Day 13: I'm pleased to have another roving reporter show us covers from his area. Andrew has been a long time friend and fellow artist. He's taken some great photos to share and has written a narrative to accompany them.
You can find Andrew's stencil designs at Stencil Girl Products HERE. His blog, HERE. His Pinterest boards HERE. And he's on facebook with his business page, UrbanPaperArts, HERE.
Hi! I'm Andrew Borloz and I have been living in Pascack Valley region of Bergen County (northeastern New Jersey)
most of my life. Most of the photos that I took of the manhole covers are usually in either New York City, in Japan,
or in other areas. But I didn't look closely at the local ones until Michelle asked me if I could submit the photos of
manhole covers for her blog.
I looked for the photos that I thought I already took, but I could not find any. So I decided to go out today (October 6),
and take photos of the covers in eight small towns that are part of Pascack Valley. Small enough that I could go
through all of them in about an hour.
After I took the photos from the towns of Emerson, Hillsdale, Park Ridge (where actor James Gandolfini grew up),
River Vale, Montvale, Washington Township, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake, I have grouped them based on common
features.
The first set below shows the town names "bend" around the perimeter. Westwood (center) is the only one I found
with the year in the center. I remember the installation of the sewer pipes in my street back in 1966 – no more septic tanks!
Another set shows some of the covers with wheel spoke design. Some towns used the same design all over within
its own boundaries, but Westwood used at least 3 different ones.
Not all manhole covers are for the sewer pipes. I have found the ones from a telephone company, an electrical access
to the traffic lights (Westwood), and from drainage pipes (Washington Township & Emerson).
And here's my last set – they're sort of uncommon and not easily found. Most of them are found within the older
residential area. I've noticed one oddity – a Paramus manhole cover found in Hillsdale (upper left corner). The large
town of Paramus (a shopping mecca) is four miles south of Hillsdale and I couldn't figure out why that cover is in
Hillsdale.
My favorite one is the hexagon pattern (lower left) – I was surprised to find it right in my town as I have seen so many
of the same one in New York City.
It was fun to see the similarities and differences between these town-specific covers! ~ &rew
THANKS ANDREW!! You had quite a field trip and gave us a lot to see – love how you grouped them.
Check out some of his new stencil designs. I think these Grindstones could pass as mini manhole covers! Find them HERE.
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