Maple Shade Monument

Roberts Landing Monument

Location: Entering Maple Shade from Moorestown over the "Iron Bridge" which crosses the north branch of Pennsauken Creek, on the left hand side of the road, between the north and south ramps on Main Street leading to Route 73. It is across the ramp from the Maple Shade VFW building. Large brown-colored electrical generators are adjacent to the site. It is best to park at the VFW parking lot.

Significance - "On the 14th day of November, 1898 about 100 persons, more or less related to each other, gathered on the pasture of John R. Mason, in Chester Township, near what is known as the "Iron Bridge" over the north branch of the Pennsauken Creek on the Moorestown and Camden turnpike road at about 2:30 o'clock" according to a publication memorializing the event. They were there to dedicate the obelisk-shaped monument which can be seen today on this site. The monument marks the spot of the original settlement of the Roberts family in New Jersey, in 1682. The inscription on the monument reads: "John Roberts and his wife Sarah from Northampton, England 1677 settled here 1682. Erected by their descendants, 1898".

John and Sarah Roberts were among about 230 people, most of them Quakers, who, having sailed from England, arrived in New Jersey on August 16th, 1677 on "The Kent". They made their way first to Burlington, and with their fellow Quakers, established a community there. John had purchased a 267-acre plantation on the north branch of the Pennsauken Creek and laid claim to it in 1682. He and Sarah took a boat up the Pennsauken Creek, disembarking at their new property and while they were building their first home lived in a cave at the spot marked by the Roberts monument today.

Directions: Take Rt. 537 (Camden Avenue in Moorestown; Main St. in Maple Shade) west into Maple Shade. Access to this main street in Maple Shade can be via Rt. 73, Lenola Road (Rt. 608), Forklanding Road or Coles Avenue. The monument is just off the Rt. 73 ramp. It is just over the border from Moorestown on the left hand side of the road, across the ramp from the Maple Shade VFW.

Town Clock

Location: At the corner of Main Street and Forklanding Road next to the Post Office in Maple Shade. Across the street is the Barlow Building.

Significance - This clock is a more recent addition to the landscape of Maple Shade. It is unique in both its design and the material from which it was fabricated: copper. It accentuates this very historic corner of Maple Shade, because Forklanding Road was the land route to the wharf at the forks of the Pennsauken Creek, Maple Shade's conduit to the markets of Philadelphia. Farmers would transport their goods up Forklanding Road to waiting barges at the forks. In addition to the impressive town clock, the park is adorned with a large gazebo.

The Barlow Building across the street bears the name of one of Maple Shade's most prolific developers, responsible for marketing the "Barlow Bungalows", small, affordable homes which are found in rows throughout the community to this day.

Directions: Using the same basic directions shown above, arrive on Main Street, Maple Shade. Proceed to the corner of Forklanding Road.