In this feature, which appears each week, we present a vintage photo from Salem County (along with a large number of other historic local photos in an earlier gallery) and Salem County history tidbits taken from newspapers from a century ago.

SALEM COUNTY PICTURE FROM THE PAST

This vintage photo of Salem County shows farmers with wagons loaded with baskets of potatoes waiting to be shipped at the Woodstown Railroad Station. At left appears to be a large pile of tubers. The scene here -- probably from over a century ago -- is along the railroad tracks on the south side of East Avenue (U.S. Route 40) on what is West Wilson Avenue today. The Elmer Railroad Station was also a major shipping point for locally grown potatoes. Most of the potatoes grown today in Salem County are found on farms on the eastern side of the county. (Times File Photo)

SALEM COUNTY HISTORY

Looking back 100 years ago in Salem County for this week in 1916, these news items were included in the Salem Sunbeam.

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The excursions on the Pennsylvania Railroad to Atlantic City have become popular with the residents of Penns Grove.

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Despite the heat, the crowds remain constant on Friday and Saturday nights in downtown Salem. Merchants with ice cream are among the most visited establishments.

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The pack of tomatoes has begun at most canhouses around the county. There's not yet been a flood, but arrivals of tomatoes are beginning to become brisk.

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County officials are expecting the more boats soon loaded with oyster shells to be used to improve county roads before winter sets in.

At the Salem Country Club there are plans being made for the annual, large end-of-summer gathering. This has been a most successful year at the facility along the Delaware River, club managers say.

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Several train carloads of ice arrived in Salem from Maine last week to help replenish the low local supplies.

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Several boats are engaged this summer in taking fresh vegetables from Salem County to markets in Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitte @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.