Camden Post No. 980, Veterans of Foreign Wars
Organized in the years after World War I, Camden Post #980 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was one of many veterans clubs that flourished in the city over the years, beginning after the Civil War, a few being still active as of this writing.
In its early years the Post was located at 308 Broadway. 308 and 310 Broadway were in those years owned by the city. 310 Broadway was the home of the August F. Walter Chapter No. 4 of the Disabled American Veterans. 308–310 Broadway had been built by and was the home of Camden real estate developer and builder George Holl, who had passed away in 1912. In 1921 the City of Camden spent $50,000 to provide the quarters for the two groups. By 1936 the buildings were in disrepair, and the city, in such bad financial shape brought on by the Depression that it was paying bills in scrip, made moves to dispose of the properties. Post 980 and August Walters Post 4 of the Disabled American Veterans used 308–310 Broadway until 1951, when the city finally forced relocation by putting the buildings up for sale. Post 980 relocated to 61 South 6th Street and stayed there until 1965, when it moved to 216 Broadway.
Post 980 was very active in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of Camden’s leading citizens were either members or participated in the Post’s activities. The Post often used the facilities of Camden Lodge 293, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks hall on Cooper Street at North 7th Street for its larger events.
When the post applied for its liquor license renewal in 1967, the officers were as follows:
| Commander | James V. Fiumano | 1349 Van Hook Street |
| Senior Vice-Commander | William Foster | 250 South 33rd Street |
| Junior Vice Commander | William Fallstick | YMCA, Federal Street |
| Trustee | Warren Gaskill | 1115 Bergen Avenue |
| Trustee | Nate Wolpert | 1432 Broadway |
| Trustee | Bruno J. Raczykowski | 1101 Morton Street |
The Post was still active at the Broadway address as late as October of 1970, as it is listed in the New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory published at that time, and was still active at that address, although without a telephone, in 1977. The Ladies Auxiliary was active into the 1980s and helped get the Camden County War monument rededicated to include Korean War and Vietnam War casualties in 1984. Post 980 was another social institution that fell victim to growing social chaos that was overtaking Camden in those years, the riots being only a symptom of the greater cancer.
In 2018 there were five veterans groups with Camden addresses, however, only three are at all active. In 2018 only one appears to still exist. It seems likely that all will be gone by the end of the decade, a sad, sad end to one of Camden’s proudest chapters.
Broadway, North of Benson to Mickle Street
1915
308–310 Broadway, built by and lived in by George Holl, is the large house with the yard at the corner of Broadway & Benson. Post 980 was located here from 1921 through at least 1936.
Photographed from spire of Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church.
Gold Star Mothers to Attend Foreign War Veteran's Ball
Camden Courier-Post —
Gold Star Mothers will be the honor guests at the first annual military ball of the Camden Post, No. 980, Veterans of Foreign Wars, to be held on Friday evening, February 3, in the Elks ballroom, Seventh and Cooper Streets.
Elaborate plans for this ball are under the chairmanship of John S. Pennington.
Invitations have been issued for patrons and patronesses and the list will be announced early next week.
Gold Star Mothers to attend the affair are Mrs. C. Alberger, Mrs. Harriett Ablett, Mrs. Laura Brown, Mrs. A. Crangel, Mrs. A. Cassidey, Mrs. R. Dilks, Mrs. Kate Geist, Mrs. M. Griffen, Mrs. Horace B. Keebler, Mrs. H. Kirk, Mrs. Ross Leahy, Mrs. M. A. Matson, Mrs. M. McGuckin, Mrs. Mary Martin, Mrs. M. Matthews, Mrs. Cooling Pond, Mrs. Oliver Powell*, Mrs. Mary Pennington, Mrs. C. Rolk, Mrs. E. Simons, Mrs. Mary Schucker, Mrs. Margaret Steigerwald, Mrs. Annie Taylor, Mrs. M. Osborn, Mrs. Mary Keegan, Mrs. Anna Kennedy, Mrs. T.C. Young and Mrs. Walters.
Assisting Mr. Pennington in planning this ball are John Rouh, James W. Connor, Charles Bozian, Robert MacMahon, Edward Watson, David Lukoff, Harry Laxton, Edward A. Stark, George Jones, William V. Long, Joseph Keefe, Charles Blank and Marvel Passwater.
* Newspaper error — Mrs. Oliver Powell was actually Mrs. Oliver Purnell.
Patrons, Patronesses Announced Today for First Military Ball
Camden Courier-Post —
Patrons and patronesses for the first military ball of the Camden Post No. 980, Veterans of Foreign Wars, to be held on Friday evening February 3 in the Elks auditorium, Seventh and Cooper Streets, are announced today.
The following prominent men and women are listed: Mrs. J.W. Connor, Miss C.M. Day, Mrs. J.H. Forsyth, Mrs. H.J. Goodyear, Miss B. Graham, Mrs. R.E. Green, Mrs. E.F. Haines, Mrs. J. Hood Jr., Mrs. W. Hurley, Mrs. J. Jarrell, Mrs. T. Keefe, Mrs. J.F. Kobus, Mrs. L. Liberman, Mrs. F.L. Lloyd, Mrs. M.A. Logan, Mrs. T.P. McConaghy, Mrs. F.F. Neutze, Mrs. L.K. Marr, Mrs. J.A. Pennington, Mrs. M.E. Ramsey, Mrs. E. Truax, Mrs. S.M. Shay, Mrs. W.J. Staats, Mrs. B.G. Tarburton, Mrs. R.W. Waddell, Mrs. E. Watson, Mrs. E.P. Wescott, Mrs. C.A. Wolverton.
David Baird Jr., William T. Boyle, Isaac Ferris, William Hurley, John Hood Jr., John Jarrell, Victor King, William J. Kraft, Thomas Keefe, Joseph F. Kobus, Hon. Edmund B. Leaming, Dr. A. Haines Lippincott, James H. Long, L.K. Marr, Dr. Thomas P. McConaghy, Hon. Frank F. Neutze, Samuel P. Orlando, Albert E. Simmons, Edwin Watson, Ethan P. Wescott.
Question of Bar in City Hall Put Up to Commission
Camden Courier-Post —
Question of Bar in City Hall Put Up to Commission
Veterans Offered Twelfth Floor, Want to Take Liquor Along
Bleakly Opposes Move
To drink or not to drink (over a bar) in City Hall — that is the question.
Whether there is a difference between dispensing beer in the council room’s official home and other city-owned property is a problem to be settled by the city commissioners, possibly with the help of D. Frederick Burnett, commissioner of alcoholic beverage control.
S. Raymond Dobbs, of Commissioner Frank J. Hartmann’s office, thinks there can be no legal objection to the presence of a bar in the statesquie, 18-story building. Commissioner Hartmann is on vacation.
E. G. Bleakly, city solicitor, while not certain of the legal points involved, says that the very idea of dispensing the foamy brew in City Hall is “ridiculous, a very bad thing and would tend to lower the moral of the city.”
May Become Oasis
If Dobbs carries his point, the twelfth floor of the municipal building may become even more popular than the health department, where marriage licenses are issued — become, in fact, an oasis, a place where city editors, for example, will call first when seeking reporters assigned to city hall.
The question arose over an offer made to the city by a large company which operates a chain of parking lots, to lease city property at Broadway and Benson street.
The property has two buildings on it now, and they are occupied by Camden Post No. 980, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and American Veterans Chapter No. 4, Disabled American Veterans of the World War.
Fifteen years ago the city fathers spent $50,500 to provide quarters for these two organizations, either in accordance with, or beyond an act by the State Legislature. That’s another controversial point — whether municipalities must provide their veterans with meeting places or club houses. But more of that later.
Now in Poor Condition
Today the two buildings, at 308 and 310 Broadway, are, according to Dobbs, in poor physical condition. Dobbs is in charge of city property.
“It would cost at least $2000 to put them in good shape now,” says. “There is no appropriation in the budget for that purpose. And if we wait until next year, it probably will cost twice that much for repairs.
“We have an offer from a company which proposes to demolish the present properties, level off the ground at its own expense and pay the city $1800 per year rental for a term of 10 years.
“However, the applicant is willing to have the lease provide that the city may terminate it any time after two years, by giving 90 days’ written notice.
“The rental is about $700 more per year than the unimproved land would produce in taxes on the basis of other Broadway assessments in the vicinity.
Of course this property will probably become too valuable, within a few years, to be continuously used as a parking place, but it is Commissioner Hartmann’s thought that during the two years it would be so used under the terms of the lease, a purchaser might be found who would erect a substantial building upon the lot.”
Merchants Favor Plan
Dobbs explained these facts to the Retail Merchants Division of the Chamber of Commerce and asked for an opinion from that body. J. Price Myers, chairman of the division, replied that the merchants voted unanimously to approve the proposal, provided the city should retain the privilege of cancelling the lease at the expiration of two years and also provided satisfactory headquarters are provided for the veterans’ organizations now occupying the buildings.
Dobbs thereupon contacted the veterans and offered them the use of the eleventh and twelfth floors of city hall.
“They seem to want to stay on Broadway, or close to it, which would seem to eliminate 805 Linden,” Dobbs explained today.
“The Disabled Veterans, who are occupying 310 Broadway, are willing to move to city hall, but the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who have a bar on the second floor at 308, are wondering what will become of their bar if they move into the building.
Solicitor Bleakly has ruled that no laws exist forbidding beer on city property. There has been a general impression to the contrary, and since the point was cleared up, Convention Hall has been rented twice in the last month to organizations which dispensed beer there.
Revenue Has Been Lost
“The city has lost considerable revenue because of the mistaken belief that permits to sell beer could not be obtained for city property.”
But Bleakly said there is a difference between beer flowing on city property leased out, and the city’s own municipal building.
“I certainly don’t think beer should be served in city hall, and I don’t think it ever will be,” Bleakly said. “While this is only a personal opinion, I would be opposed to the presence of a bar in the building. But it is a question for the commissioners to decide.”
The two properties were purchased by the city in 1921, while Charles H. Ellis was mayor, before commission form of government. The veterans had been meeting in city hall, but it was suggested the building was too crowded. There was no bar then.
The residence of the late George Holl, at 310 Broadway, was sold by him to the Reliance Realty Company, which sold it to the city for $36,000. The building next door, at 308 Broadway, was sold by Israel Weitzman and Louis Tartar to the city for $14,500.
Serial bonds bearing 4½ percent interest were issued against the total amount of the purchases, and bought by the city’s sinking fund as an investment. Some have matured; $30,500 worth still are outstanding.
Commissioners Sip Ice Water While Rejecting City Hall Bar
Camden Courier-Post —
Commissioners Sip Ice Water While Rejecting City Hall Bar
When bigger and better bars are built, Camden city hall will not be a rendezvous for imbibers.
That was revealed at yesterday’s commission meeting when Commissioner Frank J. Hartmann denied that he or any employe had intended to install a bar on the 12th floor of city hall, as was hinted in newspaper stories this week.
“This story was supposed to be funny, but to me it was not even humorous,” the commissioner declared. “I, for one, will never vote for installing a bar in the city hall.”
“Neither will I,” Mayor Frederick von Nieda declared.
Commissioner Harold W. Bennett also indicated he would not vote for a bar.
Dobbs Started Story
The story was handed to newspapers Monday by S. Raymond Dobbs, who was acting as commissioner while Hartmann was away on vacation. Dobbs took the floor yesterday to deny the Department of Public Works ever contemplated placing the bar in city hall.
The story, according to Dobbs, grew out of a proposal to move Camden Post, 980, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and August F. Walter Chapter No. 4, Disabled American War Veterans, from city-owned veteran homes at 308 and 310 Broadway to the municipal building.
Hartmann explained that a company offered to pay the city for the use of the land for parking purposes and would raze the building.
But where to quarter the veterans was the problem. It was proposed that they occupy a building at 805 Linden street, but they frowned on that, Dobbs said.
The Disabled War Veterans agreed to move to the 12th floor of the city hall, but the Veterans of Foreign Wars wanted to know if they could bring their bar to the municipal building, Dobbs explained.
Bleakly Thought It Legal
To which Dobbs is reported to have replied: “Why not?”
City Solicitor E. G. C. Bleakly gave an opinion that there was no law against such a procedure. Then Dobbs was reported to have placed the matter before D. Frederick Burnett, state commissioner of alcoholic beverage control, for a ruling.
Hartmann said the city was offered $1800 rental a year for 10 years for the site by a company, who agrees to level the ground. He declared it would cost $2000 to put the buildings in repair for the veterans.
Mayor von Nieda declared he would oppose such a plan. He said the properties are too valuable to be sacrificed that way.
“They can be put in condition for a small sum of money,” the mayor declared.
The properties were acquired several years ago by the city for $55,000 as veterans’ homes. Under the state law the city must provide meeting quarters for war veteran organizations, Hartmann emphasized. He would not move the veterans unless they agreed to it.
Gets Fan Mail
“I have received plenty of fan mail and telephone calls since the publication of the story,” Dobbs said. “It is true there has never been a recommendation from Commissioner Hartmann’s department to install a bar on the twelfth floor.
“When we received the proposal for a lease, we contacted the veterans’ organizations. The Walter Post agreed to our proposal to move to the city hall, but the Veterans of Foreign Wars wanted to know if they could move their equipment.
“We discovered it included one well kept and stocked bar. It had been placed on city property by a previous administration. I did tell the reporters about that and they put the rest in the story.”
“Is it true you have been offered a job as a bartender?” Commissioner George E. Brunner asked.
Dobbs blushed a little and denied he had been made such an offer.
But throughout the session of the commission, which waxed warm with the debate on the open bus question, the commissioners tilted glasses of ice water and pointed upward to the twelfth floor.
Audubon V.F.W. Post Receives Traveling Gavel at Celebration
Camden Courier-Post —
Veterans Stage Unique Rite
The Camden County Veterans of Foreign Wars famous traveling gavel, used to promote comradeship among members of different posts, was received by the Lieut. Elliott Post, No. 1931, in Audubon last night. Clarence Hewitt, past commander of Corp. Mathews-Purnell Post, No. 518, is shown presenting the gavel to Frank Mullin, commander of the Audubon post.
Audubon V.F.W. Post Receives Traveling Gavel at Celebration
Shipbuilding Tool Spreads Over County to Stimulate Friendship Among War Units and Increase Membership; Commanders Attend Session
Lieut. Elliott Post, No. 1931, V. F. W., of Audubon, last night received the Camden County Council’s traveling gavel, used to promote comradeship and increase attendance at membership meetings of the county posts.
Presentation was made by Clarence Hewitt, past commander of Mathews-Purnell Post, No. 518, of Camden. The gavel, a maul formerly used to calk ships at League Island, was received by Frank Mullin, commander of the Audubon post.
The gavel is passed from post to post and on gavel night, as the recipient post holds open house for members of other units in the county.
Several posts of Camden, Runnemede, Laurel Springs and Gloucester were represented at the meeting. A business session and entertainment followed the presentation.
Guests were County Commander Charles Franks, Camden; William Breen, past county commander, Audubon; Charles G. Conners, councilman, Camden; Charles Sutton, commander of Post No. 980, Camden; Frank Booth, commander of Post No. 3324, Camden, and Ascenzio Ambrico, past commander of Post 2685, Camden.
Woman's Auxiliary, Camden Post No. 980
Camden Courier-Post —
Woman’s Auxiliary of Camden Post, No. 980, 308 Broadway — Mrs. Bertha Huntsberger, Gold Star Mother, has become a member. A card party will be held tonight in the post home. Mrs. Florence E. Stark attended the women’s conference held in Washington. Mrs. Mae Anderson, president; Mrs. Helen Sutton and Mrs. Ruth Cake were present at the Pow Wow in Trenton.
Several members attended the sixteenth annual banquet of Corp. Mathews-Purnell Post, No. 518 Auxiliary held in O’Donnell’s Restaurant and Cafe, Thirty-ninth and Federal Streets, Tuesday night. Some members also attended the reception to Commander Squyres.
Auxiliary Card Party
Camden Courier-Post —
Auxiliary Card Party
The Woman’s Auxiliary to the Camden Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 980, will hold a card party tomorrow evening at the headquarters, 308 Broadway. Mrs. Florence Stark is chairman in charge of arrangements.