GOODSPEED HISTORIES – Page 158 – New Jersey History and Genealogy

Overshot v. Undershot

May 11, 2011 By Marfy Goodspeed in Delaware Twp, Sergeant Tags: mills

By which I mean mill wheels.

There is a fascinating article on water-powered mills to be found on “History–Now and Then” giving detailed information on how the ancient grist mills worked. The author, known as “Jerseyman,” explains how overshot wheels were designed and how much more efficient they were than undershot wheels. Immediately I thought of a locally famous overshot wheel at the old Sergeant’s mill near the Wickecheoke. Here’s a picture that says it all–the perfect example of an overshot wheel.

Story of Green Sergeant’s Bridge and Its Builders

May 1, 2011 By Marfy Goodspeed in Barber, E. T. Bush, Holcombe Tags: bridges

By Egbert T. Bush, Stockton, N.J., June 30, 1935

Hunterdon County was once well supplied with covered bridges. Now the lonely last one stands at what has long been known as “Green Sergeant’s Mills.” Some say that there is no other such bridge in New Jersey today. I cannot vouch for that; but the covered bridge is almost a thing of the past.

Citizens to the Rescue

May 1, 2011 By Marfy Goodspeed in Delaware Twp Tags: bridges, politics

Final episode in the four (and a half) part saga of the Covered Bridge.
Click on the topic “bridges” in the right column to see the other posts.

The Legislature’s Blessing

Once Commissioner Palmer had made his announcement, the only thing needed was an Act of the Legislature to legitimate the funding. On April 3, 1961, a bill was enacted into law permitting the State Highway Department to spend the money it needed to build the bridge.