Introduction
938 North 3rd Street has housed a bar since at least 1908, when John L. Lynch was the proprietor. John L. Lynch was listed as the proprietor through 1940, according to the City Directories. From July of 1941 through 1943 a Russell Utter was listed as the proprietor, and the bar was known, if only for a brief time, as Club Royal. The bar eventually reverted back to the Lynch family, as the 1947 Directory shows Mrs. Mary Lynch as the owner. The bar remained under the Lynch’s Cafe name through at least 1966, and was known in the neighborhood simply as Mary Lynch’s.
John L. Lynch was born in Ireland around 1871. He came to the United States in 1895, and became a citizen a few years later. He married his wife Rose shortly after the turn of the century, and by 1920 there were five children, Mary, John, James, Francis, and Catherine.
While the bar stopped appearing in New Jersey Bell Telephone Directories as early as 1970, it remained in business at least into the late 1990s when it was known as the R&R Bar. Recognizing that the neighborhood has a large Hispanic population, the sign advertises package goods, N.J. Lottery tickets, and cerveza fría — cold beer.
A Memory of Lynch's Cafe
Bill Stefanko —
Photo courtesy of Jack Sizemore
…about the penny scramble that took place at Lynch’s Bar at 3rd and Erie St on the 4th of July.
I can remember going in the bar with my Dad as a young boy and the patrons would throw their extra change… which wasn’t a lot… on top of the shelf unit behind the bar, that all the bottles would be on. It was a large fancy unit that ran along the wall behind the bar. The unit went up all but about a foot or so to the ceiling.
On the 4th of July all the money that was up there was put in a big flag and a person named Russ the Ice Man would throw all the money out of the second floor window on to Erie Street to all the kids in the neighborhood. The 4th of July was a great day in the neighborhood with BIG parade parties all over, the penny scramble for the kids, then fire works at night at Pine Point Park. Great time and fine memories.
— Bill Stefanko, December 4, 2004
Dart Tournament Continues Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
24 Matches Scheduled to Be Played in Championship Event
The second matches of the South Jersey Golden Dart Tournament will be held tonight with a total of 24 contests on the program.
The same teams which met in the openers on Monday night will pair off tonight with the sites reversed.
Finals of the event will be played at Eagles Hall, near Broadway and Washington streets, upon the completion of preliminary rounds.
Both team and singles champions will be crowned in the final round at Eagles Hall.
District No. 1
Hi-Hat Club at Bridge Cafe, Kernan’s Cafe at Harry’s Taproom, Clancey’s Cafe at Big Ed’s Cafe, Larry’s Cafe at Lynch’s Cafe, Morgan’s Cafe at Nittinger’s Cafe.
District No. 2
Big Horn at Jack’s Grille, Cooperson’s at Scotty’s Thistle’s, Vari’s at Davalo’s, Bush’s Cafe at La Victoria, Shantytown Cafe at Billy’s Cafe.
District No. 3
Phil Hart’s at Pavonia House, White Owl Inn at George’s Grill, Dick’s Rendezvous at Dragon Inn, Royal Inn at Bismark Cafe.
District No. 4
Ginger’s Cafe at Daly’s Cafe, Kenure’s Cafe at Knauer’s Cafe, Fourteenth Ward D. C. at Oaklyn Inn, Blanche’s Cafe at Duke Gartland’s, Regan’s Cafe at Bellevue Cafe.
District No. 5
Bettlewood Cafe at Mulvihill’s Cafe, Barrington Cafe at Chews Landing Hotel, Laurel Inn at Starr’s Cafe, Gruber’s Inn at Welcome Inn, Somerdale Bowling Alleys at Blackwood Cafe.
Grand Opening — Sally's Club Royal
Camden Courier-Post —
It’s the Big Time in Camden Tonight and Tomorrow Nite Grand Opening
Sally’s Club Royal
Sally Burke, Mgr. — Russell Utter, Prop.
3rd and Erie Streets — Wed., Thurs., July 23, 24
Free Platter — Sally’s Royalateers Orchestra — and Every Fri. and Sat.
All Your Friends Will Be There—Be Sure to Join Them — Beer Direct from Keg — It’s Always Cool at Sally’s
Three Men Held Without Bail in Tavern Holdup
Camden Courier-Post —
Trio Nabbed at Shore Identified by Victim Of $2000 Theft Here
Three men suspected of the $2000 robbery of a Camden woman tavern owner last Friday were held without bail for further hearing by Judge Dzick today.
Dzick acted in compliance with a request by Detectives Marshall Thompson and George Ellis, who said the investigation was not complete. The three were arrested Sunday in Atlantic City.
Booked on charges of armed robbery were Stanley Slagle, 22, of 1408 Broadway; James J. Lenahan, 24, of 1734 Broadway, and Robert Sharp, 26, of 19 N. Johnson blvd., Gloucester.
Identified as Boxer
Slagle was identified as a middleweight boxer, who started to fight last fall and appeared twice at a Philadelphia club.
Arrested at 2 a. m. Sunday the men were returned to Camden, where they were identified by Miss Mary Lynch, 44, who operates Lynch’s Cafe at 3rd and Erie sts. Charles Clark, 33, of 538 N. Front st., a patron who was slugged on the head with a blackjack, was able to identify Lenahan and Sharp as participating in the daylight holdup, according to Detective Capt. Thomas Murphy.
Murphy said the men will be included in a police lineup Tuesday at 8 p. m. so that other victims of holdups in the area during the past year may view the suspects.
Atlantic City police said Patrolmen Adelmo Fidelli and Edward Shaw, acting on information from Camden detectives, nabbed Lenahan in the Nomad Club.
Fifteen minutes later, other officers took Sharp and Slagle into custody in the Jockey Club.
Shore police said they had been notified Camden authorities in a raid on an apartment in Camden had learned from a girl-friend of one of the men that she was to meet them in Atlantic City.
Some Money Recovered
Murphy said $600 of the stolen money was recovered on the men, in addition to $125 discovered in the apartment in the 1700 block on Broadway.
The detective captain said Detectives George Ellis and Marshall Thompson, who along with Detectives Harry Tracey and Sgt. William Kelly returned the suspects from the shore, had spent 43 hours without sleep on the trail of the bandits.
Murphy said the key to the capture was a license number obtained by Patrolman Oliver Morgan from an automobile seen near the scene of the holdup.
Car Was Stolen
The car, Murphy said, had been stolen from John J. Hegar, 640 Federal st., a certified public accountant, who was unaware of the theft until after the car was recovered Saturday on 7th st., between Liberty st. and Kaighn ave.
Later Saturday, Murphy related, Detective Harry Kyler and Detective Sgt. Vincent Conley obtained information linking Lenahan to the job and, still later, the apartment in Camden was raided.
Discovered in the apartment, Murphy said, were a .45-calibre automatic and the cash, found hidden under a chair cushion.
Murphy said Lenahan and Sharp, under questioning Sunday night in Camden, admitted their part in the holdup. Slagle, however, denied knowledge of the crime, Murphy added.
Discarded Weapons
Reconstructing the holdup and the trail of the gunmen, Murphy named Sharp as driver of the getaway car and said the men drove around the city and then later threw a shotgun and blackjack from the car.
The men went to Philadelphia, Murphy continued, where they purchased new clothes and wrist watches and other accessories and agreed to meet in Atlantic City.
Murphy said all have police records, Lenahan having been paroled in July from state prison after serving a term for grand larceny in Atlantic City. Sharp was released from state prison last year after serving a term for larceny of an automobile in Camden County and Slagle was released from the prison where he was sent for robbery, Murphy said.
Holdup suspects booked at police headquarters
Camden Courier-Post —
HOLDUP SUSPECTS are shown as they were booked Sunday on charges of armed robbery of a Camden tavern which netted $2000 Friday. Left to right are Stanley Slagle, 22; Detective Sgt. Vincent Conley; James Lenahan, 24; Detectives Marshall Thompson and George Ellis, and Robert Sharp, 26. Desk Sgt. John V. Wilkie records the information.
—Courier-Post Photo
Pitchers Star in Softball
Camden Courier-Post —
Pitchers Paul Haughton and Al Harris sparkled in softball games last night.
Haughton fired a no-hitter, fanned 12 and hit a 2-run homer as unbeaten Campbell Soup Office blanked Hussman Refrigeration, 10-0, for its fifth victory and tightened its grip on first place in the National Division of the Greater Delaware Valley League.
Harris allowed only one hit and struck out 11 as undefeated GEX Eagles jolted Coast Guard, 7-0, to hike their lead in the Garden State League.
Haddon Heights Baptist took over sole possession of second place in the Camden County Protestant League by edging Evangelical Presbyterian, 7-6, for its fifth victory in six games. Kissler’s home run in the seventh inning proved the deciding run.
Mt. Vernon Cafe and Tony and Rab’s continued their battle for the Open Division lead in the Camden County Slow Pitch League. Undefeated Mt. Vernon topped Lynch’s Cafe, 11-7, with the help of George Dempsey’s grand slam home run and Tony and Rab’s stopped East Camden Rams, 11-2, as Al Litwa, Tom Tryka and Joe Martin hit home runs.
Public Service moved into a three-way tie for the Industrial Division sunberth by defeating Aluminum Shapes, 10-5, behind the pitching of Sonny Mussino. Jim Ryan’s single in the seventh inning gave Precision Steel a 10-9 triumph over L. H. Shingle.
Bible Presbyterian forged into a second place tie in the Inter-boro Church League by pounding St. Luke’s Methodist, 17-10, with the help of Rusty Clark’s 4 hits.
Camden Area Softball Standings
Camden Courier-Post —
GREATER DEL-VAL INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE
American Division
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiberglas | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Lucas Paints | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| Hussman | 0 | 4 | .000 |
| Johns-Manville | 0 | 3 | .000 |
National Division
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell Soup Gen. Office | 5 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Schaevitz Engineering | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| Campbell Soup Plant | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| S. M. Langston | 0 | 4 | .000 |
GARDEN STATE LEAGUE
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEX Eagles | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Cramer Hill | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Black Sox | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Tex’s Cardinals | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| Coast Guard | 1 | 2 | .333 |
| Fairview | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Lou’s | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Haddon | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Knights | 0 | 2 | .000 |
COUNTY PROTESTANT CHURCH LEAGUE
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Shade Baptist | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Haddon Hts. Baptist | 5 | 1 | .833 |
| St. Paul’s Lutheran | 4 | 1 | .800 |
| Calvary Bible | 3 | 2 | .600 |
| Immanuel Orthodox | 3 | 3 | .500 |
| Evangelical Presby | 2 | 4 | .333 |
| Kirkwood Community | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| Mt. Ephraim Baptist | 1 | 4 | .200 |
| Erial Community | 1 | 5 | .167 |
COUNTY SLOW-PITCH LEAGUE
Open Division
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Vernon Cafe | 5 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Tony & Rab’s | 4 | 1 | .800 |
| LaPollo’s | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| Lynch’s Cafe | 3 | 2 | .600 |
| Old English | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| Dowling Cafe | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| Jewish CC | 0 | 4 | .000 |
| E. C. Rams | 0 | 5 | .000 |
SLOW-PITCH CITY LEAGUE
American Division
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father McGill | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Broadway Methodist | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| Cherry Hill | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| Cressman’s Bar | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| South Camden Saints | 3 | 2 | .600 |
| Trent’s Bar | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| S.J. Mortgage | 1 | 4 | .200 |
| Blackston Oil | 0 | 5 | .000 |
National Division
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delair CC | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| Oaklyn Manor Bar | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| Crystal Tavern | 3 | 2 | .600 |
| Lena’s Cafe | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| 1st & Last Chance | 2 | 3 | .400 |
| Camden Hawks | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| Meadowbrook Apt. | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| Railroad YMCA | 0 | 2 | .000 |
COUNTY SLOW PITCH LEAGUE
Industrial Division
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Gasket | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| Public Service | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| Ultronics | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| Precision Steel | 3 | 2 | .600 |
| L. H. Shingle | 2 | 3 | .400 |
| Post Office | 1 | 2 | .333 |
| Aluminum Shapes | 0 | 5 | .000 |
INTERBORO CHURCH LEAGUE
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audubon Lutheran | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Magnolia Lutheran | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| Westmont Meth. | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| Bible Presbyterian | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| St. Andrews Meth. | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| Francis Childs | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| Mt. Ephraim | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| Haddonfield Meth. | 2 | 3 | .400 |
| St. Luke’s Lutheran | 1 | 2 | .333 |
| Collingswood Meth. | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| Chews ME | 0 | 3 | .000 |
Photos
Lynch’s Cafe as it appears in November of 2003