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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
TUCKERTON, 76.8 miles (28 alt., 1,429 pop.), on Tuckerton River, is a
shopping center for the Little Egg Harbor district. The highway follows
the main street, which has a good quota of stores and one hotel. The town
was founded about 1699 and by 1702 Friends had constructed a meeting
house that was replaced in 1872 by the plain frame MEETING HOUSE in a
grove (R), lying directly behind the business center.
In Colonial days Tuckerton was a notable port of entry; flax and molasses formed a large part of the trade. Silkworms were cultivated here
and the town is still studded with mulberry trees. British raiders in 1778
burned 30 prize ships here taken by the Americans (see Chestnut Neck
below).
US 9 crosses Tuckerton River on a bridge and embankment. A BOATYARD, reminder of Tuckerton's shipping history, is L.
At 77 miles is the junction with a graded dirt road.
Left on this road to the ELLEN LEEDS BARTLETT HOUSE (L), 0.1 mile (private).
Two low-ceilinged rooms of this simple frame structure were built in 1699; they
contain some fine Colonial furniture.
THE HUMMOCK, 2.3 miles, is one of the largest shell piles left by the Indians along
the Atlantic Coast. It lies in the marshland (R) about 100 yards from the road, and
can be identified by several dead or dying cedars rooted in it. The long pile, overgrown with grass and rising some 8 or 10 feet above the flats, was built up
over a long period by Indians who came here to get oysters and clams.
At 77.2 miles on US 9 is the junction with a graveled road.
Left on this road to TUCKERTON RADIO STATION, 3.3 miles (not open), transmitting
station of Radio Corporation of America for marine messages. From a 600-foot
tower umbrella antennae stretch to 10 encircling 300-foot towers, all visible for
many miles along the coast. Transatlantic and coastwise marine messages are handled
here. Built prior to the World War by German engineers, the station was taken
over by the Federal Government before passing into private ownership.
At 83 miles on US 9 is the junction with a graveled road.
Right on this road into BASS RIVER STATE FOREST, 2.3 miles, a 10,000-acre tract
with excellent deer and duck hunting in season. In Bass River Forest is the remnant
of a beaver colony that sought shelter in an abandoned cranberry bog where they
found a broken dam once used to flood the bog. They replaced its ruined gate and
made a lake of 7 acres.
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