In the 1980s there was a site on Old Egg Harbor Road which still had the remains of a very tall rusted watchtower and an old building foundation next to it. I've spoken to my neighbor who has lived here since the mid-50s and at best she seems to recall that it was used as an old WWII watchtower to look for possible enemy planes/ships flying in from the shore. Hmm...I have my doubts, being so far inland, but one never knows. I also thought it was an old fire watchtower for the pine barrens. This is located exactly at the "intersection" of thirteenth street and Old Egg Harbor Road. I quote "intersection" because the thirteenth street is not really a road at this location. It is indicated as a road on Google Maps, so someone can easily find this location by looking it up on Google Maps. However, it really is just a dirt path today, never was anything other than that either, no cars can travel on it due to the watering race branch creek dividing it and no bridge. Today, there is a house on the land next to 13th street where the tower once stood. No trace remains of anything having been there.
So, I'm hoping that someone familiar with this area or perhaps a WWII historian familiar with South Jersey History could tell me more about it and/or share possible pictures of it in its heyday. Thanks!
So, I'm hoping that someone familiar with this area or perhaps a WWII historian familiar with South Jersey History could tell me more about it and/or share possible pictures of it in its heyday. Thanks!
The old mobile website (links above) does not have the 1970's imagery but my new site (coming soon!) will. It is also available on the old desktop site (which will be phased out soon). These are the aerials that were taken as a requirement of the Wetlands Act of 1970. But it's hard to pin down the exact dates on this map since it's a composite of imagery taken in 1971, 1972 and 1977. They are rather "contrasty" so the details don't show too well. But we're lucky, since this appear to be on the very edge of the 1970 wetlands area.
