Birch Grove Park: from bricks to beauty
By Gabriella Bancheri Nestled inside the corner of Fire and Mill roads in Northfield, Birch Grove Park has quite an interesting history, composed of several curious turns of events. Historically used for clay mining in the 19th century, the 271-acre park now sits in...The First ‘Wealthiest Man of Color’ in America developed McKee City, in Hamilton and Egg Harbor Twp.
By Mari D’Albora Dattolo Col. John McKee, known in his day as “the wealthiest man of color in America,” developed McKee City in Hamilton and Egg Harbor townships, not long after his Union Army service in the Civil War. McKee was both a Civil War veteran and visionary...How Dennis Gomes left an indelible mark on Atlantic City
By Chuck Darrow For many in Atlantic City, this is a month that will always be tinged with melancholy as it was in February, 2012 that the city lost a true visionary. When, at age 68, he died unexpectedly during a dialysis treatment on Feb. 23 of that year, Dennis...Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad in South Jersey
By Mari D’Albora Dattolo Outside of Greenwich in Cumberland County, NJ is one of the oldest African American settlements on the eastern seaboard. Springtown came about after the Manumission Act of 1786 when Quakers sold small tracts of land to free Blacks who then...It happened at the 500 Club: The night that Martin and Lewis became a team
By Bruce Klauber The story of how Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis first teamed up has been told and retold with many variations, mostly by Jerry Lewis. What we are certain of is that their debut as a comedy team took place at Atlantic City’s 500 Club, at 6 Missouri Ave.,...
