It was a surprise to me when I discovered that Marlton used to have an airport. (Actually, it used to have 2, but I'll save Aerohaven for another time). Just off Evesboro-Medford Road, the Marlton-Medford Airport was designated some time in the mid 1940s. The address back then was simply Marlton-Medford Airport, RD #1, Marlton, NJ, 08053.
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| 1946 Washington Sectional Chart (Courtesy of Mike Keefe) |
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| US Geologic Service map from 1953, showing 2 runways just off Evesboro-Medford Road (Courtesy of Pete Greene) |
The airport was comprised of two unpaved runways, approximately 2500 feet long, as well as several hangars. They can be seen in this photo from 1956.
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| One runway can be seen from top left to bottom right, the other in the center, from left to right. A few hangers are placed next to Evesboro-Medford Road, and 3 planes can be seen in the top left. |
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| 1961 Philadelphia Aeronautic Chart (Courtesy of Mike Keefe) |
During its brief life, the airport aided in the development of the 'Paraplane', a plane designed to function as its own parachute in case of engine failure. The plane was developed in secret in Bristol PA, but test-flown at Marlton-Medford Airport in 1949.
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| Article from Muncie Evening Press, June 23, 1949 |
Over the years, the airport assisted in the search for both missing persons, and a missing army plane in 1950, with over 300 personnel stationed there during the search. It also functioned as an emergency landing field for an advertising blimp in 1952. The blimp was advertising beer in Ohio when it lost contact on its return flight. The airport was secluded and too dark to land, so police mobilized passing cars to shine their lights in the field.
Throughout the early 1960s airshows were held at the airport to benefit Civil Air Patrol, featuring sky divers and stunt planes, plus a bomb drop competition. The 1962 air show brought in nearly 1200 spectators. At the 1964 show, spectators could ride in a plane for a penny per each pound of weight.
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| 1962 Air Show (Photos from Courier Post 9/10/1962) |
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| 1962 Air Show |
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| 1962 Air Show |
The airport closed in the late 1960s, and by 1970, it was sold to developers for single family Levitt homes. The neighborhood would become Cambridge Park. 1200 homes were originally planned, and approximately 300 were built.
From an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer on 5/3/1970:
"Perhaps the most striking thing about Cambridge Park today is the decoration of the four sample houses. "Wild", "striking", "fantastic" and "fabulous" were the words most frequently heard at last week's preview... The samples reflect what is usually associated with California's swinging life-style - plenty of color, plenty of texture and plenty of eye-catchers for visitors to talk about on the way home....Mirrors are everywhere, giving the illusion that the rooms, large as they are, are twice the size...this is a trick that looks so easy it is sure to be stolen by every wife in teh Delaware valley with a small dining room, a do-it-yourself-er for a husband and the money to buy the mirrors at $1.40 per foot.
Rough-sawn lumber seems to be the hallmark of the Howe technique [Darrell Howe is the decorator for the development]. It is no accident; he finds it helps make a man reach for the checkbook when this wife tell him "I simply have to have this house." "Men relate to texture, women to color" says Howe...The most outstanding feature, however, is the 21 foot living room-dining room area with its step-down conversation pit."
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| Ad from Philadelphia Inquirer 4/18/71. The ad (and the next one) say 'In a desirable Cherry Hill location' even though located in Marlton |
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| Ad from Philadelphia Inquirer 6/6/71 |
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| Cambridge Park today |
A thank you to Paul Freeman, who runs the website 'Abandoned & Little Known Airfields', which you can find
here. Many of the photos in this post are from there, and there are a few more photos of the Marlton-Medford Airport at his website, as well as dozens of other airports around the country.
And a thank you to John Flack, who has additional information on the Cambridge Park neighborhood
here.
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A View From Evesham. You can email me at MarltonNeil@yahoo.com.
