Fairview
Another work in progress page, this one is a result of popular demand, one might say. This page will include articles and pictures about the past and present of Fairview.
As with most everything else on this web-site, it’s a work in progress, and I welcome your participation—
Phil Cohen
Camden NJ
Parkside and Whitman Park — Map, 1914
Parkside and Whitman Park — neighborhood map published in 1914.
Camden First — 1925
Camden Daily Courier — 1925
FAIRVIEW— as Mr. Brigham so lovingly dilates upon— was built because of and during the stress of war, by Uncle Sam. Fairview today is populated and made beautiful by his thrifty children. America’s most noted City Planners frequently visit Fairview for fresh ideas, and they always find them.
—Editor, Camden First
Camden and Her Attractive Suburbs: Fairview
By John V. Brigham, of The Camden Daily Courier Staff
FAIRVIEW wasn’t thought much of by the rest of the folks in Camden a few years ago.
But ask any home-owning citizen of the city that calls Philadelphia its suburb what he thinks of the war-built village nestling on its southern boundaries today, and he’ll tell you, perhaps with a touch of sad regret, that the title set forth above is no phantom caption to a far-fetched real estate prospectus.
Not that he is sorry to admit what internationally informed housing authorities have proclaimed for years, for citizens of Camden have come to be distinctly proud of the model housing development in their midst as they are of their world’s greatest talking machine factory, their world’s greatest soup-producing plant, and their world’s longest suspension bridge. You haven’t seen Camden until you’ve seen Fairview.
What he’s sorry about is that he didn’t realize it three years ago, and get in “on the ground floor.”
Just three short years have slipped by since the United States Government, through the Shipping Board, put up for sale, in the form of private homes, the biggest chunk of real estate that had ever been sold at auction. It cost Uncle Sam $12,000,000 to build the 1578 homes and other model buildings to house and minister to the needs of the men who made the ships that helped win the war. These homes were sold for less than a third of what they had cost—about $3,500,00. [sic]
Today, the actual aggregate value of those 1578 houses on the market is back up again, pretty close to the $12,000,000 mark, and the Camdenite who didn’t buy one of them has found it out. He wasn’t in the crowds that rioted to get into the moving picture building where the sale was held, three years ago.
So they let home-seekers and speculators and investors from Philadelphia and New York and everywhere come in and buy up the village under their noses, at prices which, viewed in the light of realty values anywhere today, made them nothing less than gifts from a bounteous government. The cheapest house at the sale was knocked down for $1,600—a four-room, inside dwelling, but as with all of them, with every modern improvement, such as gas, electricity, good heaters, roomy yards, cement paving and service allys in rear. The biggest price at the sale was $3250, for a six room detached home. Four room houses have recently sold at $3500, and one, with hardwood floors and a few other improvements added, is now for sale at $4,000. The owner of the $3,250 house has refused $8,000, and the average price of a six-room detached house in the village today is over $7,000. Inside sixes are bringing $6,000 and $6,500—the same ones that were bought at the sale for $2,800 and $3,000. Four room houses at the end of a row which brought around $1,900 and $2,000 three years ago are now held at and are bringing, from $4,000 to $4,500 and more.
The increase in value of over 100 per cent. in three years is a record not equalled everywhere, and it is one of the things that has helped make Fairview one of the happiest little communities in the country. And that despite the fact it contributes more in taxes to the city government of Camden, than any other ward in the city. For the village needs little or nothing. Nearly half of the 6,000 odd residents own the homes they live in, and most of those who are not owners pay a reasonable rent, because of the low price the properties orginially [sic] sold at.
So, with few exceptions, they are happy. They are twice as rich as they were in 1921—the cellars that required rowboats or gum-boots for navigation have been waterproofed at slight cost, the walls and floors are as solid and firm as when they were built seven years ago, the grass is greener and the trees are prettier now than they were then, mosquitoes are no worse than anywhere in New Jersey, and the Jersey “Skeeter” is a fiction—the disease bugaboo has proven to be a myth, and not one undersirable [sic] family has invaded the peaceful village. Its citizenry is composed of typical members of the great middle-class, white collar men who call it “salary” and respectable black-shirted stalwarts who call it “wages,” and often have biggest bank accounts. Fairview wins
Views of Fairview — About 1920
North Constitution Road — about 1920.
Looking toward Yorkship Square from South Commons, showing typical row of six-room houses, with rear of stores on left. Below: Fairview Community Baptist Church, North Commons and Sumter Road, typical of the Colonial architectural scheme obtaining throughout.
Fairview Legion Post Installs Officers
Camden Courier-Post —
C. Richard Allen, commander and other new officers of Fairview Post No. 71, American Legion were installed last night in the Legion home, 1392 Collings Road. The installing officers were Herbert A. Blizzard, state vice-commander and Dr. Samuel Loveman, past state adjutant.
In addition to Allen, the new commander, the officers installed were Harry A. Gosler, senior vice commander; John Wilson, junior vice commander; D. S. Hartman, finance officer, and William B. Davis, adjutant. Leon Reynolds, retiring commander, was presented with a watch charm. The post, during the last year, succeeded in having a baby clinic established in Fairview, conducted a 4th of July celebration, and organized a bugle corps with 40 members. One hundred veterans are members of the post.
Fairview Club Women Observe Drama Day
Camden Courier-Post —
Drama Day is being observed by the Fairview Women’s Club at a meeting in the Community Baptist Church this afternoon.
Mrs. C. Richard Allen, chairman of the drama committee, is in charge of the program, which is following the business session.
Tea is being served by a committee, consisting of Mrs. H. Furness, Mrs. G. Stanton, Mrs. Dukes, Mrs. Burnside Anderson and Mrs. Doty.
Fairview Women Give Card Party
Camden Courier-Post —
A card party for the benefit of the Fairview Woman’s Club will be held tonight at Weiss’ Hall, Yorkship Square, beginning at eight o’clock.
Mrs. David Finlaw is the chairman of the following committee in charge of the affair: Mrs. C. J. Mitchell, Mrs. George Hedge, Mrs. Aubrey Hewitt, Mrs. Leon Dudevois, Mrs. Howard Kuehn, Mrs. C. Richard Allen, Mrs. Warren Parker, and Mrs. Orson Gallup.
Bridge, five hundred and pinochle will be played.
Catholic Club to Have Fairview Card Party
Camden Courier-Post —
A card party and dance will be conducted tonight by the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Club in the school hall, Alabama and Collings road. Elmer Barrett’s Sylvanians will supply music for dancing. Officers of the club are: Thomas McDonald, president; Harry MacNamara, vice president; James MacCauley, treasurer, and Miss Marie Clark, secretary. Prizes for winners of card contests have been donated by business men of Fairview and parishioners of St. Joan of Arc Church. Dances are held every other Friday night.
Women and What They Are Doing
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. David Pyper Organizing Staff in Preparation for New Fairview Club Schedule; Audubon Plans U.S.O. Drive.
By M. Irene Frost
Mrs. David Pyper, newly-elected president of the Fairview Woman’s Club, yesterday organized her official staff preparatory to outlining a schedule of activities for the ensuing year at a meeting held at her home, 3204 Alabama road.
The club will begin activities on Wednesday afternoon, September 10, with a friendship luncheon, which will be planned by the officers and members of the executive board.
Two new projects are being considered for the new term. An exchange table will be conducted at each meeting, as a means of raising funds for the treasury of the club and it is to be under the general direction of Mrs. William Congdon. In order to increase attendance at the regular meetings a drive will be conducted by the team method and Mrs. John Connors and Mrs. Charles Hildabrand have been named captains.
Other appointments have been made by the president as follows: American Home chairman, Mrs. James Ferris; art, Mrs. William E. MacLuckie; civics, Mrs. William Dickerson; drama, Mrs. Harry Ferguson; literature, Mrs. George Green; education, Mrs. Charles Mitchell; garden, Mrs. Leon L. Dudevoir; legislation, Mrs. Marion Garrity; international relations, Mrs. Edward Server; music, Mrs. Samuel Hayes.
Loving service, Mrs. James Cattell; ways and means, Mrs. Grover Krout; year book, Mrs. Krout, chairman; Mrs. Frederick Sedgwich, Mrs. Server and Mrs. Pyper; hostess chairman, Mrs. Server; the Club Woman, Mrs. William Barnhart; publicity, Mrs. James G. Main and Mrs. Marguerite Coligan; property, Mrs. Fowler Hillmon and Mrs. Joseph Collavita; by-law revision, members of the executive board; nomination and election, Mrs. Ferris, chairman; Mrs. Samuel Hayes, Mrs. W. A. Genter, Mrs. Colavita and Mrs. Frances Taylor; membership, Mrs. William Williams, Mrs. Joseph Smith and Mrs. Gervis Stratton; welfare, Mrs. Clifton Hamburger.
A Fairview Girl on Bandstand
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin —
Another Como, or Fisher, perhaps? Thomas DeNoble, 15, of 1221 N. 53d st., breaks into an impromptu ballad and five pretty Bandstand faithfuls seem ready to go into a swoon. From left, Carmela Murphy, 1417 E. Pasnyak ave., Barbara Milazzu, 2412 W. Toronto st., Mary Lu Spencer, Fairview, N.J., Marie Allen, 1319 N. 28th st. and Dorothy Mitchell, 5203 Rorer st.