Farmers have lived here for generations
Upper Deerfield Township has a long history of agriculture, especially in Seabrook, where Charles F. Seabrook ran his large vegetable farm and created the freezing method that keeps produce fresh for stores to sell. Japanese Americans moved to the area to find work after being held in incarceration camps during World War II, and other displaced people from southern states, the Caribbean and Europe also settled here to work on the farm, leading to the township’s diverse community today. “There are more suburban areas with the housing stock in the south, and the north has nurseries and agriculture,” says Roy Spoltore, the township’s administrator. “About 60% of the township is based in agriculture. The township also has two large industrial plants, which are a large source of employment. We have a Swiss company coming in, and they’re going to be building a new manufacturing and distribution facility.” Farming is still a major industry, and being close to urban areas gives residents a way to work in a bigger city and come home to quiet Upper Deerfield Township.
Seabrook has schools close to home
Multiple schools are within the township, so students don’t have long bus rides every morning. Charles Seabrook School offers prekindergarten through second grade and earns a B-minus from Niche. Elizabeth F. Moore School covers third through fifth grade and gets a C. Woodruff Middle School also earns a C. Cumberland Regional High, which receives a B-minus, is often the next step because of specialized academies for information technology or dramatic arts. Some students apply to the A-rated Cumberland County Technical Education Center to graduate high school with certifications in subjects like cosmetology or studio production and broadcasting.
Established neighborhoods and a new one still growing
Stefanie Reis is an experienced Realtor with Keller Williams South Jersey, and she helped her clients find a home in Upper Deerfield when they decided to move from Franklinville. “The area is very quiet with established neighborhoods,” Reis says. “I’d say big draws are the affordability and taxes. Home prices are lower compared to places like Franklinville. There is a new housing development going in, too.” The brand-new area is called Reserve at Button Mill, and new traditional Craftsman homes in the steadily growing area range from $395,000 to $455,000. Most homes in the township were built between the 1980s and early 2000s with ranch-style or farmhouse designs. Three-bedroom properties can sell for $155,000 to $300,000, while larger options sell between $300,000 and $650,000. Locals who aren’t ready to own a home can find an apartment in Countryside Village, a complex close to the municipal building.
Taking Route 77 to Bridgeton
Reis mentions people can commute to work in Bridgeton, Salem County and Gloucester County. State Route 77 is the primary way to drive 6 miles into Bridgeton, while Big Oak Road and Almond Road lead roughly 12 miles to Vineland. There are NJ Transit bus stops along Route 77, and a trip to Bridgeton might take about 15 minutes, but the bus comes by once every two hours. Most locals own cars to commute to work, but the residential areas have sidewalks to allow for family bike rides or a brisk morning jog. The Ambulance Center operates out of the municipal building, but the closest hospital is 6 miles away at the Inspira Health Center in Bridgeton.
Exploring the Recreation Complex or learning about the town
Though most of the township is farmland, there’s still plenty of space to enjoy time outside. The Recreation Complex, behind the municipal building, has over 100 acres that are filled with ADA-compliant playground equipment, baseball fields where the North Cumberland Little League plays and paved athletic courts, all behind the municipal building. Sunset Lake Park is a popular swimming spot in Bridgeton, and the Cohanzick Zoo down the street has over 100 animals to see. The Senior Center in Upper Deerfield Township is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays with an optional lunch organized through the Cumberland County Nutrition Program. Parvin State Park is 5 miles east with 465 acres fit for activities like hiking, camping, canoeing and swimming.
The Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center highlights the township’s history with displays and the occasional guest speaker. Anyone can visit the municipal building and find the center on the first floor. The center has a scale diorama of Seabrook as it was in the 1950s, which was designed by Bob Hasuike. He lived in Seabrook before moving away and becoming a successful toy designer for Mattel. Many of the Barbie dolls he designed are on display at the Millville Air Museum, currently on loan from the SECC.
Celebrating Japanese culture at the Seabrook Obon Festival
The township’s diversity shines through with its places of worship, including the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Seabrook, with services conducted only in Estonian. Obon is a Buddhist event where it’s believed that past ancestors visit the earth to see their living relatives. The Seabrook Buddhist Temple celebrates this annual tradition and Japanese culture with the Seabrook Obon Festival every July. Visitors get free admission to watch drummers, like the local Soh Daiko group, perform on Taiko drums or sample dishes from the food vendors. Attendants also wear yukata and other Japanese summer clothing, but wearing these clothes is not required to join the dances and other celebrations. The same Soh Daiko drummers often showcase their talents during the Upper Deerfield Community Day in April. Residents come together to celebrate Upper Deerfield Township with bouncy houses, a food court, and arts and crafts. Spoltore mentions the event has free admission, but visitors might have to pay to use things like the bouncy houses.
Visiting the few local restaurants, like the Golden Pigeon
Jantiques is a vintage store off the turnpike near the Upper Deerfield Township Fire Department. The older red building has three floors filled with unique pieces from ages past and cats who are often available for adoption. Further down the road is Red Barn Deli, a popular spot to grab a cup of coffee in the morning or a Philly cheesesteak for lunch. The Golden Pigeon Diner and Restaurant is open 24 hours a day and serves classic American dishes with rotating daily specials. The restaurant pays homage to retro diners with its neon signs, booth seating and glass display filled with cakes. The township is a dry community, though a vote in 2015 allowed the two liquor licenses in town that will go up for bid soon, so most residents drive over to Millville or Vineland to dine out. Route 77 leads to Walmart and farther south to the ShopRite of Upper Deerfield.
