Crossley, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Crossley, New Jersey
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 Crossley, New Jersey
Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Crossley, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Crossley, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Ocean |
| Township | Berkeley |
| Elevation | 16 m (52 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 2047035 |
Crossley is a special place in New Jersey. It's an old, quiet community, almost like a ghost town. You can find it in Berkeley Township in Ocean County. It's about 5 miles (8 km) west of Toms River.
Today, Crossley is mostly ruins. But it has been turned into a beautiful nature spot called the Crossley Preserve. It's a great place for hiking and exploring nature.
Contents
The Story of Crossley
Crossley started as a busy town in the late 1800s. People came here to dig for clay. This clay was very important! It was used to make many things. These included terracotta pottery, bricks, and pipes.
The town was active until the early 1900s. The land was first owned by the Crossley Clay Works. Then, in 1914, the George C. Crossley Company bought it. Later, in the 1920s, it was sold to the Cypress Land Company. Finally, the New Jersey Natural Lands Trust bought the land. This group helps protect natural areas.
Exploring Crossley Preserve
The New Jersey Natural Lands Trust created the Crossley Preserve. It covers about 251 acres (102 ha) of land. This preserve is built around the old townsite. The area is surrounded by the thick forests of the Pine Barrens.
The preserve is a special place. It has historic sites and cultural spots. It's used to teach people about nature. It's also a place for outdoor fun. Most importantly, it helps protect animals and plants that are in danger.
The Thomas F. Hampton Memorial Trail
You can hike a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) trail here. It's called the Thomas F. Hampton Memorial Trail. This trail follows an old "donkey" railroad. This narrow railway was once used to carry clay. The clay was dug from big open pits. Then, it was loaded onto bigger trains. These trains belonged to the old Pennsylvania Railroad.
Today, the old mine pits have filled with water. They have become peaceful ponds. As you walk the trail, you can see many plants and animals. Look for the Pine Barrens tree frog. You might also spot pitch pine trees, scrub oak, and laurels. There are also Atlantic white cedar trees.
Learning on the Trail
Signs are placed along the trail. They teach visitors about many things. You can learn about how to control fires in the forest. You'll also discover endangered plants. These include the Pickering's morning glory and Knieskern's beaked-rush.
The signs explain the unique nature of the Pine Barrens. They also share information about research on endangered snakes. These include pine snakes and corn snakes. Plus, the signs help you identify old artifacts. You can see features from the ruins of Crossley itself.
