The story about filmmaker Steve Chernoski's Mercer-born quest to divide the state into North and South Jersey brought about lots of strong reaction. Some of it was from people who believe the true dividing line should be east and west.
Retired Army Engineers Capt. John Fallon II said history should be the guide, not flip flops or stilettos, bennie or shooby, Super Bowl parade or no Super Bowl parade. "You see this was settled over 350 years ago. In those days they didn't have road maps and when people considered New Jersey they realized that it is divided East and West. There was an East Jersey with the capital at Carteret and a West Jersey with the capital at Burlington. If you look at a road map you will not find North at the top of the page. North is several degrees to the left . The division between East and West Jersey was a line drawn from just above Brigantine, the border of Atlantic and Ocean Counties. It runs due North. East and North Jersey are identical.West and South Jersey are identical Just hold the map with North at the top and you will see.."
Todd Kimmel of Philadelphia refers to a wikipedia entry about West Jersey and another item on Craigslist that links West Jersey with beer and Ben Franklin.
Others clung to the notion of a Central Jersey and felt the discussion of that in the story was inadequate. (It was mentioned, guys). I did try to include a discussion of the Central Jersey wikipedia angst, but it was cut from the story for space (this is how things work around here), which I guess is not as bad as being cut from any one's notion of how to divide up the state. Keep trying, Mercer!
There were some novel ideas for dividing the state. From one reader in deep South, it's the Mullica River (a little extreme). Others fell back on the Turnpike Exit (in this case, 9) to settle the matter. And another reader suggested the Mason Dixon line should be extended from Pennsylvania.
As for LBI, one reader on Steve's blog suggested that it is the place at the shore most populated by actual people from New Jersey, rather than New York or Philly. I'll have to mull that one over.
Personally, I like the idea of an East Jersey, united by proximity to the Ocean and populated by those of us who do not go Down The Shore but are already At The Beach while everyone else is still stuck At the Pleasanville Tolls or bottlenecked around exit 63.
And note to Steve: I take full credit for the south Jersey shore-Philly shoobie inbreeding aside and the Staten Island snark. They were not your quotes, (and were not in quotes) just my little jokes.
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We heart Central Jersey already!
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The Downashore Team is a group of Philly.com producers. Some of us grew up vacationing at the Jersey Shore, and others came to appreciate it later. Either way, we know our Mack and Manco's from our Prep's Pizza, and we'll do our best to share news, information and musings from up and down the coast. Please do post a comment with your Shore thoughts, or shoot us an e-mail by clicking on the link above. (OK, so we're not really at the beach in this photo, but armed with the power of a good photo editing program, we can dream, right?) We're joined by Inquirer staff writer Amy Rosenberg, who as a year-round Shore resident, knows a thing or two about the scene, and the Shoobies.
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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on June 9, 2008 9:22 AM.
The previous post in this blog was "No Access": A pictorial guide LBI's Private lanes.
The next post in this blog is Cooler at the shore, and tales of the Pacific.
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July 2008
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Comments (8)
It's Downtheshore not Down'a'shore you dumb ass!! That makes me crazy.
Posted by Nate | June 9, 2008 9:49 AM
Posted on June 9, 2008 09:49
I agree and sorry for that. It's Down The Shore. I didn't name the blog. But I guess its kind of how some people pronounce it, is the idea. At least it's not like, Down-da-shaw.
Posted by amy | June 9, 2008 10:05 AM
Posted on June 9, 2008 10:05
I vote for Downashore, it's THE Shore, but you go Downashore.
Posted by RobynS8971 | June 9, 2008 10:43 AM
Posted on June 9, 2008 10:43
Amy,
Thanks for the write up! I am glad the story is generating a lot of feedback.
But, Old East - West Jersey IS actually on our radar. One of our consultants' websites is the vast: www.westjersey.org . . his name is Bob Barnett and a guy that I would highly recommend for historical analysis if you want to explore it further!
Thanks again!
Posted by Steve | June 9, 2008 11:37 AM
Posted on June 9, 2008 11:37
As an LBI'er (Surf City) my whole life (40 something)I've had to explain this issue forever. I agree its not North or South. Philly goes AC and south, NY/NNJ stops at Seaside Heights. LBI has always been its own place. However I do concede that the past 10 years has seen an influx of NY/NNJ that is bothersome. Too much Yankee/Giant stuff, too many high end forgein cars and too much let's see how big we can build it. Its the beach, it's not supposed to look like your house from where ever.
I will offer up the thanks for some better dining and grateful the chains are mostly off the island.
All in all, I don't think LBI can be your answer of the North/South. It's just too different and too much of its own thing. Hard to get to, hard to leave and without ALL of that crazy crowded shore stuff (boardwalks, no parking, no backyard etc)
Let's keep LBI out of it. Maybe more folks won't find it.
Posted by Steve | June 9, 2008 11:49 AM
Posted on June 9, 2008 11:49
It's simple: Long ago, New Jersey had two telephone area codes. South Jersey was 609, and North Jersey was 201. Let's go, Flyers, Phillies, and other Philly teams!
Posted by Melyssa | June 9, 2008 7:17 PM
Posted on June 9, 2008 19:17
This thing about North Jersey, South Jersey is ridiculous! I am 60 years old, born, raised and lived in Passaic County 54 years. Last 6 years living in Burlington County.
First of all:
IT'S SUBS not hereos, never heard that term. Ever hear of the famous "Jersey Mike's Subs"?
NEVER heard term "bennie"
NEVER heard "beer taps"
Peolpe in what you call North Jersey do not talk about North Jersey, South Jersey. It an obession in what you call South Jersey.
NO ONE EVER REFERS TO ASBURY PARK as NORTH JERSEY it is "DOWN THE SHORE"!!! From Sandy Hook all the way down to Cape May it's "DOWN THE SHORE"; NEVER, NEVER South Jersey.
Are you so ignorant that you do not know about Central Jersey? There are printed guide books titled "Central New Jersey". It's ALWAYS been Central Jersey for Union, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Warren, Hunterdon Counties!!!!
Posted by Michael D Stefan | June 11, 2008 1:40 PM
Posted on June 11, 2008 13:40
Nate is correct it's DOWN THE SHORE!!! NO SUCH THING AS "Down a Shore" moron. You are printing such falsehoods.
Posted by Michael D Stefan | June 11, 2008 1:44 PM
Posted on June 11, 2008 13:44