Maurice River Recollections Project
River Reaches
Debra A. Barsotti Research Journalist Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc.
The Maurice River Reaches Project
Ferguson, Strabmuller Farm Reach #13
With that information, it seems that with the Weatherby property on the northern border, the area south of this (Reach #13) was referred to as the Ferguson Farm, at least until 1950, when George Straubmuller purchased the land. Again, Virgil Johnson wrote: "George Straubmuller bought the Ferguson Farm on Mauricetown Road from Maurice Shaw, of Camden and he came into full possession in 1950 when he acquired it from the Tug Lizzie D. Shaw Company. Lizzie D. Shaw bought it from Frank Ferguson in 1912 and sold it to the Tug Lizzie D. Shaw Company in 1944. There are other columns and one photo from the Millville newspaper that give some information about the history of this property. In an interview in 2004, Richard Weatherby provided more perspective. Weatherby and his family occupied and farmed the Ferguson lands that lie near Reaches 12 and 13. Weatherby said that the Fergusons actually owned three tracts of land west of the Maurice River. The tracts were not contiguous. Much of the land between the Ferguson properties was owned by various sand mining companies at one time or another. One of the Ferguson properties was known as "The Orchard". Weatherby explained that when his grandfather, Ephraim Milton Weatherby, Sr. lost his Haleyville farm during the depression, he moved towards the Maurice River. "He moved here where Straubmuller is now, on the old Ferguson property," said Richard Weatherby. He reiterated, "Ferguson owned the property that is known today as the Straubmuller Farm." The second property owned by Ferguson bordered the Maurice River at the place that became known as "Owl's Cove". The third property owned by the Fergusons was apparently not too far down river from the site known as "Owl's Cove." Virgil Johnson offered that this property must have extended to nearly 300 acres, "nearly half of it meadows." Johnson pinpointed a house on the property, writing that "the old Ferguson property which stood some 200 yards east of Mauricetown Road,…was erected prior to the War of 1812 by Thomas Ferguson, Sr." This is the house that Ephraim Weatherby rented for his family. Richard explained that after losing his farm his grandfather never bought a piece of ground again. "He thought it was a poor investment," Weatherby said, explaining that his grandfather leased the house and the lands he farmed. Ephraim and his family lived in "the big old house," Weatherby said, indicating the house that once sat on the Straubmuller's property. "It was a shame that they tore it down because it was a beautiful, beautiful house." (See below) According to Weatherby, this property was used as the headquarters for Pettinos' sand mining company. He recalled that on the property there was a house, and a big horse farm with "about 100 horses, at one time." Weatherby said that the horses were used in the sand mining operation. When the house on the property adjacent and just north of the 300-acre Ferguson tract became available, Ephraim Weatherby, Sr. moved his family closer to the acres he was farming. This was the property that included Owl's Cove.
As he wrote about the demise of the Ferguson house, Virgil Johnson mentioned that there had been several other houses, "which stood not far from (the) Maurice River." He said that the houses, similar in architectural style, were all built around 1800. "It was the custom in those years to build farm houses as near a navigable stream as possible." He continued, "Each of the farms on that side of the river was built closer to the river than to the road and there were piers in the rear of the houses to which boats were tied. The farmers used the boats to go down and across the river to Port Elizabeth, quite a thriving community in those days, where they did their shopping." A photo from the Millville Daily Times dated February 5, 1962, shows the old Ferguson house in flames. The caption reads: "Landmark Goes - The old building above, on the Ferguson property, Silver Run Road, was burned to the ground Saturday, under the supervision of the Millville Fire Dept. to make way for a new building to be erected by the George Straubmuller family. The old house was built in the 1800's."
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Narratives
Ferguson, Straubmuller Farm
Narrative Recollections Ken Camp Irene Ferguson Jane Galetto Frank Murphine Richard Weatherby Pat Witt Other Ferguson property burns, February 5, 1962 |