perhaps that Cedar Crest was losing its individuality as the neighboring areas grew. And yet, the town built its own schoolhouse in 1917, indicating that this town, too, was growing quickly. Peaches and huckleberry were raised here in what appears to be large numbers and shipped to New York, and several families from New York spent part of their time here. The Cedar Crest Orchard and Produce Company seems to have been the main employer here, along with E.Weimar of New York. It's not clear to me if E.Weimar ran a different company, or if he was actually manager for the Cedar Crest Company.
The newspapers are filled with trivial news items from Cedar Crest throughout 1911-1918, but it seems that by the end of 1919 the references had grown very scarce. Up until 1918, the town warranted its own section in the local paper, but by 1919 the only news items appearing were mentions in nearby towns such as Whitings or Forked River. What happened around this time that caused the town to begin to vanish? There was a new school in 1917, and 'thirty new buildings' scheduled to be built in 1918, but by 1930 there were only about 9 homes inhabited here, and news from this section seems to have almost stopped. Initially I thought perhaps the depression shut down the Cedar Crest Company here, but it seems the decline began around 1919-1920, far too early. The obituaries for Ocean County for 1918 don't list anyone from Cedar Crest, so it doesn't seem to have been the war or the flu that did them in. However, it may be that a labor shortage brought on by the war and flu in other parts of the county made it hard for the company to survive--especially with shortages of coal and sugar (for canning) caused by the war in 1917 (see news items below). Newspapers also reported a bad drought in Lacey township in 1917, destroying all but the corn crop. It's likely that this combination of factors made the company unprofitable. Additionally, a news item in July of 1918 mentions that the winter was particularly harsh, and that Peach crops in some parts of the state were unusually low; Burlington, Camden and Gloucester and Cumberland counties had a practically full crop--which would be worse than just having a bad crop, since the competition seemed able to produce just fine, this would have put the others in a particularly unfavorable position.
One indication of the decline of Cedar Crest is an item in the New Jersey Courier on 25 Nov 1921:
"NOTICE OF SALE OF LAND IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LACEY, N.J. FOR UNPAID TAXES FOR THE YEAR 1920". A seemingly disproportionate number of Cedar Crest residents seemed unable to pay their taxes in that year:
It is also worth noting that none of these names are family names that have been associated with the area, either on censuses or in news stories. Also, only a few of them indicate that there were any structures on the land (bungalow or dwelling), which would seem to mean that the others did not have buildings on them. Consequently it seems likely that these were speculators, who perhaps purchased the land for some future use that did not come to fruition. So far, I have found none of the above names on the 1920 census anywhere in New Jersey.
And then there's a shorter list of landowners whose land was up for auction for non-payment of taxes, appearing in the 23 Jun 1939 issue of the Courier. All were for the 1937 taxes, and they all appear to just be land, since only one specifically makes mention of buildings:
| NJC 25 Oct 1900 Zebulon Collins, a well known woodsman, died suddenly of heart failure at Bamber on Tuesday. There was no physician attending. He will be buried on Saturday at Whitings. Collins was one of the men who found Jim Wainwright's body, where it had been hidden in Cedar Creek after the murder in 1885. Zeb's quaint humor on the witness stand also softened the grim features of that tragic trial. (I have located some of Zebulon's census entries--it appears he was born about 1801, and was married to a woman named Rebecca (b. about 1803). In 1860 the family was living in Dover Township (what is now Toms River township); living with them were daughter Nancy Collins, b. abt 1855; Zebulon Collins, Jr, b. about 1842; Joseph Collins, b. about 1837; and Rachael Collins, born about 1844. In 1870, the family was still in Dover Township. Zebulon, Jr. is the only child still at home, employed somewhere as a laborer (Zebulon, Sr. was a farmer). His sister, 44 year old Matilda Collins now lived with him, and a 14 year old girl, Anna (probably the same girl referred to as 'Nancy' in 1860, given their ages). Two others lived in the home at the time as well, Hannah and Joseph Perrine, ages 5 and 10. According to the 1880 census, they were his niece and nephew. At any rate, Zebulon had relocated his family to Lacey township (though it's not clear if he was actually in Cedar Crest/Bamber at this point). In 1880, the family consisted of the elder Zebulon, as well as nephew Joseph, and sister Matilda. Joseph and Zebulon, Sr were employed as charcoal makers. They are on the last page of the census, and thus there is a good chance they were in the Bamber area, on the far edge of Lacey. Other families located nearby in 1880 inclued: James and Rebbecca Higgins George and Sylvia Johnson, who worked in charcoal Daniel and Sarah Brewer, who worked in charcoal Silas Kennigan David and Rachel Harring, a fisherman family Charles Smith, who kept a hotel C.F. (g?)emloch In 1900, Zebulon still living in Lacey with sister Matilda. He worked as a day laborer at that time. The census was taken about four months before Zebulon died |
| NJC 23 Oct 1908 One of the good results of the warden new warden law was seen at Bamber last week, when deputy warden Alfred ----bee called out a lot of ciitzens to help put out a fire that had started nearby. It was a hard fight and they succeeded after somewhat of territory had been burned, but no valuable timber destroyed. |
| October 1910--The published schedule of train stops for the Tuckerton Railroad does NOT yet include a stop for Cedar Crest |
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NJC 13 OCT 1910 Harvey Craft [Forked River] has moved his family into the W.B. Pennhouse (significant because Harvey's family later lived at Cedar Crest, and it appears in 1910 they were still in Forked River) |
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NJC 27 OCT 1910 Mrs. Lou Saulsman [Forked River] has returned from a visit to England [again, the Saulsmans were a family later associated with Cedar Crest) |
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NJC 3 NOV 1910 Mrs. Julia Bunnell and Miss Lou Frazee were delegates last Friday to the County Sunday school convention in Lakehurst. |
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NJC 5 JAN 1911 Mr. and Mrs. William Saulsman have gone back to New York after a week here [ Forked River ] (Josephine Craft's daughter, married a Saulsman. We know that in 1911 Willis Saulsman was still traveling back and forth from Cedar Crest to NY, and Lulu was living with her mother although already married. There is an H. William Saulsman living in NY (although he was born in NJ) in 1910. He worked as a chauffeur for a private family. He was lodged in the home of William Chandler, who also worked as a chauffeur for a private family. They lived next door to real estate manager Charles Smith. There is a Willis Saulsman, who I think may be the same person, in NY in 1920, working as a chauffeur for a private family. (A Willis Saulsman frequently made trips between NY and Cedar Crest). In 1920, he lodged in the home of another chauffeur, Robert Van Zandt on West 95th street.) |
| NJC 2 MAR 1911 An old time Ocean County industry can be seen here [Forked River] just now as Zeb Britton (a future Cedar Crest resident) has started fires in his five charcoal pits for Dr. G.E. Wallace. Time was when such sights were common, but many people have never seen a coaling. |
| NJC 9 MAR 1911 Miss Matilda Collins of Bamber, Ocean County, died of paralysis at the home of her niece, Mrs. Charles Asselin of Red Bank, yesterday. Miss Collins was in her 85th year. The body will be removed to Barnegat where the funeral will be held. |
| NJC 23 MAR 1911 Mrs. Julia Bunnell (of Forked River) and Miss Hetty Garthwait attended the funeral of Mrs. Matilda Collins of Barnegat recently. Willis Saulsman has returned to New York after a stay here (in Forked River--indicating that the Saulsmans were not, yet, living at Cedar Crest) |
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NJC 30 Mar 1911 Dr. G.E. Wallace has shipped a carload of charcoal that was burned for him by Zebulon Collins. |
| 31 Aug 1911--the published schedule for Tuckerton Railroad does not, yet, feature a stop at Cedar Crest |
| NJC 2 Nov 1911 Julia Bunnell of Cedar Crest is visiting Mr. John Bunnell [at Forked River] (noteworthy because, only seven months prior, Julia Bunnell was indicated as living in Forked River; this is so far the earliest mention I have found of someone living at Cedar Crest). Mrs. Lou Saulsman, who spent the summer on Long Island, has been visiting Mrs. Howard Britton at this place [Forked River] and also friends in Barnegat. |
| NJC 9 Nov 1911 Mrs. William Saulsman has returned to Cedar Crest after visiting friends here [Forked River] |
| NJC 16 Nov 1911 John Youmans [of Whitings] has moved his family to Bamber. He has been running Holzbaur's farm. |
| NJC 30 Nov 1911 A number from Cedar Crest on Sunday attended the M.E. Church service here [Forked River] |
| NJC 7 Dec 1911 William Saulsman and wife have returned to New York after some time at Cedar Crest. Mrs. Julia Bunnell of Cedar Crest visited here last week [Forked River] |
| NJC 14 Dec 1911 Mrs. Julia Bunnell of Cedar Crest was a Tuesday visitor [Forked River] |
| NJC 21 Dec 1911 Jessie Inman [of Whitings] is spending the week at Cedar Crest with Mrs. Julia Bunnell Mr. Meais and O.Holeman of Cedar Crest were Sunday visitors at Howard Cramer's [ Whitings ] |
| 2 Jan 1912: A wedding record recorded by Betty Grant of the Ocean County Historical Society mentions that Belford Russel Lawrence of Cedar Crest, age 23, married Ida Winton of Barnegat, NJ. (Belford was born in Port Norris, NJ and worked as a sawyer in 1912. His parents were Charles Lawrence and Margaret Randolph. Ida's parents were James Winton and Sarah Applegate.) |
| NJC 11 Jan 1912 Mrs. Lou Saulsman of New York who is visiting at Cedar Creek, was here Friday [Forked River]. |
| NJC 18 Jan 1912 John Youmans and family have moved here [ Forked River ] from Cedar Crest, into one of George Frazee's homes. |
| NJC 25 Jan 1912 Miss Geneva Hilliard and Mrs. E. Morris were Tuesday visitors at Cedar Crest |
| NJC 4 Apr 1912 Mrs. Harvey Craft of Cedar Crest has been spending a few days here [ Forked River ] |
| 25 Apr 1912 Margaret, the little daughter of John Septor, [ of Whitings ], was taken Sunday afternoon with an attack of appendicitis. Dr. Pittis was quickly summoned and the child is said to be improved as of this writing. Joe Hilliard [of Whitings] took a load of "May Pinkers" to Bamber one day last week. Arbutus was gathered by the arm full and all had a good time. |
| NJC 9 MAY 1912 Willie Saulsman was here from New York [ Forked River ] for the weekend. Mrs. Saulsman has been spending some time in Cedar Crest. |
| NJC 6 JUN 1912 Mrs. Harvey Craft, after spending a few days here [Forked River], has returned to Cedar Crest. |
| NJC 27 Jun 1912 Mrs. Harvey Craft of Cedar Creek is visiting here with old friends [Forked River] |
| NJC 20 Feb 1914
Miss Marion Hilliard of Whitings is visiting Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell. Mrs. Lulu Saulsman has returned home after spending a fortnight in Whitings E. Roork visited Bridgeton recently Mr. and Mrs. Harper Applegate of Dover were Sunday callers at James Branson's. Wallace Roork was a Winslow visitor on Monday last. James Browning, who had been employed at Perth Amboy, has returned here and is working for Elsworth Roork. C.B. Bunnell has purchased a five passenger Pope Hartford touring car. A number of young people gathered at the home of J. Craft Saturday evening. Games were played and all had a good time. Taylor Britton visited Barnegat recently Miss Levora Morey, who is spending some time with Mrs.Craft, entertained a number of her friends Tuesday afternoon. Ice cream and cake were served. Carlton Earley of Whitings visited friends here Sunday. A party was given at the home of Mrs. Julia Bunnell Monday evening in honor of Miss Marion Hilliard of Whitings. Refreshments were served at a late hour. James L. Branson spent Friday in Barnegat. Hary Rork spend Monday afternoon in Whitings. Mrs. Eva Wright visited Barnegat recently. |
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NJC 27 Feb 1914 W.F. Bang had returned to Mr. Vernon, NY after spending a few days at the Lake house. Miss Marion Hilliard has returned to her home in Whitings. Little Miss Kathryn Roller of Winslow is visiting her aunt, Mrs. R. Sutton David Hilliard and Carlton Earley of Whitings called on friends here Sunday. Lots of skating here lately. Those living near could skate across their lawns to the lake. Miss Augusta Roller and Miss Sophia Reeves of Philadelphia have been spending a few days with the former's sister, Mrs. James Sutts. James L. Branson was an out of town visitor on Monday last. Messrs. LeRoy and Dunkel and Edward and LeRoy Miller are spending a few days in winslow. Mr. Rimer of New York is now foreman of the Jersey Pine Fruit and Product Co. Samuel Morey of Manahawkin called on Mrs. J. Craft on Wednesday. James L. Branson visited Barnegat Saturday and purchased a Ford touring car. We can now travel around the village t hanks to Mr. Rimer and Mr. Bunnell who were out early Tuesday morning with the snow plow. Did anyone else see it? A balloon or aeroplane passed over at the westward of here about 1.30 Wednesday morning and the party that saw it wasn't seeing things either. Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Bunnell were suddenly called to Forked River as Mr. Bunnell's father is seriously ill. Mrs. Julia Bunnell, Miss Eliza Browning, Miss Ruby Sutts and T. Browning visited Whiting Wednesday to see the locomotive that wrecked Saturday night. David Hilliard is working for Roork. Edward and Leroy Miller have returned after spending a few days at their home in Winslow. |
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NJC 27 Mar 1914 Mrs. J. Craft spend Wednesday in Barnegat Conrad Sjoberg and a number of his friends from New York are spending a few days at the Lake house. Mr. J. Bunnell has returned home after a fortnight in Forked River. Mr. Weimer was a week end visitor in New York. Samuel Morey of Manahawkin visited C.B. Bunnell recently Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rice are visiting in Weston, West Virginia Mrs. Alma Browning of Georgetown, KY, is visiting her son James of this place. Mrs. Julia Bunnell and Mrs. Lulu Saulsman were Sunday callers at Mrs. Elsworth Roork's. Clarence Morris and Howard Cramer spent over Sunday with their parents in Whiting. |
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NJC 3 Apr 1914 Ms. Herman Beahr is visiting in New York City C.B.Bunnell was a Toms River visitor Monday. A load of peach trees and also a carload of lime arrived here Tuesday for The Cedar Crest Orchard and Product Company. Mrs. C.B. Bunnell and Mrs. W.H. Saulsman spent Saturday with Mrs. Potter Giberson in Whitings. Quite a lot of moving here: Harry Giberson and John Septor of Whitings moved here on Tuesday. Charles Rice moved from here to Clarksburg, West Virginia James T. Browning visited Toms River Saturday Our new postmaster, James L. Branson, has charge of the post office now. |
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NJC 17 Apr 1914 Mrs. R. Giberson and J. Ireland of Whiting visited friends here last week Mrs. Herman Beahr is home again after a stay in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Harper Applegate of Dover, Mrs. Harry Giberson of this place, and Carlton Earley of Whitings were recent afternoon callers at Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Bunnell's. James T. Browning has moved back to his home in Georgetown, KY. Mrs. Ida Applegate spent Monday with Mrs. Julia Bunnell. Mrs. Chris Christensen visited Whitings recently. W.F. Bang has purchased another touring car. |
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NJC 24 Apr 1914 Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Sfoberg and daughter Ruth are at the Lake house for the summer. Elsworth Roork has returned home after spending a few days in Philadelphia and Winslow. Reports are that all the young peach orchard lots are sold. A number of people arrived here Sunday. Autos are sent out to Lakehurst to meet the New York trains. J.M. Abbott and brother Chas. of Toms River are busy surveying more lots off here. Rumor says several new houses are to built in the near future. Alfred Roork had the misfortune to badly saw his fingers last week. |
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NJC 8 May 1914 W.F. Bang has returned to New York after a short stay in town. Mrs. Elsworth Roork entertained her sister of Philadelphia last week. Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Sjoberg are spending a fortnight in New York. Miss Bertha Collins and Harry Roork were Sunday evening callers at Julia Bonnell's. Harold Cranmer is spending a few days with his parents at Whitings. Mr. and Mrs. Elsworth Roork, Alfred Roork, Edward and LeRoy Miller motored to Lakewood Sunday to attend the polo game. Mrs. John Septor is visiting her mother, Mrs. Riggal of Orianna, PA, who is seriously ill. |
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NJC 28 Aug 1915 Mrs. Lulu Saulsman has been spending a few days with Mrs. Joseph Hilliard at Whiting. E. Weimer has returned after a brief stay in New York City. Mr. and Mrs. D.D. Slade of Lexington, KY, were in town Monday calling on old friends. Mr. Slade was formerly foreman of the poultry farms here. Arthur Giberson spent Saturday evening with his parents Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Giberson of Whiting. Mrs. C.B. Bunnell spend Wednesday in Toms River. |
| NJC 17 Nov 1916 Mrs. Charles Bunnell gave a birthday party on Monday evening last. Several of her friends from Whitings were present, also from Forked River. All had a good time with dancing and singing. Ice cream and cake was served. Mrs. Bunnell of Forked River is spending a few days with her son, Chas. Bunnell. |
| NJC 9 Feb 1917 C.S.Early [of Whitings] was in Cedar Crest on Sunday last. |
| NJC 23 Feb 1917 C.S. Early [of Whitings] was in Cedar Crest last week The [Whitings] school gave their Valentine social last Wednesday evening...some drove up from Cedar Crest in wagons. |
| NJC 29 Jun 1917 J.L. Earley [of Whitings] furnished the town and some of the TRR men, and part of Cedar Crest, with lettuce. |
| NJC 27 Jul 1917 Harold Cranmer and two of the fellows of Whitings were in town Sunday evening last. Mrs. Nora Seaman has returned home after spending a few days in Barnegat. George Stumetz and sister were in Beach Haven, Sunday last. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bunnell are now living in their new bungalow. The peach packing house will be completed next week. Huckleberries are being shipped from Cedar Crest. W.P. Bang of New York was in town on Friday |
| on 2 Aug, 1917 the courier listed the names of county residents who had been drafted for the war. The following
names were listed from Cedar Crest: Here Sovicki (in the next issue, he claims exemptions from the draft for family reasons) Benjamin Wade (the next issue claims he was an alien and can't be drafted) Max Paul Achtsnichts (who also claims exemption for family reasons in the next issue) Ernest Otto Anlauft Max Stasik (also listed as an 'alien' in the next issue) |
| NJC 9 Aug 1917 The published schedule for the Tuckerton Railroad indicates that it is stopping daily in the town of Cedar Creest |
| On 24 Aug 1917, the following draftees were listed in the Courier aliens- cant' be drafted: Hans York, Max Otto Rupert Drafted but failed to appear for examination: John Mikaulai Scheduled to report next week: Cashmere Raystiki (On 31 Aug he would again be listed, this time under 'aliens-can't be drafted') |
| NJC 21 Sep 1917 E.W. Weimer and Charles Bunnell motored to Toms River last Tuesday. Jno. W. Septor has been very ill but is now feeling good. The Cedar Crest Sunday school is increasing very nicely. It was started by J.E.Kilburn of Kewsick Colohy who drives down every Sunday to hold services. J.L. Branson motored to South Pemberton, Monday last. Oscar Downs has moved from Cedar Crest to Lakehurst. Mr. and Mrs. John Septor were out of town Sunday last. The Cedar Crest Orchard and Product Co. are sending peaches to New York. Mr. and Mrs. Tob Saylor are visiting his parents in Winslow. Mr. Kilpatrick of Barnegat was in town Monday. Miss Gertrude Cummings is now attending school in Toms River. |
| NJC 5 Oct 1917 E.W. Weimer and Charles Bunnell of Cedar Crest motored to Barnegat on Tuesday last. Mrs. Septor has been visiting her son, J.W. Septor, for a few days. Dr. Peifer of Philadelphia was here Sunday and gave a talk to the Sunday school and preached a sermon in the evening; everybody enjoyed his seromon and the good singing that we had. The Sunday school was started by Mr. Kilburn of Keswick colony and it is increasing every Sunday. C.S.Earley, Margaret Septor, Mrs. Lulu Saulsman and Edward Miller were in Whitings Saturday evening last. James Branson was out of town on Saturday and Sunday. Mrs. Florence Miller was in Barnegat Tuesday last. Several of the people around Cedar Crest on Monday evening last saw the aeroplance about seven o'clock in the skies about southwest of here. |
| NJC 26 Oct 1917 Mrs. L. Lawrence is spending a few days with her sister in Cedar Crest. Mrs. Charles Bunnelll is spending a few days in Forked River. Miss Nola Britton of Forked River has been visiting Mrs. Charles Bunnell Miss Levora Morey spent Monday in Manahawkin Mrs. James Sutts and daughter Ruby were in Cedar Crest on Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Lutts are out of town for a few days. Misses Ellamay and Lillian Albertson were out of town Monday last. E.W. Weimer spent Tuesday last in Barnegat. Mrs. Charles Bunnell arrived home after spending a few days with friends in Forked River. Miss Gertrude Cummings was home on Sunday from Toms River. |
| NJC 23 Nov 1917 Three of John Septor's children have been very sick. Mrs. Charles Bunnell's baby has been very sick. Harry Lowisky has moved from Cedar Crest to Chester, PA Miss Levora Morey is spending a few weeks with her father in Manahawkin Wm. Brown has been spending a few days in Forked River James L. Branson is building himself a new home in Cedar Crest. Last winter Cedar Crest children had to go to school in a chicken house; now this winter they have a new schoolhouse, but they have not got a teacher yet. An aeroplane was seen passing over one day recently |
| 7 Dec 1917 E.W. Weimer, Charles Rowley and Benj. Wade of Cedar Crest spent their Thanksgiving at home in New York. Mrs. Lulu Saulman has been visiting her friends around for a few days. Edward Miller was in Toms River on Monday last. Dr. Rogers, who was in Philadelphia for a few days, heard of the Keswick Grover near Whitings, and took the opportunity to spend a few days there with the men. Also Mr. Kilburn, the Supt. of Cedar Crest Union Sunday school, had Dr. Rogers to come down to Cedar Crest and he gave a fine sermon. He also gave a sermon in the Cedar Crest church on Monday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Miller spent Thanksgiving at the home of their son, George Miller. Cleason Septor is now going to Camden for a few days. The Cedar Crest Union Sunday School gave a Thanksgiving entertainment on Thanksgiving eve. About 85 people were present. After the speaking and singing they had a treat of ice cream, cake and lemonade; after everything was over, the cake left over was put up for sale and brought for $10. The children are now getting ready for a Xmas entertainment ; they will be very glad to have all the Courier readers come to hear them. Wm. Brown was in Barnegat Monday. (Under the Forked River section, not the Cedar Crest section, was info regarding Willis Saulsman: Willis Saulsman of Camp Dix spent Thanksgiving with his mother, Mrs. John Britton) |
| NJC 14 Dec 1917 Dr. Rogers gave a sermon at Cedar Crest church last Sunday evening and Monday evening; he also baptized six children of this place. J.L. Branson, Mrs. Eva Wright, her son, Harry, and Henry Sanders motored to Toms River Tuesday last. B.Wade was in Newark on Monday. E.W.Weimar was a Monay visitor at Barnegat. Miss Margaret Septor and Ella May Albertson were Sunday visitors at Earley's home in Whitings. J.L.. Earley was in Cedar Crest on Sunday. Mrs. Henry Britton had visitors on Sunday last. Jno. Conover was a Monday visitor at Tuckerton. A large box of candy was given to the Sunday school children by Messrs. Bangs and Weimer. |
| NJC 21 Dec 1917 The Cedar Crest school has been closed for the last few days E.W. Weimar was in Barnegat Monday last. Several of the people of Cedar Crest were in Barnegat Sunday last. Mrs. Lutts has been very sick John Conover returned to Elwood, after working for the C.C.O. & P. Co. for some time. Jno. Kilburn could not get to Cedar Crest Sunday, so his ass't Mr. Septor took his place. We had Sunday-school and church in the evening. Mrs. Susie Giberson, Mrs. Mick and Mrs. Lawrence Reeves of Whitings were here Monday last. |
| On 4 Jan 1918, Hans York was listed as one of the 'Class 5' draftees. |
| NJC 11 Jan 1918 The Cedar Crest school opened on Monday, having been closed four weeks. Joe Mason and E.W. Weimar were in Barnegat on Saturday LeRoy Earley of Whitings spent the week end here Some of the boys here have sent in their questionnaires and are waiting for their call. On account of the shortage of food here some of the people had to go to Whitings to get things. Neither one of the stores could get groceries on account of the embargo on the railroads. The Cedar Crest lake has been frozen over three times already this winter. They have two ice houses filled with ice. Mrs. Ada Lawrence spent a few days with Mrs. George Miller. Samuel Alberson has moved to Whitings Eugene Sanders moved to Forked River on Monday last. The Cedar Crest Union Sunday School gave their entertainment on New Years eve and had a large turnout. Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Septor, Mr. Kilburn and Mrs. R. Cummings did the trimming of the church. The saw mill that was run by Oscar Downs caught fire on Sunday night and came very near to burning down. Had it not been for the rain Mr. Downs would have had a heavy loss and so would the Cedar Crest Co., as they had their tractors stored there. Mrs. and Mrs. Joe Sap have been out of town for a few days. Mrs. Eva Wright has been very sick for a few days. |
| New Jersey Courier 18 Jan 1918 E.W. Weimer was in Tuckerton on Tuesday last Charles Parker was in town on Wednesday last. Several of the people of Cedar Crest are sick. J.L.Earley of Whitings was in Cedar Crest over Sunday last. All of the boys of Cedar Crest have their war questionnaires sent in and their cards back waiting to be called. Dr. Rogers of Philadelphia gave a sermon at the church on Sunday eve. |
| On 1 Feb 1918, an advertisement for War Saving Stamps mentioned that James Branson was Postmaster at Cedar Crest. |
| NJC 15 Feb 1918 Mrs. Henry Britton has been sick for a few days. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bunnell and also the baby have been very sick. Mrs. Bunnell is still ill at this writing. Most of John Septor's children have also had the grip. Carlton Early and Margaret Septor were in Whiting , Monday last. Miss Anna Johnson and Mrs. Harry Giberson of Whitings were callers at Mrs. John Septor's, Friday last. Mr. Bang, treasurer of the Cedar Crest Co., stayed over the week end at Cedar Crest. Mrs. Lulu Saulsman has been out of town for a few days. Mrs. Joel Ridgway is spending a few days with friends at Barnegat. Mrs. Thomas Brown is clerking for John Anderson LeRoy Earley spent the week end at Mr. and Mrs. Henry Britton's. The Cedar Crest Co. is now painting their packing house The Cedar Crest school has been closed for several weeks on account of having no fuel. The Atlantic Loading Co. has had men in Cedar Crest for several days looking over the land, which is a very good place for the plant to be. The people would like very much to have it come here. There is not only a shortage of coal, but of wood also, the bad weather and want of help makes a scarcity of wood choppers. |
| NJC 1 Mar 1918 Mrs. Lulu Saulsman has been out of town a few days Benj. Wade returned to work, after being home with his people in New York. E.W. Weimer went to New York, Sunday evening last. Mrs. Harvey Craft was in Manahawkin Monday last. John W. Septor was in Whiting on Saturday last Lewis Miller has been home for a few days The Cedar Crest school opened Monday for the first time since it was closed Christmas week Mrs. Henry Britton returned home Sunday last, after spending a few days with her sister in Woodbury The Cedar Crest Co. has a new sprayer machine, which will be pulled by a gasoline tractor and operated by five men. |
| NJC 15 Mar 1918 Mary and Elsie Archer [of Whitings] spent Sunday at Cedar Crest E.W. Weimer was in Camden Tuesday last. Mrs. John Septor has returned home after being away to her mother's funeral in Pennsylvania. Wm. Brown of Forked River was in town Tuesday Several men from New York have been employed with the Cedar Crest Co. this week The Cedar Crest Col has got a new Ford and is going to get more in a few weeks The Cedar Crest Union Sunday School will give gold pins to the children who have been attending Sunday school for twenty five Sundays without missing. Their names will be given in next week's Courier. LeRoy Earley of Whitings was in town, Sunday last. |
| NJC 29 Mar 1918 Mr. Young of Philadelphia will be at the Cedar Crest Union Sunday school on March 31. He will also give a talk Sunday evening. Everybody will be welcome. Mr. Weimer was in Barnegat last Monday and Tuesday Henry Britton is working for the Cedar Crest Co. The school here closed on Wednesday and will not open on Monday because of the Easter holidays Benjamin Wade, who has been working for the Cedar Crest Co., has returned to New York Six more men have come from New York to work for the Cedar Crest Co. Ed Britton drove to Toms River last Wednesday C. Septor was home from Woodbury for three days. Evelyn and Margaret Septor and Juanita Cummings walked to Whitings on Sunday. |
| NJC 3 May 1918 E.W. Weimar and C.B. Bunnell motored to Toms River Tuesday, and the former was in Barnegat Monday. E. Miller, Mrs. Lulu Saulsman, Margaret Sexton and C.S. Early motored to Whitings Wednesday. The measles have had their run here, and seem to have exhausted all available opportunities to spread. John Birsall and E.Reeves of Barnegat have the contrac to put up thirty buildings here |
| NJC 10 May 1918 Two families have moved here from New York E.W.Weimar and Charles Bunnell motored to Toms River on Monday. H. Robbins of Barnegat is now working for the Cedar Crest Co. James Applegate and Anna Britton motored to the county seat Monday. Mr. and Mrs. John Dale were out of town for a few days. Lewis Miller returned here after spending the week end with his parents at Waterford, NJ Joel Ridgway was in Barnegat on Sunday. |
| NJC 17 May 1918 Nineteen children attended the exercises at Toms River Mrs. Henry Britton and cousin were at Camp Dix Saturday last Mrs. Lulu Saulsman, Mrs. Ralph Cummings, Mrs. Frank Seaman and Messrs. Roy Miller, George Stinemetz and Chas. Bunnell motored to Toms River recently. Mr. Lucas and family and Mr. Sawyer and family of New York have moved in their bungalow here for the summer. J. Edward Miller has returned here after seeing his brother, Roy Miller, off for Fort Slocum. Carlton Earley and Miss Margaret Septor visited the former's brother, LeRoy Earley, at Camp Dix Sunday. C.B.Bunnell, wife and daughter Golda and E.W. Weiman motored to West Creek Monday. Mrs. Lulu Saulsman, Mr. harry Bunnell and Mr. Melvin Bunnell motored to Forked River Tuesday. Max Huss has returned to his homei n Port Chester, NY after spending a week at the Cedar Crest Inn. E.W. Weimar is spending a few days in New York City. The Cedar Crest Orchard and Produce Co. now have two Ford tractors, a Bullock tractor and a Case tractor. Their work is going on very nicely, although several of their young men have had to go to camp. Geo. Steinmetz is entertaining for a fortnight Mrs. E.Ellis, Miss Florida Burnhard and Mr. Robert Burnhard. Mr. and Mrs. C. Bunnell and Mrs. Saulsman motored to Whiting Sunday. Mrs. J. Craft recently visited in Manahawkin. |
| NJC 24 May 1918 Harry and William Bunnell [of Forked River], who have been working at Cedar Crest, were home a couple of days last week |
| NJC 7 Jun 1918 Miss Levora visited in Manahawkin recently. Mrs. Frank Seaman entertained Mrs. James Parker, son and daughter of Parkertown and Mrs. Chas. Brant and son of Barnegat, who motored here Friday night. Mrs. Lulu Saulsman of this place and Mrs. Joseph Hilliard and Miss Hilliard of Whiting visited Camp Dix recently. Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Bunnell and daughter, Mrs. Lulu Saulsman, Mrs. Nora Seaman, Mrs. J. Craft and J. Miller motored to Forked River for dinner and show at the Playground Theater Thursday evening. Mr. J. Lucas and family and Mr. Sawyer and family spent Friday in Barnegat. While the men were working here for the government, they ran over a turtle which had "J.L.B. 1897" on it. Mr. Z. Collins brought it to Mrs. James I. Branson, who cut the letters on it 21 years ago. Carlton S. Earley of this place went to Camp Dix Wednesday. Another star for our service flag, makng five. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Britton and sons spent Saturday at Camp Dix. Miss Juanita Cummings has been spending some time in Bayville. Mrs. Lulu Saulsman, Miss Amelia Miller, Miss Ethel Miller and J.E. Miller left here Friday for Washington, D.C., returning Tuesday. Out little town donated $137 to the Red Cross. Miss Lillian Frazee of Forked River is teaching in our school for a few days for Miss Ethel Evans, who is ill. |
| NJC 14 Jun 1918 Among those who spent the week end at Cedar Crest in were Miss Ollie C. Fields, John H. Valentine, W. F. Bang of New York city, and Mr. Bush of East Orange, who motored here with a party of his friends. Miss Margaret Septor spent Sunday at Camp Dix. Mrs. Frank Seaman entertained over the weekend Mrs. Temple Wallace of Pennsgrove. Miss Lenora Morey visited in Whiting recently. Miss Elsie Hilliard of Whiting is visiting Mrs. Julia Bunnell We read in last week's Courier that Miss Ethel Evans was to take the Forked River school next season. We all wanted her so much here for the teachers we have had the last four years haven't taught our children as much as Miss Evans has this one term. Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Bunnell and daughter Mrs. Lulu Saulsman, and E.W. Weimar motored to Toms River Monday. Melvin Bunnell of Forked River has returned here after having to go home with a sprained wrist. Northern New Jersey is very short in its peach crop this year, due to severe winter injury, according to the July report of the Bureau of Estimates of the Department of Agriculture...winter varieties are reported light in Southern New Jersey. |
| NJC 21 Jun 1918 The hailstorm of June 12 was the worst in 37 years, some folk here said. The hail cut potatoes corn and truck in some places badly and the wind blew over trees as big as a flour barrel |
| NJC 21 Jun 1918 Miss Levora Morey spent a few days with friends at Whitings. Miss Margaret Septor spent Saturday night with Mrs. Lydia Giberson Melvin Septor and friend William Cummings spent Saturday at Whitings. Miss Elsie Hilliard [of Whitings] has returned home after spending a few days at Cedar Crest. Charles Bunnell was in town [Whitings] on Saturday. |
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NJC 26 JUL 1918 Miss Levora Morey has returned home after spending a few days at this place [Whitings] |
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NJC 2 Aug 1918 Monday and Tuesday a forest fire --- near Bamber, coming up almost to Whitings. |
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NJC 15 Nov 1918 Harry Bunnell [ of Forked River ] has been visiting at Cedar Crest. Mrs. Samuel Cranmer of Barnegat spent Sunday with her daughter, Mrs. Frank Seaman. Miss Levora Morey is home again after spending a week at Mrs. Joseph Hilliard's of Whitings. Mr. and Mrs. Austin Craft and family motored here from Trenton and spent Saturday with his aunt, Mrs. Josephine Craft. Miss Elsie Hilliard of Whitings visited Mrs. C.B. Bunnell recently. W.F. Bang of Portechester, NY is spending a few days at the Cedar Crest Inn. Miss Margaret Septor and Miss Paulet Soyer are spending some time in Woodbury. No influenza here so far, although a doctor said two persons had it but theydid not go to bed so must have had it in a mild form. Harry Bunnell of Forked River has been spending a few days with his uncle here, Chas. Bunnell. Mr. and Mrs. Seaman of West Creek, who have been spending some time with their son, Frank, here, have gone to Pitman for a visit with their daughter, Mrs. Temple Wallace. |
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NJC 3 Jan 1919 Ernest Thomas [of Forked River] is visiting his uncle, Charles Bunnell, at Cedar Crest. |
| NJC 12 Dec 1921 FORKED RIVER -Edward Britton of Cedar Crest was in town recently |
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NJC 6 Jan 1922 FORKED RIVER William Saulsman of New York spent New Years with his mother, Mrs. Jolin Britton |
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NJC 20 Jan 1922 Mrs. Lulu Saulsman of Cedar Crest spent Sunday evening and Monday with Mr. and Mrs. Potter Giberson in Whitings Edward Britton of Cedar Crest spent Tuesday with Harry Bunnell in Forked River |
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NJC 27 Jan 1922 Edwar Britton of Cedar Crest was a Saturday visitor with Harry Bunnell Melvin Septor of Cedar Crest was in town (whitings) Sunday |
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NJC 31 MAR 1922 Cleason Septor has returned home from Florida. [Whitings] |
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NJC 27 NOV 1937 One Barbara Sharp is listed as owing back taxes for 1933 on property at Cedar Crest, block 2001, lots 15 and 16, on the state highway there. |
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NJC 7 Jul 1939 Over a thousand people attended the services opening Camp Columbus at Bamber Lake on Sunday. The camp is sponsored annually by the State Council of the Knights of Columbus. Camp officials said they expected to accommodate more than 1000 boys during the season, which closes Aug 19. (**notice that it is referred to as 'Bamber' once again by 1939, and no mention of Cedar Crest is made; but the land being sold at auction for nonpayment of taxes at that time does make reference to Cedar Crest, indicating the name was not completely out of fashion yet.) |
This is probably nothing...but who knows? In the 15 Sep 1939 edition of the New Jersey Courier appears the below advertisment, for a "CedarCrest School", which appears to be located in Toms River. Still, it seems strange to name a school in Toms River for a town that 20 years before had been a well
known section of the county, with its own train stop, etc. It may be a coincidence, but then again perhaps there's a connection? |
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Press of Atlantic City 18 Jul 1989 Three Ocean County men trying to fix a disabled vehicle were hit by a car driven by a man who said he blacked out Monday morning, police said. Robert Hess and Joseph Caruso stopped their car to help 18-year-old John Garrido, whose car had broken down along the northbound shoulder of Dover Road about one-tenth of a mile from Lacey Road. Hess, 38, of the township's Bamber Lake section, Caruso, 35, of Berkeley Township, and Garrido, also of Berkeley Township, were all taking a look under the disabled car's hood at about 10:20 a.m. At that time, Donald Napier, 58, of the township's Bamber Lake section struck Garrido's parked car. The impact forced the parked car into the three men. Napier told police he blacked out while behind the wheel of his vehicle. The Lacey Township First Aid Squad was called to the scene to transport Caruso to Southern Ocean County Hospital where he was treated and released. Hess and Garrido were not treated. A hospital spokeswoman said Napier was being admitted in stable condition. |
| In 1989, there was a "Jersey Devil" sighting out at Bamber. Click here to read the first person account from Leut's Jersey Devil Page, at http://home.adelphia.net/~leuter/post.html. |
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Press of Atlantic City, Dec 6 1990 HERBERT E. BAYARD, 68, of the Bamber Lake section of Lacey Township, died Wednesday at Community Medical Center in Toms River. Mr. Bayard was a self-employed carpenter in the Ocean County area for 37 years until his retirement in 1988. He was a member of the Lanoka Harbor Methodist Church and a past member of the Bamber Lake Fire Company. Born in Belford, he resided in Forked River before moving to Bamber Lake in 1972. Surviving are his wife, the former Alice Peake of Bamber Lake ; three sons, Lawrence, of Antioch, Calif., Gary, of Bayville, and Harry of Bamber Lake ; two daughters, Kerry Perkins of Cedar Run and Karen Duffy of Bamber Lake ; one brother, John Bayard of East Keansburg; three sisters, Alta Brown of Brick Town, Florence Wolchak of Middletown, and Dorothy Maggs of Wall Township; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. |
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Press of Atlantic City 8 Dec 1992 Committeeman Louis Amato Jr. says the Cedar Run Group Home does not have proper security, is financially inefficient and should not be located in a residential area. Local officials, dissatisfied with a state plan for a citizens advisory panel to discuss public concerns over a Bamber Lake reform school, insist the facility should be closed. "I'm still dead-set against the facility out there. I'm still set on having it closed," Committeeman Louis Amato Jr. said. Amato claims the Cedar Run Group Home, in the pinelands near Carriage Road, does not have proper security, is financially inefficient for the state to operate and should not be located in the residential area. The committee members are also concerned the state might look to expand services at the facility as it is forced to find places to house juveniles who might be apprehended during crackdowns on carjacking. Amato, who is police commissioner here, and other members of the Township Committee have called on the state to close the non-residential center following a recent event where two youths escaped from the minimum-security facility and stole a car from a nearby home. The state proposed forming the advisory committee during a meeting between the committeeman and the superintendent of the Ocean Residential Group Center at the state Game Farm off Route 9. Juveniles who spend the day at the unfenced Bamber Lake facility spend the night at the game farm. The committee - comprised of a representative of the committee, the local police department, the neighboring homes, the community at large and the state - would discuss issues relating to both centers. But while members of the Township Committee agreed to form an advisory committee to discuss concerns over the game farm facility - which has been in the town for about three decades - they said the group should not discuss the Bamber facility. "I think we should move full blast toward getting it closed before it expands," said Mayor Russell Palumbo. But Jerry Van Dyke, administrative director of the division of Juvenile Services, said the group home provides a needed service in the local area. The facility provides services for youths aged 13 to 15 while the game farm site handles older adolescents. Both groups are screened before being sent to the facilities to assure they would not pose a security threat, Van Dyke said. "This provides a better atmosphere for the younger kids," Van Dyke said of the group home, which usually handles no more than 10 children. "When you consider it from a cost-effective point, it might be true the per bed cost for that facility is higher than if you put the kids into a larger institution," Van Dyke said. "But that has to be weighed out against the potential damage that could be done to these kids, and what it might cost in later years if they keep coming back and moving through the system." An advisory committee would give residents a chance to make the state aware of their concerns while also helping the community understand and appreciate how the center helps troubled local youths, Van Dyke said. "We would like to get some understanding with the community in terms of what would be best for these kids and the local homeowners," he said |
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Press of Atlantic City 2 Sep 1994 A 29-year-old Toms River man was arrested in connection with the seizure of 39 marijuana plants in a wooded area within Lacey Township's Bamber Lake section. Artemis Nomikos was charged with possession of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute between one ounce and 5 pounds, said Sgt. Edward J. Hoffman, acting commander of the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force. The seizure of the plants, each about 6-feet-high, was made on Wednesday by members of the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force and the Lacey Township Police Department. Bail was set at $25,000 with no 10 percent. Nomikos was lodged in the Ocean County Jail. |
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Santa Fe Metro reported on Aug 21, 2008 that "Aug 21, 2008 MICHAEL CHARLES SLOTA, 61, of Santa Fe, N.M., formerly of the Bamber Lake section of LACEY, died Thursday, July 31.". (Not a common old-time Bamber name as far as I can tell, but the article is short on details). |
This site mentions a section of Bamber that was supposedly
inhabited at one point by the Caruso family, and is hence known as Carusoville.
I found this article in the Press of Atlantic City from 5 Mar 1990 that explains 'Carusoville':
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"It's going to take more than vandals and the state bureaucracy to force Jane Gardner and Earl Hawk to move from the concrete block building that has been their home in the Pinelands for 25 years. The couple and a neighbor are the three remaining residents of Caruso Village, once a cluster of 10 homes, a hunting cabin and garage complex located in the Pinelands near the Bamber Lake section. The state Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, which had purchased the area from the Caruso family, ordered most of the remaining village residents to move at the end of October. But like their neighbor, the couple holds a long-term lease on their tin-roofed home, and the feisty pair have refused to move. They are not bothered that vandals recently set fire to two of the abandoned homes nearby. They also don't worry that anyone will harass them in their lonely enclave. Four people, including two juveniles, have been arrested and charged with setting the fires. "They don't bother us out here. We're usually home. They leave us alone," said Hawk, who will turn 80 in July. It's not like the couple is cut off in the wilderness. They make frequent trips into town, have a telephone and are periodically visited by friends. Police patrol the area frequently and the mailman comes by every day. "I used to live in Pleasant Plains (a section of Toms River), but it got so crowded and noisy I had to move," said Hawk. "Out here it's quiet. I plan on being here to the end." "I've lived here since before the houses up the road were built. When they tear them down it won't make any difference to me," added Gardner, as she sat clipping coupons at the couple's kitchen table. Caruso Village was erected by the Caruso family in the 1960s, a cluster of homes around a cranberry bog. In 1985 the state paid the family $600,000 for 103 acres. Family members complained the amount wasn't enough, but decided to sell because of state and municipal resistance to additional building in the area. When the abandoned homes will be torn down is still an undecided question, according to Ray Porutski, superintendent of the state Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area. "We have some things going on to try to speed up the process," Porutski said. "We'd like to demolish them as quickly as possible, because of the arsons and some complaints from the local police and fire departments." Conservation officers from the wildlife area try to patrol Caruso Village as often as possible. But there are only five officers to cover the area's 20,000 acres, Porutski said. "It's posted as a no-trespassing area," Porutski said of the village. "But people drive out there to party. There's a lake there, so that draws them." The state plans to raze the unoccupied houses and replant the area to return it to its natural state, the superintendent said. Police Chief Thomas Darmody said he will be happy when the abandoned homes are torn down and carted away. "They've become a nuisance. We've already had the two fires out there. Runaways and fugitives could live out there. It's also a place the kids like to go and party," he said. "It does create a hazard. It's a nuisance we don't need." |
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