Pavonia House

The Pavonia House had already been established as a saloon and small hotel when it was purchased by Henry and Sophia Strahle in 1912. They had been operating a small bakery at 27th and Hayes Avenue prior to buying the bar.

The bar and hotel business proved successful, and the mortgage was paid off in 1920. Henry Strahle passed away in 1925, after which his wife and children operated the bar through at least 1947. The bar is listed as Strahle's Grille in the 1947 Camden City Directory. The bar was sold in the late 1940s, and Sophia Strahle moved to 3055 Carman Street in East Camden in the late 1950s. She died on December 12, 1960.

The bar is shown in telephone books of the 1950s as the Pavonia House. An ad from a banquet program dated April of 1959 indicates that the owners were George and Rudy. Francis J. “Champ” Donato later became involved in the bar. He owned & operated The Pavonia House, known then as Donato's Pavonia House with his wife, Helen Selah Donato until his death in 1977. After his death, Helen Donato and daughter Gloria “Jean” Donato McShane ran the business until about 1980.

The Pavonia House remained in business into the 1980s, when it was demolished after the building was heavily damaged by fire. It was being operated by Billy and Marge Eckel at the time of the fire, according to sources still residing in the neighborhood.

Sophia Irle's aunt, Sophia Walz Irle, owned with her husband Charles L. Irle Sr., a saloon in the next block, at 949 North 25th Street, the corner of North 25th and River Avenue.

My uncle, Henry C. Strahle, the oldest of the two Strahle brothers, told me that in the late 1920's a Cramer Hill neighbor, Freddy Heimach, was a pitcher for the New York Yankees. He came into the saloon one night about 10:00, bringing one of his teammates with him, Babe Ruth. There was pandemonium. Ruth wanted to buy everyone drinks, and everyone wanted to buy Ruth drinks. The Babe was a big, burly fellow who looked as though he was top-heavy.

— Don Strahle

I have many fond memories of the place as a child growing up. There were many customers of German background who loved to play cards. I remember my grandmother cleaning up the place every Sunday. The tables were sticky with beer. I used to sneak the leftover pretzels from the glass bowls, even though they were frequently soggy with stale beer.

—Donald Strahle

Francis J. Donato - known to most as “Champ,” (my grandfather) served in the US Navy, later worked and retired from Campbell Soup. He also owned & operated The Pavonia House, known then as Donato's Pavonia House, at 26th & River Road. He married my grandmother Helen Selah, in the early 1940s. She was one of the children of Mary & Joe Selah, also of Cramer Hill. Champ died at about age 55 in 1977. After his death my mother, Gloria “Jean” Donato McShane, and grandmother held the business for a few years — selling it in about 1980. My grandmother Helen died in June 2004.

— Michelle McShane-Frankewich