Folks around here often mention South and North Jersey, even Central, like they’re different states. In fact it was “East” and “West” that became separate proprietary provinces in 1674 after Britain had taken New Netherland from the Dutch. The British divided the land in half and gave control to Sir George Carteret ( East) and Lord John Berkeley (West). With no thought of indigenous peoples, European immigrants comprised mainly of Quakers settled in the West facing the Delaware and Philadelphia; in the East facing the Raritan and Hudson Rivers and New York City were Reformed Protestants by and large. But disputes rose from the original deed of division and a better boundary had to be formalized to settle the arguments about property and practices.

So who created this line of demarcation and why does it still matter today? George Keith was Surveyor-General in 1686 when he ran the first survey to mark the separation. He and his small crew, combining astonishing skill with steadfast endurance, in just 5 harrowing weeks lay the 60 mile line, traipsing through marshes, crawling through thickets, uphill and down, using only a crude transit, compass and intricate chain. It was a grueling feat. And yet all their work soon was for not as the separation only lasted until 1702 when the Jerseys were united as New Jersey.

Master surveyors Bruce Blair and Joe Grabus of Central New Jersey will tell the stories to give credence to this tale and why it matters today from sports to TV to taxes. Giants or Eagles?