O'Donnell's Restaurant & Cafe

The building at 3905 Federal Street has housed at least six different businesses operating bars, restaurants or nightclubs between 1935 and the mid 1980s. The earliest one that I have documented as of September of 2003 was O’Donnell’s Restaurant & Cafe, which was opened at the end of October, 1935 by James O’Donnell.

By the late 1940s the building was known as the Blue Mirror. The 1959 and 1966 New Jersey Bell telephone books list the address as the home of the Ron Day Voo Bar. In 1970 the place was known as Dio’s Supper Club and featured local rock bands. 1977 saw the building renamed Dr. Jekyll’s High Times. The bar drew a young and rowdy crowd, and the police cracked down more than once. The final incarnation of 3905 Federal Street was the short-lived G. Whilliker’s. 3905 Federal Street has been vacant since the early 1980s.

Parents of Three World War Heroes Honored by Women of Mathews-Purnell Unit; Mrs. Kobus Lauds Civic Work of Organization

Sixteen years ago the Ladies Auxiliary of the Mathews-Purnell Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, was instituted. Last night the “coming out party,” as the occasion was described by Mrs. Mary W. Kobus, Director of Public Safety, was celebrated by the women and the soldiery of the post.

The affair had a dual importance, as it was not only the birthday of the auxiliary, with guests from the various parts of the State in attendance, but three gold star mothers were guests of honor.

Two of those, gray-haired, solemn and maternal, were mothers of the heroes who died in France and for whom the post was named. With these gold star mothers were the fathers of these same lads.

The parents are Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews and Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Purnell, while the fifth member of the group, the third mother who gave up her son, is Mrs. Louise Atger.

Parents Receive Honors

As the names of these parents were called the entire gathering arose and stood in silent tribute.

The event was at O’Donnell’s restaurant, Thirty-ninth and Federal streets, and John Mullin, of Atlantic City, past department commander, was toastmaster.

Mullin cited the affair as “the 16th wedding anniversary” of the auxiliary, as the speaker declared the auxiliary had married the post on that day 16 years ago.

Mrs. Kobus was the first speaker.

She is an honorary member of the auxiliary.

“This night marks your entrance into society” said the commissioner, facetiously, “for whenever a girl gets to be 16 she puts on a new dress, comes out and starts to step out. I hope that you will always work with the post as harmoniously in the future, as you have done in the past.

“On behalf of the City of Camden I want to congratulate the auxiliary and also to welcome the distinguished guests who are visitors tonight from other parts of our state.”

Mrs. Mildred Reed, president of the auxiliary, extended the welcome of the organization and congratulated the committee headed by Mrs. Theresa Mungioli, past president, for the manner in which they had functioned to make the dinner such a success.

Commander Lauds Women

Associated with Mrs. Mungioli on the committee were Mrs. Minnie Martin, Mrs. Anna Jackson, Mrs. Betty Donlon and Mrs. Helen J. Cholister.

Charles Hewitt, commander of the Mathews-Purnell Post, extolled the women for their aid to the men, remarks which were emphasized by Freeholder Raymond G. Price, of the Eleventh ward, also a past commander of the post.

“It is only fair to say,” declared Price, “that it has been the women who have kept our post together. There have been times when we were ready to disband, throw up the sponge, but always the women stepped into the breach then, and carried us through the stress, emergency and trouble and kept the post alive.”

Mrs. Florence Stark, past national president, who instituted the auxiliary 16 years ago, marveled, she said, at the manner in which the growth and influence of the auxiliary had so far expanded and extended.

Mrs. Stark also told of the meeting of the national defense committee which she had attended in Washington, and informed the members that Congressman Wolverton had delegated Mrs. Stark to present his regrets that official business detained Wolverton at the national capital.

County Organization Praised

Frances Fullam, introduced as a “Hudson County Democrat” recited the experiences she had known as she went on tour of the state with the commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars recently.

“I want to say,” asserted the speaker, “that the turnout in Camden county was the best in the state and that the county has every reason to feel proud of the strength and influence which it exerts in the ladies auxiliary in New Jersey.”

Mrs. Hazel Hines, Camden county president of the auxiliary, extended her congratulations as did County Commander Charles Franks and others, including Mrs. Maud Ryan, of Atlantic City, Mrs. Catherine Corbett of Pennsauken, and Mrs. Carrie Bean, senior vice president of the Department of New Jersey.

Mrs. Mungioli was then called upon to congratulate her fellow workers for their unstinted help in making the affair the signal success which every speaker emphasized.

Mrs. Joseph Snyder led the gathering in singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The Eleventh Ward Women’s Organization Republican Club last night installed officers with Mrs. Minnie Martin beginning her ninth term as president.

The installation was held in O’Donnell’s Cafe, Thirty-ninth and Federal streets.

Mrs. Etta C. Pfrommer, former Eleventh ward county committee-woman, installed. Other officers besides Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Margaret Huckle, first vice president; Mrs. Matilda Bensel, second vice president; Mrs. Harriet Stone, secretary; Mrs. Louise Monte, treasurer; Mrs. Frances Jaqueillard and Mrs. Edith Gerber, trustees.

Mrs. Bertha Hammett was toast-master and Mrs. Stone, chairman.