THIS MONTH'S FEATURED QUESTION ABOUT NEW JERSEY HISTORY
Dear NJHM:
I have heard that the Woodbine Developmental Center used to be a college of some sort. Do you know what it was, and what happened to it?
Jenn
Dear Jenn:
While looking up the information you requested, we discovered many remarkable and unique things about the history of Woodbine. We know you didn't ask, but we have to share:
The area of Woodbine was named in the mid-1800's by Mrs. William Townsend of nearby Dennisville for the many flowers of the same name that grew there. The area remained sparsely settled until the 1890's. In the 1880's, Baron Maurice De Hirsch, a Bavarian (German) industrialist of Jewish descent and one of the richest men in the world in his time, wanted to help the Jewish people who were persecuted in many countries in Europe. He offered millions of dollars to the Czar (Tsar) in Russia to assist those in that nation where they were especially mistreated, but the Czar refused the offer. The Baron then set up a foundation to help Jewish émigrés around the world, and the American trustees of the foundation purchased 5300 acres in and around Woodbine for $39,000. They next arranged to clear the land and set up 30-acre farms, and in 1892, the first 60 families arrived from Europe. They were each given a house, barn, outbuildings, one cow, 25 chickens, tools and seeds. Ten acres of each plot was plowed and sown with rye and wheat. The cost was only $1,200 for each, with extremely liberal repayment terms. The trustees also erected a large cloak factory and a trouser factory, and separate homes were built for these workers.
In 1895, the trustees opened the Woodbine Agricultural School, America's first secondary school devoted to the study of agriculture. The purpose was to educate newly arriving immigrants the most modern method of farming. This school had large dormitories with spacious bedrooms, dining rooms, etc., and gave the nation many of its agricultural experts in the early 20th. century. It flourished for many years, but improved economic conditions allowed many immigrants other vocations, and enrollment dwindled. The school closed in 1917, and in 1921 it was gifted to the State of New Jersey. After renovations, the state opened and developed a training school for the handicapped that eventually became the Woodbine Development Center.
Sorry for being so long-winded, but we found the story fascinating. Hope this helps and contact us if you require any additional information.