Newfield

Walking in Newfield and crossing the old railroad tracks that lead to Atlantic City and Philadelphia miles and miles away, you might get a sense of what it was like back in your grandparents’ day, living in a small town, working in a nearby mill and attending church down the street with your neighbors every Sunday.

Formally incorporated as an independent borough in the 1920s, Newfield spans less than 2 square miles and is mainly surrounded by woods and farms. Located a few miles north of Vineland, the most populous city in Cumberland County with approximately 60,000 residents, Newfield feels like its own place along rural stretches of U.S. Route 40 and state Route 55, the two main highways in the area.

Some of the community’s old industries and institutions remain a century after the borough was founded. Just outside of town, Astraglass Innovations manufactures glassware for science labs and industrial machinery. Newfield National Bank, despite significant challenges during the Great Depression, remains part of the community and has expanded to 11 branches in the region. While passenger train service is no longer available, folks can rely on NJ Transit bus routes in and around the community to reach Philadelphia, Atlantic City and other regional destinations.

Most folks from the community live in homes from the early- and mid-20th century. Old Colonial-style homes, Cape Cod bungalows and ranch-style houses range between $150,000 and $350,000. At the top of the market, larger Colonial-inspired single-family homes built in the last 20 to 30 years expand to as much as 3,000 square feet, commanding prices in the $400,000 to $500,000 range.

Students in the community learn to read and write at Main Road School in the Franklin Township school division. Niche gives the school a C rating. With approximately 400 students, the school has an 11 to 1 student-teacher ratio. Alternatively, students can enroll at the Prek-8 grade Edgarton Christian Academy in the heart of Newfield. Otherwise, primary students typically advance to Delsea Regional Middle School and Delsea Regional High School. Niche gives the schools a B and A-minus rating, respectively.

Along West Boulevard, Salem Avenue and Catawba Avenue, the main roadways in town, you’ll find only a few businesses and offices between homes and churches. Family Dollar, located next to the Newfield National Bank, offers essentials and household staples. Folks wishing to dine out can drive along Route 40 to visit Pegasus, a Greek-inspired family restaurant. Opened as a pizzeria in the 1980s, the restaurant has expanded to include fine Greek and American cuisine and menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While you can still get chicken parmigiana sandwiches and Greek salads here, you can also enjoy indulging in scallops and prime rib beef. Head into Vineland to visit supermarkets and more places to shop and eat. West of the city center, you’ll find fast-food eateries and franchise restaurants along with Walmart, Aldi and ShopRite.

Walking around Newfield is comfortable, with tree-shaded sidewalks lining the streets. If you want to collect even more steps or experience nature, Malaga Lake Park to the west of town and Blackwater Pond to the east feature extensive walking trail networks around scenic waters. At Malaga Lake, you can paddle its shallow waters in a kayak or catch sunrays lounging at its small beach area. If swimming in a lake sounds icky, the Newfield Swim Club invites members to cool off at its pool throughout the summer and register their kids for the Barracuda Swim Team. Organized as a member-owned and operated facility, the club helps foster community pride and care, with members required to sign up for pool watch shifts or pay an additional $50 fee. In colder months, folks can lend books or attend toddler story-time readings at the Newfield Public Library or let their kids kick around at the Gaetano Indoor Soccer complex, about a mile north of Main Road Elementary.

Photography Contributed By

Jesse Roehrer

Video By

Mark Barakat