BLC Photo Collection
A collection of historic photos of Belcoville and the Bethlehem Loading Company are provided in the galleries below.
The Bethlehem Loading Company resided from below Mays Landing to Petersburg, totaling approximately 10,000 acres. Belcoville (short for Bethlehem Loading Co. ) was the name of the town that housed the thousands of employees that were needed to work in the plant. The operation had 24 miles of track along with administration buildings, cafeterias, change houses, police buildings, and military barracks to house 1,100 soldiers who were there to guard the operation.
Rail Operations
Updated on 08/04/2023 11:25 AM
The railroads had to be built soon after groundbreaking in March of 1918 to bring in necessary construction materials. This was followed by a town called Belcoville (short for Bethlehem Loading Co.) to house thousands of employees. By August, a complete town to house 400 families and 3,000 single people was completed, along with a town hall, school, bank, bowling alley, and all types of stores.