THE DRIFTWAY

Green Brook Cultural, Heritage and Historic Preservation Committee
We have something in Green Brook that all towns do not have. That is a driftway. Naturally your first reaction is what in the world is that? Glad you asked. Webster’s Dictionary says that is “a sometimes private lane or narrow country road: driveway.” Another dictionary says “A broad route along which cattle or sheep used to be driven to market.” Those of you with dogs hopefully have brought them to our Dog Park at the Trust House on Greenbrook Road. But we are sad to say that we haven’t seen anyone bring their sheep to utilize the Driftway. A missed opportunity. The Driftway runs between the top of Warrenville Road and through Scheurman Terrace and Morning Glory Road. In recent months there has been utility work along the route on the Scheurman Terrace end.
Before the Top of the World development bordered the Driftway, it was negatively looked at by local residents. We have no records to pinpoint the exact years other than the 1930’s to 1960’s but the area was referred to as the Pig Farm. Of course guessing, but possibly there was a farm there that raised pigs and that the farm driveway intersected the Driftway which exited at Warrenville Road. Sometime in the 1960’s or before, the farm was abandoned. This was a remote area. People found out that the farm was abandoned and loaded their pick-ups with mattresses and washing machines and dumped them at 3 a.m. This attracted animals and soon the Driftway became associated with being a public nuisance. The Township had neither the manpower nor the finances to deal with the situation. So it remained for many years.
General George Washington had several aides with him for the important 22 days in June 1777 when he utilized Washington Rock as a lookout. The Continental Army was camped at Middlebrook, now Bridgewater, 4 miles to the west. The General would stay nights at the Drake House on Front Street, Plainfield or with the Vermeule brothers at the Blue Hills Plantation on now Clinton Avenue in North Plainfield. But most of the nights he would go back to his men at Middlebrook. Being dark, it was easier to ride along a trail on the crest of the First Watchung, first to where an Indian Trail (now Warrenville Road) crossed the mountain and then along the Driftway until he wound his way down the mountain to the Middlebrook campground. So the Driftway has significance in the history of the Township.
Come join us at our meetings to learn more. Held the third Thursday of every month, Green Brook Town Hall at 111 Greenbrook Road, 7:30 pm. For more information visit info@gbhsnj.org