If I could get access to many of the back yards in the homes between Liberty Street, Leonard Avenue, Kuser Road and Newkirk Avenue, over the next few years, I believe my metal detecting equipment would find some historic relics from the land on which at least a part of Camp Olden was located. Note that I emphasized "some." Locating the actual boundaries of this elusive Civil War camp ground has proven fruitless. As a historian, I rely on what I have thus far learned from my own research. Fact: There was indeed a Camp Olden situated somewhere along the "Pond Run" area of Hamilton township. Conflicting accounts: Over the years I have discovered many puzzling articles relating to the camp. For instance, the articles above refer to the Whittaker Farm. Months of research has failed to find any information on Hamilton Township's George R. Whittaker Farm, nor the Whittaker Farm. There is however countless Yardley Pennsylvania references to a Whittaker Farm in Yardley. Two different articles at different times list the residence of George R. Whittaker as living at 234 in one article, and 324 in another; both address in the city of Trenton in the area of Chestnut and Hamilton Avenues. Other research closer to the Camp Olden era involves "Skirm," "Scatterfgood," and other area land holders from the 1860 - 1870 era; apparently before the establishment of the Whittaker Farm. There was once a hand drawn map of the layout of the land, but according to an article in one of my archives, the newspaper didn't have the technical ability to duplicate graphics! I am speculating that New Street (Newkirk Avenue) at the intersection of Camp Avenue was the main entrance to the camp. Compounding the confusing search, is the fact that along with the older (Skirm and Scattergood farms), on the other side of New Street (Newkirk Avenue), the Goldy Farm was occupying all the land from Cedar Street (Cedar Lane) back to today's Kuser Farm. I also speculate that the boundaries extend beyond Hamilton Avenue and beyond Kuser Road.
The search goes on!
Hi Tom I am very interested in this area of Hamilton but about 100 to 60 yrs before Camp Olden , I have an 1896 newspaper article descibing where my 4th great grandfather home was and I cant figure a general location , It is described as a pretty little house on a farm near Crusen's Woods also in another description it is said to be near or on the Pond Run rd . Do you know of Crusen's woods ? I am assuming this relative giving the description might of meant Kuser's Woods ???
Thanks for visiting, Wendy; I hope you return often. Unfortunately you didn't give me 4th great grandfather's name. As to "Crusen's Woods," obviously corrupt spelling for Kuser's Woods. The 1876 map of Hamilton lists the property as "Kusner." These errors were quite common with family names. Email the name of family you are interested in finding and I will see if I have anything. (tglover320@optimum.net)
Tom Glover
Tom Glover said...
3 comments:
Hi Tom I am very interested in this area of Hamilton but about 100 to 60 yrs before Camp Olden , I have an 1896 newspaper article descibing where my 4th great grandfather home was and I cant figure a general location , It is described as a pretty little house on a farm near Crusen's Woods also in another description it is said to be near or on the Pond Run rd . Do you know of Crusen's woods ? I am assuming this relative giving the description might of meant Kuser's Woods ???
Tom - Wasn't the Lawton family credited with giving part of their farm to the formation of Camp Olden? Also, the double wide street in this local neighborhood called Camp Ave was always thought to be the entrance to the Civil War camp. Is this correct?
Lakeside Girl
NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, LAKESIDE GIRL. THE LAWTON HOMESTEAD ON HAMILTON AVENUE WAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CAMP, BUT I HAVE FOUND NO INFORMATION THAT THEY HAD ANY PART IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLACE. THEY WERE HOWEVER VERY ACTIVE IN THE CIVIL WAR.
TOM GLOVER
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