Whenever new residences are approved in town, or a new shopping center begins construction, invariably people will comment about how Marlton has changed. This isn't the Marlton they remember growing up, there is too much traffic, too many people, etc. It doesn't matter if they have been in town for 10 years or 80 years. Everyone seems to pine for the past.
As a child, I remember riding in the backseat of my parents '69 Ford Country Squire station wagon. Driving from the Marlton Circle to the Voorhees town line on our way down the shore or just to Mama Ventura's, there was almost nothing but trees. There was no Promenade, no Marlton Square or Target or Marlton Crossing or the Shops at Borders.
The change of the sleepy village of Marlton to the fully developed town it is today didn't happen overnight, and there were pivotal points along the way that hastened the journey from farm town to the town we know today.
Somewhere in the top 10 of pivotal dates along that journey is April 6, 1974, 45 years ago today.
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The Byron T Roberts Farms was a large farm at the intersection of Greentree Road and Route 73, encompassing all four corners. The Roberts farm had been in the family since the 1910s. By the 70s, it was selling 40,000 bushels of apples per year along with 25,000 bushels of peaches, with lesser amounts of pears, nectarines and other fruits on the 268 acre farm.
Byron Roberts was active in the state's farming community, being voted head of both the NJ Peach Council and the President of the NJ Horticultural Society, as well as the Chairman of the Committee of NJ Apple Growers. He was also a one-time Chairman of the Evesham Township Zoning board. He ran the farm from the 1920s until his death in 1966. Upon his death, his son Malcolm took over operation of the farm.
In the mid 1960s, they also began selling Christmas trees. The going rate was $1.25 per foot.
By the 70s, the family was finding it difficult to continue farming in Evesham. As per Mrs Roberts, "it became impossible to farm on the edge of a development" - with Woodstream having been developed a couple of years prior.
If you are looking for some more reading on Byron Roberts Farm, John Flack Jr has an article from the Evesham Township News, as well as his own research.
As a child, I remember riding in the backseat of my parents '69 Ford Country Squire station wagon. Driving from the Marlton Circle to the Voorhees town line on our way down the shore or just to Mama Ventura's, there was almost nothing but trees. There was no Promenade, no Marlton Square or Target or Marlton Crossing or the Shops at Borders.
The change of the sleepy village of Marlton to the fully developed town it is today didn't happen overnight, and there were pivotal points along the way that hastened the journey from farm town to the town we know today.
Somewhere in the top 10 of pivotal dates along that journey is April 6, 1974, 45 years ago today.
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| Roberts Farm, with PUD (Planned Unit Development) indicating where land was to be developed |
The Byron T Roberts Farms was a large farm at the intersection of Greentree Road and Route 73, encompassing all four corners. The Roberts farm had been in the family since the 1910s. By the 70s, it was selling 40,000 bushels of apples per year along with 25,000 bushels of peaches, with lesser amounts of pears, nectarines and other fruits on the 268 acre farm.
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| Apparently a week was 11 days back in the 60s |
Byron Roberts was active in the state's farming community, being voted head of both the NJ Peach Council and the President of the NJ Horticultural Society, as well as the Chairman of the Committee of NJ Apple Growers. He was also a one-time Chairman of the Evesham Township Zoning board. He ran the farm from the 1920s until his death in 1966. Upon his death, his son Malcolm took over operation of the farm.
In the mid 1960s, they also began selling Christmas trees. The going rate was $1.25 per foot.
By the 70s, the family was finding it difficult to continue farming in Evesham. As per Mrs Roberts, "it became impossible to farm on the edge of a development" - with Woodstream having been developed a couple of years prior.
Developers began working with the family by the early 1970s. Several plans were submitted to the Evesham Township Planning Board, but were rejected due to disagreements on housing types and density, open space, and space to accommodate a future elementary school. Original plans to build 1500 residential units were scaled back to 921 units. Also included was 10 acres of commercial development, almost 50 acres of office and light industrial and 32 acres of open space. The land was finally sold in late March 1974 and on April 6th, 1974, an auction was held to clear the land of all personal and farming implements of the Roberts family. The land was still farmed (though not by the Roberts) for a couple of years after the sale, until development actually began.
The land eventually became Greentree Village, Greentree Square shopping center (Whole Foods), The Meadows, The Orchards, a few other neighborhoods and a lot of office space.
While the farm is no longer around, it still comes up as a topic periodically. During recent hearings at the Planning Board, it was noted that at the future sites of both Royal Farms (at the Firstrust Bank) and Mission BBQ, both of which are located on the old Roberts Farm property, arsenic was found in the soil during testing. This was presumed to be present due to the land having been heavily used for farming of fruit.
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| Ad provided courtesy of John Flack Jr |
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| Apples for Halloween? That was always a disappointment! |
If you are looking for some more reading on Byron Roberts Farm, John Flack Jr has an article from the Evesham Township News, as well as his own research.
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