Woodbury Bird's Eye View Map - 129 Years Later

Since discovering the delicately hand illustrated O. H. Bailey "Bird's-Eye-View" Map of Woodbury, N.J. from 1886, I have often wondered what those lovely views outlining the map look like today. After some research and some quick Google and Bing Mapping, I had the answer. Presented here, without comment are the scenes as they look today from the exact vantage point wherever possible.

Draw your own conclusions... unfortunately you don't see a lot of adaptive reuse through the years but rather a good amount of tear-downs. Thankfully a few buildings remain to this day - exactly 9 out of 26 shown here.

Click or download for larger images...

Please note this is the original location of the Constitution building
which later moved a few doors to the left and which is currently still standing

Piscozackasing or Woodberry

"The Indian [Native American] name for Woodbury, county seat of Gloucester County, was Piscozackasing, which meant the place of black burrs. There are several versions as to how Woodbury got its present name, many having to do with wood and berries. The Indians most likely derived their version from the burrs of the many chestnut trees in the vicinity. In some old legal papers [and maps, see below] the name is spelled Woodberry.

The most plausible explanation of the name is that Henry Wood and his family moved there from Bury, Lancashire, England, in 1683. As was custom of many early settlers who were first arrivals at a spot, Wood combined his name with that of his former home, calling the place Woodbury." (McMahon, 1973)

1778 map of "The Province of New Jersey. Divided into East and West. Commonly called The Jerseys" by Wm. Faden of Charing Cross showing alternate Woodberry spelling.

1808 map "Plan of the City of Philadelphia and Environs" surveyed and published by John Hills also showing Woodberry spelling.

McMahon, W. (1973). South Jersey towns. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University.

quotations mine.