Wonders in our backyard

SPARTA — Did you know that in the early 1900’s, Sussex County had a high-speed rail line to Pennsylvania? And to build it, a local school was buried under tons of rock while the children cheered? The Sparta Historical Society is proud to announce that the Sussex County Historian, Wayne McCabe, will be the guest speaker at their next meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Railroad buffs, engineers, and Sussex and Warren County residents will enjoy viewing slides and hearing about the construction of the Lackawanna Cutoff, an engineering marvel built between 1909 and 1912. Despite the mountainous terrain, the engineers of the Cutoff were determined to build a straight, level, 28-mile rail line between Stanhope, N.J., and Slateville, Pa. To achieve this, they built 73 bridges, viaducts, and culverts, plus the stupendous Pequest Fill. The largest concrete bridge in the world at that time, the Paulins Kill Viaduct, is an awesome section of the Cutoff. With 7 arches, it is over 1100 feet long with a maximum height of 115 feet. Although reinforced concrete is very common today, 100 years ago no one had dared to employ it to the extent that the Cutoff contractors did. The Cutoff also includes the 1,000-foot long Roseville Tunnel, dug out of rock with only manpower and a few steam shovels. The Society meets in the lower level of the Sparta Ambulance Squad building at 14 Sparta Avenue. Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be served. Admission is free to members; a $2 donation is welcomed from non-members. Call Ed Fritsch, 973-729-0644, for more information.