Status: Historical/Abandoned

Behind Long Pond Ironworks on the West Milford-Ringwood border an abandoned ironworking community that somewhat resembles Demon’s Alley (New City) can be found. At the forefront of this community are restored homes that might have been built between 1766 and 1882, complete with shades painted on the boarded up windows. Having been curious for some time, we took a walk behind the houses and discovered a handful of other abandoned homes and stone ruins of abandoned homes that were unkept and falling to shambles.

The first abandoned home we investigated was in poor condition and what appeared to be the former owners’ belongings were strewn about the inside of the house and property surrounding the house. From this, it can be assumed that whoever lived here at one time just picked up and left without even their most personal belongings. Strangely, the first thing we saw when we walked up to the front of the house was a headless toy dog which was probably meant to be a warning from the past violators of this home to others to go away. While walking around the house, we also discovered a rusty tricycle, many toys and clothes, old rusty appliances, a motorcycle, and what looked like a 50s model car rusting in the brush. It’s possible that this like many other abandoned sites has become dumping grounds for people’s old junk that they can’t get rid of, but most of what was there looked like it was probably owned by whoever lived in the house once.

When we entered the house the first thing we saw was a huge gaping hole in the floor, a warning not to proceed much further. We crept across the soft, rotting floors of the rooms on the first floor and found couches, chairs, more clothing, more appliances, and other forgotten belongings. Of course, the obligatory Satanic graffiti was also present on the walls. The stairs leading to the second floor were sloped and rotten, so none of us were brave enough to attempt the climb.

The second abandoned home we came across was in just as poor condition, but it was lacking the junk strewn about the inside and outside like the previous house. It was completely empty. Past this abandoned home were the ruins of other abandoned structures–furnaces, ice houses, and other unidentifiable things.

It’s possible that these homes were once used for the same or similar purpose as the houses on New City Road–built for the purpose of housing workers. It’s obvious that these abandoned structures are part of the Long Pond Ironworks state park, but it’s hard to understand why these unstable abandoned houses are left uncared for and wide open for anyone to go into. New City is so patrolled and signs foribidding you to trespass there appear everywhere, but no signs were found here.