Little remains of the old Moorestown Camden Turnpike but several markers and a house opposite the Catholic cemetery on Camden avenue which reportedly, was one of its toll houses.

One of the markers can be found on Main street opposite Mt. Laurel road marked "10 M to C" or ten miles to Camden; another can be found at the fork of the road at Camden and Kings Highway in Moorestown.

Mayor Charles L. Walton said when he moved to Hartford road, one marked "12 miles to Camden" was found lying in the yard. This was given to the Boy Scouts who used it as a mantel piece of the fireplace in the main assembly hall at Camp Lenape.

In "Moorestown, Old and New" by James C. Purdy, published in 1886, he writes, "The old Burlington and Salem road-'The King's Highway'- laid out in 1682 occupied in its course through Moorestown nearly the same ground that the Main street now covers. In 1794 the present turnpike from Mount Holly to Camden was laid out."

Little seems to be known about the original turnpike other than that the barriers were pikes which turned when the toll was paid hence the name "turnpike." in 1850 a company was formed called the Moorestown Camden Turnpike Company. Stock was sold and the company maintained the road, graveling it when necessary, and generally keeping it in good shape except, perhaps, in the spring of the year.

Records show a claim for several hundreds of dollars from a farmer for injuries suffered by himself, his horse, and cart. The claim was settled for $75.

Purdy desribes it as follows: "The Main street... section of the turnpike is broad and well kept. On this street are located all the churches save one, both the Friends' meeting houses; nearly all the stores and shops; both the hotels; the Academy, the Bank, the Postoffice, the Town Hall, and the various lodges and society rooms.

"But it is not merely a business street; it is one of the principal residence streets of the town... with many beautiful homes... well-shaded dooryards, and in some cases their long stretches of lawn and shrubbery.

Norwood Andrews, 77 east Walnut ave, has the records of the turnpike company all beautifully handwritten in leather bound ledgers. His father was the last treasurer of the Moorestown Camden Turnpike. He and his brother, Thomas, have many of the old tickets used, nut none of them carry the amount of the toll. However, Aubrey Walton Sr., Mt. Holly pike, says he used to pay three cents toll from his farm to Moorestown.

The turnpike had either five or six tollgates- opinions on this vary. The turnpike company paid collectors $25 a month at the upper gate, middle gate, and lower gate,- the lower gate also had an assistant for $8.50 a month. Andrews thinks they also had their houses furnished.

How the tollkeepers were paid at the intervening gates, no one seems to know. John C. Belton,11, 334 Chester avenue, remembers that farmers came from their homes to lift the gate (an arm similar to that used at railroad crossings) and collected the tolls in long handled baskets. Perhaps they recieved a protion of the toll.

According to Andrews the turnpike was used commercially, as the townspeople rode to camden on the railroad which was established in 1866 over the protests of conservative residents. The railroad ran its first trian as a special to the Mt. Holly Fair in October of 1867.

Purdy says,"It is the highway of the farmers and "truckers" between their homes and the city markets; and in the reoccuring seasons processions of farm wagons or 'shelvings' pass along the street drawn by teams of fine horses that the people here pride themselves upon, and loaded high with hay or straw, or with baskets of glowing fruit and other farm products.

"Phaetons, buggies, family carriages, and not infrequently the more conspicuous village cart, and the more elegant private turnout add liveliness to the movement. People in the city have learned that Moorestown is a very pleasant place, and that the road leading to it offers a goodly drive; and in addition to those who make prolonged summer sojourns here, pleasurers drive out on occations.

The bicycler has discovered Moorestown also, and besides our own numerous wheelmen, many picturesquely costumed riders from Philadelphia make tours to this place and beyond.

"The turnpike offers a capital drive, during a good share of the year, to such as prefer that method of traveling. The road is well kept; it runs through a pleasant country; the surface is varied enough to avoid monotony, and is not so great as to be wearisome, and there "is not much of it taht is not interesting in one way or another."

In the later part of 1913 the turnpike was disbanded and the county took over the roads.

When The Turnpike Began and Ended- 1849 to 1907

The above article states 1850 to 1913. They probably got the 1913 date from a 1914 Roads records book which mentions the Turnpike is now owned by Burlington County, and has no information about it for 1913, 1912, etc..., so they probably assumed it was in the last part of the year and did not make the book. A Maple Shade Historical Society "record" well photo caption has 1909 which could relate to sale of McElwee house perhaps.

A few books have the turnpike being incorporated in 1850. Perhaps that is when it was actually finished and operating. ??

Below are infos from the 1849 and 1853 Pamphlet Laws (P.L.), the first having the incorporation act, and the other a supplement, as well as infos from other sources, which are noted below each.