PennsGroveStation

Penns Grove Station

   This view is from the west side of Oak Street looking toward Naylor Ave. This track
Is all that’s left of a spur servicing the R.F.Willis lumber and hardware Company. Being a wholesale and retail operation, over these rails they received such merchandise as lumber, plate glass, stove pipe, fertilizer, plow shares, nails, nut and bolts, to mention just a few.
   This remnant of Penns Grove’s bygone prosperity (2005 Photo) at the foot of Oak Street and paralleled by Railroad Ave leaves little for the younger generations to realize just how busy and the importance of the one square mile Borough to the surrounding area.
    Keeping in mind that freight was moved by rail before the expansion of the various trucking companies that operated more on a local transfer basis and secondary to the Railroad. As was passenger travel both local and long distance dependant on the system prior to the Airline and the Bus.

Same view, but maybe fifteen feet to the right and ninety eight years earlier.

There was a four spur service to theArea. #1. To the Willis Company #2. The Depot & river
#3 To the river. # 4 Passed through the township and Boro crossing Railroad Ave, continuing south to the DuPont Works and the electric generating station.
The earlier map to the right showing duel river piers.

Both Passengers and freight arrived at the Penns Grove Depot.
This view is similar but taken from a point closer to Railroad Ave.

The Station and spurs were gone in the late 1950’s. Only the Willis Company tracks remained, but they too were soon just a memory.

Robinson F. Willis & Bros.
Oak Street Offices