By: Shane Bagot, Community Journalist
GALLOWAY — At Stockton University, Lines on the Pines hosted its annual free event on March 8.
What started as a five-author book signing at the original Sweetwater Casino over 20 years ago has now grown into a celebration of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens.
The founders, Linda and Jim Stranton, conceived the idea while at a bar with friends. From that first event, it has steadily grown, introducing different book genres, historical societies, and musical artists.
It is now an event with over 100 vendors each year, hosting a variety of different people, from bakers to jewelers. Lines on the Pines was supposed to only be for a few years, but the love and support they received inspired them to keep going.
It was the history and the folklore around the Pine Barrens that drew them in. Things like the Jersey Devil, also known as the Leeds Devil, which is a legendary creature that inhabits the Pine Barrens, are the kind of folklore that kept the Strantons interested.
The Strantons are now a part of Pine Barrens history.
“They say, ‘Linda, you know you put us on the map.’ I just say it wasn’t intentional. It’s just kind of a nice thing that happened with us, just wanting to say thank you to all the people that made it enjoyable for the first two or three years that we did it. The intent wasn’t to make it a forever thing. It just grew that way,” said Linda Stranton.
This year’s indoor event featured over 80 Pine Barrens “celebrities” ready to sign books, display artwork, and play music.
The theme was safety in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Linda realized that the topic of kids’ safety in the Pine Barrens has been mostly overlooked.
The Strantons’ goal above anything is to create a space for everyone to have a good time.
“I think that the reason our people keep coming back is because we’re always bringing something new into the event, and it makes them look forward to next year’s event, and I hope that we don’t disappoint. That we give them something new every year, and that they wait a year for it to come,” said Linda Stranton.
They are very thankful to have grown a community of Pine Barren enthusiasts. A place they can come together and soak in the culture. Linda had a man one year come up to her with a Lines on the Pines-themed banjo they custom-made. He told her that he plays it every gig he can to get the word out there about the event.
For Linda, it does not get any better than that.
“Nothing is more exciting than knowing that you had an idea, and many people think it’s a great idea. It’s just rewarding. It’s a lot of work every year to put on, but knowing that so many people are going to be glad that you did, it’s just worth it,” said Linda Stranton.
The event would end up being a huge turnout, according to Linda. People gathered around Redbird to listen to her originals and some Pine Barrens favorites. On the other side of the campus center, people were toe pop tapping to acoustic and country tunes.
There was something for everyone, as the Strantons had hoped for.
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