2017-04-15 - Freewalkers 2017 Between Walk - New Brunswick, NJ to Iselin, NJ
I had never done the 12-mile Freewalkers Between Walk before. This walk bridges the gap between the 40-mile Delaware and Raritan Canal Walk and the 50-mile Big Walk led by the Freewalkers every year. Combined, the three walks form a 100-mile walk across the New Jersey Greenway. This was the perfect year to do the Between Walk as it included a tour of Edison's Menlo Park for the first time ever. After signing in at the New Brunswick train station, we started off toward Ruthie's Restaurant, less than a mile away, where a friend of one of the walkers kindly set out bagels for us.
From there we continued on to the Piscatawaytown Burial Grounds, where one walker -- Paul -- showed a few of us a grave dating back to 1693 of two boys who were poisoned by mushrooms. Other interesting sights along the way included a massive structure with high ceilings under construction, the Raritan Hotel, and people enjoying a game of cricket outdoors.
The Middlesex Greenway, next on our agenda, was a nice paved section of the walk bordered by trees. We walked by an Indian religious structure, a veterans memorial, and a restored sculpture depicting light over darkness. We also passed through several beautiful parks. At one park, I stopped for a pretzel and lost the group. With no more than sporadic glimpses of the group's tail end, I half followed and half used Google Maps on my phone to find my way through the sidewalk-less streets and back to the group.
Just before catching up to two walkers who were heading to the train station, I turned towards the Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum and found the rest of the group. At the museum, under the incredibly informative guidance of our tour guide Russ, we learned a huge deal about Edison's life and achievements. Edison set up his home and lab here in 1876 and invented devices such as the phonograph and a viable incandescent light bulb filament. It was here at Christie Street that electric lights were first used as a primary source of indoor illumination. During Edison's time here, the number of U.S. patents issued skyrocketed, and Edison's laboratory was of course a major contributor to the increase.
The little museum provided a rich experience with descriptions; photos; historic phonographs, telegraph machines, and light bulbs; a model of Edison's laboratory; and a bust of the man himself. We even entered the tower to see the decorative bulb-like glass enclosure inside, which is lit by unseen light bulbs underneath. Edison left Menlo Park in 1887 and moved to West Orange. In 1954, Raritan Township was renamed to Edison Township to honor him. We all had an enlightening time and were left yearning to visit his home and lab in West Orange in the near future.
The little museum provided a rich experience with descriptions; photos; historic phonographs, telegraph machines, and light bulbs; a model of Edison's laboratory; and a bust of the man himself. We even entered the tower to see the decorative bulb-like glass enclosure inside, which is lit by unseen light bulbs underneath. Edison left Menlo Park in 1887 and moved to West Orange. In 1954, Raritan Township was renamed to Edison Township to honor him. We all had an enlightening time and were left yearning to visit his home and lab in West Orange in the near future.
