Archaeological Investigation Underway at Ridgewood Water’s Cedar Hill Avenue Well Field in Wyckoff

Ridgewood Water is planning on building a new PFAS treatment facility at their well field on Cedar Hill Avenue in Wyckoff Township.  As part of project planning and review, the State of New Jersey required an archaeological survey of the proposed footprint of the new facility.  This Stage 1 archaeological survey identified a substantial number of 18th- through 19th-century artifacts such as pottery, glass, pipestems and building materials. Additional (Stage 2) investigations required by the state identified the stone foundation of a house, which more detailed historical research has preliminarily identified at that of Daniel Rutan, a French Huguenot immigrant who settled in what would become Wyckoff Township in the mid-1700s.  A house stood at this site until it was taken down in the early 20^th century for the construction of the well field.  The goal of the latest and final (Stage 3) investigation is to more fully explore the site and archaeologically document what is left before the new facility is reconstructed.  It is hoped that this investigation, which is being conducted by Hunter Research, Inc., will provide important information regarding the occupation of the Daniel Rutan House site (28Be233) by early colonial settlers, 19th-century farmers, and early 20th-century suburbanites.  Please follow this website for ongoing posts about the progress and discoveries of the investigation.”