Delicacies from Old Penns Grove

Like many of the small towns along the Delaware River, Penns Grove once depended upon the river for its bounty. So many towns and villages along the beautiful river shores were the center of activity and prosperity. The first to enjoy this river town were, of course, the Leni-Lenape Indians, and then Swedish settlers. Penns Grove remained a very small settlement until the 1800s, when more and more people found that the river offered the hopes of a brighter future. By the nineteenth century, commercial fishing was a booming industry.

Every year, between March and June, the shad fish migrated to Penns Grove. The fish became so abundant, and the fishing so easy, that as many as seventy boats could be seen in the water at one time. The shad usually weighed in at about four to six pounds and the roe (eggs) were plentiful since the females had come to spawn. Shad dominated the market place until sturgeon began to migrate along Penns Grove’s shores. Sturgeon not only weighed in at a much higher rate but their roe was worth more as caviar. The meat of the fish was sold as “Albany Beef”. Eventually, vacuum packaging was used to ship the caviar to New York. It was recorded in 1914 that $300,000 worth of caviar was shipped out of town. The caviar business proved to be extremely lucrative.

During the time when the river was clean and wholesome, party boats cruised the shore. New homes were built and businesses thrived. The Penns Grove-Wilmington Ferry was established in 1889, and carried passengers as well as produce to Delaware. There was even a diner located on the wharf where passengers could get a meal while waiting for the ferry to arrive.

Sadly, Penns Grove’s fishing industry did not survive the water pollution, the close of the ferry service, and the isolation of the town from other marketplaces. Once a large supplier of caviar for the wealthy, fishing in Penns Grove became a dead industry--a situation similar to what so many other south Jersey towns suffered. However, also like many towns located along the Delaware River, a revival of the waterfronts is taking place. It isn’t fishing and caviar--times have changed, but the human spirit hasn’t.

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Author: Vickie van Antwerp