The section runs along Dover-Chester Road, County Route 513, and down toward the Black River, with the Black River Wildlife Management Area close by. Homes that back onto those woods inherit the edge of a forest: tall trees that grew up competing with each other, thin on one side and heavy on the side facing the open yard. When neighboring trees are cleared for a house, a pool or a driveway, the edge trees lose the shelter they grew up with and take more wind than they are built for.
The river valley brings wet ground. Low lots near the Black River and Bryant's Pond hold water after storms, which weakens root grip and leaves lawns soft for days. A contractor will look at whether a bucket truck can drive in without rutting the yard, or whether the job calls for ground mats, a tracked lift or a climber. Farther up the slope the problem reverses, with stony soil and ledge that keep roots shallow and slow down stump grinding.
Ironia's trees also carry its history. After the industrial plan collapsed in the 1873 downturn, Dorastus Bryant farmed much of the land and planted apple and peach orchards, and old fruit trees and hedgerows still turn up on some properties. The former Chester Railroad bed along the Black River is now part of the Patriots' Path trail system. If your lot borders the trail or preserved land, have the contractor confirm the property line before any tree on the edge comes down.
Worth knowing in Ironia
Developers planned Ironia as an industrial town in 1871, but the 1873 economic downturn ended the plan.
njskylands.comThe Chester Railroad ran along the Black River through Ironia from 1869 until it was abandoned in 1933; its bed is now part of Patriots' Path.
njskylands.comThe Black River Wildlife Management Area lies near Ironia, and Dorastus Bryant once planted apple and peach orchards on much of the land.
njskylands.com
Questions from Ironia homeowners
My back lot borders state land. Can a crew cut a tree leaning from that side?
A crew can usually prune the parts of a tree that extend over your property, but the land beyond your line is not yours to clear. Ask the contractor to confirm the boundary and contact the landowner before any boundary tree is removed.
Will stump grinding be harder on an Ironia lot?
It can be on the upper slopes, where stones and ledge sit close to the surface and slow the grinder. Low, wet lots near the river bring a different issue, since the machine may need mats to keep from sinking. The contractor prices it after seeing the stump.