Customer Reviews

South Jersey Towns: History and Legends

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I am a New Jersey native having grown up in a small town in the southern half of the state. I have been researching the history of the towns that I know so well and the best resource I have come along is William McMahon's "South Jersey Towns." This book is an incredible resource for anyone interested in American history! As our nation was being developed by the Europeans, so many historical events took place in New Jersey! William McMahon's careful research and detail brings them to light. A must read for history buffs!

Published in 1973, this book traces the history and legends of the 8 counties that make up the southern half of New Jersey. McMahon has arranged his information by county, and although the book has the word "Towns" in its title, he includes much that is not linked to any specific town (ship wrecks, personalities, historical events, to name just three).

It's natural to compare this book with the works of that other famous Jersey local historian and author, Henry Charlton Beck, who covered the same ground as McMahon. A major difference is that McMahon writes much more from the point of view of the historian (he cites the historical record and includes an extensive bibliography) where Beck's approach was on a more personal level. Much more information is found in McMahon as well. But where Beck was more inviting, drawing the reader into his adventures, even inspiring the reader to get out and see for himslf, McMahon keeps the reader at arms length and is more interested in providing factual information. The book contains a handful of pictures (almost all historical and not current), and an appendix that lists towns and their former names. A few rather cursory maps appear, too. People interested in the history of South Jersey will find this book entertaining and informative. Well worth checking out.