Commercial Township has had a long history of oystering since it was founded in 1874, to the point the area was considered the oyster capital of the world until a parasite drastically reduced the oyster population in 1950. Even after the town’s primary industry took a downturn, there are still active oyster farms along Maurice River and events to celebrate the mollusk. Historic buildings show the town’s age, like Mauricetown United Methodist Church, built in 1880, and the Haleyville United Methodist Church, built in 1864. Though the buildings are older, new homes are still popping up in the three biggest villages: Port Norris, Laurel Lake and Mauricetown. The access to fishing and boating spots gives residents ways to get out and enjoy the outdoors while staying close to home and the reminders of a past age.
Honor our nations veterans at the Commercial Township Veterans Memorial.
On the river you can learn to crab and fish with family in Commercial Township.
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Bayshore Center at Bivalve celebrates the oyster
AJ’s Pub. Bands play live music to set the mood, and speakers stop in to educate the crowds about how vital oysters are to the environment. Teri Watson, who works at the center, also points out the museum's authentic style. “The museum is designed to interpret how the building looked in the 1920s, and we bring in the A.J. Meerwald for people to sail on. It’s a restored 1928 oyster schooner that was a fire boat in World War II.” Kids 17 years old and younger can enter the museum for free, and tickets to sail on the historic boat are available from April to November. But that’s not all the museum does to give locals a taste of sea life. There’s also the annual New Jersey Oyster Festival held every October to support the area and encourage local oyster purveyors. Admission is $50 to spend the day tasting raw oysters, grab a commemorative glass and place a vote in the People’s Choice Awards for the best oysters.
Open land a big draw to Commercial Township
Larry DePalma, broker and owner of DePalma Realty, lived in the area for years and enjoyed every moment. “Commercial Township is where I got my start in real estate," DePalma says. "It’s rural and affordable, and it’s good for first-time homebuyers. I bought my first home and my second home there. ” Port Norris has bungalows, Colonial Revivals and ranch-style homes that range from $75,000 to $235,000. Laurel Lake features manufactured and ranch-style homes, some of which were built as recently as 2024, often costing $100,000 to $300,000. The village has a large portion of rental homes. Residents who want to rent a pier or access the lake have to pay a membership fee through the Laurel Lake Property Owners Association. Mauricetown is the most expensive village, with Colonial Revivals and Victorian-style homes ranging between $250,000 and $415,000. Many homes were built in the late 1800s, and the township is rural, so it’s standard for a home to have a septic tank, natural gas heater and well-water system. Living closer to the bayfront comes with an increased flood risk during severe weather.
Commercial Township offers different colonial styled homes.
Newer homes are being built in Laurel Lakes.
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Events at the Louise E. Moore Senior Center or library
Commercial Township has multiple destinations to get out on the water or explore nature. “A draw for the area is the natural surroundings," DePalma says. "I loved coming home after work and taking my dog hunting. All I had to do was walk out my backyard. I even learned how to water ski on Laurel Lake when I was younger.” One spot is the Port Norris Marina, where boaters launch into the Maurice River to go fishing or crabbing. Port Norris also has the Commercial Township Free Library, also known as the Robbinstown School Free Public Library. The building is an old schoolhouse that now opens in the evenings and on Saturday mornings to allow locals of all ages to read new stories or join the monthly craft nights. There’s no swimming allowed at Lake Audrey, near Mauricetown, to create more space for those who want to spend the day fishing for smallmouth bass. The Commercial Township Veterans Memorial Park is a small grassy area with benches surrounding the flag poles and statue, all of which neighbors the Lousie E. Moore Senior Center. Residents of Cumberland County who are 60 years old and older can stop by for lunch every weekday at noon or to play Pinochle and drink coffee with friends in the morning.
Driving up to Millville
North Avenue is the primary route that guides drivers to U.S. Route 47, which runs 12 miles to Millville. It takes roughly 20 minutes to drive to Millville. There are no regular public bus routes because of the rural setting, and only Laurel Lake and Port Norris have residential areas with sidewalks running in front of the homes. The Cumberland Area Transit System provides transportation to those who call at least two days in advance to schedule a ride. “People think it’s much farther from Vineland than it actually is because the road is so long and you drive through the trees, but it doesn’t take long to get there,” DePalma says.
Oyster dinners and Millville shopping
Stores and restaurants are limited within the township, with most options being seafood wholesalers, like Harbor House Seafood Inc. The Oyster Cracker Cafe, neighboring the Bivalve Center, is open on Thursday evenings and for lunch during the weekend. Museum visitors pop by to order fresh oysters or simple sandwiches. Lillian’s Market sells fresh produce in Port Elizabeth from May to December, but there’s also a Dollar General closer to home in Laurel Lake. Most residents shop for groceries at the ShopRite in Millville or pick up a few things at Target.
Enjoy mouth watering Italian cuisine from George's Pizzeria near Commercial Township.
Most Commercial Township residents shop for groceries at the ShopRite in Millville.
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Commercial Township School District offers learning options
Area children attend Commercial Township School District. Haleyville-Mauricetown School offers prekindergarten through eighth-grade classes and earns a C-minus from Niche. Students have a few options after middle school. They can apply to Cumberland County Technical Center to graduate with certifications in subjects like automotive technology, cosmetology or culinary arts. They can also attend Millville High School, which earns a B-minus or Cumberland Regional High School in Bridgeton, which also gets a B-minus. The district also includes the Compass Academy charter school and the Cumberland Christian School, both in Vineland. Parents who send their kids to a charter or private school can apply for Aid in Lieu to add their address to a school bus route through the New Jersey Department of Education.
Commercial Township School has a great student teacher ratio of 12 to 1.
Millville Senior High School is where students can continue their education.
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Photography Contributed By
Bill Marrs
Video By
Daniel Willingham
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