Quaker Bridge
Quaker Bridge in Shamong was built in 1772. It was named after the Quakers who would cross the Batsto River on their way to monthly meetings at Tuckerton. Evidently, there was a drowning one year as they crossed the river and it was resolved to construct a bridge as the crossing was deemed too dangerous.
One stormy evening, a stagecoach was heading through torrential rains traveling to the Quaker Bridge Inn. The stagecoach driver saw a light in the distance and was relieved to see that he had finally arrived at the Inn. Suddenly, an enormous white stag appeared before the stagecoach. The driver left the stagecoach and approached the stag, hoping to scare it away. The stag mysteriously disappeared. Then the driver noticed that the bridge had collapsed. If it weren't for the white stag, the stagecoach would have plummeted into the river. Since then, the white stag has been considered a good luck symbol in the Pine Barrens.
Arthur Thompson is said to havebuilt Thompson's Tavern at Quaker Bridge, at an uncertain date. His first license application on file is for the year 1809. When he died in 1821, he was succeeded by his wife, Elizabeth, and she stayed until 1836. At that point James G. Sears took over. In 1849 William Richards is supposed to have been there. There is record of a tavern being destroyed by fire here about 1849, although I do not yet know if this is the same tavern.
The claim to fame of this town lies in the discovery there of the curly grass fern, or Schizaea pusilla, in 1805 or 1808. A label accompanying a specimen in the collection of the Torrey Botanical Society says:
" First discovered by Dr. C. W. Eddy, near Quaker Bridge in the pine barrens of New Jersey, about 30 miles from Philadelphia"
Dr. Eddy was in the company of J. LeConte, Pursh, and C. Whitlow, and though he and Mr. LeConte found all the specimens, Pursh has claimed the honor of the discovery himself. (quoted in Pierce 1957:56) The date was around 1808.
A brief description of Quaker Bridge can be found in the diary of a Philadelphia traveler through the pines by name of Sarah Thomas, who wrote on 22 June 1809:
Another visitor to Quaker Bridge left record of his trip:John Torrey, in a letter to Zaccheus Collins, told of a trip he took with William Cooper in 1818.
One stormy evening, a stagecoach was heading through torrential rains traveling to the Quaker Bridge Inn. The stagecoach driver saw a light in the distance and was relieved to see that he had finally arrived at the Inn. Suddenly, an enormous white stag appeared before the stagecoach. The driver left the stagecoach and approached the stag, hoping to scare it away. The stag mysteriously disappeared. Then the driver noticed that the bridge had collapsed. If it weren't for the white stag, the stagecoach would have plummeted into the river. Since then, the white stag has been considered a good luck symbol in the Pine Barrens.
Arthur Thompson is said to havebuilt Thompson's Tavern at Quaker Bridge, at an uncertain date. His first license application on file is for the year 1809. When he died in 1821, he was succeeded by his wife, Elizabeth, and she stayed until 1836. At that point James G. Sears took over. In 1849 William Richards is supposed to have been there. There is record of a tavern being destroyed by fire here about 1849, although I do not yet know if this is the same tavern.
The claim to fame of this town lies in the discovery there of the curly grass fern, or Schizaea pusilla, in 1805 or 1808. A label accompanying a specimen in the collection of the Torrey Botanical Society says:
" First discovered by Dr. C. W. Eddy, near Quaker Bridge in the pine barrens of New Jersey, about 30 miles from Philadelphia"
Dr. Eddy was in the company of J. LeConte, Pursh, and C. Whitlow, and though he and Mr. LeConte found all the specimens, Pursh has claimed the honor of the discovery himself. (quoted in Pierce 1957:56) The date was around 1808.
A brief description of Quaker Bridge can be found in the diary of a Philadelphia traveler through the pines by name of Sarah Thomas, who wrote on 22 June 1809:
Arrived safe through all our troubles at Quaker Bridge. Had a very good supper with clams in abundance, good coffee and very good beds. Landlady is kind. Charles complained of the rats, said they bit his ear. Could not discover any mark.
Another visitor to Quaker Bridge left record of his trip:John Torrey, in a letter to Zaccheus Collins, told of a trip he took with William Cooper in 1818.
We remained at Thompson's Tavern (at Quaker Bridge) where we were very well entertained. About this time we found a considerable number of plants which were new to us. . . . What pleased us more than any plants we found was the Schizaea. Cooper found the first specimen. It is a singular little plant
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