COMMERCIAL TUTORIAL. — It’s “living history,” but for real.
There are no historical reenactments required at the Bayshore Center for Bivalve, located at the Port Norris section in Cumberland County’s Commercial Township, because, according to museum curator Rachel Dolhanczyk, there is always some activity, even though it is a relatively peaceful area in New Jersey.
Dolhanczyk is often asked by people who visit the museum on the Maurice River to learn more about what’s happening around the waterfront on that particular day.
“You do see oyster boat going by, you also see these sand bars going by. There’s a couple shipyards upstream, so you might be able to see the Cape May-Lewes Ferry being towed up for work.” she stated.
Bayshore Center in Bivalve
Bivalve refers to a hinged shell. So it’s not surprising that oyster shucking, packing and clam planting are all within shouting range of the Bayshore Center. Rutgers also has a shellfish research facility next door.
Dolhanczyk acknowledged that oyster-farming isn’t as popular today as it was a century back, but this area of Delaware Bayshore proves that there are still people who make a living out of oystering.
The Bayshore Center is also home to the AJ Meerwald, a restored oyster schooner. However, the vessel is currently in Maine for maintenance and is scheduled to move south for the summer.
Dolhanczyk stated that “we sail from ports all over the state, so people are able to definitely take advantage of it, although we encourage people to drive down to Bivalve.”
Bayshore Center in Bivalve
Dolhanczyk stated that flooding in the low-lying areas can occur up to seven days per month.
But in general, the Bayshore Center at Bivalve is scheduled to open for the 2022 season on Friday, April 8 and will close in early October — around the time of the planned first-ever New Jersey Oyster Festival.
The opening date will also include the first “Second Thursday” of the calendar year. It will feature nightlife with live entertainment, a rawbar, beer, wine, and dinner options.
For more, go to bayshorecenter.org.
Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at [email protected]
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The best coffee shops & cafes in NJ
New Jersey is well-known for its food, including pizza and pork roll. We aren’t the only ones who love coffee.
Coffee is essential for New Jersey residents with all the hustle and bustle of a day. It doesn’t matter if you live in the city of North Jersey or at the beach.
In fact, I’m the former owner of two Jersey Shore coffee houses, Coffee Dot Comedy (Sea Isle City) and Daily Grind (Ocean Grove), so I know how much the Jersey shore loves their coffee.
To find out, I asked my social media network followers where the best coffee houses were on the Jersey Shore.
