den's Maple Shade History Website

Welcome!

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

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.

Maple Shade Train Station updates-

I fell behind updating the train station page and am working on another book. Here is some info I have to add to the page later-

From the New Jersey Mirror newspaper- February 1, 1893, page 3

Railroad Notes-
Maple Shade, herefore a flag station, has been changed to a first class agency, with telegraph instrument and semaphone signal. H.E. Gilbert has been appointed agent.

From the Maple Shade Progress newspaper, May 4, 1917-

Isn't it about time that Maple Shade had a real railroad station? Surerly Harry Gilbert is entitled to something better after his many years of service there, to say nothing of the commuters.

From the New Jersey Mirror newspaper, May 1917-

Residents of Maple Shade have asked the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to give it the same train service that is afforded Merchantville and Moorestown and erect a new station.

From the New Jersey Mirror newspaper, July 7, 1920-

Moorestown- Maple Shade, near here, has just recieved its tenth promise from the Pennsylvania Railroad that the station will be rebuilt. The ? is about twenty times as large now as when the small shed that serves as a station was built.

From, I think, a Mount Holly newspaper-

Moorestown
The Pennsylvania railroad is planning to enlarge its station at Maple Shade which has remained the same size although the population has increased twenty fold.

From the Courier Post newspaper, October 17, 1921-

Enlarge Station At Maple Shade
Railroad Provides Room Needed for Increased Patronage
New Waiting Room On Eastern End

The Maple Shade Pennsylvania Railroad station is at last being enlarged to meet increased patronage. An addition is being placed on the eastern end of the station which will be used as a ladies' waiting room, while the agent, William Eisinger Jr., will enlarge his present quarters and occupy the present ladies' waiting room. A baggage room is to be built on the west end of the station, relieving the crowded condition of the men's waiting room. When completed the building will be about 75 feet in length. Two boarding cars with living quarters have been placed on the siding for the accommodation of the workmen.

From the Courier Post newspaper, August 24, 1938-

MAPLE SHADE ACTS TO RETAIN STATION
Merchants Oppose Pennsy Proposal to Make West Moorestown Sole Stop

Maple Shade, Aug. 23- Local merchants and civic organizations will oppose the proposal of the Pennsylvania Railroad to close the local station and place it under the jurisdiction of West Moorestown.

A public hearing on the railroad's application will be held in the State House, Trenton, Sept. 20, before the Public Utility Commissioners.

Merchants contend that when the Pennsylvania Railroad Company obtained the legal right-of-way through Maple Shade from N. E. Perkins, a clause was inserted in the agreement, stating that "an agent must always be maintained at Maple Shade station." A bitter fight will be waged, it is understood, to compel the railroad to live up to the agreement.

Recently the railroad was given permission to remove four trains from the local line.

The approval of the application by the Public Utility Commissioners will change the status of the Maple Shade station from an independent passenger, freight and baggage station, part-time, to a non-agency passenger, baggage and freight station, coming under the jurisdiction of West Moorestown.

Information (not an exact quote) from the Maple Shade Progress newspaper, 1959-

Maple Shade Depot Will Be Closed For Ticket Sales, Freight Business;
Tickets Available at Moorestown, Merchantville

By Earle W. Johnson Sr.

(Note from Dennis Weaver- Earle was a free lance writer for the Maple Shade Progress and had several articles on the railroad. He is wrong about all the "moved the station from Stiles Avenue and built the station at Forklanding Road in 1874" talk but correct on other items as he married the daughter of Harry Gilbert, the second station agent.)

Sunday November 1, 1959 the Maple Shade station will be closed for ticket sales and freight business. The building to the east known as the "Jumper House," which housed railroad equipment, is in the process of being demolished.

From the Courier Post newspaper, Sunday Nov. 25, 1990-

The station, which had three additions built on during the early 1900s, was essentially shut down in 1959 when the railroad pulled out its station agent, area train historian Frank Kozemple said. The station, however, was used as a passenger stop until 1969.

Last passenger service of the railroad-
(From Christopher T. Baer's research paper)

April 25, 1969
Last run of passenger service between Camden (12th & Federal) and Pemberton, N.J.; Nos. 987-988, Camden-Pemberton and Nos. 983-990, Camden-Moorestown. (A-sheet, ft)

There is other information on the type of train which took the last passenger service trip that day but I would have to probably get permission for some of the details to copy. (trains forum)

Here are some railroad information links-

April 25, 1969

All years ended

Last run of Penn Central commuter train 987

Nov. 1, 1959 Ticket sales stop at Maple Shade station

April 25, 1969 Last runs of passenger train service

Maple Shade train station museum article

First Maple Shade Police Headquarters

Notice- Lulu books known mistakes-

Burlington County old photos-

Courier Post photos

Really great photos Historical of area towns including Maple Shade.

Main Street Diner-

There was first a diner at the NW corner of Main St. and Forklanding Road as seen on a 1929 Sanborn map.
Then it appears to have been moved by 1944 and looks like the same diner in 1953 photos. There was another diner later on at the corner owned by George Madias.

Diner Pictures at OneDrive Cloud

New page! Margaret Brown subdivision-

Margaret Brown subdivision

Ida W. Sauselein subdivision-

Another subdivision, besides Margaret Brown's, made by a woman was the "Plan of Lots of Ida W. Sauselein."
I presume the "W" is for Wallace but no matter. The subdivision is about 5 acres and goes from the RR, along North Forklanding Rd. and I guess to the Post Office lot. It contains two streets, Theodore named for her father and Wallace for her mother's family (maiden name).

The above chart is from FamilySearch.org

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

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

From Lumber Trade Magazine 74 (Google Books snippet view only)
Barlow & Company ordered their lumber for their bungalows through John S. Collins and Son Lumber co. which had several locations. Their main yard was in Moorestown but they had one in Maple Shade as well.

John S. Collins & Son Lumber Co. on N. Forklanding Rd., Maple Shade in 1959
Photo by John P. Stroup

Buying "Progress of Maple Shade" Books-

If you live in Maple Shade and want to buy it-
Email me with your phone number and we'll make an arrangement for you to get a copy. They now cost 15 dollars.
-Dennis (member of Maple Shade Historical Society)

919 East Main St., Maple Shade

John Muffet & Son Brick and Tileyard house
Originally a double house, built about 1863. Read the Brickyards page for more info.
This house is highly historical and should be preserved and revered in that manner!

Burlington County Twps. Population for 1950, 1940, and 1930

Compare Maple Shade esp. to 1930 and see how early we turned mostly suburban! Be sure to think of the land area sizes of each of the Twps. as well!