Berlin Farmers Market

     Thursday, February 2, 2023: I decided to make another visit to the Berlin Farmers Market, 41 Clementon Road, Berlin (Camden County), New Jersey (856-767-1246). Last June (2022) I was here for the first time since 2019, and I wrote about my visit in a memoir article on this blog called Early Childhood Places. In it I compared seeing this market from the time I was a child in the 1960s to 2022. As for this essay, I would try to tell you what you should expect if you visited here. First, there has been the indoor market of over 85 spaces for vendors on one level in a climate controlled building. These vendors sold many kinds of merchandise: food, clothing, and jewelry, as well as housewares, beauty products, gifts, accessories, toys, books, etc., from mostly local people. (There are no big-name chain stores here!) The indoor building has been opened Thursday through Sunday. Second, there were the outside vendors who sold their many kinds of stuff, both edible and non-edible, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. At its peak, this place could have over 700 of them on both asphalt and dirt. (Please keep in mind that you buy at your own risk from the outside vendors.) Third, throughout the year, Berlin Farmers Market has played host to special events. Nevertheless, no matter when you visit here, you would most likely buy something at one of the oldest and largest farmers markets on the east coast. You might even decide to rent an outdoor space and become a vendor.      

Cherry Hill Mall

      Wednesday, January 4, 2023: Cherry Hill Mall, 2000 Route 38, Cherry Hill (Camden County), New Jersey (856-662-7440) first opened on October 11, 1961. At the time, it was the first enclosed shopping mall to open east of the Mississippi River. Back then, it was located in Delaware Township, but on November 7, 1961, those in power changed the name to Cherry Hill Township. I remembered my parents taking me there in December 1961. In those days, I was five, and the staff decorated the mall for Christmas. Throughout the year during the 1960s, Cherry Hill Mall contained fountains, birds in cages, plants & flowers, and plenty of stores. Just looking around here proved to be a great experience! Meanwhile, the stores ranged from budget to upscale. Through the years, the mall officials added part of a second floor, and removed the birds in cages, plants & flowers, and most of the fountains. Instead, the staff replaced them with small vendors selling mostly upscale products. In fact, most of the stores nowadays have been upscale. The date above was the first time I’ve been here since 2019, and while a few stores changed, the overall effect of the mall looked the same. Nevertheless, I am glad to see a mall operating at almost full capacity after so many other malls have few stores in them or closed altogether. From what I saw, this mall isn’t in danger of closing, and I’m glad.   

Wells Mills County Park

     Tuesday, January 3, 2023: Later, after seeing the Popcorn Park Zoo, and being in the mood for nature and seeing more of the New Jersey Pinelands, I went to Ocean County’s largest park: Wells Mills County Park, 905 Wells Mills Road, Waretown (609-971-3085). At over 900 acres, this park contained over 20 miles of hiking trails. Other activities offered here included boating and fishing, as well as a picnic area and playground near the nature center. This nature center educated me better about the local wildlife nearby via texts, pictures, and taxidermy animal exhibits. Videos in this center presented a history of Wells Mills and its past lumber industry that used to thrive here by way of two saw mills. The local Atlantic White Cedar wood has been prized by many people for constructing buildings, boats, fences, and so forth because it was lightweight and rot resistant. From the 1700s to the late 1970s, different people owned the land. Then, the NJ Conservation Foundation bought 200 acres of this land. Since then, the county bought more land that increased the park size. In another room, I watched another video about the industries in the NJ Pinelands from the 18th century into the early years of the 20th century: ironworks, glassworks, saw mills, clay mining, cranberry farming, blueberry farming, etc. Therefore, between being informed about the nature around here and the history of this area, I learned a lot!    

Popcorn Park Zoo

      Tuesday, January 3, 2023: Because the weather in January was mild in New Jersey, I decided to look at animals in Ocean County at the Popcorn Park Zoo, Humane Way at Lacy Road, Forked River (609-693-1900). (The “Popcorn” in the name refers to the popcorn that some of the animals receive as a treat.) When I arrived, the first thing I noticed were several peacocks and peahens, both the colorful breed and the white breed, and they had the run of this place. Different humane societies operate this zoo, and there has also been an animal adoption center here as well. Unlike other zoos, Popcorn Park Zoo only took in rescue animals. The exotic and wild animals could not survive by themselves in the wilderness, and some of these animals had been abandoned or abused by their former owners. On seven acres in the NJ Pinelands, this zoo included three kinds of animals: exotic animal species that originated from other parts of the world, wild animals native to this area, and farm animals. In a setting of mostly double chain-link fences, I found it interesting to think that those fences were the only barrier between me and many of those animals! First I entered the reptile house where I saw a boa constrictor, two alligators, and an iguana. A nearby aviary displayed some cockatoos and parrots, and the rest of the exotic animals consisted of monkeys, baboons, and lions, as well as tigers, llamas, tortoises, etc. Much of the indigenous wildlife on exhibit included turtles, hawks, owls, bears, bobcats, cougars, deer, squirrels, and others wild species. This zoo also presented the following farm animals: pigs, horses, donkeys, ponies, goats, sheep, cows, chickens, pigeons, and so on. All in all, I spent a few hours here learning about the history of some of these animals who are currently being taken care of in this pineland setting. I definitely recommend a visit to this zoo.     

          

Tuckerton Seaport

      Friday, December 30, 2022: After visiting the New Jersey Maritime Museum in Beach Haven, I headed toward another nautical attraction in Ocean County: Tuckerton Seaport, 120 West Main Street, Tuckerton (609-296-8868). During the 1960s and ‘70s, my family and I used to go fishing and crabbing along the inlets near the bay in Tuckerton. Years later, this museum & reproduced seaport opened in the early years of the 21st century. The date above had been the first time I’ve been in this area for years. Therefore, the first place I headed to was the lighthouse in this mock seaport village. Inside, the ground floor displayed exhibit areas by way of texts, pictures, and exhibit items covering such subjects as the Lenni-Lenape Native-Americans, movers & shakers from Tuckerton’s past, local industries from the past, and so forth. On the upper floor, the staff presented temporary exhibit themes. When I was there I saw Christmas trees and other holiday decorations dating back through the 20th century. As for the village itself, I walked along a boardwalk surrounding a creek, and this boardwalk included entering different small buildings that presented the businesses one would have found in a typical seaport village. In each of them, texts, pictures, and historic items gave more details of each place: fishery, hotel, and surfing, as well as hunting, livestock—with live goats and sheep nearby, decoy carving, oystering, clamming, a folk life center, etc. I found it a fascinating place!      

NJ Maritime Museum

     Friday, December 30, 2022: In a nautical mood, I traveled to Ocean County, New Jersey and visited the NJ Maritime Museum, 528 Dock Road, Beach Haven on Long Beach Island (609-492-0202). Upon entering, I thought that this museum would contain a few exhibit areas, but I was wrong! A friendly guide told me that on two floors, there were several exhibit areas showing items from floor to ceiling. Therefore, by way of texts, pictures, videos, and many exhibit items, I learned quite a bit about NJ’s role near the sea, on the sea, and under the sea. Many of the stuff on display were things recovered from shipwrecks, uniforms worn by navy, coastguard, and United States Life Saving Service personnel, as well as deep sea diving outfits, equipment used on ships, lighthouse objects including a Fresnel lens, examples of animal life in and near the sea, and much more. In an area about shipwrecks, the museum had a room detailing what happened before, during, and after the 1934 fire onboard the Morro Castle.  I also looked at plenty of boat and ship models as well as an area about fishing, especially a Women’s Surf Fishing Club exhibit, and photos of NJ storms. If I had stopped to read and study everything, I would have to have made a return visit or more. As it was, I spent a few hours here at this “must see” attraction that has been opened year round.  

Cattus Island

      Monday, December 19, 2022: I was at a New Jersey state park earlier in the day, but later, I arrived at an Ocean County, NJ park: Cattus Island County Park, 1170 Cattus Island Boulevard, Toms River (732-270-6960). Back in 1895, John Cattus bought this island and used it for a vacation home. Years later, it became part of the Ocean County Parks & Recreation system. The first thing I did was enter the Cooper Environmental Center where I learned more about the local natural history of the area. By way of texts, pictures, and different kinds of exhibits, I saw live animals such as reptiles, amphibians, and fish as well as other animals represented in carvings and taxidermy. I also noticed some interactive exhibits for children. Other activities at this park included eight hiking trails where the three ecosystems included a forest area, a salt marsh, and the natural area of Barnegat Bay! Near the Environmental Center was a picnic area, playground, bird observation blinds, a boat launch, and a butterfly garden. The Center also had a room for temporary exhibits. When I was there, I glanced at several gingerbread houses, and the surrounding area displayed holiday decorations. Overall, this whole day was a good introduction to what creatures and plants lived in this area.