Introduction
The Labor Temple — 1930s
The Labor Temple at 538 Broadway was built in 1920 at the corner of Broadway and Royden Street in Camden, NJ. In the era before radio and television, there were many such halls that were among the primary sources for social activity and recreation. The Masons, Eagles, Elks and the Improved Order of Red Men all had magnificent buildings in Camden.
The Labor Temple was built in 1920, with offices on the first floor, and a ballroom on the second floor. The Central Labor Union, an organization that eventually was incorporated into the AFL-CIO, occupied the building from 1936 through 1942, and was probably the organization that most likely had the building erected originally. Perhaps as a means to generate revenue for the upkeep of the building or to pay the mortgage and taxes, space was rented out, and the Schroeder Funeral Service operated out of 538 Broadway in the late 1920s.
By 1942 the Labor Temple, along with the Eagles Hall at 413–415–417 Broadway, had been taken over by the City of Camden for non-payment of taxes. The buildings were put up for sale in November of that year. The Eagles Hall was purchased by the Borstein Electric Company, which sold electric supplies, and gas appliances, air conditioning, and heating equipment until the mid-1950s.
By 1947, the Labor Temple had become the home of the State Employment Service, the State Unemployment Compensation Commission, and the State Department of Veterans Services.
In the 1960s and 1970s the building became the home of the Broadway Community Center. The upstairs auditorium with its wood floors was used for a host of activities, including roller skating. The building presently hosts offices of the Camden Office of Economic Opportunity.
In 2005 none of the buildings from the days of fraternal glory are still in use by their old occupants; most are long gone from the city, as are most of the other old service and social clubs.
Security Chapter Will Hold Session
Camden Courier-Post —
Interprofessional Association to Hold First Meeting Here Thursday Night
Dr. Martin Steinberg, of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Mary Foley Grossman, teacher and economist, will be the principal speakers at the first meeting of the Camden Chapter of the Interprofessional Association, Thursday night, at the Labor Temple, 538 Broadway.
Florence Frisch Fox, of 1267 Magnolia Avenue, chairman pro tem of the Camden chapter, said the association is a national organization with chapters functioning in all the larger cities of the United States, and with national headquarters in New York.
“Our purpose,” the chairman said, “is social security. Through co-operation in professional groups, our object is to help solve this problem of insecurity which looms greater and darker than ever before.”
Miss Mary Van Kleeck, noted economist, is national chairman of the association. Francis F. Kane, recipient of the 1935 Bok Award, is chairman of the Philadelphia chapter.
Various representatives of the professions in Camden County will attend the first meeting of the Camden chapter, including Dr. Thomas K. Lewis, Dr. G. Russell Atkinson and Arthur B. Gill, it was announced.
Auditions to Begin for Relief Show
Camden Courier-Post —
First Tryouts for Home Talent Roundup to Be Held Tonight
Auditions for entrants to the Home Talent Roundup, a relief benefit show, will be conducted tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. in Camden Labor Temple, Broadway and Royden street. Amateurs in all branches of entertainment will participate in the roundup, which will be held Friday night, November 27, in Convention Hall. Nicholas Marinella is chairman of the general committee in charge.
Leading merchants of Camden county will be visited this week by a committee, composed of members of the Workers’ Alliance of Camden county, for contributions and awards for presentation to winners of the contest. All members of the Camden City Commission, Marinella said, have consented to serve on the honorary committee in sponsoring the affair. Other members of the honorary committee are Gene R. Mariano, Samuel Rothbard, W. F. Dobbins, president of the United Association of Plumbers & Steam Fitters; William Setzer, business agent for the carpenters’ local union; Henry Jager and Barnett Karp, officers of the South Jersey Ladies’ Garment Workers Union; John Green and Thomas J. Gallagher, of the Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers; Joseph Mitton and Harry Harmer, of the United Electrical Radio Workers’ Union.
A feature of the roundup, Marinella said, will be the appearance of a masked violinist. A prize will be offered to the person who solves his identity. Leading orchestras from Camden county restaurants and inns will be invited to participate in an “order of merit” contest on the stage. Applicants for the roundup are requested to bring their instruments, music and other paraphernalia necessary to their performances when they appear tonight for auditions.
Camden Courier-Post — October 29, 1936
Brunner Predicts Majority of 15,000
BRUNNER PREDICTS MAJORITY OF 15,000
Tells Sixth Ward Rally Democrats Will Sweep Camden County
A 15,000 Camden county majority for President Roosevelt and for the entire Democratic county ticket, including Harry Roye, Bartholomew Sheehan, and Henry Lodge, Assembly nominees, was predicted by Mayor-designate George E. Brunner, the Democratic state committeeman.
Brunner spoke before a record-breaking Roosevelt rally of Sixth ward Democrats at Labor Temple, Broadway and Division street. More than 300 men and women attended the meeting, which was preceded by a big parade in which many Negro voters participated with other citizens of the ward. John L. Morrissey, chairman of the Camden Excise Board and the Sixth ward Democratic county committeeman, presided.
"We'll give President Roosevelt and the entire Democratic ticket a 15,000 majority in Camden county," Brunner said. "And each vote that is cast in this election for our candidates is going to count.
"Every voter, every ballot box, will be protected, and there's not going to be any Baird holding up of the count anywhere. We're not going to have any Baird boss-practicism or Bossism or hoodlumism by anyone who might dare to try to interfere with a fair and honest election. This election will be open and above board, with every vote counted properly.
"There is victory certain for our ticket all the way down the line in Camden county from one section to the other, for President Roosevelt, Vice President Garner, Smathers, Lee, Lodge, Sheehan and Roye, Dr. Larossa, the coroner nominee, and all other Democratic candidates on our national, state and county tickets."
Other speakers included Abe Fuhrman, Oliver H. Bond, Samuel W. Strauss, Meyer Wessel, formerly of the Camden Board of Education, and E. George Aaron.
Morrissey and Sadie Harris, the Sixth Ward Democratic county committeewoman, said the big attendance and the intense interest at the rally indicate the ward will be carried for Roosevelt and the whole Democratic ticket by an overwhelming majority.
Camden Courier-Post — February 19, 1938
Hotel, Cafe Owners Invited by Bar Group
HOTEL, CAFE OWNERS INVITED BY BAR GROUP
Proprietors of Camden hotels, restaurants and cafes, together with their employes, have been invited to attend an open meeting tomorrow of Local No. 263, Hotel and Restaurant Employes and Bartenders International League.
The meeting will be held at the Camden Labor Temple, Broadway and Royden street, and will begin at 2 p. m.
Scheduled speakers include John Daly, First ward freeholder; Neil Deighan, president of the New Jersey Licensed Beverage Dealers Association; John O’Neal, president of the Camden Building Trades Council; Charles Hollopeter, chairman of the Camden county housing program; James W. Bamford, president of the Camden Central Labor Union; and A. K. Plone, attorney.
Charles Pierson, president of the local, will preside.
Drama Group to Stage Minstrelsy Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
The second annual minstrel show will be given by the Good Will Dramatic Association tonight at the Labor Temple, Broadway and Royden street, for the benefit of the Second Ward Women’s Republican Club.
The show was written and is directed by Mrs. Dorothea W. Bleidorn, who will be interlocuter.
Mrs. Esther Rowand, Mrs. Geneva Reinhard, Mrs. Bertha Clayton and Mrs. Elizabeth Stanton, will be end men.
Others in the cast are Mrs. Charlotte Schwaiger, Mrs. Emma Evans, Mrs. Alice Weisbrod, Mrs. Margaret Worrell, Mrs. Florence Boenning, Mrs. Sylvia Clydesdale, Mrs. Christina Breece, Mrs. Roberta Gorman, Mrs. May Eastlack and Mrs. Carrie Helser.
Camden Courier-Post — March 15, 1941
1000 Attend 'Night in Ireland' To Honor Patrolman McTaggart
'TIS THE WEARIN' OF THE GREEN
1000 Attend ‘Night in Ireland’ To Honor Patrolman McTaggart
Acting Chief Bakley and Ex-Governor Hoffman Among Guests; Carroll and Garrity Head Committee; Officer Served 21 Years
More than 1000 persons last night celebrated a “Night in Ireland” party in honor of John McTaggart, popular Camden policeman who has been assigned to a beat on Broadway for many years. The affair was held in Labor Temple, Broadway and Royden street.
Among the guests of honor were former Governor Harold G. Hoffman and Acting Chief of Police Ralph Bakley.
Annual parties in honor of McTaggart have been conducted for the past 10 years and on two occasions the affair grew so large it was sponsored by the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association and staged in Convention Hall. A committee of policemen headed by Sergts. Edward Carroll and John Garrity had charge of the party this year.
McTaggart has served in the Department of Public Safety for 31 years. The first 11 years he was in the fire department. His 21 years as a patrolman have been spent almost entirely on a beat on South Broadway.
Two Landmarks on Broadway to Be Sold Tuesday
Camden Courier-Post —
TWO LANDMARKS ON BROADWAY TO BE SOLD TUESDAY
City to Dispose of Labor Temple and Eagles Home
Two of Broadway’s landmarks, taken over by the city for non-payment of taxes, are slated to be sold to the highest bidder at public auction in City Commission chambers Tuesday at 2 p.m. Minimum acceptable bids have been fixed by the city at $10,000 for each, approximately one-sixth of the assessed valuation on which tax bills are based.
The properties are the Labor Temple, Broadway at Royden streets, and the Eagles Home, 413–15–17 Broadway. The former is assessed at $59,175, or an annual tax of $2,887.74. The latter is at $58,525, equivalent to a tax of $2,846.04 at the present city rate of $4.88 for each $100 of assessed valuation.
The Labor Temple, of brick and masonry construction, is 40 feet wide and 60 feet eight inches long. It covers 11,690 square feet. The land, officially listed at 538 Broadway, is assessed at $17,175; the improvements at $42,000. Built in 1920, the place has two stories, a finished basement and a basement on top. In the past six years, while it has been occupied by the Central Labor Union, some improvements have been made, including conversion of the top floor into offices and a meeting room. Fluorescent lighting has been installed throughout. The boiler is downstairs, with a stage and a ballroom on the upper floor. The ceiling is 20 feet high. The basement is a lodge room with 13-foot ceiling.
The union has made the $10,000 offer which has been accepted by the city being the result of the bidding.
Photos
The Labor Temple —
The Labor Temple, 538 Broadway — April 19, 2003