Wharton State Forest is home to several abandoned villages that allow visitors to take a peek into the past. Batsto Village is perhaps one of my favorite Pinelands attractions; it's beautifully preserved and so much fun to tour. A former bog iron and glass manufacturing site from 1766 to 1867, it's a must-visit. It's easily accessible and definitely one of the most developed villages in Wharton. Next, there's Atsion. Many visit the mansion, which is open for tours seasonally, but visitors will also find the ruins of a church, cemetery, school, and more, all within an easy mile-long hike.
Both are fantastic day trip destinations, surrounded by acres upon acres of gorgeous pinelands, lakes, and rivers. I recommend visiting each, but today we're talking about something a bit more hidden...Harrisville. A genuine ghost town, Harrisville can be found deep in the Pinelands. Once a flourishing village, it was abandoned in 1891 after the heart of the community, the great paper mill, went out of business. It's so secluded, I may not have known of its existence if it weren't for the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.
Here's what I know about Harrisville:
Harrisville was a small production community that was settled from around 1795 to 1914. Best known for producing paper, it was abandoned and set ablaze shortly after. Much of the village burned in the fire. Following the fire, vandals descended on the village. Stone and gorgeous lighting features were stolen away.Despite the fire and vandals, ruins of the village remain. At one point, the town had around 75 residents and quite a few structures. Homes were most common, though you would also find a saw and gristmill, blast furnace, paper mill (one of the most advanced in the country at the time) and a company store. What remains now is primarily the ruins of the paper mill, pictured.
To see the mill ruins, and the rest of the village's remains, you can take a hike highlighted by the aforementioned Pinelands Preservation Alliance.
The trail is explained in further detail in the incredible virtual tour below (also by the Pinelands Preservation Alliance). If you have 10 minutes, take the time to watch it.
Harrisville Tour in the New Jersey Pine Barrens from Pinelands Preservation Alliance on Vimeo.
The Pinelands are worth preserving, and we're happy to report that Wharton State Forest just got a little bigger. To learn more about that, click here.
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