Jim:
Here is a short and sweet history of Burlington Island:
Burlington Island or Matinicunk Island, as the natives called it in the 1600s, became the first site permanent European settlement on the Delaware River. In 1624, the West India Company of Holland sent a group of French-speaking Walloons to settle in the New World. They chose Matinicunk Island. The Walloons came from what, today, is Belgium. The Indian name “Matinicunk” means “Island of Pines.” In 1626, the Dutch returned to transport the Walloons back to Manhattan in an effort to consolidate the Dutch Colony. During the mid-1600s, the Dutch governor Alexander D’Hinoyossa maintained his resident on “High” Island, as he called it.
Possession of the island changed hands several times during the ensuing few years until the English gained temporary control of all of New Netherlands in 1664 and final control in 1675. In 1682, with the help of Burlington resident Robert Stacy, the West Jersey Assembly passed an act granting the island to Burlington to be rented for farming. The legislation directed the rent collected would aid in paying for educating the children of Burlington. Since that act in 1682, the title to the island, even though challenged by Pennsylvania down through the years, has remained with the City of Burlington. In 1852 the state legislature chartered a board titled, “Managers and Treasurers of the Fund for the Education of the Youth in the City of Burlington.” This board remains active to this day.
Shortly after the state chartered the board, Burlington citizens permitted the managers put the lower half of the island—about 100 acres—up for sale. The Burlington Island Land Association purchased the island property for $20,100.00. For many years, this association agitated for the construction of a bridge across the back channel to the island so they could sell building lots. Of course, this never happened and in the late 1880s, the association gave up and sold the land to others. In 1900, the owner of the lower section of the island, Mark Bassler, developed it as a family picnic resort. He erected a pier, tables and a large open pavilion. He also had sand deposited upriver from the pier to form a beach. At the north end of his property, the city erected a wire fence. At this location, the resort managers built a large bath house and an ice cream stand. Reportedly 4,000 people visited the island in a single day during the 1902 season. By 1907, the park owners convinced George Potts, owner of Rancocas Park in Mount Laurel (where Rancocas Woods now stands) to move his better amusement rides to the island to enhance his revenue stream. Meanwhile, park management erected some swings to entertain the daily guests. As the park developed and management introduced better rides, Potts removed his amusements back to his park in Mount Laurel.
In 1917, the owner sold the island property and amusement park. The new owners moved quickly to erect “Island Beach Park,” an elaborate amusement park complete with a large wooden roller coaster called the Greyhound. The park even featured a miniature railroad complete with replica Reading R.R. camelback locomotives. This new park became the toast of the river excursion crowd, attracting thousands. At times, the river pier would have six and seven steamers waiting to unload its human cargo. Still others came by train and would take the little ferryboat, the “William E. Doron,” to the island. In 1928 a disastrous fire all but destroyed the amusement park. A second fire in 1934 finished the job. Although one ride still survives: the restored carousel at Seaside Heights. After the 1928 fire, a physician purchased the carousel and its shelter and had it moved from the island and shipped to become a new amusement for visitors to Seaside Heights. But this ride, still enjoyed by many today, began amusing folks on Burlington Island.
After the 1928 fire, the destroyed amusement park owners sold the lower half of the island to the Hainesport Mining and Transportation Company, part of the Van Sciver Corporation, for sand mining. It April 1929, when the Warner Sand Company bought out the Van Sciver firm for $10 million, they received title to this land. In 1955 Warner began dredging operations, which they completed in 1969. After removing the sand from the island, it left a large lagoon. Warner returned title to this lagoon and the land surrounding back to the City of Burlington instead of the Board of Island Managers. In 1971, the city had the mouth of this basin closed off from the river. Unfortunately, with the Board of Island Managers owning the north half and the City of Burlington owning the south half, much friction has developed over what kind of development should occur on the island. It remains a problem today, although there are signs that the city and board are finding some common ground.
The next time I fire up my scanner, I will post some views of the amusement park.
Best regards,
Jerseyman
