Cherry Hill, Evesham/Marlton, Medford, Medford Lakes, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees and elsewhere near the iconic state highways of Routes 70 and 73.
A bit of Cherry Hill history — both agricultural and governmental — ended up in piles of debris on Tuesday.
The two homesteads on the Holly Ravine Farm, once owned by dairy farmer and former Township Mayor John C. Gilmour Jr., were demolished by an excavator to make way for the farm's new life as dedicated open space owned by the Township.
Gilmour started up in Cherry Hill in the mid-1920s when he bought a cow, married his girlfriend and founded the farm at Springdale and Evesham roads likely best known for its Cowtail dairy bar that attracted generations of South Jersey children to Evesham Road for ice cream.
On Tuesday afternoon at Holly Ravine Farm, all that was left of the home of former Cherry Hill Mayor John C. Gilmour Jr. was a stone fireplace.
After almost losing the property to a senior housing developer, the Township in 2024 bought the 22.54 acres for $3.87 million from Gilmour's heirs to dedicate it to the municipal open space inventory.
A 70and73.com external inspection of the two homes last year showed buildings long neglected, overgrown and rotting.
"The two structures are not historic and are in disrepair," Cherry Hill Township wrote this week in a social media post. "Their removal is a necessary step toward realizing the farm's full potential for both future agricultural and public enjoyment uses."
Many mature and healthy trees near the homes will be preserved, according to the post. A barn and garage at the other end of the land near the Holly Ravine Shopping Center will remain.
"This is a significant milestone in our history and is important to our future. We will continue to update the community of ongoing progress," the post stated.
