Atlantic Service Station
Known Name(s)
Atlantic Service Station
Address
White Horse Pike, Clement Bridge Road Lawnside, NJ
Establishment Type(s)
Service Station
Physical Status
Demolished
Detailed History
The Atlantic Service Station listed in the Green Book under Lawnside from 1948-1952, and under Barrington from 1953-1955, was likely owned by the Atlantic Refining Company.[1] In operation by 1940, this was the only Atlantic service station in the state of New Jersey that appeared in the Guide. [2] Atlantic Refining Company was not the only petroleum manufacturer to solicit African-American business during the segregation years. Esso service stations, owned by Standard Oil Company, were openly welcoming to African-American motorists.[3]
The White Horse Pike and Clements Bridge Road intersection was actually situated in Haddon Heights and was known as “one of the worst bottlenecks in the county.” The Atlantic service station’s final ad in the Green Book coincided with public notice of reconstruction plans for the junction. Roadway improvements at the intersection, combined with the construction of the new Interstate 295, were completed by 1961.[4]
NOTE:
This aerial photo, taken 2 February 1954, by Bill Schill, Sr., shows the intersection of White Horse Pike and Clements Bridge Road (present day Barrington Circle). The photo was taken in anticipation of the design and building of Route 295, through that intersection. Note that there are gas stations on both sides of Clements Bridge on the Barrington side, but the corner closest to Haddon Heights was the Atlantic Station, as can be confirmed by the rooftop signage, "ATLANTIC" shown in shadow on its roof.[5]
[1] Victor H. Green, “The Green Book.” New York Public Library, Digital Collections (https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/collections/the-green-book#/?tab=navigation : accessed 12/20/2024); various issues published 1936-1967. See also: “Atlantic Refining Company,” Bellefonte Historical Resources Series. Borough of Historic Bellefonte (https://bellefonte.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/atlanticrefining.pdf : accessed 12/20/2024).
[2] “Polk’s Camden (Camden County, N. J.) City Directory, 1940,” U. S. City Directories, 1822-1995; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/11088918?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=1269477923 : accessed 20 January 2023), entries for Atlantic Refining Co., filling stations; citing p.46, “White Horse Pike and Clements Bridge rd.”
[3] Alison Kreitzer, “Gas Stations,” Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities, Rutgers-Camden, The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia (https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/gas-stations/ ; accessed 12/11/2024).
[4] Joseph S. Wells, “County Starts Review of Proposed Budget,” Courier Post, (Camden, New Jersey), 4 January 1956, p.3; Newspapers.com by Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.coom : accessed 14 February 2023). See also: “Barrington in the 1940s and 50s.” History of Barrington, New Jersey (Barrington Historical Society, 1992), pp. 39-42; Map G, Major Real Estate Developments, p. 40.
[5] Margaret Westfield, R. A., Haddon Heights, New Jersey, [(E-ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE),] to A. N. McDonald, e-mail, 30 January 2024, “Green Book Lawnside”; Green Book Locations in Lawnside and Berlin Folder, Atlantic Service Station File; privately held by A. N. McDonald [(E-ADDRESS) & STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lindenwold, New Jersey, 2024.
