This map, over at Strange Maps, is awesome. Basically, it highlights penitentiaries and the state in the 50s. The blurbs are worth the price of admission (which is, of course, free).
My favorite: “Here Vineland, famous for its contributions to our knowledge of the feebleminded.” And who knew Vineland is where the word “moron” was coined? You’d think I would have, being that I use the word often enough (and am from Jersey). I dated a girl from Vineland once. No, really: once. I found out she had a psychotic episode and was taking Zyprexa. She told me she wanted to run away with me and then promptly never called me again.
For anyone curious, I’m from halfway between Pennsgrove and Camden, right there near the Delaware.
June 23, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Heh. I actually live about 19 miles from Vineland – famous for it’s winery(s). I checked out the map, and saw “Trenton” – that’s where I grew up (till I was about 8 or 9) when my Dad lived in PMQ’s, on base, when he was in the military. Of course, this is all happening in Ontario, not Jersey.
June 23, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I dated a guy from Vineland when I lived in Vegas, and he was a little on the cooky side, too – he couldn’t go more than a few hours without taking a Xanex. Or two. Sometimes even three.
It must be something in the water.
June 24, 2008 at 10:12 am
My stoopid ex lives in East Brunswick. Come visit, you’ll never leave, indeed! Jersey is kind of like Devil’s Island in Papillon–a prison for the dispossesed.
June 24, 2008 at 2:02 pm
@Lisa: at first I was all like “Lisa lived in Vineland and Trenton? How did we never meet!?” And then I realized you meant those in Ontario. So that makes more sense.
@Kristen: Oh, we’re all on the kooky side.
@Chartroose: ha! I know the Brunswicks! Did he go to Rutgers, or something (that’s about the only reason to go to a Brunswick)?
November 21, 2008 at 5:55 am
Vineland is very near Penns Grove. A great location in southern New Jersey.
http://pennsgrove.wordpress.com