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Gibbsboro's heritage dates back to the
early 1700's, when the first settlers built saw and grist mills
on the many streams that flowed through the heavily wooded
forest. The first mill, a saw mill, was built by George Matlack
in 1714 on Hilliard's Creek. Another saw mill was built by Enoch
Core in 1731 in the center of what is now Gibbsboro. Many other
mills were established along the streams in the later 1700's and
early 1800's.
Ford's Mill, located on Silver Lake
(where Lakeside Manor resides) was purchased by John Lucas and
Joseph Foster in 1852 and transformed into the "Gibbsboro White
Lead, Zinc and Color Works" paint factory. The company, which
developed ready mix paint known for it's shades of green,
essentially put Gibbsboro on the map and changed he town from a
cluster of mills serving the local farms into and industrial
village. |
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By 1887, the
prosperity of the Lucas paint works was such that a spur rail
line was constructed from the main Camden to Atlantic railroad
line to Gibbsboro. The spur line was created to handle the
volume of products and ensure the continued success of the
enterprise. The Lucas operation employed 300 people in 1886 and
700 in 1909.
The Paint Works continued to be in
operation until the early 1980's at which time it was
redeveloped into an office research complex called appropriately
"The Paint Works."
In 1991, Kevin McFadden of McFadden
Catering opened Lakeside Manor, which is available April through
November for weddings and other banquet events.
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