Canistear Cemetary Traditional Cache
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Size: 
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Following caching tradition with an old cemetary
Local history tells of a town somewhere in the area on Canistear Rd. We aren't sure of the whole history or if the legend that a town is now under the water of Canistear Reservoir is true but either way this old cemetary tells a story and was calling out for a cache to be placed here!
The cemetary is located right off Canistear Rd about 2.5 miles in from Rt. 23. It is at the beginning of the access road for the boat launch for the Canistear Reservoir. The cache itself is hidden on the outside of the cemetary so there is ultimately no reason to trample through the cemetary itself. If you are feeling up for some interesting history lessons the gate is always open. We found it rather erie but VERY interesting at the same time! As always, respect those laid to rest here!!
REMEMBER: This cache is hidden on Newark-Pequannock Watershed land. You need a permit to go after this one. Go here for information on how to obtain a permit by mail: (visit link) You can also stop in their office at 223 Echo Lake Road, Newfoundland, NJ 07435 8am-4pm Monday through Friday & 8am-12:30pm on Saturday.
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THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO US BY KLIZICH. IT IS TAKEN FROM A BOOK CALLED "LOST CIVILIZATIONS OF VERNON" AND EXPLAINS THE HISTORY BEHIND THE CEMETARY. (Thanks klizich!)
Canisteer (pages 45-49)
“Under the waters of the Canisteer (original spelling) Reservoir lie the remains of what was once a thriving ironworks community known as the Canisteer Bloomery.
The town of Canisteer was founded in 1796 by 19 year old Adam Smith, who operated the bloomery with Silas and DeWitt Day. The bloomery remained in operation until about 1860.
The community became a prosperous mining settlement, probably one of the first in the area. Although the town has long been flooded, parts of it have survived: the bell from the Canisteer Schoolhouse is now in the Stockholm Methodist Church on Route 515 and the Canisteer Church was dismantled by Jacob John Henderson, who used the lumber to build his house on Silver Grove Road in Stockholm.
Canisteer had its own post office, which was in operation for only one year; 1894-1895. The only postmaster was Benson F. Snyder. Snyder owned a large, Vermont-style home which could accommodate up to 40 summertime guests. His home was one of the early “bed and breakfast” type hotels in the area. It was located on Canistear Rd., opposite Range Road. Most of the guests came from Newark. In 1905, Erza Day’s widow, Mary, complained to one of the guests that “tourists” from Newark and other areas were bringing pollution to the pristine, Vernon countryside.
When the City of Newark purchased Canisteer and [the nearby area], residents were forced to leave their homes and relocate. The Day family moved to Cherry Ridge. The waters of the reservoir have since covered what remained of Canisteer, but the ruins which have not been inundated provide a fascinating look into the past.
Iron mining was a major resource in northern New Jersey during the colonial period. By the start of the American Revolution, the colonists were supplying about 14% of the world’s iron ore. Water was an important factor in any mining operation; it was used to power forges, and the Delaware and Hudson Rivers were the majoyr means of transportation. Early forges produced cannon balls, ship’s ballast bar iron, chimney backs, and chain.
Ore was mined from both shallow and deep shafts. The ruins of many of these abandoned mines remain scattered throughout the area today.
It is believed the smelter of the Canisteer Bloomery was built around 1796, but that parts of the bloomery may have been in operation as early as 1780. The forge manufactured wrought iron which was mined from the surrounding area. The Canisteer Mine, located [nearby] the reservoir, was mined at intervals between 1870 and 1890, when lack of demand forced its closing.
Severe drought conditions during 1964-1965 provided an unusual opportunity to visit the past. As the waters receded, the ruins of the Bloomery were exposed. The anvil base of the forge, wooden support beams, the foundation of the bloomery structure, and other ruins and artifacts had been preserved, and, for the first time in more than ninety years, saw the light of day.
Iron nails, plate iron, tools of daily life, Indian artifacts and more were recovered by historians during the drought period. Today the remains of the Canisteer Bloomery are again beneath the waters of the 350 acre reservoir. “
NOTE: Text in brackets has been altered (changed, deleted or clarified); the remainder is taken verbatim from the listed source.
NOTE: This information was obtained from a paper book titled Lost Civilizations of Vernon, published circa 1990. The original could not be located, therefore the ISBN number, publisher, authors or necessary information to provide proper credit to the authors is not available. This information (used above) is their work.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
hfr lbhe pbzzba trb-frafrf...
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