Sterling Hill Mining Museum
In the early 1800s mineralogists noticed that ore deposits at Sterling Hill in northwestern New Jersey had a different composition from the iron otherwise mined in the region. These deposits turned out to be a unique form of zinc that ended up being called franklinite (franklinite is now the state mineral of New Jersey). Various small-scale mining operations extracted this mineral from Sterling Hill with varying success until 1897 when the New Jersey Zinc Company consolidated everything into one mining operation that continued successively until 1986, at which point the played-out mine was converted into the Sterling Hill Mining Museum.
We tour this dark, wet, fascinating place where the temperature stays a steady 56 degrees, learning about pre-electricity miners who had nothing but candles to illuminate the depths and were paid the modern equivalent of $20 per hour. The mine itself goes as deep as two Empire State buildings stacked on top of one another, though this tour is confined to one floor, which is plenty.
We highly recommend the experience, lasting from one to two hours, depending on how long you spend in the adjoining museum. Tours take place only on weekends except for July and August, during which they are conducted daily.
Mohawk Lake (and Alpine Creamery)
Needing to shake the darkness, we drive south to Mohawk Lake as a midpoint to our dinner destination and walk along its short boardwalk. Mohawk Lake is a weird place, entirely manmade from a natural grassy bowl that was flooded to create this semi-resort. Maybe it’s the high unseasonable winds that day, or the out-of-place Bavarian architecture, but unhappy spirits seem to rise from these waters. We can’t put our finger on it, but there’s a good homemade ice cream place called Alpine Creamery down the street that is worth a visit if you’re in the area.
Boeh’s Cabinet Shop
We arrive in Chester well before dinnertime and walk down Main Street to maybe do some shopping, stumbling on a workshop and adjoining store with the enticing name of Boeh’s Cabinet Shop: The Warmth of Wood that sells raw wood products made exclusively by them. We’re tempted by many items in this store and buy a tic-tac-toe set before leaving.
PH Tavern & Steakhouse
PH Tavern & Steakhouse operates inside the historic Publick House Hotel in Chester. Once a stagecoach stop, the Federal-style building dates from the early 19th century (around the same time as the discovery of franklinite), and PH Tavern & Steakhouse occupies the ground floor with a full bar and plenty of dining space. The menu is varied, there’s plenty of exposed brick and what appears to be a working fireplace, and we enjoy crabcakes along with a New York Strip steak.
