Nature Done Wright

Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs

April 15, 2016

More about that Wonderful High Mountain Painting

DSCN9989-001Artist Robert Fletcher writes:
 
The road in the foreground is High Mountain Road, and the view is looking north from the old Memorial School, where I attended and graduated in May 1945.
 
The snowplow is a 1920 Reo Bus that had been converted into a snow plow. As I recall, weight was put over the back wheels, and with tire chains, it did the job. With all the dead-end streets in North Haledon, and as big a vehicle as it was, it managed to turn around and do the job.
 
As kids, it was not one of our favorite vehicles because it meant the roads were open and we had to go to school.
 
August Bingler started the bus service from North Haledon to Paterson beginning around 1920. The bus was used to transport local kids to grade school and high school.
 

As you look at the painting, on the left is a small farm. This was the Street Farm.  Mr. Street is shoveling path from his barn to his house.
 
As you look at High Mountain, on the right side in the shadows is where the government put a road in to allow military vehicles access to the top. That roadway was very crude, but it was perfect for sledding and skiing under the right snow conditions. That was where I lost my coat buttons in a sledding mishap.
 
The road was used for observation in a minor way during WWII.
 
The roads were kept open for Defense workers during the war by that plow.
 
(Thanks, Bob!)

 

2 comments

  • Karl Spalt
    10 years ago Reply

    Would like to make contact with NH folks. Had the impression the boro is ignored by the Wayne/preserve managers. I believe NH folks could benefit from more exposure in the preserve brochures, especially re the rocky road and a trail leaving it along the north side of the brook in the ravine on the south flank of the mtn. I guess the east side approaches are too steep for many; the Wayne accesses by car probably easier.
    I understand there is a large deer population now, and cousin Peter has pix of a bear and two cubs he took in his yard a few years back.

  • Karl Spalt
    10 years ago Reply

    Thrilled to discover this page and Bob Fletcher’s notes. My brothers graduated with him, and I followed in 1949. We lived variously at Venna Ave (1936-7), Evergreen Av(1937-1940), Manchester Av(by Falkena’s store-1940-42),927 Belmont Av(1942-1947), and 18Hillside Dr. (1947-67). Many tales about walking to school from those homes. Mary Shepherd our teacher lived near the scene of your painting. From Hillside we climbed the mtn., using several trails, some of which had exciting experiences for me. Brothers Howard and Harry camped up there probably with Bob F. and Herbie Schaub and others under Harry Barrow, scout master. Glad to read that the NYC skiyline is still visible; thought the trees at the Hawthorne boundary might block it. Will visit in Fall. Karl Spalt

Leave a comment.

2 comments

  • Karl Spalt
    10 years ago Reply

    Would like to make contact with NH folks. Had the impression the boro is ignored by the Wayne/preserve managers. I believe NH folks could benefit from more exposure in the preserve brochures, especially re the rocky road and a trail leaving it along the north side of the brook in the ravine on the south flank of the mtn. I guess the east side approaches are too steep for many; the Wayne accesses by car probably easier.
    I understand there is a large deer population now, and cousin Peter has pix of a bear and two cubs he took in his yard a few years back.

  • Karl Spalt
    10 years ago Reply

    Thrilled to discover this page and Bob Fletcher’s notes. My brothers graduated with him, and I followed in 1949. We lived variously at Venna Ave (1936-7), Evergreen Av(1937-1940), Manchester Av(by Falkena’s store-1940-42),927 Belmont Av(1942-1947), and 18Hillside Dr. (1947-67). Many tales about walking to school from those homes. Mary Shepherd our teacher lived near the scene of your painting. From Hillside we climbed the mtn., using several trails, some of which had exciting experiences for me. Brothers Howard and Harry camped up there probably with Bob F. and Herbie Schaub and others under Harry Barrow, scout master. Glad to read that the NYC skiyline is still visible; thought the trees at the Hawthorne boundary might block it. Will visit in Fall. Karl Spalt

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