HISTORY OF THE
RAMAPO MOUNTAINS
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Ramapo
State Forest
CANNONBALL ROAD(trail)
Troops and supply trains moved internittently
over Valley Road (Ramapo Valley Road ) and Cannonball Road, which extended
along the ridge of the Romapos from Pomptom (Lakes) to Suffern. Traces
of the road, also called the Corduroy Road because of log coverings over
its swampy sections.
The Valley Road was in danger of raids by the
British during most of the war so the Mountain highway became an important
line of communications with West Point. Iron supplied from Ryerson's Foundry
in Pompton were taken over it to Suffern when American troups were stationed
there in 1780, and links of the great iron chain, forged in Ringwood to
keep the British fleet away from West Point, are said to have traveled
this route.
In 1777 General Nethaniel Heard of the New Jersey
Militia was quartered at the Pompton to guard the entrance of strategic
Cannonball Road from capture. (1)
(1) Ryerson Vervaet, The Valley
of Homes: (1952)., p.30-31
View of bridge on
Cannonball Bridge on Cannonball Trail
(road)
Trail (road)
at Ramapo Lake
as it crossed Rt 287
Cannonball and other Trails
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