During the late 1930s into the early ’50s, anthropologist Herbert Halpert travelled the Pines collecting tales, anecdotes, and jokes related to him by the old timers of the area. Halpert humorously relates his early attempts to locate Pineys:
Driving eastward towards Lakewood I stopped once in a while to ask if this was what they called the “Pines.” Each time I was told that the Pines was further away. At one place they told me the Pines was further south. I turned south, and when I reached a community quite far to the south was told the Pines was up north.” I eventually realized that people in the small towns did not class themselves as “Pineys,” a term which at that time had derogatory associations. (Folk Tales, Tall Tales, Trickster Tales and Legends of the Supernatural from the Pinelands of New Jersey 3)
The tales are wonderful nuggets of folk belief, wisdom and storytelling. Gabe Coia has written a great song, “The Light Near Wells’ Mill Pond,” inspired by one of these tales about Old Jimmy Wells, who built Wells’ Mill near Waretown in Ocean County.
Listen to “The Light Near Wells’ Mill Pond” here.
Looking for inspiration for a grammar examination, I too have reworked the Jimmy Wells story. I imagine you will find Gabe’s song more engaging, but for the grammar minded, you can read the test here.
