THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CARDINAL LANE

The Green Brooke Historical Society gets quite a few questions about the significance of Cardinal Lane. If one goes to the Washington Rock parking lot and then goes about 50 yards down Rock Road East towards Watchung, one sees a sign for Cardinal Lane where the lane intersects the roadThe lane is walkable although washed out by rains after many years. Jon Gabriel told us that the lane was used by motorcycles as recently as the 1960’s. There once was a local newspaper editor who told that in the 1930’s his father would drive there all the way from Elizabeth with large bottles to be filled at the spring about 20 feet down hill from the main road intersection.
That ended in the 1930’s when some idiot threw a large firecracker into the mouth of the springhead which sealed it closed forever.
The Lane has had at least three different names over the years as well as a multitude of uses. Each with an important story of its own.Cornelius Vermeule and his brother at one time owned 1,200 acres of land stretching far and wide. We do know that in 1777 that they controlled a 96-acre self-sustaining parcel, with all important services, which was known as the “Blue Hills” plantation. The main house was located about 200 feet to the west of the current Vermeule Mansion in North Plainfield at Greenbrook Road and Clinton Avenue. On maps of 1777 there is clearly marked a route from “Blue Hills” up to the crest of the First Watchung DO YOU NEED A DUMPSTER? 908-234-2382 Fast, Friendly, Reliable Service Call to Reserve One Today Professional Delivery & Pickup NJ DEP# S27236 Affordable We take (but not limited to)… General Construction Household Waste Concrete & Asphalt Logs & Stumps Demolition Debris Bulky Waste • HEATING OIL • DIESEL • HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING • SALES & SERVICE • OIL TANKS • Boilers • Burners • Gas Conversions • Water Heaters • Oil Tank Testing • Oil Tank Removal • Oil Tank Installation • Oil Tank Search (908) 351-0313 www.tomassobrosenergy.com identified as “The Path”. The upper part of “The Path” is the current Cardinal Lane. So on the afternoon of June 13th 1777 Edward Fitz Randolph volunteered at now 188 Greenbrook Road, which was the home and farm of Jonah Vail, to take General George Washington to a spot on the mountain where the general could best view the British troops on the plains below. They rode to “Blue Hills” and then up “The Path”, being careful of crossing traffic, to the end of Cardinal Lane and across to Washington Rock. Of course on that day it was not known as Washington Rock. Hard to verify but probably simply referred to as Herbie’s Rock in those days.
Until the next exciting installment, come and join us at our monthly meeting at Green Brook Town Hall on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 7:30 pm, 111 Greenbrook Road, 1st floor conference room.
We are always looking for new members and you’ll find that history and our group are anything but dull.
We are participating in the Somerset County Weekend Journey through the Past at the Plainfield Library History Fair on October 22nd. We will have tables with handouts and brochures.