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It was a chilly but lovely early April day.

Nikon D700
Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8
1/250 sec.
f/8
ISO 200
52mm

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This one is from early April 2009. It is the saw mill in Batsto Village located in Wharton State Forest in the Southern Pinelands of New Jersey. The restored village was the site of Batsto Iron Works and dates back to 1766. In addition to making every day household iron products like kettles and pots it's Iron making was particularly important during the Revolutionary War.

It was a small but vibrant community centered around the iron works. The iron works changed hands several times and eventually became a glass-making center known for its window glass when Iron making declined by the mid 1800's. Eventually glassmaking declined and the property which had passed through several hands went into receivership eventually purchased by Joseph Wharton in 1876. Wharton died in 1909.

The Wharton properties in the Pine Barrens were managed by the Girard Trust Company in Philadelphia until 1954. New Jersey then purchased the property with the intent to develop it but instead it is a New Jersey Historic Site and is listed in the New Jersey and the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the houses were still inhabited and the residents were allowed to remain as long as they wanted. The last house was vacated in 1989.

Nikon D700
Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8
1/125 second
f/8.0
ISO 320
28mm