Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian statesman, once said that politics is the art of the possible. In a letter to President John F. Kennedy, written while he was serving as U.S. Ambassador to India in 1969, economist John Kenneth Galbraith remarked that "politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable." If those are the choices, then former Wall Street titan and now New Jersey Governor John Corzine, who has a $32 billion budget shortfall staring him in the face, has been leaning heavily toward the calamitous side of the equation. First there was his plan for raising tolls on the state's most important highways, in some cases by as much as fifty percent over ten years. That New Year's present to the population arrived like a skunk at an outdoor wedding reception, according to pollsters such as Clay Richards of Quinnipiac, who likened voter opposition to a "brick wall."

Now he's done the Vulcan Mind Meld with state DEP head Lisa P. Jackson and come up with another sure-fire public relations win. "Budget Cuts Would Close 9 State Parks" was the headline in the Courier Post on April 1, the date being perhaps part of a subtle communications strategy. The Associated Press reported the same day on "Painful Cuts" that would target Monmouth Battlefield, and other parks. Details of the plan were sketchy, with each interpreter free to arrive at a different conclusion: the parks would all close; some would close and others would not; even the ones that would close would remain open to visitors; etc. On April 3 conservative Paul Mulshine of the Star Ledger weighed in with a blast at Democrat Corzine for grandstanding on parks to the tune of $4 million in savings while his party-mates in the Legislature refuse to touch treasured programs (like the $156 million "distressed cities" fund).

The Pine Barrens of Ocean County have so much rich history and so many people who hold this history in their minds and hearts. In an attempt to capture a bit of it, it is my hope that this page will become a documentary of sorts to save the memories of the fascinating people who have spent their lives in the pine barrens and surrounding shores of Ocean County.

My first interview was with Clifford Oakley of Stafford Township, NJ. Cliff is currently a Recreation Aide at Wells Mills County Park in Waretown, a job he took after his retirement from NJ Bell, mostly because of his untiring love of the area. His knowledge of the former Estlow property and the hunting lodge, which is in the Wells Mills tract, is immense, and his memories of the region are sparked with color and light. I have known Cliff about 15 years; our first meeting was at “the cabin” where he introduced my daughter to the “mongoose”, a small yet allegedly wild and very carniviorous mammal supposedly captured and held by Cliff in a small nesting box. She was seven at the time, and when he sprang the “trap” and a small furry toy flew out at her, it scared the “bejesus” out of her, much to Cliff’s - and later, her own - delight! He is a charmingly endearing man, with rosy-pink cheeks and a childlike look, yet with a devilish look in his eye - for good reason, as you’ll read in his interview! He is usually “in trouble” for one thing or another, usually for speaking his mind on the right things at the wrong time! His heart is golden through and through, though, and his stories are a rainbow of memories. He has reluctantly admitted to being an “old-timer” at the age of 70, so agreed to talk to me (he’s a ham at heart, so I knew he wouldn’t really mind!)

Piney: When was the Conrad Cabin built? (ed. note: This cabin is on the Wells Mills Tract.)