I have posts on the wonderful Garden State of New Jersey in my blog, bit old needed update on links especially me think, I have combine two posts into one as it relates to the same subject and still needed to have it in my blog, After all, as said, this is my life’s history !! A bit long but worth it ,me think, And just as awesome, to find in my vaults pictures of places dear to me in my dear New Jersey !!! Hope you enjoy the posts as I
Now let me turn to my first encounter with the USA at my first American home in New Jersey. Again, written on Perth Amboy quite a bit just recap here, I spent my teenagers years there, (total of 13 years as domicile in NJ) going thru middle school,high school, driving license, and US Citizen as well as my first steps in working life. All many memories to really forget ,never have, a Panther forever!
The State of New Jersey borders on the west by the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware, on the north by New York State, and on the south east by the Atlantic Ocean. It’s capital city is the historic Trenton and its biggest city is metropolitan Newark. Sitting in what we call, the Tri-State area of NJ, NY, and CT (Connecticut) was my area or Central NJ. The name for the State was given in reference to the Isle of Jersey given in honor of Sir George Carteret, a native of the island and on which these land was given in the 17C. New Jersey is divided into three geographical regions, such as North Jersey, under the influence of New York city ; Central Jersey, my area and we can call it neutral. Then, South Jersey in the valley of the Delaware and near the city of Philadelphia as influences. The State is divided into 21 Counties and 566 towns, last count.
A bit of very condense history I like tells us that in 1630, the territory of today New Jersey was populated by the Amerindians Lenape or Delawares. The Dutch settled on the site of present-day city of Jersey City (opposite the tip of the island of Manhattan). These establishments were an integral part of the colony of New Netherland, which also included New Amsterdam, which would become New York after the region was controlled by the British from 1664. King Charles II of England gave part of the region to his brother (the future James II. The province of New jersey was itself divided into two provinces: West Jersey and East jersey between 1674 and 1702. In December 1776, the Continental Army led by George Washington crossed the Delaware River and engaged in the Battle of Trenton. On January 3, 1777, the Battle of Princeton was an American victory over the troops of Lord Charles Cornwallis. During the summer of 1783, the Continental Congress met at Princeton University, which became the country’s capital for four months. It was in this place that the news of the signing of the Treaty of Paris, in 1783 (at Versailles), came to the political leaders. On November 20, 1789, New Jersey was the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights. Finally, slavery was abolished on 15 February 1804.
The official New Jersey tourist office :https://visitnj.org/
The official State of New Jersey on its history :https://www.nj.gov/nj/about/history/short_history.html
Further, I lived in Middlesex County, Central Jersey, across from Staten Island NYC. The capital of the county is New Brunswick, on which, the municipal courthouse I became US Citizen in 1980!. And the city I lived the first 13 years of my life in the USA. Perth Amboy on the mouth of the Raritan river and goes into the Raritan Bay later joining the Arthur Kill (kill=bay ,old Dutch as first settlers of the area), strait separating Staten Island NYC from the coast of New jersey. Perth Amboy is known as the “City by the Bay,” referring to Raritan Bay. Perth Amboy was settled in 1683 by Scottish colonists. It was called “New Perth” after James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth, and the Lenape Native Americans called the point on which the city lies “Ompoge”; the native name was eventually corrupted and the two names were merged. Perth Amboy was formed by Royal charter in 1718, and the New Jersey Legislature reaffirmed its status in 1784, after independence. In 1684, Perth Amboy became the capital of East Jersey and remained the capital until the union of East and West Jersey in 1702, and became an alternate colonial capital with Burlington until 1776.
It features a historic waterfront. The Perth Amboy Ferry Slip was once an important ferry slip in the area, The Raritan Yacht Club, one of the oldest yacht clubs in the United States, is located in the city. Perth Amboy is connected to the Staten Island borough of New York City via the Outerbridge Crossing (and I played football/soccer underneath at Rudyk park!!). A few of the buildings from this early period can still be seen today. Most notably, the Proprietary House, the home of William Franklin, the last Royal Governor of New Jersey and estranged son (and traitor of US independence) of Benjamin Franklin ( a patriot of US independence), still stands in the waterfront area of the city. St. Peter’s Church was founded in 1718 by the first Episcopal congregation in the state. Its current building, dating from 1875, is surrounded by a graveyard of early inhabitants and displays a collection of stained-glass windows with religious scenes as well as early depictions of New Jersey receiving its charter and a meeting between William Franklin and his father, Benjamin. The Perth Amboy City Hall, first built as a courthouse in 1714, survived major fires in 1731 and 1764 and is the oldest city hall in continuous use in the United States (yes since 1789). The Kearny Cottage, moved from its original location, is a remaining example of 18C vernacular architecture. Perth Amboy was the site of a ferry that crossed the Arthur Kill to Tottenville, Staten Island, NYC. Regular service began in 1709. This ferry became less important when the Outerbridge Crossing opened in 1928, but continued to operate until 1963. In 1998, the Perth Amboy Ferry Slip was restored to its 1904 appearance. A replica of the ticket office has been constructed and is used as a small museum. The Victory Bridge carries Route 35 over the Raritan River, connecting Perth Amboy on the north with the borough of Sayreville to the south, and onwards to the Jersey Shore beaches. Now renovated twin bridges, The city has NJ Transit train service at Perth Amboy station. The station provides service to other NJ towns and NYC at Penn Station, Perth Amboy High School (or PAHS)( the Panthers!!!) was built in 1971, to replace an earlier building that opened in 1881. And this older building that opened in 1881 was my Middle School name William C McGinnis before going into the High School!
The official Middlesex County on its history : https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/discover-our-community/county-at-a-glance
The official City of Perth Amboy on its history : https://www.perthamboynj.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=11205008&pageId=12069670
I ,also, will post some pictures here of places in New Jersey that were playground areas and shopping spaces for my parents (RIP) and I, All memorable for sure !
The first one of these is Woodbridge Township, where we ate, shop, and play for many years. The township borders the towns of Carteret, Edison, Perth Amboy (mine) and Sayreville ;also, Clark, Linden and Rahway in Union County. Its border with the borough of Staten Island in New York City in the Arthur Kill. Woodbridge Township has the different postal code for towns that belongs to the metropole such as Avenel , Colonia , Fords , Iselin , Port Reading , Sewaren , Woodbridge (the town proper) Others located partially or completely within the township include Boynton Beach, Demarest Hill Top, Edgars, Fairfield, Hazelton, Hopelawn, Keasbey, Lynn Woodoaks, Menlo Park Terrace, Ostrander, Saint Stephens, Sand Hills, Shore View, Union and Woodbridge Oaks. The wonderful Garden State Parkway extends 7.5 miles ( about 12 km) through Woodbridge Township, including exits 127 to 131. In addition, the fast and furious, New Jersey Turnpike ( part of Interstate 95 or I95) passes through Woodbridge Township for about 5+ miles ( about 8 km), and is accessible at Exit 11 (which features a 24-lane toll gate). The sublime U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 9 serve the township and merge heading north of the township as the U.S. Route 1/9 together into the Jersey shore ! Other roadways passing through the township are Route 27, Route 35, Route 184, and Route 440. The Woodbridge Township is the oldest original township in New Jersey and was granted a royal charter on June 1, 1669, by King Charles II of England. Woodbridge Township was incorporated by the Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the initial 104 townships incorporated in the state under the Township Act. Yes part of old USA! Woodbridge Center is a major two-level shopping mall located at the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 9. This was our home turf when shopping and many memories of going here with my dear late mom Gladys. Memories forever! It is now the third largest of all shopping malls in New Jersey, (when lived they were No 1), and now the 34th largest in the United States. The mall opened in 1971 with Abraham & Straus, Ohrbach’s, and Stern’s. oh yes Abraham & Strauss was later purchase by Burdines and in turn by Macys. It was my favorite shopping store then.The pics are from my last visit from France in 2007!
The official Woodbridge Township on its towns : https://www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us/795/Parks-By-Town
The official Woodbridge Center mall : https://www.woodbridgecenter.com/
I arrive at the world famous Atlantic City! We came here as adults for the casinos, there since they opened !! Atlantic City is located in Atlantic County, on the Atlantic coast at about 50 miles or 80 km from Philadelphia, PA. It is built on the island of Absecon and surrounded by lagoons, on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. City famous for its casinos and marina. Well it has a beach and a nice boardwalk but our interests for it were the casinos... In 1870, a first wooden promenade was built along part of the beach. It is now the longest in the world. The New Jersey voters accepted the opening of casinos in 1976, and Resorts International became the first legal casino in the eastern United States on May 26, 1978. Other casinos were built shortly thereafter along from the promenade and later in the marina area; and I was there when opened! From my time there and are still the Tropicana, Resorts, Harrah’s, and Ceasar as my favorites hangouts when I was a proud member of Telly Savalas (Kojak tv series), casino Players Club International membership card and spent lots of money there lol !!! Glad got out on time !!! Some of the things happening here other than play and fun in the Casinos were: The streets of Atlantic City were used in the original American version of Monopoly. The city is the setting for Bob Rafelson’s 1972 film The King of Marvin Gardens, starring Jack Nicholson and Bruce Dern. The city is the setting for Louis Malle’s film Atlantic City in 1980. The song Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen released in 1982 on the album Nebraska is about the city. The episode of season 5 of The Simpsons The Last Temptation of Homer , released in 1993 contains a part set in Atlantic City. Brian De Palma’s film Snakes Eyes, released in 1998, is set in Atlantic City. At the heart of the Boardwalk Empire series is the prohibition era in Atlantic City. The film American Bluff (2013), based on real events, describes the arrival of casinos in the city. Its night time party time! And of course, many others, The pic from about 1980 is my dear late Dad Elio RIP.
The official City of Atlantic City on its history: https://atlanticcityexperience.org/exhibits/acx.html
The official Atlantic City tourist office on its Casinos: https://www.atlanticcitynj.com/explore/casinos/
There you go folks, a bit of nostalgia of my dear New Jersey!!! The efforts of a new country, language, customs and all fruitfully triumph in glory for my parents and I. More proud of my parents who show me the way, the good way. These places will always remain in my heart and soul no matter the years gone by,and wherever in the hole of the Earth I will be living. Now living in France as French, Memories forever for me now glad told in my blog, my history. Again, hope you enjoy these stories and this post on my dear New Jersey as I,
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 