(Originally posted 2/13/2019, updated 3/20/2021)
Announced in late 1960, London Square was to be a planned community of 96 single family homes on 1/4 acre lots on former farmland just off Maple Avenue. AMP Development company was bringing three models to Evesham:
- The King, a 3 bedroom ranch priced at $13,190
- The Queen, a bi-level 3 bedroom ranch priced at $14,950
- The Princess, a 'charming' split-level 3 bedroom ranch at $12,990 (with optional garage for an additional $700)
The neighborhood was designed with an English theme, not just the name of the development, but the streets as well: Westminster, Earl, Cambridge, Eaton, Trinity and Manchester, all of which were street names in London. The neighborhood was officially opened on May 21, 1961 with three sample homes available for the public to tour.
Evesham Mayor Harry McElhone officiated the opening, along with Miss Polaroid of 1961. Model Ruth Fisher acted as Queen and visitors all received orchids. During the opening, a recording of the chimes from Big Ben were played continuously to add to the authenticity. The neighborhood included a fenced in community play area and the houses had extra wide driveways. According to reports, 2,000 visitors attended the grand opening.
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| Evesham Mayor Harry McElhone and the Queen at the 1961 Opening |
Several theme weekends in 1962 brought additional fanfare to the neighborhood. For July 4th weekend, Betsy Ross "or more accurately pretty model Ruth Fisher" gave out free 50 star American flags. (It was noted in news reports that the flags were 50 stars, as Alaska and Hawaii were just admitted to the United States 2 years earlier). After playing the Queen in 1961, model Ruth Fisher transitioned seamlessly to Betsy Ross, which at least to me, seems an odd character to portray at "London Square".
Two weeks later, a pirate in full battle garb stood guard over a treasure chest. Each visitor received a key upon visiting London Square - if the key opened the treasure chest, they received a prize inside.
For Labor Day weekend in 1962, a 3 day barbecue was held from September 1st to September 3rd, 1962. There was continuous music, lawn furniture and beach umbrellas, along with free hot dogs for all visitors.
By October 1962, the second section of London Square was completed, with 70 homes built in total. The 3rd and final section was begun in November.
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| Before London Square, there was a farm. (Marlton Hills just to the north) - 1959 |
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| London Square - 1965 |
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| London Square in 1975 - Red arrow points to Wawa, opened in 1972 |
While there was open space in the neighborhood for a park, the playground equipment wasn't installed until 1968. The playground equipment was just updated in February, 2021. The park is officially named London Square Park in municipal records, even though there is no sign. There is no sign for the neighborhood either - if you don't live there, you may not know what the neighborhood is called.
In all, it appears that only 88 (out of the original 96 planned) were built. The houses on Maple Avenue were built a few years later and not by the same builder.
Post script
Something didn't seem right about the Miss Polaroid appearance. I did a little research into her schedule and noticed that many of the ads mentioning Miss Polaroid 1961 did not include a photo of her. Here is her schedule for May 1961 I have been able to piece together through old newspaper ads.
May 3 Rochester NY
May 6 St Louis, MO
May 11 Lincoln NE
May 15-19 Minneapolis, MN
May 18 Atlanta, GA
May 21 London Square, Marlton, NJ
May 25-26 Salem OR
May 26 Los Angeles, CA
May 26-27 Jacabos, PA
May 27 Ogden Utah
May 27 Los Alamos, NM
Somehow Miss Polaroid was appearing in Pennsylvania, Utah and New Mexico, each for several hours, on May 27th. I think perhaps there was more than one Miss Polaroid. You heard it here first.
I have been unable to find out much about model Miss Ruth Fisher. It was a fairly common name at the time, and there were several in the area. I think, however, that our Ruth Fisher was from Woodbury, NJ and was voted "Hot Dog Queen of the Delaware Valley" at Clementon Park in 1958. Her prize? Cases of ketchup, mustard and relish. She competed for national honors in 1959, but did not win.
Mayor Harry McElhone resigned his position as Mayor in March of 1962, citing business and personal reasons. He stayed active in the community.
Newspaper ads from 1961-1963
Other Evesham History Blog Posts
In all, it appears that only 88 (out of the original 96 planned) were built. The houses on Maple Avenue were built a few years later and not by the same builder.
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| London Square had a new Tot-Lot installed in February 2021 |
Post script
Something didn't seem right about the Miss Polaroid appearance. I did a little research into her schedule and noticed that many of the ads mentioning Miss Polaroid 1961 did not include a photo of her. Here is her schedule for May 1961 I have been able to piece together through old newspaper ads.
May 3 Rochester NY
May 6 St Louis, MO
May 11 Lincoln NE
May 15-19 Minneapolis, MN
May 18 Atlanta, GA
May 21 London Square, Marlton, NJ
May 25-26 Salem OR
May 26 Los Angeles, CA
May 26-27 Jacabos, PA
May 27 Ogden Utah
May 27 Los Alamos, NM
Somehow Miss Polaroid was appearing in Pennsylvania, Utah and New Mexico, each for several hours, on May 27th. I think perhaps there was more than one Miss Polaroid. You heard it here first.
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| The real Miss Polaroid - or is it? |
I have been unable to find out much about model Miss Ruth Fisher. It was a fairly common name at the time, and there were several in the area. I think, however, that our Ruth Fisher was from Woodbury, NJ and was voted "Hot Dog Queen of the Delaware Valley" at Clementon Park in 1958. Her prize? Cases of ketchup, mustard and relish. She competed for national honors in 1959, but did not win.
Mayor Harry McElhone resigned his position as Mayor in March of 1962, citing business and personal reasons. He stayed active in the community.
Newspaper ads from 1961-1963
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| The Princess |
Other Evesham History Blog Posts
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