Saddler's Woods - Haddon Twp., NJ
N 39° 54.111 W 075° 03.539
18S E 494958 N 4416865
Beautiful, pristine wooded forest - playground for hikers, Geocachers and naturalists can be found in the middle of suburbia thanks to the conservation effort of a local conservation group.
Waymark Code: WMCRVM
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 10/08/2011
Views: 4
I discovered this oasis a few years ago while visiting a Geocache and re-discoverd it again in August of '11 doing the same. I thought it was high time to waymark this site. This is one of the few sotes in Camden County where one can see and visit old growth forest; trees existing hundreds of years ago. This entrance or trailhead leading into wooded playground this is marked by logs laying down, end on end leading into the gravel path which leads into the deep, dark woods. God stuff. My geocache visit was rewarded with 25 acres of forest unmarred by development. The posted coordinates are for the main trailhead on MacArthur Bvd.
There is parking right on the side of the road made designated specifically for hikers, walkers and nature enthusiasts. Parking is on MacArthur Blvd. and the official address of the trailhead is 250 MacArthur Boulevard, Haddon Township, NJ 08108.
In case you are interested in the namesake of this place, I reviewed the site for this site and came up with the following:
In the 1800s, Joshua Saddler, a slave, had it with his crappy life and took off from a Maryland plantation. He stopped running when he got to Jersey and hooked up with Josiah or "Cy" Evans, a local Quaker farmer. Local historical documents refer to hum as Cy. Saddler felt comfortable asking the fellow for work when he learned he was a Quaker and be default, was against slavery. So, as the story goes, Saddler confided in him, and got a job as a result. Quakers were a big deal here in West Jersey during the 18th century and openly defied the southern regime. Evans is a very important family name in my hometown and neighboring Evesham Twp. and are responsible for creating much of our history we know today.
Later, Evans found out Saddler's owner (that sounds wrong to say) was in town and was looking for his 'property'. Being the mench that he was, Evans approached him and bargained for his worker's freedom, paid him and after settling up, Saddler was truly a free man. Saddler later settled up with his boss, a mench in his own right as well.
Joshua prospered ,worked hard, saved, bought property, built a home for himself amid the woods. Saddler, to no surprise, became somewhat famous and gained notoriety for being a black man who was free and wone his own land. This was definitely unheard of to many slaves and Africans in 18th century America. As word spread of the new haven, other African-Americans came and built homes. In time, a town was formed and named "Saddlertown" in honor of Joshua Saddler. SOURCE
Having unbelievable foresight, Saddler gave protection to his wooded property in his will, stating that none of his heirs could cut the timber down. For this conservation ethic, the woods next to Saddlertown was named in Joshua's honor in January of 2004. Smart guy and legend in his own time. Who knew his efforts would have a legacy still enjoyed hundreds of years later!