South Jersey Firsts

Living in South Jersey can give you the impression that we are just part of the Philadelphia metropolis with no identity of our own. We are over consumed sometimes by this metropolis feeling that we sometimes think that we had no beginning without Philadelphia. Just to show how important South Jersey was in history, here are some “firsts” that took place right here.

Where do you think the first Indian reservation was established? It was in Burlington County in 1758. It was called Brotherton which is now Indian Mills. The tribe that was housed there was the Lenni-Lenape. Maybe not a particular proud moment in our history but nonetheless, part of the way things were.

The first public library in the country was constructed in Burlington in 1757

We like to think that “car hops” were invented in the last century but how about a “horse hop” in 1762? The Seven Stars Tavern in Salem County had a “drive-up” window where a man could order dinner and never leave his horse!

Glass making was a big industry for New Jersey and the first successful factory in the country was established in 1717 in Salem County. The factory was started by Casper Wistarburg who taught the Stanger Brothers the trade. The Stangers later opened a factory in Glassboro. Both makes of glass are widely popular today with collectors.

The oldest Episcopal school for girls was built in 1837 in Burlington. You could say that the school was once an “ivy-league” school considering its roster. Two of Ulysses S.Grant`s daughters attended as well a niece of Jefferson Davis!

The salt-water taffy got its start in Atlantic City where it has become a visitor`s delight. It is said that the taffy was first sold in 1880. It got its name from an incident that occurred on the beach. A large wave splashed over a taffy stand and the merchant decided to sell it as is and called it, “salt-water” taffy.

The first telephone service installed in New Jersey was in Camden in 1878.

The largest hotel in the world was built in 1853 in Cape May. It was called the Mount Vernon and was 300 feet across and 500 feet long. It had three stories and could house 2,100 guests, 3,000 for diner. Unfortunately, it burned down in 1855.

What better way to end this tribute to South Jersey`s “firsts” then to give you some old expressions used by the people that made our history: North Jersey towns had blocks but South Jersey residents called them squares, Molasses candy was called bellywax and bellywhistle was a soft drink made of molasses, vinegar, nutmeg and water. (I`ll stick to Dr. Pepper thank you). When you got married you were double-up, Gollykeeper was a cuss word of some sort, a shackling was a shiftless or lazy person. A skyscraper was not a large building set in the clouds but a person who had a high opinion of himself. Down the shore an oysterman would refer to a thief as ten fingers. The next time you see someone who has had a little too much to drink just say he is, o-be-joyful.

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Author: Vickie Van Antwerp