MK Betterment – McKee City
Founding of McKee City
In 1884, Col. John McKee, a wealthy African American visionary from Philadelphia developed the McKee City section of Egg Harbor Township. After the Civil War, he started by marketing land parcels, and leasing housing in Philadelphia to freed slaves who were looking to resettle in the Northern states. In New Jersey, the Colonel’s 1884 McKee City plan was for a farming community for freed slaves complete with a sawmill, a schoolhouse, a general store, a community hall and several farms near the former West Jersey Atlantic Railroad. His simple, dormitory-style frame homes were without plumbing or heating. There is controversy over his gained wealth through taking advantage of uneducated freed slaves and trading cheap housing for his ownership of post-war issued properties.
He brought in the West Jersey Railroad with a small station in 1880 at English Creek in Egg Harbor Township. At the same time, the Landing’s city to-shore route was established, where riders could catch the train at the McKee City stop.
Sources indicate that John McKee (1821–1902) enlisted in the 12th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Infantry of the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1863 and was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 13th Regiment, serving under General Louis Wagner.
McKee was heralded as the wealthiest man of color of his time and known for his philanthropy. His complicated twenty-seven page will left issues for his heirs (little given), Catholic Church and scholarships until finally settled by 1950.
In his will he set aside 10 acres of land for the Roman Catholic Church, on which would be built St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Egg Harbor Township 100 years later. This donation was in honor of the nuns who were willing to care for a black man when he had contracted typhoid fever. At this time. often white caregivers would not provide aid to those of color. The was named for St. Katharine Drexel, the patron saint of racial justice and philanthropists.
Also the scholarship set up in his will is still available through a private foundation for fatherless young men pursuing a college degree.
MK Betterment History & Collaboration
The MK Betterment Association was started in 1963 by visionary Atlas Lane who wanted to improve his local community in McKee City. With the help of his neighbors and friends, they built a meeting house, created a recreation area, and worked with the Township for paved roads, sidewalks, school bus stops and lights. The original building was used for civic, club and social meetings.
On December 19, 1991, New Jersey Governor James Florio officially congratulates Mr. Atlas Lane on the naming of the street where the MK Betterment Association is located as “Atlas Lane Drive.”
In May 2024 after renovations completed by Egg Harbor Township Committee,
Recreation Department and Public Works, MK Betterment reopened with input from the original MK Betterment family members and Greate Egg Harbour Township Historical Society (GEHTHS). Today the grounds include a renovated building to be used by residents upon request, upgraded basketball courts, and pickle ball courts.
Inside the MK Betterment building is a “Wall of History” sharing the story of McKee City from its founder Col. John McKee to Atlas Lane and those who contributed to forming the MK Betterment Association. The wall was created by the GEHTHS. The GEHTHS will continue to share more about the history of the contributions by African Americans to the Egg Harbor Township community with more wall displays and adding this important area with a marker on the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail.