Newton's Service Station
Known Name(s)
Newton's Service Station
Address
White Horse Pike Lawnside, NJ
Establishment Type(s)
Service Station
Physical Status
Extant
Description
In the 1940’s, Newton’s Service Station was located on the White Horse Pike in Lawnside which was a main route between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. During its period of operation, there were at least two easements granted to the property which allowed for the construction of the New Jersey Turnpike in 1951 and the Sinclair pipeline in 1953. The building still stands today but under new ownership.
Detailed History
Chester Newton and his wife, Jewel opened the service station in the late 1940s. As the owners and proprietors of the Black owned gas station, they served the residents of the community and in turn, the residents and small businesses supported Newton’s by purchasing gas at the station.
An attempted robbery of the station in 1959, thrust Newton and his service station into the pages of the news. During the incident, he was directed at gunpoint to hand over his money. Instead, Newton pulled and discharged his pistol, killing the robber. Fortunately, Newton was only grazed by the bullet fired by the intruder, and the man’s accomplices sped away from the scene. “What he did not know was that Newton was a crack shot and holder of a rating as marksman from the National Rifle Association.” says the Philadelphia Tribune.
Newton was quickly cleared of any wrong doing. Some of those leaving the scene were caught. A trial was held and the defendants were acquitted of robbery.
Newton was born in New York City in 1899 to Frederick S and Mabel Newton. He was the oldest of nine children. His family moved from New York around 1904 and he was raised in Voorhees, New Jersey. In 1914 he was baptized along with his siblings at St John's Episcopal Church in Gibbsboro. The witnesses included Barton Lucas and his wife Rebecca. Lucas is the son of John Lucas the owner of the Paint Works on Silver Lake in Gibbsboro.
Newton, along with his father and brother, worked for the Lucas family filling cans of paint. This was significant because the Paint Works had the first patent for "ready-mix" paint, or paint in a can.” Later, he became a chauffeur for the company.
Newton passed away in 1984. He was cremated at Harleigh Crematory, Camden, NJ. His wife, Jewel, preceded him in 1967. She was buried at Mount Peace Cemetery, Lawnside, NJ. Prior to her marriage to Newton, she had one son, William Washington, and a daughter, Audrey Horsey. Together, she and Newton were the parents of Gloria and Marion Newton.
