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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
At 14.9 miles State 33 (see Tour 20) separates (L) from State 34.
Swinging south, State 34 runs through miles of stunted pines and oaks
and sandy wastes. There are few houses.
At 20.1 miles is the junction with a hard-surfaced road.
Right on this road is the DESERTED VILLAGE OF ALLAIRE, 2 miles (open).
Today this is Camp Burton, a gift to the Boy Scouts of America by Arthur Brisbane, whose grave is on his former estate nearby. Old whitewashed brick buildings
an old millpond, a little white church, and one old iron furnace still intact, suggesting the busy community of a century ago. Allaire, or Monmouth Furnace as it was
first called, was taken over by James Allaire, owner of the Allaire Works in New
are scattered in a grove of magnificent sycamores, with woodland paths. There is
York City. The pipes for the first waterworks in New York City, the air chambers
for Robert Fulton's Clermont, and large quantities of pots, kettles, and stoves were
cast here. Allaire became a model town. Comfortable houses, some even elegant,
were built for 500 employees and their families. A school was maintained at James
Allaire's expense. A stagecoach was put in service to Red Bank, where steamboats
were run by Allaire down the Shrewsbury to New York. He rebuilt the wooden town
in brick, erecting kilns to make the brick. All the trees were planted by his order
From 1834 to 1837 Allaire was at the height of its prosperity. It even had its own
currency, used in the company stores. The discovery of Pennsylvania's coal and
was the death blow to Allaire. The works were moved to Pennsylvania so hurriedly
that for years pianos and the larger pieces of furniture stood in the deserted house.
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