Entry No. 50 — the Philadelphia file — filed under: ruins
Ruins of Lincoln Blacksmith Shop
Dating back to the early 1700s, this sandstone ruin was once a blacksmith shop and iron forge operated by Abraham and Mordecai Lincoln, ancestors of President Abraham Lincoln. The one-story stone structure is a rare surviving example of 18th-century stone vernacular architecture in Monmouth County. Today, its roofless, weathered stone walls still stand near the roadside, offering a quiet glimpse into the area's colonial industrial past.
The story
Long before Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, his direct ancestors were hammering hot iron along a dirt track in central New Jersey. In the early 1700s, Abraham and Mordecai Lincoln—ancestors of the 16th president—operated a blacksmith shop and iron forge on this patch of Monmouth County farmland.
What remains today is a roofless, weathered sandstone shell sitting right near the edge of Burlington Path Road and Harvey Road. It stands as a rare surviving example of 18th-century stone vernacular architecture in the county, left to weather quietly in full view of passing traffic without the usual gift shops, velvet ropes, or historical reenactors.
What it's like
Do not expect a visitor center or a guided tour. You pull onto the shoulder along the Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Byway, step out, and look at the structure right from the road. The ruins sit on private property, so climbing inside is off-limits, but the stone walls sit immediately adjacent to the public right-of-way at the intersection. Spend five minutes inspecting the 300-year-old sandstone masonry, take your photos, and pair the quick roadside stop with a drive through the surrounding farm corridors or a craft beer down the road.
The move: Go for a scenic bicycle ride or drive along the Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Byway to view and photograph the historic stone walls from the roadside, then stop by the nearby Screamin' Hill Brewery for a local craft beer.
📍 Before you go The ruins sit on private property but are easily visible and photographable from the public roadside at the intersection of Burlington Path Road and Harvey Road.
- 📍 Cream Ridge
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 136 Burlington Path Rd, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Grounds For Sculpture — Trade 18th-century colonial masonry for 42 acres of surrealist, walk-in 3D artwork just 11 miles west.
- Friendship Historic Ruins — Double down on New Jersey's abandoned stonework by heading south into Wharton State Forest to locate the remains of a 1860s cranberry town.
- Burnt Mills Grist Mill Ruins — Continue the regional industrial ruin tour north with the stone gristmill foundations hidden inside the Burnt Mills Floodplain Preserve.
Good to know
Can you walk inside the ruins?
No. The ruins sit on private land. You can easily view and photograph the full structure from the public roadside at the intersection, but stepping past the line onto private property is trespassing.
What is the historical connection to President Abraham Lincoln?
The forge was built and run in the early 1700s by Abraham and Mordecai Lincoln, direct ancestors of President Abraham Lincoln, long before the family migrated west.
Where are the ruins located?
They sit directly at the roadside near 136 Burlington Path Road, right at the corner of Burlington Path Road and Harvey Road in Cream Ridge, NJ.
Are there opening hours or admission fees?
No fees and no formal hours. Because you view the structure from the public road shoulder along the byway, you can stop by anytime during daylight hours.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: exploringbybicycle.com · co.monmouth.nj.us · storymaps.arcgis.com
last checked: 2026-07-20