{Historic Characters}

Dr. Frank DeMaio as Charles K. Landis,

Vineland ’s Founder, 1861

            Charles K. Landis (1833-1900) had a dream:                  

“ . . . to found a place which, to the greatest extent, might be the abode of happy, prosperous, and beautiful homes; to first lay it out upon a plan conducive to beauty and convenience, and in order to secure its success, establish therein the best of schools – different branches which experience has shown to be beneficial to mankind; also manufactories, and different industries, and the churches of different denominations; in short all things essential to the prosperity of mankind but, at the same time, under such provision for public adornment and the moral protection of the people, that the home of every man of reasonable industry might be made a sanctuary of happiness and an abode of beauty, no matter how poor he might be.  In fact, I desired to make Vineland so desirable a place to live in by reason of its various privileges, and over all to throw such a halo of beauty as would make people loath to leave it , and if they did so, would draw them back again.”

            Dr. Frank De Maio had a dream:

  “. . . to educate people about Vineland ’s rich history- especially the youth of Vineland .  The youth represent the future of Vineland , which hopefully, will be even more illustrious than the past.”

  Though born a century apart, it is evident that these two renaissance men – Landis and DeMaio – were formed of the same mold:  vision, energy, generosity, compassion, perseverance, creative thinking, and a thirst for learning that could never be satisfied in a single lifetime.  Each has left their mark on the history of the City of Vineland – one by founding it, the other by perpetuating the legacy of its founder.

  Charles Kline Landis was born in Philadelphia in 1833.  A product of a home schooled education, Landis was a practicing lawyer by age nineteen and soon found opportunities in the legal world of real estate.  In his early twenties he partnered with a Mr. Byrnes, developing and founding the town of Hammonton , Vineland ’s neighbor to the north.  Through this experience, he conceived a new idea:  the development of an “Ideal Community” he would call, Vineland .  With five hundred gold pieces borrowed from his mother, he purchased 20,000 acres of wilderness land in the center of Southern New Jersey .  There was nothing there but swamp, trees, and a lonely stretch of the Glassboro-Millville railroad.  Many laughed at his plans.  He hired a land surveyor to plot a course for the sale of land for development.  They laughed again and said, “It can’t be done!”  On August 8, 1861, at the start of the Civil War, the first stake was driven into the wilderness land that would become the center of Vineland at the present intersection of Landis Avenue and the Boulevard. 

  Landis cut trees to form an unheard of 100 foot avenue along which to build the center of his city.  People laughed.  He bought the raw materials and built the first railroad station house with his own two hands.  People laughed.  He spent months traveling back and forth to Washington , D.C. to obtain permission for a Post Office.  People laughed.  He sold land at only $7.00 an acre with no money down and 3.5 years before interest payments were to be made.  People really laughed then.  He advertised land for sale in his beautiful Ideal Community called Vineland in newspapers all across the country.  People laughed and sadly shook their heads.

But, when men, women, and families from all over the country came to Vineland to purchase that land, began building homes and businesses and farms on that land, and turned that wilderness of acreage into a thriving  little town with growing potential, people stopped laughing and began looking for ways to further the vision.  Some sought to usurp Landis’ dream for speculator gain.  Landis guarded his vision carefully and in so doing made many enemies.  Vineland grew into a diverse small town boasting foreign immigrant groups of Jews and Italians who pioneered the egg and agricultural industries.  Churches, schools, shops, and community clubs sprouted.  Newspapers sprang up – each with their own particular bias – and some not supportive of Landis’ efforts.

  In 1875, after years of slanderous editorials attacking Landis, Uri Carruth, the publisher of the Vineland Independent was shot by Landis in the aftermath of a vile article assaulting Mrs. Landis.  Landis immediately repented of his deed with great sorrow.  Carruth survived for eight months, dying eventually from an infection to the bullet wound.  Landis was tried for murder, causing sensational headlines up and down the Eastern coastline of the country.  In an amazing example of the mind of the times, Landis was acquitted with a plea of temporary insanity.  (Remember, in the late 1800’s duels might still be fought and, in some parts of the country, it was common practice to settle disputes with a gunfight at high noon.)    Landis went on to work towards excellence in every fabric of the town of Vineland , attracting business, industry, culture, art, and the noblest of citizens to his town.  He founded Sea Isle City by the shore, and traveled extensively with his sister Matilda who assisted in his many real estate dealings.  At the close of one century and the dawn of a new, Landis died aged 67.  He lies in the family plot, surrounded by a grove of trees, at the old entrance gate of Vineland ’s Siloam Cemetery – leaving an inspiring legacy to ignite the imaginations of Vinelander's yet to come. Which brings us to:  Dr. Frank DeMaio, born in Landisville in 1931, prior to its consolidation into the City of Vineland in 1952.  Coming from a hard working family of Italian immigrants, DeMaio quickly grew to distinguish himself in every venture he put his hand to with wit, excellence, and can-do confidence.  As a kid growing up in Landisville, he recalls the wonder of a day trip to Vineland , “To me, Vineland was the big city . . . you went on the bus to the city to go shopping.”  And, it would seem, to school.  

 An honors graduate of Vineland High School , class of 1949, DeMaio pursued medicine with degrees from Villanova University and Hahneman Hospital , where he eventually served as Chief Resident and gained a Fellowship in Pulmonary Disease.  He entered private practice in 1963, as a staff member of Vineland ’s Newcomb Hospital Medical Center , receiving Board Certification in Internal Medicine in 1964.  Throughout his medical career, Dr. DeMaio has held various medical chair positions in addition to his many community leadership positions with local clubs and organizations such as The Cumberland County Heart Association, the Vineland Historical Society, the Foundation of the Vineland Library, the Sicilian American Club, and the Community Art Alliance of Vineland, to name a few.  He is currently the founder and president of the Friends of Historic Vineland, and the visionary behind the annual Founder’s Day event.

  Owning an impressive list of achievement awards and citations for his work in medicine and community service, DeMaio rarely rests from his exhaustive roster of activity.  It is, in fact, within this litany of activity that he finds his rest and strength renewed through his pursuit of many fascinating hobbies such as photography, wood working, antique collecting and restoration, and especially, his in-depth study and encyclopedic knowledge of American history, Vineland history, medical history, and specifically the amazing details of the life and work of Vineland’s founder, Charles K. Landis.  In his interpretation of Vineland ’s founder, Charles K. Landis, De Maio’s storytelling gifts keep listeners asking for more as he unfolds the fascinating details of a 19^th century man with 20^th century vision.

  Dr. De Maio’s forty-five year collection of Vineland historical artifacts, photographs and narrative details of the people and events that formed his home-town are the center around which the Friends of Historic Vineland gather to produce the annual Founder’s Day event each May.  Since 1996, in cooperative efforts with the Vineland Downtown Improvement District/Main Street, DeMaio has led dedicated community volunteers in the creation of historical exhibitions featuring artifacts, photographs, and live re-enactors in period attire costuming, bringing Vineland’s noble citizens and historic watershed moments to life for the current generation.

            In addition to Founder’s Day, DeMaio makes personal appearances throughout the region in speaking programs and slide show presentations featuring the topics of Charles Landis, Vineland history, Italy , Rome , and Padre Pio.

{Historic Characters}