Cattell Tract Historic District - Merchantville, NJ
N 39° 57.249 W 075° 02.959
18S E 495787 N 4422669
Perhaps the greatest example of Victorian architecture, perfectly preserve, can be found right here in this small town incorporated in 1874. The streets are lined with every imaginable type of Victorian house.
Waymark Code: WMC8RW
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 08/09/2011
Views: 3
I took a 2 hour walk of this incredible and little known town/jewel. I live two miles away and had no idea this area existed. I went to the borough hall and picked up a brochure entitled A Walking Tour of the Cattell Tract, A National Registered Historic District. Inside the pamphlet, there are 15 examples of contributing structures with a wide range of diversity so as to allow the visitor to have a complete flavor of the district. There are a total of 174 buildings in the district. While I was unable to procure a list on this day, the borough folks told me contributing houses (everyone from the 1890s) have markers indicating the date of construction and the original homeowner's name. There are many contributing structures without the markers, but, I only documented the ones with the markers so as to waymark them and provide suitable evidence for the contributing structures category.
The complete nomination form with all the contributing structures and their narratives can be found HERE
Here is what is on the brochure:
Alexander G. Cattell, United States Senator, commission merchant, and organizer of the Corn Exchange National Bank of Philadelphia, was the first developer of Merchantville. By 194, he along with the "founding fathers", real estate speculators, had acquired land which was to become the Borough of Merchantville. Cattell and his brother, Elijah G., eventually acquired 79 acres or one fifth of Merchantville's total area.
Not coincidentaaly, the first railroad was chartered for construction and operation between Pemberton and Mount Holly the same year. However, it took until 1866 for the Camden and Burlington Railroad to break ground. The Cattells and other land owners donated much of the land needed.
Between 1868 and the mid 1870's several Cattell lots were sold for $400 - $500. The first home, the Furber House, at 25 East Walnut Avenue was built in 1869. Contributing to the first building boom were the formation of the Cottage Building & Loan Association, magazines that promoted suburban living, and the opening of a summer boarding house.
By 1910 the Cattell Tract was substantially developed, its predominant architecture being Victorian. Today the majority of structures exhibit a high degree of architectural integrity and are in excellent condition. SOURCE
The Centennial House, an individually listed NRHP site within the boundaries of this HD was my first stop and one of the nicest example of Victorian architecture in this district. An impressive and massive double home in the Stick Style this is an excellent example of the genre. It was believed that the house was first built for the Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876 but careful research has disproved this legend. George Crump, the owner, was vice-counsel to Great Britain and was known to have operated a hotel on the outskirts of the fairgrounds. The house may have been built partially from materials salvaged from buildings at the fair. Don't miss the Mansard towers with patterned gray and red slate. Also note the diagonal wood siding. The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.