Westfield Avenue, originally designated as the Westfield and Camden Turnpike, gained more widespread recognition as the Burlington Turnpike. Initially, it was one of the privately constructed and maintained thoroughfares. However, in response to public discontent over toll charges and the subpar condition of the roads, local government acquired Westfield Avenue in May of 1904, spending over $32,000 for the takeover. This move was part of a broader initiative to eliminate tolls on various roads that had fallen into disrepair. Other streets in Camden underwent a similar transition during this period, including the White Horse Pike (1893), Mount Ephraim Avenue, Marlton Avenue (1907), Haddon Avenue (1909), and Federal Street (1913).
Westfield Avenue, once a toll road, featured the lone tollgate within the city limits of Camden at 36th Street.
In 1936, the Public Works Administration inaugurated Westfield Acres, marking Camden’s inaugural public housing project. Occupancy began in the spring of 1938. Eventually, Westfield Acres was razed to pave the way for the new Baldwin’s Run homes in 2000. The revitalized community welcomed its first residents in the spring of 2003.
Location
Related Photos
Related Articles
-
Federal Street
Federal Street was originally called Joseph Cooper’s Lane, and ran from the river to the old Haddonfield Road. In 1803 Joshua Cooper, who was an ardent Federalist, called it Federal Street. His father, Daniel Cooper, had, in 1764, built a large three-story brick house and established a ferry about the same time to Philadelphia. This…
-
William E. Albert
WILLIAM E. ALBERT was born in New Jersey around 1870. He was the son of Ernest and Hannah Albert. Ernest Albert had emigrated to America from Wurttemburg in what is now Germany. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1860, married there, and came to Camden around 1865. When the Census was taken in 1870, Ernest Albert…
-
City to Limit All-Night Parking In Move to Clean Main Streets
Camden Courier-Post – December 26, 1953 By Ronald G. Van Tine Restrictions on nightlong parking on principal streets in the business district will be tried out early next year as a major step in a campaign to make Camden a cleaner city in which to live and work. Public Works Commissioner Abbott, who disclosed the…
-
$100 in Gems Stolen from Apartment
Camden Courier-Post – February 7, 1938 Theft at 418 Broadway Reported to Police; other Homes Robbed Two garages and several homes were entered over the weekend by thieves who escaped with cash, jewelry, and other articles. Theft of jewelry valued at $100 and a $5 note were reported to police last night by Mrs. Bernard…
-
Five Women Faint As Court Jails Men
Camden Courier-Post – August 16, 1933 Turmoil Caused as Judge Acts to End Vandalism in County A court room crowded to the doors was thrown into a turmoil of excitement yesterday when five women became hysterical upon hearing Judge Samuel M. Shay impose prison terms on three men who pleaded guilty to vandalism in special…
-
Train Hits School Bus
Camden Courier-Post – October 21, 1931 Crossing Where One Was Injured in Train-Bus Crash One man was seriously injured last night when a passenger train and a school bus crashed at the East State Street crossing of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The injured man is Samuel Phillips, 45, of Blackwood, driver of the bus. He is…
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.