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R O U T E   2 3   M Y S T E R Y   P O L E S

Mystery is underrated, and understanding is overrated --Larry McMurtry

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Mystery Poles, West Milford, New Jersey

explored & photographed by: Shady

[Clinton Road]   [Demon's Alley]   [Stone Living Room]   [Route 23 Pole Art]

 

The 'mystery poles' of Route 23 are a well known NJ legend; the very first one (an orange plastic pumpkin) inexplicably showed up high atop a pole alongside the southbound lane around 1994 (near Smoke Rise, Kinnelon), and they've been sporadically showing up ever since...

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Nobody knows who is responsible for these bizarre roadside decorations, how they get them up there, or when a new crop of them will suddenly appear. These particular examples are from one of the groups that turned up on Route 23 in West Milford. We found all kinds of things atop the poles- a kitty cat, a witch, a metal whale, a child's wagon toy, a stuffed Big Bird, my particular favorite- a sitting alien and more...

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Some of the poles are easily 50-60 feet high, if not higher- it would definitely be difficult to get anything up there. And yet no one has ever been seen in the act of affixing one of these pole decorations. So how do they do it? When do they do it?? It seems nobody knows, or if anyone does... they're not telling.

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Route 23 Pole Art, West Milford, New Jersey

Although attaching anything to these telephone poles is technically illegal, the police don't seem to be in any kind of rush to arrest anyone or anything; in fact some of the local residents love the mystery poles and are proud to have them in their town (even though there are also those that consider them an eyesore, the majority seem to find them mostly harmless and amusing) Whatever the case, somebody is taking a big risk to make sure their unusual brand of 'art' is seen.

And I personally hope that whoever is responsible for the Route 23 Pole Art keeps the weird tradition going... it's one of those unexpected kinds of things that really make life interesting. Viva La Pole Art!! *woot!*

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Do you have any background information or stories to tell about this bizarre 'artwork'?

 

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