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BY ERIC MODEL
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
JOURNEYS INTO NEW JERSEY
We always thought New Jersey's identity crisis was a modern day thing.
Back in college a few decades ago, a friend from Wenonah near Philadelphia told me of the cultural divide he recalled growing up with — which divided the state by the then two area codes — to 201 up north was considered "New Yorksey" and 609 to the south was called "New Pennsey".
Back then many, myself included, were apt to blame those big insensitive media giants across the rivers in New York and Philadelphia who knew or cared little about the Garden State.
In fact, New Jersey had an identity crisis long before there was radio, or TV — let alone the internet.
Even before European settlement, there were two groups of natives who called what was to become New Jersey home. Munsee in the North and Unami were different groups of Lenape. They spoke different dialects and some say might have had trouble communicating with each other.
After the British showed up, for the first four decades of its being, the colony of New Jersey was divided into two halves — East Jersey and West Jersey. East Jersey was owned by a group of wealthy Quakers known as the Twenty-Four Proprietors. They preferred to rent land they owned rather than sell it. As a result of these differences, the division made it difficult for people to buy land.
Perhaps that accounted for why settlement occurred across the rivers ?
Eventually, in 1702 the two Jerseys united to form one royal colony. But, even then for the next 70 years the colony of New Jersey had two capitals — Perth Amboy, once the capital of East Jersey, and Burlington, once the capital of West Jersey (Trenton would not become the state capital until 1790). The old east colony roughly resembled what has now come to be considered North Jersey, and West Jersey covers much of what is now thought of as South Jersey.
Historian Mark Mappen has written that for generations Americans, including George
Washington, continued to refer to the state as "The Jerseys." And to this day, attorneys will tell you of the traditional cultural differences involved in real estate closings in practice from the northern to the southern parts of the state.
Then, of course, there are the real modern day distinctions between north and south.
For example, back in 2008 film-maker Steve Chernoski in his documentary "New
Jersey; the Movie", set out to examine what distinguishes North and South Jersey.
"Is it a sub or a hoagie?" "Jimmies or sprinkles on ice cream?" Is it chips and a soft drink at Wawa or 7-Eleven ?". Those are some of the questions Chernoski routinely would ask to find out whether one's consciousness was programmed by a North or South Jersey sensibility.
In the film, Chenoski also set out to ascertain where North and South Jersey start and end.
To many up north, the Driscoll Bridge represents a psychological gateway to South Jersey ("When they cross it they fell like they can smell the ocean and that they're down the Shore"), while folks from down south would variously cite Trenton, Cherry Hill, Toms River or I-195 as emotional dividing lines.
One author has written of differences in accent. In You Say "Jersey Tomayto," I say "Jersey Tomahto" by Janet Kay Blaylock, discusses how When South Jerseyans want that
caffeinated drink in the morning, we ask for "CAH-fee." North Jerseyans ask for "CAW-fee."
When South Jerseyans want a Hershey's Kiss, Kit-Kat, or the like, we are craving "CHAHK-lit." North Jerseyans are craving "CHAWK-lit." When South Jerseyans put their socks away, we put them in a "DRORR." North Jerseyans put them in a "DRAW."
This issue of North and South was again brought to a head last fall, when the Phillies and
Yankees squared off in the World Series.
In the New York Times, an article described Cranbury as a Mason-Dixon line of sorts between New York and Philadelphia fans. As far back far back as Colonial days, stated the piece, its Cranbury Inn served as a popular halfway stop on the two-or three-day journey by stagecoach between New York and Philadelphia, and during the Series both Yanks and Phils rooters could be found at the inn's bar.
These days, whether in sports (Devils versus Flyers), politics or culture, the differences are palpable and real. While the Turnpike and the Parkway may connect the state, they do not always unite it.
Eric Model explores the "offbeat, off the beaten path, overlooked and forgotten" on SIRIUS-XM Radio and at journeysinto.com.
