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Mystic Island Written By: Debra Ann Christensen
Did you know that Mystic Island was once called Hickory Island? to come down from North Jersey to stay with them in this
The ground was level and the island was desolate. The square magical place. There were no bulkheads then, instead tall grass
blocks in the ground were the anchors of the Tuckerton Radio & dunes edged the water. The water was so clear you could
Tower which was built in 1912 by the German Government to watch the crabs walking along the bottom of the lagoon. Pop
communicate with ships and submarines in the Atlantic Ocean. would take me crabbing and fi shing in the bay. My grandmother
When America entered the war in 1917, The United States would take us to the pool. YES…there was a beautiful built-in
Military immediately took over the tower and used it until the end pool on Playhouse Drive. It was located behind the Mystic Islands
of the war in 1955. Casino which was on the corner of Playhouse Dr. My grand-
mother would call Mystic Islands a “Doll House Community”.
Moving forward slightly to the late 1950’s & 1960’s, major Everything was so beautiful and perfect, as is everything when
development started. The construction of manufactured brand new, but the water has given me so many special memories
waterfront bungalows on lagoons were started. Developments that I hold in my heart forever. I made a lot of friends my age and
such as Mystic Island, Holly Lake, Atlantis, and Osbourne Island our parents would take us to dances at the community center
made their home here. every weekend. We had “Little Miss Mystic Islands” contests. We
actually played outside! I would not give up my childhood for
Boating, Fishing, Clamming and Crabbing are just a few of the anything in the world.
things that are plentiful here. We have the best waterways that
fl ourish and provide recreational fi shing and boating. The Great Being on the coast also brings the obvious weather, but our
Bay, Big Creek, the Mullica River, and Round-About Creek. It township is coming back with a vengeance. Home are being
provides easy access to the intracoastal waterway. re-built, there is a new infl ux of people from northern Jersey,
and our MUA is re-doing the infrastructure on our roads in
In the 50’s and 60’s there was a boardwalk along the Bayfront with Mystic. There is a lot going on and all of it good. Mystic islands
a lifeguard at the Graveling Point Beach area. There was also a golf is a great place to live year round or just enjoy a seasonal home,
course and a “Captains House” on the island. In early summer, and it’s what boater’s and nature lovers come to us for. Our
you can watch horseshoe crabs arrive at graveling point to lay location can’t be beat! North Jersey, Philadelphia and Baltimore
their eggs. White tail deer, red fox, terrapins, turtles, crabs, owls, are within a three hour drive.
ospreys, herons and numerous others populate our area for
nature lovers. There are acres and acres of wetlands, parks and So please check us out and enjoy everything our area has to
preserved land. offer, local restaurants, the cleanest bay on the east coast,
sanctuary and tranquility, and the most beautiful sunsets and
It wasn’t long until my grandparents, Ed and Rose Jennett, sold sunrises. And if you are lucky enough to already live here…you
their luncheonette in Palisades Park and moved to Mystic Island are lucky enough!
in 1967. I could not wait to have a school day off or summertime
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