Columbia Hotel
The Columbia Hotel operated at the turn of the century at 224 Market Street. August Hettmannsperger had opened up his lager beer saloon by 1887, according to the city directory of that year. By the turn of the century his establishment had bloomed into a full scale hotel, serving meals. August Hettmannsperger was running the Columbia Hotel as late as 1904, according to City Directories.
The Hettmannsperger family was involved in several businesses in Camden in the 1880s and 1890s. Most notable was Frederick Hettmansperger, who was a telegraph instrument maker, residing at 810 Market Street.
By 1905 the Hettmanspergers were gone. Thomas Wilson is shown operating the business in 1905. John P. “Jack” Scannell had the bar in 1906 through 1909, and for much of this time W. Harry Smith tended bar there. Walter J. Ott traded there from 1910 through at least 1913. The bar was run by John Reilly in the years 1915 through 1924 according to Camden City Directories. From 1924 through 1932, the bar operated as the Victor Hotel, under the proprietorship of William J. Sheehan, who ran it under a “soft drink” license, i.e., he sold low alcohol content near beer. In June of 1932 Sheehan was fined and sentenced to three months in jail for operating a speakeasy. Six half-barrels of beer and 11 gallons of hard liquor had been found in a raid the previous April.
When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, a liquor license was obtained for the premises, and by 1936 the bar was known as the Hi-Hatter’s Club. Owners Tom Mayer and Herb Marker actively promoted their establishment. They employed John “Jack” Miko as a bartender, who was quite popular.
The bar is listed as the Hi-Hatter’s Club in the 1940 and 1943 Camden City Directories. There is no listing in the 1947 Camden City Directory, but 224 Market Street appears in the 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory as the High Hat Club. By 1959 the bar had changed hands and changed names, and was known as the Bell Bar. The Bell Bar remained open through at least 1984.
The 200 block of Market Street was razed and redeveloped in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
Mozart Lodge Elects Officers
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Mozart Lodge, No. 121, F. and A. M., has elected the following officers: Worshipful Master, August Hettmansperger; senior warden, August Uehlinger; junior warden, Benedict Baler [sic]; treasurer, William Moering; secretary, Frederick Roedel; senior deacon, Bernhard Schroeder; junior deacon, Frank X. Braun; senior M. C., Jacob Gnang; junior M. C., Charles Poekerto; senior steward, Peter Greenwald; junior steward, Jacob Wagner; representative to Grand Lodge, William Moering; trustee, Francis Steinbach.
Columbia Hotel — January 1901
Columbia Hotel — 224 Market Street, January 1901
Blaze in Camden — Dry Goods Establishment of John H. Chew Destroyed by Flames
Philadelphia Inquirer —
BLAZE IN CAMDEN
Dry Goods Establishment of John H. Chew Destroyed by Flames
The biggest fire Camden has had for some time broke out at 10 minutes after 11 o’clock last night in the dry goods store of John H. Chew, at 218 and 220 Market Street. The fire followed an explosion of mysterious origin which occurred in the rear of the building. A policeman quickly turned in an alarm and the firemen from No. 2 engine house, the central station, which is only three squares distant, promptly responded.
The flames ran to the upper floors with surprising rapidity and were soon shooting through the windows. Chief Elfreth saw that he had a serious fire to contend with, and turned in a general alarm as soon as he reached the scene.
By the time the reserve engines had arrived the flames had eaten through the roof and were shooting high in air. The fire had communicated with the Columbia Hotel, at 221 Market Street, owned by August Hettmansperger, but the firemen saved the property, which was only slightly damaged.
Within an hour the flames were under control, but Chew’s dry goods establishment was gutted and adjoining property was somewhat damaged.
The burned building was built of brick, three stories in height and was filled from roof to cellar with valuable merchandise. The loss will probably not exceed $50,000.
1906 Camden City Directory Advertisement
Columbia Hotel — 224 Market Street, 1906 Camden City Directory advertisement