den's Maple Shade History Website

Welcome!

The Maple Shade Post Office from 1926 to 1946

2022 is the year of Maple Shade's 100th anniversary as a township.

Here are some big years-
1922 Moorestown with Lenola separates from Chester Twp. to become "Moorestown."
1922-23 Barlow Built Bungalows are built by the 100s chiefly in the Maple Heights section of town.
1925- Water plant
1926- Dedicated Maple Shade Post Office at 16 South Forklanding Rd.
1927- Municipal Building housing Police and Fire Depts built
1927- Sewer system

Roberts Monument book reprint now available-

Dennis' books on Lulu

The book looks REAL good. Paper and ink are first class.
80 pound paper (I think it was) coated with best ink used (premium they call it)
If you don't have the Ben Stiles family book, I'd buy that and Roberts Memorial book for 21 bucks for both and I wouldn't think shipping would be much more. Shipping is by size and weight and not each item doubling it.

Website tool- Aerial views over the years-

I just found out about this site the other day. You can view aerial photos of a location from many different years. Try "Maple Shade, NJ" and look at Alden Park development for an example. I did make a find in that Lenola RR Station was there in 1965 but not sure how long after. Anyhow here is the link-
https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer

mapleshade.com WRONG history-

I hope they fix it. So wrong for so long! So many Mayors and Council did not fix it over the last 17 years or so.

The Little Red Schoolhouse in Maple Shade Paperback-

The next time you make an order on Amazon.com, you could add this book.
Emma Brooks' book

New Page- Chester Township, Burlington County-

Chester Township page

Spam and Spoofing advise and examples-

Just to educate people. Got some choice examples!
-Dennis
Spam and Spoofing folder at my Ondrive Cloud

Almost 100 years ago- 1922-

Background- Maple Shade was a part of Chester Township. It wanted to be connected to Moorestown's water works and have many improvements. If it got enough people (voters) it could gain more committeemen and more votes and get whatever it wanted.

Actually that is probably a result (cause and effect), but also if there were more homes then there was more the justifiable need for the improvements and tax revenue. Anyhow, Moorestown since trying to separate in 1917 wanted them "off their backs."

When do you think most of the Barlow bungalows were built? Before Moorestown separated in 1922? Around the time of the Ben. Franklin Bridge opening in 1926? Barlow & Company began in 1912 but incorporated in 1921 and in 1922 and 1923 most of the Barlow Built Bungalows (a sales phrase we first see in 1922) were built.

From the New Jersey Mirror newspaper, March 29, 1922-

A referendum election which has been called for April 25, at which time the voters of Moorestown, Lenola and Stanwick will decide whether they will secede from old Chester township and form "Moorestown township." If the voters decide in favor of secession, Maple Shade will be the only town left in Chester township. The legislature passed a law giving Moorestown, Lenola and Stanwick the right to call a referendum to decide on forming a new township.

The action of the legislature was greatly opposed by residents of Maple Shade, but they have not requested the right to participate in the impending election, because it appears that voters are somewhat divided on the proposed change. Thomas J.S. Barlow, one of the founders of Maple Shade, says that the town might have a hard struggle at first but must face the inevitable. The town is developing at a rapid pace. an evidence of which is the fact that more than 100 new houses will be erected in the town this year. Many persons feel certain that the town will become self-supporting quite rapidly.

From the Camden Post Telegram, Friday December 1, 1922-

Maple Shade-
Oscar Anderson, local contractor for Barlow and Company, Inc., has completed the erection of 74 houses here and has the contracts for 100 additional ones to be built in the spring.

Great article on Brooks/ McElwee family and last pandemic-

Brooks Story at my OneDrive

Turkey Farms

There were two turkey farms in Maple Shade. One was on Orchard Ave. owned by John and Therese Martin. (Swiss French) Another was on Kings Highway owned by the Martinovich family.

Across the street from the Martin's turkey farm on Orchard Ave. was Rudy Zillincar's farm where he sold eggs. He was known as "the egg man." He left the eggs out and you took them and paid by the honor system.

The Evan Martinovich turkey farm was on Kings Highway just west of Lenola Rd. aprox. where the Iron Hill Restaurant is now.

Here are some newspaper articles on the Martinovich turkey farm-
den's OneDrive cloud

Books for sale-

Dennis' books on Lulu

The Maple Shade books use a large font (for older eyes). I cannot see anyone buying the "Maple Shade Village" book and not being so happy for the things they will see and learn. It is all upped a level over what I have at my website.

The Moorestown book would probably be of more interest to Moorestowners or broader history lovers.

All profits I give to the Maple Shade Historical Society.

Website Announcements-

Someone bought a copy of each of the three books off Lulu on August 2, 2020. There was spelling errors and things changed and 6 additional pages added to the "Village book" soon after and I made it right on the 3 other copies sold besides this sale. If you are local I can exchange you with the corrected book at some point.
-Dennis Weaver

Lulu book known mistakes-

Village book-

I should have taken a half a page or whole page explaining Chester Township. The books are meant to be a series in time but I still should have explained more.

Page 79-

Mary Myers was the sister of Christian Frech's wife Louisa and of Henry J. Fahr.

It should have said "Henry F. Fahr."

Page 83-

A brick store front addition was added to the "Myer's house" by builder Fred Fister for Amos Ferro, of Anna Avenue, who purchased the property. It was called the "Ferro Building."

I should have added that until recent years there was a small sign over a door that said "Ferro Building."

Page 122-

Henry B. Coles' mansion was at the southwest corner of Main Street and Coles Avenue, previously called Cooper Landing Road.

It should add the name- Cooperstown road, but luckily that name is mentioned on page 130

Pictures book-

John Bonamo of Bonamo's Meat Market, Mill Road and Sunset Avenue about 1955

It should say Mill Road and S. Forklanding Road. (across from the Mill Road Inn)

Roberts Memorial book-

Page 4-

and that I was a much younger man then he was, he would like for us to go out there some day and he would show me the exact place, then I might tell those yet younger then myself,

The two "then" should be "than."