Introduction
The Hotel Aldine at 39 South 6th Street operated in a building that had been built in 1889 as The New Junction Hotel by Mrs. Katherine “Katie” Zimmerman. Her late husband, William G. Zimmerman, had operated a business called the Junction Hotel nearby on Haddon Avenue south of Carman Street, opposite the Haddon Avenue rail station as far back as 1877. William G. Zimmerman died on February 29, 1888.
Mrs. Katherine Zimmerman inherited the business and the liquor license was transferred to her in March of 1888. A new building was erected on the northwest corner of South 6th Street and Bridge Avenue, alternately known as 39 South 6th Street and 595 Bridge Avenue. The business reopened as the New Junction Hotel in January 16, 1890. In November of 1893 the liquor license for the New Junction Hotel was transferred to John Haas. He ran the place for less than a year, passing away in October of 1894. An October 23, 1894 Camden Courier obituary for John Haas cites him as being the proprietor of the New Junction Hotel; he may have been a partner. On his death the license was transferred to his wife, Mrs. Fannie Haas, who operated the Hotel into 1895.
Apparently Mrs. Zimmerman had retained ownership of the building, as she resumed management of the New Junction Hotel in January of 1896. In that same month she married J. Carrow DuBosq. They ran the hotel together until her death in December of 1901.
By 1910 the business was known as the Hotel Dubosq. J. Carrow DuBosq was then raising his children, Thaddeus and Regina DuBosq alone, with his older sister Mary Frances living with the family as well. J. Carrow DuBosq remained in business under that name through at least 1914. By 1916 he had renamed the business Hotel Aldine and was still running the business as late as the fall of 1918.
By the time the 1920 City Directory was compiled, J. Carrow Dubosq had leased his business to Agnes Wurst. He was still living on premises, with 595 Bridge Avenue given as his street address in the 1920 Census.
By September of 1921 the Hotel Aldine was being run by Charles Nixon, who had previously kept a saloon at 1700 Federal Street, and who had been arrested in July of 1920 and August of 1921 for Prohibition violations.
The Hotel Aldine was still in operation as late as May of 1924. It had been raided in March of 1924, and was raided again in May. Charles Nixon was running a speakeasy and disorderly house, i.e., a brothel, out of the premises. By November the business had closed and the property put up for public sale. Nixon was sentenced in 1925 to a short prison sentence for selling alcoholic beverages.
Frank Hineline of the Camden Lime Company bought the building and after remodeling the interior moved its offices into 39 South 6th Street in April of 1925. Camden Lime was still headquartered there as late as 1940. By November of 1941 Camden Lime had moved to 1433 Pine Street. The 1947 Camden City Directory states that 39 South 6th Street was then the address of the American Red Cross production department.
Sixteen Arrested in Raid on Hotel
Camden Post-Telegram —
Eight Women and Seven Men Found in Aldine, Taken as Witnesses
Police in charge of Captain Colsey closed the old Aldine Hotel, 39 South Sixth street, at 2 o’clock this morning, arresting the proprietor on charges of maintaining a disorderly house and violating the State liquor laws. Eight women and seven men were arrested as material witnesses and were held in $10 bail each for a hearing today. Three of the women were unable to furnish bail and were locked up at police headquarters.
Charles E. Nixon, who Captain Colsey asserts operated the hotel, was held in $1,000 bail on each of the charges. Up to noon he had been unable to furnish security. The raid resulted from numerous complaints about the establishment and followed a police investigation, in which it is said at headquarters, evidence of booze-selling as found. About a quart of liquor was found on the premises last night.
Those arrested gave their names and addresses as follows: Cecella Clark, 25 years old, 608 Broadway; Mary Powell, 42 years, of 39 South Sixth street; Margaret Piell, 26 years, 1500 Mt. Ephraim avenue; Anna Smith, 23 years, 215 South Fourth street; Betty Gray, 27 years, 2712 Carman street; May Patton, 28 years, 323 Pine street; Pearl Rodgers, 23 years, 1500 Mt. Ephraim avenue; Hazel Madden, 20 years, 13 Haddon avenue; Joseph Morgan, 53 years, Merchantville; Frank Smith, 35 years, 530 Pearl street; William Winters, 49 years, 1139 Whitman avenue; Robert Capage, 33 years, 224 North Eighth street; Daniel Buehler, 40 years, 594 Carpenter street; William Engle, 22 years, 207 Arch street, and John Thompson, 33 years, 308 South Fifth street.
Public Sale
Camden Daily Courier —
Public Sale Saturday Nov. 24 1924
10.00 A. M. Aldine Hotel, 39 S. 6th St. Property sold, everything must be sold to highest bidder. National cash register; bar and fixtures; large safe; Reliable gas range; kitchen cabinet; book-case and desk combined; wicker rocker; white bureaus; oak bureaus; walnut bureaus; Metallic, brass and enamel beds of different sizes; mattresses; pillows; parlor tables; chiffoniers; mirrors; wardrobes; oak and brass clothes trees; davenport, 9x12 rugs; small rugs; toilet sets; and many things not mentioned. Can be seen early Saturday morning. C. W. Clark, Auctioneer.
Nixon Convicted as Dry Law Violator
Camden Post-Telegram —
Former Owner of Aldine Will Be Sentenced at Trenton Monday
Convicted at Trenton yesterday of selling three per cent beer in violation of the Volstead act, Charles Nixon, former proprietor of the Hotel Aldine, 39 South Sixth street, will be sentenced in Federal Court next Monday. Testimony of two negro dry agents, Green and Jones, helped to convict Nixon. They exhibited six bottles of high powered beer taken in a raid on the hotel. Dry Agent Adams and City Detective Gutherie later raided the place and confiscated more beer. Nixon denied that he has a brother, Ernest, who was included in the indictment.
Camden Lime Company Moves In
Camden Daily Courier —
Largest Mason Builders’ Material Company in State Marks 32 Years Growth Moving Into New Offices
Camden Lime Company Office Building, 39 South Sixth Street, Yards and Motor Truck Fleet. Frank Hineline, president of the Camden Lime Company, oversaw the firm’s move into the former Hotel Aldine building at 39 South Sixth Street in April 1925.