History of Alden Park





The Alden Park housing development land was formerly the Tiver farm. Prior to that it was owned by the Charles B. Coles family for several generations. Before that, the Burrough family. It originally, I believe, was part of the "100 acres" owned by John Walker and sold to Samuel Burrough in 1712.



Maple Shade Estates, I mean... Alden Park-



From a 1950s Alden Park Homes Brochure. Courtesy of Debbie Vit.
AldenPark.pdf

Why is Alden Park called that, and why is The Alden Cafe called that? The development's name is actually "Maple Shade Estates."

I asked a man who worked on the Alden Park development.

I worked in the Navy Seabees (Naval Construction Battalion) and built homes there, Main street to Colwick (first section in) when I was 18 years old. They didn't have the money to pay by the hour so workers got piece work pay. Tiver's farm owned the land before. Applegate & Lyon was the builder. They had a Jewish friend named Alden is why it's called that. I had the blue print plans to a model "C" house (cement pad Rose Ave. homes) and I used it to build my garage by. Chicken houses were there before I built the garage.
-Fred Beaver,



According to this-
In July of 1950 they were just starting Alden Park.


Old and new Street signs
The Twp. and Lions Club did the old cement pole signs in 1951.



102 S. Coles being built in 1951


Same house on S. Coles, 1951,
Photos courtesy of Rob Hamilton.

Alden Park, like Maple Shade's other housing developments had its own sports teams and Civic Association. The Alden Park Civic Association had meetings to discuss improvements, events, etc...

Vaughn house.

John (Jack) Vaughn house. Besides later being the Mayor of Maple Shade, He was the President of the Alden Park Civic Association.

Maple Shade's ranchers are somewhat small compared to later housing trends but at the time were similar to the first Levittown's. Several sports figures lived in Alden Park and a night at the Alden Cafe bar might include alot of the Philadelphia Hockey team, etc... It was 1950s sububurbia, ranchers and split levels in several models built on winding streets.




A cement pad rancher.




Another cement pad rancher.




A Split Level house which has been modified.


Rancher with a second floor addition.

Tiver farm house on Rose Ave.

The old Tiver farmhouse on Rose Ave. sits facing Coles Ave., amidst the tract homes.
The development left off for a short time where the cement pad homes start then continued southward.




Alden Park Chain of Title-


The development was actually called "Maple Shade Estates" on its Plan maps.

*****

This is the filing of the plan for the last section (South of Rose Ave) which gets into the split level homes. The date of these homes construction would presumably be soon after 1954-

Filed on May 5, 1954, Revised December 15, 1954
Plan of Maple Shade Estates Section Four -
map (forgot to get #, I think its map 1015)
I didn't look at all 4 maps, just this one is here mentioned.

*****

You will see that on Paul Road the housing styles change from ranchers with a basement crawspace to the cement slab floor style homes on Rose Ave and the South side of Paul Road. My Brother's friend's father on Paul Road once said he remembers sitting there on the steps and all in front of them on the other side of the street was crops and a farm. The Tiver family held onto that part of the farm on Rose Ave. for a few more years.

*****

Clifford Grinrod and Jane Grinrod, widow
(a rancher on Paul Road, north side of the street, built before Rose Ave. developed)
took title on October 16, 1952
under deed book 1136 page 191
sold by Maple Shade Estates Corp.

*****

Maple Shade Estates
took title on November 27, 1950
under deed book 1094 page 207
sold by Bernard Weinberg, et ux


*****

Bernard Weinberg
took title on April 12, 1950
under deed book 1081 page 338
sold by William Tiver and Sophie Tiver his wife and....

Margaret Hartery and Michael Harterty, her husband, Nellie Stafford, widow, Margaret Manning, single, Francis Buzby and Charles Buzby, her husband, Stephen Tiver and Edna Tiver, his wife, Kathryn Norcoss and Leslie Norcoss, her husband, Jacob Tiver and Rose Tiver, his wife, Mare Quinlan and Edward Quinlan, her husband, Charles W. Pfulger, Jr., single, Alice Gualianone and Anthony Gualianone, her husband, Mary Tiedeken and Victor Tiedeken, her husband, Elizabeth Manning (now known as Sister Mary Francois) by her attorney-in-fact, Margaret Manning.

123.37 acres more or less

*****

John Tiver, Edward Tiver, Mary Pfluger,
joint tenants, with right of survivorship from Edward Tiver died September 19, 1943
took title on June 7, 1937
under deed book 871 page 264
S. Thurman Lovitt, trustee
(not sure details also a note that some land goes to John Tiver owned by Chester Court of Chancery)

Note- on another (unrelated) deed record of a Hazel I. Adams, wife of James M. Adams dealing with land from Tivers and about 6 Shuster tracts as well it had this note- John Tiber, also known as John Tiver, Edward Tiber, also known as Edward Tiver.

*****

John Tiver
took title on March 23, 1937
under deed book 871 page 259
sold by the Township of Chester
for eight thousand dollars
containing 123.37 acres more or less

*****

Township of Chester took possession
final decree Court of Chancery of New Jersey
on December 10, 1936
under deed book 863 page 395


*****

Township of Chester
Book of Mortgages 295 page 366 through 378
from Williard Emery, Tax Coll.,
deliquent taxes April 1932, fixed September 16, 1936
assessed thereon to C.B. Coles Est, as owner for the year 1928- 1929
There are several pages of small lots that owe aprox. 32 dollars each, then the C.B. Coles estate taxes for 1928- $2589.13

(see Book H of Pendens page 181)

*****

Charles B. Coles
took title on September 14, 1894
under deed book 312 page 618
sold by Schuyter G. Woodhull, Master (old term for Sheriff)

Below is some words I can make out from the handwriting that are important and all the chains and minutes of measurements omitted.

Edward G. Hargrave (or Hargran?) is complainant.
Then these names are listed- C. Henry Austin and Emma J. Austin his wife, Jane Austin, Johnathan Collin and Charles B. Coles.

Certain tract of land and premises in the Township of Delaware and County of Camden, and partly in the township of Chester and County of Burlington of New Jersey.

Bounded and described as follows:
A stone corner of lands of Joseph A. Burroughs also a corner to other lands of Charles B. Coles
(1) Crossing the Pennsauken Creek into Chester to another corner of Charles B. Coles land.
(2) North and East to the corner of A.R. Lippincott's land
(3) East to corner of John Needles land
(4) East to corner of Samuel Robert's land
(5) Crossing Pennsauken Creek to the township of Delaware south to the corner of Sarah A. Leis land
(6) North still by her lands
(7) North still by her land
(8) North and West still by Sarah A. Leis lands
(9) North and West to corner of stone in middle of Cooper Landing Road (Coles Ave.) to Joseph A. Burrough's land
(10) North and West to the corner of his land
(11) South and West to corner still of his land
(12) To Joseph A. Burrough's land
(13) South and West to place of beginning

Containing within the said ___?___ thirty and 1/4 acres of land
For the purpose to pay and satisfy unto the said Complaintant Edward G. Hargran the sum of Two Thousand One Hundred Dollars and Seventy Six Cents ($2145.76)

Sale by public vendue to the highest bidder
Charles B. Coles being the highest bidder of the sum of Four Thousand and One Dollars and Fifty Cents. ($4001.50)
to Charles B. Coles is sold all the herein before described tract of land

*****

J.D. Scott's 1876 Atlas of Burlington County has C.B. Coles written as the landowner for the area.

Smith & Wistar's 1849 Map of Burlington County has C. Coles written as the landowner for the area.

*****

Charles B. Coles
took title on March 25, 1835
under deed book N 3 page 283
sold by the executors of Reuben Burrough
(William Burrough and Joseph Burrough)
containing 167 19/100 acres of land
for the sum of 9,028.26 dollars

Jan. 22 1810, Joseph Burrough formerly of Waterford Township willed to Reuben Burrough among other a certain Grist-Mill and plantation and all his lands situated partly in the County of Burlington and partly in the County of Gloucester with the Grist Mill, Mill Pond and appurtenances,

containing 167 19/100 acres for sale at public vendue on 28 day of January at the house of William Doughten Inn Keeper in Moorestown
at sale said Charles Coles was highest Bidder at 9,028.26 dollars, from William Burrough and Joseph Burrough, 167 19/100 acres at 54 dollars per acre.

Beginning at Walnut tree corner to land of Late Samuel Burrough, corner of Samuel Roberts, crossing Moorestown Road to Samuel Roberts and William Stiles line thence to the corner of Frisbys lot side of Cooper's Landing Road, in the Joseph Burrough line in the old saw mill pond, excepting out of this grant the School house lot, together also with all and singular the dwelling house, Grist Mill, Mill Pond, barns, buildings, improvements, etc...

*****

Reuben Burrough owned the Alden Park area before C.B. Coles bought it in 1835.

Lot, Southwest corner of Main Street and Coles Avenue-


Henry B. Coles
took title on March 30, 1905
under deed book 393 page 442
sold by Charles B. Coles of Moorestown
for the sum of 422 dollars
Beginning at the middle of the Moorestown Camden Turnpike Road, corner of other lands of Charles B. Coles, ditch and crossing near the westerly line of said Coles Avenue Bridge.
containing 2 16/100 acres of land
Being part of a tract of land conveyed to the said Charles Coles under hand of William Burrough and Joseph Burrough executors of Reuben Burrough deseased.


(Note- There would have been a bridge across South Coles Avenue where the creek crosses at the low spot to "Steinhauer Park.")

Early History-

We are going to go way back....

In 1794, our "Main Street" replaced another road called-

The Old "Ferry Road" or "Market Road"-

In old deeds we see these names- the great Road, the Road from Cooper's Ferry to Mount Holly, the great Road that leads from Cooper's Ferry to Moore's Town.

From "Chester Township" by Clayton Lippincott-

Near where the Fellowship Turnpike (now Rt. 73 there) crosses the line of the Old Salem Road (Kings Highway) formerly branched off a road running about a westerly course, crossed the south branch of Penisaukin Creek where formerly stood Burrough's grist-mill, and passing a little to the south of Merchantville, crossed Cooper's Creek near where the railroad bridge now stands, at a place called "Spicer's Ferry," and from thence to Cooper's Ferry. This was the general market road for farmers of a large part of Burlington County until the present road from Mount Holly to Camden was laid out in 1794. (Main Street)

From "Moorestown And Her Neighbors" by George DeCou-

An interesting old road known as the Ferry or Market road branched from the Kings Highway near the old Matlack homestead at the intersection of the Fellowship Road and School House Lane. It passed through the woods on the Chalkley Matlack farm (Maplewood Apartments) thence to the south of Merchantville and lead direct to Spicers Ferry which crossed Coopers Creek near the present railroad bridge and thence to Cooper's Ferry on the Delaware. Chalkley Matlack informed me that in his boyhood days the course of this road could be clearly traced through the woods on his farm. The road was used extensively by the farmers in the neighborhood in sending their produce to the Philadelphia market prior to the opening of the present road from Moorestown to Camden.

From "The History of Camden County, NJ" by George Reeser Prowell-
(deals with the Camden County segment)

On the 8th of March, 1762, the surveyors of highways laid out a road from the southeast branch of Pensauken Creek towards "the new bridge erected from Samuel Spicer's Landing across Coopers Creek," to begin at a bridge erected by Samuel Burroughs, across the southeast branch of Pensauken Creek, and at his gristmill. This road was laid out four rods wide and passed through the east end of Thomas Spicer's land, over the head of Henry Woods Creek, and to the "Burlington New Road."



Map detail from the 1907 G.M. Hopkins Camden and the Environs Atlas map of Maple Shade showing the Asa R. Lippincott and Frisby house, etc... lots coming together under one owner. This land belonged to Thomas Thorne in the 1700s. (See the Perry Frisby page) The road to the Charles B. Coles house was once the Old Ferry Road. (about where Rose Ave.is) Samuel Burrough's grist mill was on it on the Cherry Hill side of the Pennsauken Creek nearby it.


Charles B. Coles' "Coles Mill Farm"-

Given the facts that Samuel Cole bought in the late 1600s over 1000 acres of land, the south branch of the Pennsauken Creek was once called the Coles branch, and that the Coles family, west of Coles Avenue owned the Alden Park area for generations prior to it being the Tiver farm, one would easily assume it was originally land owned by Samuel Cole. But in fact, it was probably originally first settled by John Walker and sold to Samuel Burrough in 1712. How did Charles B. Coles come to own the land? Well he is a Burrough descendant.

From "The History of Camden County, NJ" by George Reeser Prowell-

Joseph Coles, the grandfather of Charles B. Coles, was married to Sarah Heulings. Their son Charles was born July 7, 1807, and died February 25, 1837; married Rachel Burrough, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Davis) Burrough, and had two children, Joseph, who died in childhood, and Charles B. Coles, who was born on August 7, 1836, at the homestead now owned by himself, and known as the Coles Mill Farm, in Chester township, Burlington County, near the Camden line, to which place his father moved upon his marriage with Rachel Burrough, whose ancestors for six generations had owned the same property. His mother died in the Eleventh Month 29,1869, aged sixty-five years.

Charles B. Coles' father died when he was less than a year and a half old. When eight years of age he went to reside with an uncle on a farm, and in early life followed the occupation of farming. In 1864 he engaged in the active business of life and has since followed it with unabated prosperity.

C.B. Coles' Planing Mill, corner of Front and Liberty Streets, is owned by Charles B. Coles, who, in 1864, in connection with William S. Doughten, started the business on Front Street and Chestnut, the firm-name being Doughten & Coles. They continued in partnership until 1870, when they dissolved, and Charles B. Coles built his own mill at the present location.




C.B. Coles & Sons Lumber Company in Camden

The Tiver Farm-

At a Maple Shade Historical Society meeting, There were several members of the Sherf family as well as Steve Tiver. Charlie Sherf, as a boy, worked on the Tiver farm. The talk at the meeting was about Charlie and his brother Tommy Sherf's memories of the Tiver Farm, their boyhood adventures, and riding rodeo at places like Totem Ranch and Cowtown. Charles Thomas Sherf and his daughter Barbara Lee Sherf co-wrote a book "Cowboy Mission: The Best Sermons are Lived... Not Preached" The following information about the Tiver farm is from that book.

According to the book, the farm was jointly owned by Mrs. Pfluger, John, and Ed Tiver. (I would add that they might have been renting it in the beginning. Charles B. Coles was very wealthy and moved to a mansion on Chester Ave. in Moorestown.) So the family was Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pfluger and their son Charlie, John Tiver and his younger brother Ed Tiver, both single. The Gibson family, who were black, were the farmhands and lived in a separate house. Bill Gibson was the father and Elwood "Tiddly" Gibson was his son.

The farm had six mules, two workhorses, a half dozen cows and heifers, and two bulls. The Sherfs learned to first ride rodeo on these animals at the Tiver Farm.

The book "Cowboy Mission" is very colorfully written and gets into the hearts and minds of the people and the mules. I will only quote this paragraph here-

Charlie Pfluger and I were quite friendly from our first day in school and one day he invited me to his farm; 125 acres filled with mules, work horses, calves, cows and chickens. Who wanted to play tennis or go to the swimming hole on that farm with all those animals nearby? Not I !

According to Frank Brooks, John and Ed Tiver farmed the land with a colored family that also lived on the farm. They were the Gibsons, one of the only two black families in town at the time. The other one worked on the Gardner farm and lived on Fellowship Road. He said "Old man Gibson" or the Tivers could be seen plowing the fields by hand.


The Sherf's Book-

The Sherf's book isn't exactly for children in a few spots and it isn't religious as the title might suggest, but gives insight to the Tiver Farm which is now Alden Park. (A lot is about rodeo riding adventures.) I like how it gets into the heads of the people and even the animals. You would team a male and a female mule to a plow for the day. Makes them happier. Stuff like that. The book doesn't include every story told at the Historical Society meeting but you would get the gist. You can get a copy for yourself here- Cowboy Mission book at Blurb Books


THE TIVER FARM

by Al Pfluger, April 3, 2015

The Tiver family from Ellisburg, New Jersey was quite large. Annie and John Tiver had 10 children. As the children grew older, John and Edward became farmers and eventually leased a large area along Coles Avenue in what is now known as Maple Shade, New Jersey. Their sister Mary joined them on the farm and provided the help in preparing the meals and maintaining the homestead. The house had a very large kitchen with a big coal fired cook stove. She became known as Aunt Mary with a wonderful hearty laugh. She loved to celebrate birthdays with cakes and goodies from the Maple Shade Bakery. Mary married Charles W. Pfluger Sr. also from Ellisburg, N.J. Mary and Charles Sr. had two children, a daughter Marie A. and a son Charles W. Jr. When Charles Jr. became old enough he joined John and Ed in working the farm. Marie A. married Edward Quinlan and moved to Pennsauken.

The farm had a nice stream along the back end of the property with a good grazing area for a few horses and cows. The main farm crop was tomatoes along with smaller quantities of corn, broccoli and potatoes. The tomatoes were harvested and the baskets of tomatoes were loaded on a flat bed truck. In the very early morning hours the truck was driven to Campbell Soup Company in Camden, N. J. Campbell Soup would select a a couple of baskets of tomatoes for grading. Payment for the load would depend on the quality of the tomatoes. This was a very productive farm until the passing of John and Edward. After the farm was sold Charles W. Jr. leased ground in Colestown, N. J. and continued farming.


Annie Tiver - 1860-
John Tiver - 1843-
Children:
Sallie - 1884
Lizzie - 1886
Maggie - 1887
Mary - 1888 - 1946
William - 1890
John - 1892
Katie - 1893
Nellie - 1895
Jacob - 1896
Edward - 1898 - 1943
Mary (Tiver) Pfluger - 1888 - 1946
Charles W. Pfluger Sr. 1895 - 1983
Children:
Marie A. - 1925 - 1959
Charles W. Jr.- 1929 - 2002


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