GREEN POND
The Orr brothers, after visiting the falls and ruins of Clinton forge and mills,
traveled to Green Pond. They wanted to go fishing.
A short drive of 3 miles brought them to the "Green Lake House" on the borders
of Green Pond.
Green Pond is situated between the Green Pond and Copperas Mountains. The Green
Pond Mountains "rise on the northwest side of the Pond, in abrupt, almost
perpendicular bluffs, to the height of thirty, and sometimes forty, feet, and is
composed of conglomerate and sandstone. These bluffs, which present an
appearance very similar to the Palisades of the Hudson River, extend the entire
length of the pond, and are covered on their summits with a dense growth of oak,
chestnut, and other forest trees. . . . At the upper or northern end a fine
beach extends across the head of the lake, and afford excellent bathing
facilities. . . . The pond is about three miles long and three quarters of a
mile wide. It is fed by springs near its margin, and until recently had no
perceptible outlet, probably discharging its surplus water through subterranean
passages into other ponds." p. 585
From:
Rydings, Joseph. 1934. Country Walks in Many Fields: Being Certain Choice Annals
of the Paterson Rambling Club. Paterson, NJ: Press of the Morning Call.
Ramblers at Green Pond
The Rambling Club spent Sunday at Green Pond. Of course they were enchanted.
Everybody with one grain of sentiment or with only an infinitesimal love of
nature could not fail in this respect.. . .
I, with about a dozen more, left Paterson on the milk train at 4 a.m. It
required a tremendous effort to shake off dull sloth before the earliest robin
had begun to clear his throat, and before the family tomcat on the garden wall
had went through bidding his lady-love good-by, but the feat was accomplished
and the reward was great.
Soon after 4 we were steaming out of Broadway station. . . . with a very
sympathetic auditor waiting at the Newfoundland station . . .
The dew was still on the mountain flowers as we began to climb the hill. Flowers
seldom seen by any but an enthusiastic botanist were there to be found. There
was the Philadelphia lily to be seen here and there, its brilliant petals
apparently trying to outshine the sun itself. . . .
We reach the lake at last and find ourselves warmly welcomed within the
hospitable confines of "The Beeches," where our excellent hostess, Mrs. Davies,
and her household have prepared a most appetizing breakfast for us. . . . I
decided to stretch myself out under on of those ancient pine trees, and forget
all the trouble of the world as I gazed on the glorious lake which now begins to
reflect the rays of the morning sun.
. . . By this time several of my friends of the Rambling Club have gone in
bathing. How comical some of them look in those unfamiliar habiliments, so
different from the demure robes that gave them dignity in the meetings of the
Rambling Club . . .
. . . I found a safer occupation in picking huckleberries, but soon got tired of
this.
. . . About half-past 1 the rest of the Ramblers arrived, who had traveled in
the automobile wagon. These crowded into "The Beeches" and would have put their
capacity for hospitality to a severe strain, had it not been so marvelously
elastic. . . .
After eating their lunch the new arrivals set themselves to enjoy the pleasures
of the lake as the others had done. Some set out for a walk along the shore;
some went sailing on the lake, and some engaged as passengers on the little
steamer that makes a circuit of the beautiful pond, and time passed pleasantly
away.
About 5 o'clock the Rambling Club started off on their homeward way. Some even
of those who had not come by motor truck went back to the station by that
machine, just to try it.. . .
The outing had been most delightful, and amid the hum and bustle of daily life
and employment many will enjoy the charming recollections of Green Pond. And the
beauty of "The Beeches" embosomed in its grove of sweet pepper bush and
buttonball shrubs, will remain among the pleasantest memories of the Rambling
Club.
Joseph Rydings.