Holland Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holland Brook |
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Holland Brook in Readington Township
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| Other name(s) | Holland's Brook, Amanmechunk |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| Region | Raritan Valley |
| City | Readington, Branchburg |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Cushetunk Mountain Readington, Raritan Valley, New Jersey, United States 372 ft (113 m) 40°35′19.2″N 74°49′3.64″W / 40.588667°N 74.8176778°W |
| River mouth | South Branch Raritan River Branchburg, Raritan Valley, New Jersey, United States 64 ft (20 m) 40°32′56.17″N 74°41′39.54″W / 40.5489361°N 74.6943167°W |
| Length | 7 mi (11 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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Holland Brook is a small river, also called a tributary, in New Jersey, United States. It flows into the South Branch Raritan River. You can find it in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties.
The brook travels through two towns: Readington and Branchburg. It is the very last tributary that joins the South Branch Raritan River before it meets the North Branch Raritan River.
Holland Brook is more than seven miles (about 11 kilometers) long. It starts near Cushetunk Mountain. This mountain is made of igneous rock, which is rock formed from cooled lava. The brook then flows until it meets the South Branch Raritan River in Branchburg. Along most of its path, the brook is about ten to twenty feet (3 to 6 meters) wide. It drops over three hundred feet (91 meters) in height from where it starts to where it ends.
The brook got its name, Holland's Brook, from Thomas Holland. He was an early landowner in the area, even though he never lived there. The native Lenape people had their own name for the brook: Amanmechunk. In their Unami dialect, this word meant "large creek."
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Exploring the Holland Brook Greenway
The Holland Brook Greenway is a planned trail project. It aims to create a five-mile (8-kilometer) path along the brook in Readington and Branchburg. If completed, this trail could connect to other future trails. For example, it might link to a trail along the North Branch Raritan River. It could also connect to the Middle School in Readington and the Lachenmayr Trail.
Branchburg's part of the Greenway would be part of a bigger plan. This plan includes a 16-mile (26-kilometer) trail that crosses the whole township. The Holland Brook Greenway could eventually give people access to the Raritan River Greenway and even the East Coast Greenway.
Building the Trail
To make the trail happen, Branchburg would need to get access to four more properties. This would allow public access from the Readington border to a park along the North Branch Raritan River. A trail along this path would need to cross a few roads. These include South Branch Road, Evergreen Drive, and Old York Road.
A safe crossing over US-202 would also need to be built for bikes and walkers. Simpler crossings with crosswalks might work for South Branch Road and Evergreen Drive. The trail could even go under the bridge at Old York Road. However, parts of the trail in Readington still have gaps. No official sections of the Greenway have been built yet in either town.
Smaller Streams Joining Holland Brook
Holland Brook has many smaller streams, called tributaries, that flow into it. The NJDEP lists ten unnamed tributaries in Branchburg and Readington. These streams are mostly fresh water and are not suitable for trout.
Two of the named tributaries are:
Where Holland Brook Crosses Roads
Holland Brook flows under many roads as it makes its way to the Raritan River.
In Readington
- Dreahook Road
- Voorhees Road
- Dogwood Drive
- CR 523/Flemington-Whitehouse Road
- Holland Brook Road (it crosses twice)
- Roosevelt Road
- Pine Bank Road (it crosses twice)
- Hillcrest Road in Readington Village
In Branchburg
- Old York Road
- US 202
- West County Drive
Holland Brook Schools Through Time
The name "Holland Brook School" has been used for two different schools over the years.
The First Holland Brook School
The first Holland Brook School was in Readington Village during the 1800s. In 1791, a law was passed to help create learning societies. On August 4, 1804, a group of people officially started the Holland Brook School.
One of the teachers at this school was Colonel John Mehelm. His house, which burned down in the 1960s, has a historical marker in front of it today. The school later changed its name to Readington School and closed in 1897.
The Current Holland Brook School
The second and current Holland Brook School is a primary school. It teaches students in fourth and fifth grades. This school was built right next to the Readington Middle School.
