“Eighty Acres” neighborhood

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This is a photograph of the “Eighty Acres” neighborhood near the corner of Lincoln Blvd and Ohio Avenue. The image’s original description states that “Eighty Acres” was a real estate development that failed. We are not certain this description accurately depicts the scene in the photograph; however, the same photo and description appear in the 70th reunion book of the Glassboro High School Class of 1935. This book says the photograph shows the residence of an unknown family (left) and the home of Rev. Clarence and Carrie Davis (right). The Davis home was the birthplace of Viola Bel Neblett in 1929.

The image was captured by photographer Arthur Rothstein for a national photography project by the Farm Security Administration, a New Deal agency charged with combating rural poverty. At the time the agency was controversial due to its efforts to purchase land owned by poor farmers and then relocate these families on government-owned land forming a farming collective.

The photography project was managed by a succession of government agencies, including the Resettlement Administration (1935-1937), the Farm Security Administration (1937-1942), and the Office of War Information (1942-1944). The project captured approximately 175,000 images of rural America from 1935 to 1944, which is partially available online through the Library of Congress. 

More about the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Photograph Collection:
http://loc.gov/pictures/collection/fsa/

Library of Congress:
https://www.loc.gov/

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The Glassboro Memory Mapping Project is made possible through the kindness of our community volunteers. Please contact us to contribute information or to help with the project.