Hidden Oasis

The Hamilton-Trenton Marsh is a world of nature and history located in your own backyard.

By: Jim Boyle

A great egret, right, is just one of the thousands of species of wildlife that call the Hamilton-Trenton Marsh home. "A

Photos: Mary Leck
"Canoeing


Canoeing, above, is one of the many recreational activities available at the Marsh.


   It’s a typical February afternoon. Everything is snow white, the ground, trees, even the sky seems to be shrouded, the ivory dome threatening to crack at any moment. Taking the first steps into the Hamilton-Trenton Marsh, one marvels at the sheer beauty of it all.
   There is also a pang of anticipation of what lies beneath, what the marsh must look like when the flowers have bloomed and the grass has grown. To the fresh and untrained eye, it would seem foolhardy to lead a walk through the lush wilderness in this cold season.
   That’s exactly what the Friends for the Marsh intend to do Feb. 22 at noon. The guided tour, starting from John A. Roebling Park in Hamilton, will cover some of the more than 1,250-acre wetland, not in spite of the weather but because of it.
   "The winter walk is the most dramatic," says Carolyn Foote Edelmann, passionate supporter and publicist for the Friends. "You can see so much. Some have actually seen beaver’s breath against the cold air. In winter, with all the leaves off the trees, you can get a better view of what birds are there. You can see some very rare ducks. One time, I saw a cardinal swoop down close to the ground. It was startling to see the red bird against the blue sky and white ground."
   The recently formed Friends is comprised of a small band of environmentalists who enjoy hiking and kayaking along the Marsh. They collectively decided to organize a meeting where they could discuss its future.
   "We just decided something official needs to be done," says Ms. Edelmann, who also is a member of the Cool Women Poets. "A true organization needed to be formed so that the Marsh is better protected for future generations. We hope to have the government designate it as a wildlife refuge or a New Jersey state park. In order to prove to the politicians we’re serious, we had to have a devoted group of people."
   After a well-attended initial meeting in November, the group met again on Jan. 13 to officially form the Friends for the Marsh. The next meeting will take place Feb. 24 at Bow Hill Mansion in Hamilton. The group is placed under the umbrella of the Delaware & Raritan Greenway.
   "The biggest plus of the Delaware & Raritan Greenway is that we will have access to their insurance for events such as kayak trips," says Ms. Edelmann.
   The most serious threats to the Marsh right now is encroachment. Friends members are concerned about what the close highways are doing to the ecology.
   "We know that the water quality is in danger," says Ms. Edelmann. "That will affect the rare plant population, which in turn causes special birds to cease coming."
   Through their efforts, the Friends hope to not only preserve this environmental oasis, but make sure people are aware of its importance.

"Friends

Photo: Mary Leck
At left, Friends for the Marsh members Warren Libensperer and Clyde Quin put signs up along Crosswicks Creek for the canoe and kayak trail.

   Hundreds of species of plants, fish and animals, many rare and endangered, such as the short-nose sturgeon, populate the Marsh. It also serves an important practical function for surrounding residents.
   "It holds a great deal of water in a natural way," says Ms. Edelmann. "It can absorb downpours and act as a natural reservoir. It helps prevent floods and droughts. Part of the marsh is freshwater, with two extensive tide changes a day. This causes it to fully cleanse itself of any impurities."
   The Marsh has historic significance, as well. Charles Bonaparte and Joseph Bonaparte, nephew and brother, respectively, of Napoleon, spent some time in the early 1800s living at Pointe Breeze, near Bordentown. Charles even discovered a new species of bird, the Coopers Hawk. Several historic sites rest along the Marsh, including the Watson House, Mercer County’s oldest house, and the Isaac Pearson House. During the Revolutionary War, the Americans sank boats in Crosswicks Creek to prevent the British from seizing them. Sometimes, at low tide, they can be seen laying on the river floor.
   The Marsh’s history dates back almost 10,000 years. It was a meeting ground for Lenni Lenape Indians, who gathered there in the spring and winter.
   "They were nomadic, so most of them were passing by on their way to the shores to gather food," says Ms. Edelmann. "Ceremonies were conducted, marriages were contracted, and they got reports on who died."
   With everything the Marsh has to offer, the most amazing thing about it might be that most people don’t know about it. Many drive right by it on interstates 295 and 195 and never give it a second glance.
   "People don’t know what’s in their backyards," says Ms. Edelmann. "I’ll talk to people about the towpath, and they’ll say, ‘What towpath?’ Nobody expects something like that to be right here. They think they have to go to Disneyworld for excitement. There is so much more in the Marsh."
The Friends for the Marsh will lead a guided walk through the Hamilton-Trenton Marsh Feb. 22 at noon. The tour begins at John A. Roebling Park, Schiller Ave., Hamilton. The Friend’s next meeting will take place at Bow Hill Mansion, Jeremiah Avenue off Lalor Street, Hamilton, Feb. 24, 7 p.m. On the Web: www.marsh-friends.org