Mountainside in Union County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Copper Mine

Watchung Reservation History Trail

— Union County - We're Connected to You! —

Copper Mine Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Seva Zaslavsky, March 6, 2022

1. Copper Mine Marker

Inscription. Exploration for copper in this area of the First Watchung Mountain may date back to at least the 1600's. Crushed ore may have been used for tools and decoration by the Lenape tribe of Native Americans. Another story holds that Hessian soldiers held captive near here by the Colonial Army during the Recolutionary War were compelled to dig for copper ore to support the war effort. The ore was of low quality and the exploratory mine never progressed more than 15 feet into the mountain. Portions of the mine have collapsed and are visible to the North of the gorge. On the edge of the collapsed area, a large stone used for sluicing the ore can be seen.

Erected by The Board of Chosen Freeholders, Union County, New Jersey.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • War, US Revolutionary.

Location. 40° 40.829′ N, 74° 22.959′ W. Marker is in Mountainside, New Jersey, in Union County. It can be reached from Historic Trail east of Sierra Trail, on the left when traveling

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east. This marker stands nowhere near a road. You must park your car and hike into Watchung Reservation to see it. The sign stands along the "Historic Trail" - it is marked on the official trail map as Marker #2. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mountainside NJ 07092, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Jersey’s North Jersey,

in Greater Newark,

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Deserted Village of Feltville / Glenside Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lake Surprise Bathhouse (approx. 0.7 miles away); “Osborn House” (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Shady Rest Country Club "A Place for Us" (approx. 1.8 miles away); New Providence Veterans Memorial Park

Photographed by Seva Zaslavsky, March 6, 2022

2. Copper Mine Marker

(approx. 1.9 miles away); Caesar (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Academy / Old Borough Hall (approx. 2.1 miles away); New Providence 9-11 Memorial (approx. 2.2 miles away).

Also see . . . Watchung Reservation Trail Map. (Submitted on May 1, 2022, by Seva Zaslavsky of Maplewood, New Jersey.)

Additional keywords. mining

Photographed by Seva Zaslavsky, March 6, 2022

3. Copper Mine Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2022, by Seva Zaslavsky of Maplewood, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,188 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 1, 2022, by Seva Zaslavsky of Maplewood, New Jersey. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.