Andrew Rider owned a large cranberry farm in the Pinelands in the early 20th century. It was known in the community
that he paid his workers in cash after seven weeks of work in the bogs.
In 1916, about a quarter-mile away from Atsion Village, he was readying to disburse the funds he had withdrawn from a bank in
Hammonton when a band of eight men, a few of whom were dressed as women, jumped out of the woods wielding guns.
“The group of men started shooting,” said tour guide Joyce Lamb. “Everybody in the car was shot.”
Andrew’s brother Henry was shot in the neck and ultimately bled to death.The car then was able to flee
from the crime scene and reach safety.
The would-be robbers had arrived in town in a vehicle with an out-of-state license plate, which was unusual for the time period.
A member of the community luckily penned the plate number due to the oddity of the car being there, which eventually led to all
suspects being caught by authorities.
When the state acquired Wharton Tract in 1954 off present-day Route 206 in Shamong Township, there was graffiti throughout Atsion
Mansion in Atsion Village. One drawing remains: a car that appears to be racing away from a scene. The graffiti is dated 1923, just
years after the sensational murder shook the community.
“For some reason, when the state did the restoration, they thought it was interesting and they decided to leave it,” said
Lamb, who gives tours as a volunteer.
The state restored the outside of the mansion shortly after purchasing the tract for $3 million, but the inside remained shut for more than 50 years. Decades of neglect let the mansion and grounds fall into disrepair.
“They did eventually do the restoration,” Lamb said. “There was tremendous damage inside of the house.”
Finally a $1.2 million renovation project was passed for the historic property. A restoration of the mansion’s interior was completed
in 2007 only to later be undone by a roof collapse in 2010 due to heavy snow.
With the restoration complete, the mansion and village opened for free tours in the summer of 2012. Tours of the grounds can be
taken on Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
The tour experience is vastly different than a visit to nearby Batsto Village in Hammonton.
“We work very closely with Batsto. This is a different kind of experience,” Lamb said.
Batsto Mansion is “furnished beautifully,” she said, whereas Atsion Mansion is more of an architectural
tour. Today, the mansion appears as it did back in 1826. As such, it does not contain plumbing, electricity or heat. For visitors who want to view the other remaining structures in the village area, maps are available. The Atsion Park Office, where reservations for large groups can be made, is in the old village store.
Atsion Village historically was a company town, no matter for what industry the occupants were working. The town consisted of
the mansion, several dwellings for workers, the company store, church, sawmill, gristmill and blacksmith shop. The mansion was built in the Greek Revival style and was said to resemble the store. Even on one of the hottest days of the year, the air in the mansion was cool.
“The house has a north-south exposure,” Lamb said. “That was done purposely to allow for maximum sunlight as well as ventilation.”
A color analysis was also done. Today, the colors on the walls match the ones the inhabitants of times past used to see. The tour winds through the house, stopping in each room other than the servants’ rooms on the third floor, while guides tell many known details about its extensive history.
Atsion is located at 744 Route 206. Reservations are required for large groups and can be made by calling the Atsion Forest Office at
(609) 268–0444.
