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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
South of Pluckemin the road swings into the humped range of the
FIRST WATCHUNG MTS. (L). At 50.5 miles is a point of considerable
historic interest: a MINIATURE GOLF COURSE, still in operation (1939).
At 50.7 miles is the junction with a graveled road.
Left on this road to ECHO LAKE, 0.4 miles, lying in the cut of the First Watchungs.
A good yell will rebound as many as seven times across certain parts of Echo Lake.
There are numerous legends associated with it; about the best is that of Winona,
daughter of the Raritan chief Camackanuck. It seems that Winona had displeased
her father by falling in love with a minor Delaware chieftain called Thingerawso,
and wily old Camackanuck, knowing that regular baths in Echo Lake were a sure
remedy for mental disturbances, sent her down to the lake to take the cure. Whether
Winona took the baths is not known; but she did use a big rock overlooking the
lake as a trysting place to meet Thingerawso. Camackanuck finally imported a powerful Seneca chieftain named Connosota to marry his wayward daughter. That did not disturb Winona. She managed to lure the Seneca out to her rock on Echo Lake, where
Thingerawso was set to kill him. Before Thingerawso could bring his tomahawk
into action, however, Connosota drew a pistol and shot him. As he plunged down
the cliff into the still water he cried, "Winona! Winona!" The Indian girl, arriving in time to see her lover sink, leaned over the ledge; Connosota, afraid she would
fall, called out to her. The Seneca's cry mingled with the dying echo begun some
time back by Thingerawso, and Winona, convinced her lover was calling her,
jumped off the cliff to join him in death. The place was promptly called WINONA'S
ROCK.
The legend is the source of another place name, BUTTERMILK FALLS, at Echo
Lake. Thingerawso was to kill Connosota when, as a signal from Winona, he saw
the falls turn white with milk the maiden would pour into the cascade.
At 55.4 miles is the junction with State 29-US 22
(see Tour 2). US 202
and State 29 are united between this point and Lambertville.
At 55.9 miles, at a traffic circle, US 22 joins State 28 (see Tour 2). US
206 separates (L) from US 202 at this point.
The road swings west away from the Watchung Mts. into a valley region of real farm land, well watered with vagrant brooks and streams.
The two-lane concrete highway rises and dips in long straight stretches
through rich corn and truck garden acres: the deep brown loam of plowed
fields, paneled into green grazing meadows, levels out to the CUSHETUNK MTS. (R) and, off to the L., the SOURLANDS. Industry strides
the land in a long line of high tension towers, like so many giant steel
scarecrows.
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