USA > New Jersey > Atlantic County > Atlantic City > The Daily union history of Atlantic City and County, New Jersey : containing sketches of the past and present of Atlantic City and County > Part 7
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Egg harbor itp.
S
OON after the formal opening of the Camden & Atlantic Railroad, in 1854, the attention of parties was attracted to the vast expanse of unsettled lands adjacent to this line.
The said lands consisted mainly of second-growth pine lands, where the timber had been cut off years before for use at Gloucester Furnace and for charcoal for outside markets. In some sections choice forest lands still remained, where in later years considerable timber for lumber and ship- building purposes was cut and marketed previous to 1875 or 1878. Along the Mullica river and the adjacent creeks beautiful and dense cedar forests were standing. From 40 to 50 hands were employed during the years 1860 to 1868 in cutting these cedars for staves, lumber and shingles, which kept three saw mills in full operation. Annually about 150 schooners sailed away from Gloucester Landing, and two or three schooners were always at the dock loading with lum- ber for New York and other ports. During the years 1865 to 1867 the steamer Eureka (Capt. Crowley) plied regularly between this port and New York.
Messrs. J. L. Baier, A. Eble, Clemens and Frederick Kah, E. Bernhard, Wm. Mischlich, D. O. Eckert, and H. Kayser were engaged in this industry.
To open some of these lands for settlement an association was formed under the title of "The Gloucester Farm and Town Association," which organized itself on November 24. 1854. in the City of Philadelphia, and elected the following Board of Directors: President, William Ford; Secretary, Frederick A. Roese; Treasurer, Henry Schmoele: Superintendent. William Schmoele; Hon. Andrew K. Hay, P. M. Wolsieffer, Garrick Mallery, Jr .. J. H. Schomacker, and James H. Stevenson.
They purchased from Stephen Colwell the so-called Gloucester Furnace Tract, comprising about 30,000 acres; 5,000 acres of the Batsto tract, and about 1,000 acres more of so-called exceptions to round out the tract. It was the in- tention then of laying out these lands into twenty-acre farms and two towns, one embracing about four square miles, adjacent to the railroad station. "Cedar Bridge," to be called "Pomona," and one five miles distant. adjacent to Gloucester Lake and Furnace, where a considerable number of buildings were still standing, and were occupied by the first settlers, arriving during the years 1855 and 1856, to be called "Gloucester."
Every purchaser of a farm of 20 acres was considered as a shareholder. There were two series of shares. In the first series the price of each share was $300.
(111)
JAMES NORTH, M.D., D.D.S.
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EGG HARBOR CITY.
and in the second series $450. Each shareholder was entitled to a lot 100x150 feet in size within the city limits; to a house of the value of $400 on his farm, and to a fence around the same, all at the cost of the association.
The price of a city lot 40x150 feet was placed at $78, and subsequently raised to $103.
There was, besides a premium to be paid on each farm ranging from nothing to $350, according to the contiguity to city boundary, railroad, condition of soil and forest growth.
In April, 1856, a commission of five members was appointed by the associa- tion to view the 1439 laid-out farms and appraise the premiums on each. Under date of August 5, 1857. the commission made a report of every farm mentioned on the plan. A few examples of their report are herewith appended:
Farm No. 1 .- H. H. S. L.$ Level location inclined to the northeast. par- tially swamp with maples and partially dry overgrown with small pines and scrub oaks. Premium $350.
Farm 403 .- H. S. Sd. L. Nearly level location on the southeast side, rather moist, plenty oaks and pines; about three-quarters of the farm cultivated land, planted with about thirty fruit trees. Premium $125.
Farm 958 .- H. S. L. G. Beautiful rolling location, hickory, oaks and scrub oaks, with wild grape vines. Premium $200.
Farm 1219 .- H. S. S. Somewhat hilly, inclined towards N. W. and S. E., maple and cedar brooks, with very large pines and oaks standing densely. l're- mium $90.
Farm 1308 .- H, S. L. C. G. In the middle a nice hill, burnt pines and scrub oaks. Premium $200.
The well formulated and advertised plans of the association met with unpre- cedented success among the German population of the Union, who were at the time suffering under the rampant spirit of Nativism, then sweeping over many of the states, and thus inciting many Germans to join this association and ultimately settling upon these lands.
In a short time all the farm shares were signed, which led the managers, under date of March 13, 1856, to change some of their proposed plans, so that the present limits of the city were decided upon, taking up all the intervening space between the proposed towns of Pomona and Gloucester, the whole to be called "Egg Harbor City," fronting one and one-quarter miles along the line of the railroad and extending northeastwardly seven miles to the Little Egg Harbor or Mullica river.
D. Hudson Shedaker was appointed surveyor, to lay out the city and the farms, and he commenced operations in 1856.
The 20 acres were laid out so that twelve farms should form a block, six farms fronting on one avenue and six on another; every seventh street within the
* Abbreviations used as above: IT. Humus; S. sand; Sd. L. sandy loam;
1 .. loam; C. clay; G. gravel. The soil of farm 130s would be first strata Humus, followed by sand, loam. clay and gravel in succession.
1
VALENTINE P. HOFMANN.
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EGG HARBOR CITY.
city limits would extend through the farming district, giving the farmers easy ingress to the proposed city.
The respective Board of Directors were kept busy in providing means for the opening and grading of streets, erection of brick yards, building houses, fenc- ing farms, providing funds for the maintenance of schools, etc .; and also during the first year after the incorporation of the city to provide means for the expenses of the municipality.
In course of time considerable dissatisfaction arose over the manner in which the funds of the association were used and diverted. The brothers, Henry and William Schmoele, were specially accused of using said funds in furtherance of their private schemes, and the officers generally in not carrying out the proposed promises, in needless expenditures, and in not sufficiently aiding the first settlers.
On May 2. 1860, a new Board of Directors were elected, consisting of prom- inent settlers, but they were unable to cope with the spirit of mistrust and the financial panic arising and continuing during their years of rule.
Finally, on November 17. 1867. this association was merged into "The Egg Harbor Homestead and Vineyard Company," leaving the greater part of all the promised improvements unfulfilled, gathering in all the liabilities that could be forced and finally ending in dissolution.
The association commenced to publish, in 1856, a monthly newspaper, called the "Independent Homestead." printed in English and German. It contained all the official reports, proceedings, etc., of the association, and also the news of the settlement, it being the only medium of intercourse during the first years of the settlement, until 1858, the first venture in private publishing was attempted.
"Egg Harbor City" is so laid out that sixteen avenues, ranging from 70 to 200 feet in width, and named after principal cities of the United States and Europe. run from the line of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad, in a northeasterly direc- tion, to the Mullica or Little Egg Harbor River. Running at right angles with these avenues are the cross streets which are from forty-eight feet four inches to sixty feet wide, named in alphabetical order-two to each letter-after celebrated personages in science and letters. The squares bounded by these streets and avenues are each 330 feet wide by 600 feet long, being intersected lengthwise by an alley 30 feet wide, which alley gives every lot owner a double front : first one on a broad avenue, and second one on a so-called alley which, however, is wider than many pretentious streets in large cities. The advantages of this arrange- ment of streets and alleys are numerous and self-evident. Each block is divided into thirty building lots, each 40x150 feet in size, or in certain cases into twelve farm lots, each 100x150 feet. The direction of the avenues being from northeast to southwest, while the streets run from northwest to southeast, makes the cor- ners of all houses fronting on the same point to the four cardinal points of the compass, north, east, south and west; thus every room in a house standing alone is accessible to the sunlight, which is a very valuable sanitary feature.
Two parks, each 600 feet square, called the Singer and Turner Parks, are pro- jected, one at the southeastern and the other at the northwestern corner of the
HARROLD F. ADAMS.
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EGG HARBOR CITY.
city. Another park is situated in the centre of the city, as laid out. It contains nearly 500 acres of land and is traversed by three small streams, the Landing Creek, Indian Cabin and Elihu branches, one of which has been converted into a miniature lake.
Near the park is situated the Gloucester Lake, covering about 120 acres, which is fed by the aforesaid three streams. The water supply is a never failing one, and the power that can be produced is quite extensive. The outlet of this lake, the Landing Creek, is navigable for small craft to within a short distance of the lake.
In 1856 a post office was established here, and Charles Herman appointed as its first postmaster.
On March 16, 1858, it was incorporated as a city by the State Legislature. The city government is composed of the Mayor, City Clerk, City Treasurer, As-
COUNTY FOAD THROUGH EGG HARBOR CITY.
sessor, nine members of Common Council to serve for three years, three members thereof to be elected annually, City Marshal, and minor officers. The first charter election was held June 8. 1858, when 35 votes were polled and the following offi- cers were elected: Mayor, P. M. Wolsieffer: Clerk. Theodore Wisswede: Treas- urer, Daniel Hax; Assessor, William Kusche; Councilmen, Louis Ertell, William Darmstadt, Frederick Sautter, Christian Preiser, John Scherff. Moritz Stutzbach, Jacob Gruen, Ch. F. Schurig and Fr. J. Keller.
In the charter election of 1859, 159 votes were polled. In this year Joseph Czeicke contested the election of P. M. Wolsieffer as Mayor, which after a review by the Supreme Court, was decided in the former's favor.
W. E. SHACKELFORD.
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EGG HARBOR CITY.
The chief offices since the first charter election have been filled by the fol- lowing, many of them serving repeated terms:
Mayor .- Moritz Stutzbach, Frank Bierwirth, Louis Ertell, William Darm- stadt. Daniel Hax. William H. Bolte, George Mueller, Louis Kuehnle, Moritz Rohrberg, Theophylus H. Boysen, M. D., John Schwinghammer, Frederick Schuchardt, William Mischlich and Louis Garnich.
City Clerk .- Julius Merker, Louis Schmitz, Herman Trisch, Christian Prei- ser. Ernst Adelung. August Stephany (13 years), William Gruner, Francis Nor- man and Valentine P. Hofmann.
City Treasurer .- Daniel Hax. Francis Strauss, Louis Boleg, Henry Schmitz, Ernst Adelung, V. P. Hofmann, William H. Bolte, Albert Ballbach, Robert Ohnmeiss and William Suykers.
The present officials of the city are: Mayor, Louis Garnich; City Clerk, V. P. Hofmann; City Treasurer, William Suykers; Assessor, Henry G. Regensburg; Councilmen, August Arnoldt, Frederick Morgenweck, William Mischlich, Sr., Robert Weiler, Henry W. Breder, John Prasch, Henry Goeller, John Natter and George Sorg: Justices of the Peace, William Mueller and Frederick Berchtold; City Marshal, George W. Senft; Constables, William G. Stroetmann and Anthony Sauer; Overseer of the Poor, Anthony Neu; Commissioners of Appeal, William Behns, J. J. Kraemer and John Reichenbach; Harbor Master, James I. Loveland; Pound Keeper, Jacob Kaenzig; City Attorney, Robert E. Stephany; City Con- veyancer, Charles Cast: Fire Marshal, Henry Wimberg.
In 1858, Common Council decided that the seal of the City should be as fol- lows: An oak in the foreground, vessel and rising sun in the background, en- circled by the letters "Egg Harbor City, New Jersey."
In 1859. a census was taken of the population of the City, then consisting of 454 males and 419 females, total 873. In 1875. the population was 1311; 1880, 1232: 1885. 1232; 1800, 1438; 1895. 1557.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
As per provisions of the City Charter, this Board consists of five members, three Trustees, the School Superintendent and Mayor ex-officio. The present members are: Louis Garnich, Mayor; Herman Dietz, Superintendent; Trustees, J. U. Elmer, M. D., George Mueller, Charles Cast.
The Gloucester Farm and Town Association provided the first means towards paying the salaries of teachers, providing rooms and necessary utensils. One of the first teachers engaged was Herman Trisch : subsequently Messrs. O. Buehner, John Schuster and Miss Wheaton were engaged. For a great number of years Excursion Hall (now removed) was used for school purposes, until the growth of the city necessitated the renting of additional school room and increase of teachers. The school rooms being widely apart it was quite an arduous task for the teachers to hourly meander from one place to another. Finally, in 1876, the present com- modious school house was built, but with the increasing number of pupils its rooms were inadequate to seat the same, so that additional rooms were rented,
ISRAEL SCULL ADAMS.
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until 1896, when an annex was built which enables all the pupils to be placed under one roof.
Under the able principalships of George B. Schroeder, Alfred G. Masins, Henry C. Krebs and Henry M. Cressman, the school has been making rapid strides and is one of the best in the county.
At present the schools are conducted by an efficient principal with seven assistants, one of whom teaches German exclusively, which all the residents, whether German or Amer- ican, know how to appreciate, as the gradu- ates of the schools are known to be this doubly armed when they go forth to begin their struggle of life.
During the years 1858 to 1879 a school SCHOOL HOUSE. was kept at Gloucester. .\ commodious school with rooms for a resident teacher was built, but as the population rapidly decreased there the school building was sold and removed in 1881. Mr. Herman Althoff was the first teacher, and was fol- lowed by Dr. L. von Oslovsky, V. P. Hofmann and Miss Bertha Cast.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
This Board consists of five members: four members are elected by Common Council for a term of fifth being the City present Board is or- President. George F. P. Hofmann: Inspec- M. D .. J. U. Elmer, gensburg.
There is an organ- consisting of the La- and Good Will Hook each housed in com-
For the better pro- also to supply the city an ordinance was pass- granting to George chise for a water sup- entered into to supply annual rental of $1,200. enabled to have the May Ist, following.
THEO. H. BOYSEN, M.C.
four years each. the Clerk, ex-officio. The ganized as follows: Breder: Secretary, V. tors, Theo. Il. Boysen, M. D .. Ilenry G. Re-
ized Fire Department, fayette Hose Company and Ladder Company. ' modious headquarters. tection against fire and with wholesome water. ed October 17, 1896. Pfeiffer, Jr., a fran- ply, and a contract was 31 fire hydrants at an The contractor was same completed Con
The water is supplied by two driven wells, one 307 feet deep and the other 401. Five and one-quarter miles of mains were laid: the stand pipe 100 feet high has a
HON. J. C. JACOBS.
EGG HARBOR CITY.
capacity of 68,000 gallons, with a regular pressure of 43 pounds, and can be in- creased when necessary to 100 pounds.
Up to 1886 the city was sparsely lighted. In this year a regular system of lighting the streets by oil lamps was instituted. until this system was superseded by electrical illumination on April 16, 1808. On this date an agreement was entered into with Thomas T. Mather to supply the city with 23 are lights of 2.000 candle power, at $1,096 per annum, for the term of five years.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper published was "Der Pilot," which appeared December 18. 1858, under the auspices of the "Conservativer Maenner Verein," and was edited by Dr. Robert Reimann, but was discontinued March 19. 1859. On March 22. 1860. it reappeared under a different management, and is still pub- lished by Hugo Maas.
"Der Beobachter am Egg Egg Harbor River" appeared also in 1858, published and edited by Louis Bullinger, but was soon discontinued.
In 1863 the "Atlantic Democrat" made its ap- pearance and was published by D. Gifford. It soon passed into the hands of Regensberg Bros., Frank S., Alexander J. and Henry G. Regensberg, the latter finally, September 4, 1889, selling it to John F. Ilall of the Atlantic Times.
The "Atlantic Beacon," starting in October, 1870, was also published for a short time by Milton GEORGE F. BREDER. R. Pierce, to be succeeded the following year by the "Atlantic Journal," published by M. Stutzbach & Co. for many years. In 1884 it was purchased by Peck & Oliver, at Mays Landing, and finally came to Atlantic City, where it expired in 1898. after several changes and vicissitudes.
"Der Zeitgeist" appeared .April 6. 1867, and was published for many years by M. Stutzbach & Co., who some years ago sold it to George F. Breder, by whom the name of the paper was changed to "Deutscher Herold," and is still in ex- istence.
"Der Beobachter" appeared in 1870, and is now published by William Mueller.
"Der Fortschritt" is the latest journalistic enterprise, appearing in 1895, and is published by Robert Weiler.
The "Egg Harbor Gazette" was established in 1891 by George F. Breder. the present publisher of the "German Herold." Two years later he sold to Dr. G. H. Gehring, who published the "Mays Landing Star." thus forming the "Star- Gazette." This property, in 1894. was purchased by Henry G. Regensburg, who, two years later, sold to Ernest Beyer, who moved the office to Atlantic City. In June, 1899, the "Star-Gazette" was consolidated with the "Atlantic Times-Demo-
SAMUEL E. PERRY, ESQ.
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crat," and is still conducted by Mr. Beyer and published by the Daily Union Printing Company.
CHURCHES.
There are five churches, one Catholic and four Protestant.
The St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church was first supplied by Redemptorist Fathers from Philadelphia, in 1858. until Rev. Joseph Thurnes was appointed as the first resident pastor, who was succeeded by Rev. A. Heckinger and Joseph Esser, and is now under the pastoral charge of Rev. Anthony Van Riel. With this congregation for the last four years a parochial school is connected under the supervision of Franciscan Sisters.
The Moravian Congregation, nearly 40 years in existence, was first pastorated by Rev. J. C. Israel: its present pastor is Rev. Wilson A. Cope.
The Lutheran Zion's congregation was founded forty years ago, and is now under the pastoral charge of Rev. Ottamar Lineke.
The St. John's Reformed Church, under the first pastoral charge of Rev. A. von Puechelstein, is now supplied fortnightly by Rev. Martin Qual, of Glass- boro. N. J.
The Baptist Congregation is the latest congregation instituted, and is under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. M. Hoefflin.
SOCIETIES.
On June 28, 1857, the first Singing Society was organized by Prof. P. M. Wolsieffer, the founder of the first Singing Society in the United States, and it was named "Aurora." During its existence it has participated in many Singer Festivals abroad and carried off beautiful trophies; it held also several Singing Festivals in our midst, where many societies from the Eastern, Middle and South- ern States participated. Its present president is Theo. H. Boysen, M. D .; Leader, George Mueller. It is the only society of this nature still existing, where for- merly a "Caecilia" and "Beethoven" Maennerchor competed with them in pro- viding musical entertainments for the population.
The other musical societies are the Germania Cornet Band, Jacob Oberst, leader; Egg Harbor Amateur Orchestra, George Mueller, leader, and Golden Eagle Band, B. Bollmann, leader.
Among the benevolent associations can be named Pomona Lodge, No. 119, I. O. O. F .; Ottawa Tribe, No. 72. I. O. R. M .: Union Lodge, No. 18, A. O. U. W .: Ringgold Council, No. 969. A. L. H .: Antioch Castle, No. 44, K. G. E .: Pride of Egg Harbor Temple, No. 16, L. G. E .; Egg Harbor Mutual Life Association.
The Agricultural Society was organized March 9. 1859. Its object in dis- seminating useful seeds and plants, in keeping a model garden for testing of fruits, vines and plants, proved eminently successful during the first years of the settle- ment. After the County Society had relinquished the holding of annual agricultural fairs, this society took hold of it. It obtained a lease from the city of the present Fair Grounds, where from year to year it erected the necessary buildings and improved the same and also the grounds. It continued to hold the annual fairs
CHARLES E. ULMER, M.D.
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until June 1, 1888, when the members thereof decided to transfer its rights and interests to a stock association, entitled the "Atlantic County Agricultural and Horticultural Association," which has ever since kept the annual fairs, although it has for later years always suffered a deficit.
The German St. Nicholas R. C. Beneficial Society was organized in 1866.
Egg Harbor Buikdling and Loan Association was organized in 1884. The shares are issued in annual series, and the sixteenth series was opened in June, 1809. Five series have already matured; a series generally maturing in 130 months. The receipts for the year ending June 12. 1809. were $32.784.20: assets. $101,- 333.54: liabilities, $05.275.38, on 1638 shares and matured certificates, showing a net gain for the fiscal year of $6.058.16. The present officers are: Henry Kann. President: Theo. H. Boysen, M. D., Secretary; Fred. W. Berg- mann. Treasurer: Directors, John Roesch, Henry Fischer. William Mall. Henry Heitz, Henry Voss, Joseph Engelhardt.
FREDERICK BERCHTOLDT, J.P.
The Egg Harbor Commercial Bank was organized in 1880. with an authorized capital of $50.000, of which $25,000 is paid in. Its first president was Samuel Rothholz. The de- posits, October. 1889, amounted to $22.087.47: in October, 1800, they amounted to $113 .- 419.83. Present surplus fund. $4.630.00. Until three years ago no dividends were declared. but since, it has declared a regular annual divi- dend of six per cent. The present commo- dious bank building was erected in 1896, at
a cost of about $5.000.
The officers and directors are: Robert Ohnmeiss. President: Frederick Schuchardt. Vice-President: Charles A. Baake. Secretary and Solicitor: George Freitag. John Roesch, Charles Cast. John C. Steuber, Ernest A. Schmidt. John Cavileer and Herman Dietz, Cashier.
MANUFACTURES.
The leading manufactory is that of clothing, in about twenty establishments employing nearly 300 hands; the leading establishments are those of Frederick Schuchardt and George Roesch, employing from twenty to thirty hands each.
Jacob Eiselstein's Parchment Paper Factory is one of the leading ones in this State, and he is hardly able to fill his numerous orders.
Winterbottom. Carter & Co., in South Egg Harbor, employ about twenty- five hands in the manufacture of bone handles for knives. etc.
The manufacture of cigars, which twenty-five or thirty years ago was the
JOSEPH FRALINGER.
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EGG HARBOR CITY.
leading industry, has gradually dwindled down to a few manufacturers employing a small number of hands. The leading manufacturers now are Louis Garnich, John Vautrinot, Philip A. Bergmann, John Schindler and Christian Lehneis.
MANUFACTURE OF WINE.
As early as 1858. Mr. John P. Wild, the noted entomologist, from his obser- vations was led to the belief that this section of the country was peculiarly adapted to the growth of grapes and manufacture of wines. His tests were of such a pronounced character that the planting of vineyards was taken up by every farmer and lot owner, and it proving so successful and remunerative, it gradually extended to such a scope as to be the leading place in the Eastern States, and to be the inducement of draw- ing many settlers to this community.
Among those most active in this industry at its start may be mentioned Messrs. August Heil, John H. Ban- nihr, John Butterhof, Chas. Saalman, Herman Kayser. Philip Steigauf. Christian CAPTAIN CHARLES SAALMAN'S HOME AND VINEYARD. Kuebler, William Behns. . \ Stephany, Wm. Stroetmann, Julius Hincke, John Steinlein and others.
Captain Charles Saalman, in 1865, after serving his adopted country four years during the civil war, joined the settlement at Egg Harbor City, and with youthful vigor, commenced to clear and cultivate his acres. With that inborn love of the German for the vineyard and its products, the wine, he planted the grape, first for his own use, because the educated German hates whiskey and brandy and regards them as abominations. It was up-hill work at first. as only the Isabella and Catawba varieties were then grown. They were meagre yielder. of an inferior quality. Mr. Bull, of Massachusetts, had not then originated his Concord grape, an enormous yielder of a fair quality for wine. But it was not till the Norton of Virginia, the Ives and the Clevner grape were discovered that the wine growers could cry out "Eureka," and by judiciously mixing these varie- ties produce a red wine of the Burgundy type equal to the best varieties of sunny France. The soil on gravelly slopes, full of iron, with a favorable climate, helped to bring the grapes to perfection, so that in 1872 about 700 acres were planted in Egg Harbor vineyards where large stone vaults were erected from local quarries for its extensive manufacture and storage.
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