Introduction
1473 Haddon Avenue was operated as a bar as early as 1910, when William Smith was proprietor. Smith ran the place until May 16, 1922, when he committed suicide prior to being sentenced for possession of one gallon of liquor, having been arrested in a raid two weeks previously. The bar operated under a soft drink license through Prohibition. William Fenimore ran it in 1924, according to that year’s City Directory. John Kirk had the place from 1929 through at least 1931. By 1939 the bar was being called the First and Last Chance Cafe. Frank Caromano was licensed at 1473 for that year. Alf McCart is listed as the owner in the 1940 and 1943 City Directories. The 1947 City Directory states that the bar was known as the Last Chance Cafe, and that Chester S. Coack was the proprietor.
The 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory has the bar listed as First and Last Chance Bar & Liquors, and this was the case for all Directories through at least 1982. Ralph Schuldiner owned the bar as early as 1964, until his untimely death in 1972.
The 1985 Directory has the bar listed as Lenny’s Pub, however, the 1988 Directory states that the name had reverted back to First and Last Chance Bar & Liquors. The bar was known as Francine’s by 1990. It was closed and leased to an outside manager in the very late 1990s, but by 2001 the doors had closed forever.
Saloonman Ends His Life on Eve of Raid Hearing
Camden Evening Courier —
William Smith Was Owner of “First” and “Last Chance” on Haddon Ave.
Shot Himself in Head
Body Found by Wife in Coal Bin of Home — Man Feared Jail
Fearing he would be sentenced to a jail term when he faced trial for illegal sale of liquor, William Smith, proprietor of the “First and Last Chance” Hotel, 1473 Haddon Avenue, shot and killed himself early today.
Smith was to have been given a hearing tomorrow before the United States Commissioner Joline. He was arrested by Prohibition enforcement agents two weeks ago and a gallon of liquor seized at his place of business.
The saloonkeeper purchased a thirty-eight calibre revolver yesterday, telling his wife he feared robbers would break in and rob the hotel.
Found Dead in Coal Bin
When Mrs. Mary Smith, his wife, awakened this morning she noticed her husband was missing. She began to search the house and found him leading to the coal bin in the cellar locked. Forcing it open she found the body of her husband. The right hand held a revolver.
A physician was summoned, pronounced Smith dead and notified Coroner Arthur Holl. The coroner said the man had evidently crawled out of his bedroom during the night without awakening his wife and shot himself. Death was due to a bullet wound through the right temple.
Smith is survived by a widow and two children, a boy 12 and a girl 13 years old. He was 51 years old.
“First” and “Last”
The hotel conducted by Smith is the last one on Haddon Avenue, leaving Camden, and the attention of thousands of motorists has been attracted by a sign which reads “Last Chance” to motorists leaving the city, and “First Chance” on the opposite side to drivers approaching the city.
As Smith has been in apparent good health and had no financial worries, it is believed that fear he would be found guilty and sent to jail as a result of the recent dry raid caused him to end his life. He had been brooding over his troubles and had told members of his family and friends that he had hoped he would not be disgraced by being sent to prison. He had conducted the hotel for about twelve years.
Camden Courier-Post — June 1, 1939
Named: Advertisement for the Haddon Chance Cafe at Whitman Avenue, Camden, “Parkside’s Largest Cafe”, and offering a Business Men’s Daily Luncheon for 25¢..
Camden Courier-Post — May 19, 1964
Camden softball league standings for the 1964 season. First & Last Chance appears in the Slow-Pitch City League standings.
First & Last Chance Bar & Liquors Softball Team — Circa 1964
Top row, left to right: Unknown, Joe Gfrorer, retired Camden firefighter; Al Colassi (later owned the T and A Cafe on Sheridan Street); Unknown; Unknown; Tom Broccoli (Camden Fire Dept.); Unknown; Joe Broccoli (Camden Fire Department); Unknown.
Bottom row, left to right: Unknown; Unknown; Ralph Schuldiner (in the all-black shirt, who owned the bar); Unknown; Unknown. Photo courtesy of Joe Colassi.
1473 Haddon Avenue — March 16, 2003
1473 Haddon Avenue as it appeared on March 16, 2003, then the site of Francine’s, showing the deteriorating “Francines” sign still hanging above the entrance.
1473 Haddon Avenue — February 22, 2004
The abandoned interior of 1473 Haddon Avenue photographed through the locked gate on February 22, 2004, showing the bar counter still in place amid debris.