Hammonton: A Feast, and Blueberries

Hammonton: A Feast, and Blueberries

Join me as I tell you the story of an old railroad worker who pointed new immigrants away from the tenements of NYC and North Jersey, and toward the sandy soil of South Jersey. In this episode of The New Jersey History Podcast, we uncover the remarkable story of Hammonton, New Jersey, where Sicilian immigrants established the oldest continuously running Italian-American feast in the United States, decades before the famous Feast of San Gennaro, and whose labor propelled the blueberry to its status as the state fruit. Email me: njhistorypodcast@gmail.com [njhistorypodcast@gmail.com]

Bicentennial Summer Episode 2, Part 2: Jersey Shore, 1776- Two Boys, One Errand

Two boys — one English, one Lenape — set out on a merchant's errand through the New Jersey Pine Barrens, carrying a satchel whose contents neither of them understands. Along the way, they stop at Indian Stage, a quiet landing on the Metedeconk River, and at Brotherton, the first Native American reservation in the colonies (and US). Neither boy has any idea how far this errand is about to take them, or what they'll find waiting at the end of the road. A story about the places that connect people — and the history that happens around them, before anyone knows it's happening. Email me: njhistorypodcast@gmail.com

Turtle Gut Inlet: New Jersey's First Revolutionary War Battle? (250th Anniversary)

Before Trenton. Before Princeton. Before Washington's retreat across New Jersey. Before the Declaration of Independence. On June 29, 1776, the American Revolution may have fought its first engagement in New Jersey at Turtle Gut Inlet, a forgotten waterway near present-day Wildwood Crest. In this special 250th anniversary episode of The New Jersey History Podcast, we begin with a fictional vignette inspired by the location before exploring the true story of the American brig Nancy, British warships, John Barry, the desperate effort to save precious gunpowder, and the dramatic explosion that marked one of the earliest Revolutionary War actions connected to New Jersey. Was Turtle Gut Inlet the first Revolutionary War battle in New Jersey? Historians debate the terminology, but its place in New Jersey's Revolutionary story is undeniable. Join me as I uncover one of the Garden State's most overlooked Revolutionary War stories. Also, I am now accepting listener submissions. Email me: njhistorypodcast@gmail.,com [njhistorypodcast@gmail.,com]

Bicentennial Summer Episode 2, Part 1: Jersey Shore, 1976- A New Friendship

The summer of 1976 rolls on as another day at the Jersey Shore begins with a trip to B&B, a family crabbing expedition on the bay, and the unmistakable sights, sounds, and smells of a Shore town during America's Bicentennial. Along the way, the Kid meets someone new, and an ordinary summer day quietly becomes the beginning of an unforgettable friendship. From Ocean Pacific shorts and Sun-In to crab lines, creosote, canasta, and evenings with family, this episode recreates the little moments that defined a generation. Sometimes the biggest stories begin on the most ordinary days. Before we go, I want to put out a call for listener submissions. We've grown to thousands of subscribers across the podcast platforms and nearly 30,000 followers on social media, and I'd love to feature more stories from you. If you have a New Jersey history story, a ghost story, a family story, a local legend, or anything else connected to New Jersey, email it to njhistorypodcast@gmail.com [njhistorypodcast@gmail.com]. If it's a good fit for the podcast, I'll turn it into an episode.

Who Was Hattie? A Juneteenth Special

While researching family history, an unexpected discovery appeared in an 1860 Newark census record: a 75-year-old Black woman named Hattie living in the household of a prosperous New Jersey family. Who was Hattie? A servant? A family friend? A former slave? The historical record offers few answers, but her presence opens a window into a forgotten chapter of New Jersey history. In this special Juneteenth episode, we begin with a fictional vignette inspired by Hattie's life before exploring the realities of slavery in New Jersey, the state's gradual emancipation laws, the little-known "apprentices for life" system, and New Jersey's surprising refusal to initially ratify the 13th Amendment. This episode examines how one name in a census record can reveal a much larger story about slavery, freedom, family history, and the people history nearly forgot. Email me: njhistorypodcast@gmail.com [njhistorypodcast@gmail.com] Topics include: • Juneteenth • Slavery in New Jersey • Newark history • Bergen County history • The 1860 Census • Gradual Emancipation • The 13th Amendment • African American history in New Jersey • Family history and genealogy #NewJerseyHistory #Juneteenth #BlackHistory #Genealogy #NewarkNJ #NJHistory #AmericanHistory #SlaveryInNewJersey