Historic Map - Egg Harbor, NJ - 1865

Birds eye view of Egg Harbor City, N.J. Herline & Hensel, lith.

This reproduction bird's-eye view of Egg Harbor City, New Jersey was published by F. Scheu in 1865. Egg Harbor was named in the early 1600's by Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, who found the meadows near a river inlet covered with shorebird and waterfowl eggs. Egg Harbor City was founded in 1854 when the Camden & Atlantic railroad was built to serve New Jersey's coastal communities. The town became a refuge for German victims of the "Knownothingism" movement that was sweeping the nation.

With the new Camden & Atlantic railroad eager to run a year-round shore rail, several new communities were established along its route. Philadelphians William and Henry Schmoele and Philip Mathias Wolsieffer arrived that year, purchased about 38,000 acres of second growth pine and proceeded with the planning of Egg Harbor City. The plans were to develop an urban core and a farming area. Stocks were issued in the town at a rate of $300 for the first series of bonds and $400 for the second series. Each share entitled the holder to a 20 acre farm and a claim to a building lot 100 by 150 feet in town. If only interested in city land, a lot could be purchased for $78. Extra enticements included the promise of tree-lined streets, schools and a 100 acre park. Egg Harbor City was promoted heavily to German-Americans with the slogan: "Hier, geliebte deutsche Brder, Findet ihr die Heimat wieder". Wolsieffer was elected as the town's first mayor in 1858. By 1860 the settlers, having not received all that was promised, formed the "Conservative Mannerverein" to protect the interests of the people of Egg Harbor City. The Schmoele brothers were under fire for misappropriating funds and the call was out for equal rights to all shareholders.

This aero-view map from 1865 shows Egg Harbor City's buildings, labeled streets and railroad route.