Artists Statement
Silent Witness
In the mid 1950's a project was proposed to dam the river at Tocks Island, five miles north of the Delaware Water Gap, by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. Starting in 1966 the Federal Government began the process of acquiring a forty mile long stretch of land along Old Mine Road and on both sides of the Delaware River using the powers of eminent domain and condemnation. Land, farms, and homes that were passed down...
more »Artists Statement
Silent Witness
In the mid 1950's a project was proposed to dam the river at Tocks Island, five miles north of the Delaware Water Gap, by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. Starting in 1966 the Federal Government began the process of acquiring a forty mile long stretch of land along Old Mine Road and on both sides of the Delaware River using the powers of eminent domain and condemnation. Land, farms, and homes that were passed down through the generations were seized. Many people fought hard to save their land, some of which were evicted by side arm bearing shot gun toting marshals and harsh police tactics. Most of the homes and structures were demolished including old historic Dutch stone homes. Generations of tradition and rich history of the valley were wiped out as well as entire communities. For many reasons, the project came to a slow stop and was finally deauthorized by Congress and scrapped in July 1992.
After the dam project died, the land became a National Park, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, preserving the natural beauty of a large area of open space. Many of the surviving former residents are still rightfully very bitter. Although, some have come forward and are grateful, despite the heavy sacrifice, that this beautiful land is preserved. "We really don't need the development, the next Lake Tahoe here, with resorts and tract housing."
To this day there are a small number of homes, farms, related structures, and relics that survived and stand scattered throughout the woods and fields, most in a state of abandonment and decay. They stand as silent witness to give testament to the past. This photo essay is their story, documenting them before they disappear forever.
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