Hoddell Garage
Named: Hoddell Garage, 323 Main Street, Camden NJ, 1923, 1924 Camden City Directory advertisement. Wm. F. Hoddell, proprietor. Bell Phone 4062. “Gasoline, Oils, Tires and Accessories, and Storage and Repairs.”.
William Frank Hoddell was born in Abbeydore, Herefordshire, England to James and Ann Hoddell on November 20, 1892. He came to America in 1912, joining his sister Sarah and brother John. When the 1920 census was taken, William F. Hoddell was living in Philadelphia at the home of his brother-in-law James Abercrombie who had married his sister Sarah. William F. and John Hoddell were both working as chauffeurs at the time. He married shortly afterwards, and soon moved to Camden NJ.
In the early 1920s William F. Hoddell owned a garage at 323 Main Street which was known, appropriately enough, as the Hoddell Garage. This building had been built by Edward Roberts, who operated a livery stable, and later a garage there, prior to William Hoddell’s involvement.
When the census was taken in 1930 William Hoddell had moved to Collingswood NJ with his wife and daughter. When the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled he was living at 225 North 39th Street in East Camden. The Hoddell family moved from Camden County shortly afterwards. They moved to the Jacksonville FL area in 1975.
William Frank Hoddell last lived in Orange Park in Clay County, Florida, where he died on March 27, 1976. His wife Viola Sadie Hoddell passed away March 26, 2000 at the age of 92.
Recollections
Hoddell’s Garage had an elevator to take cars to the second floor for indoor parking. A guy named Lou Leep owned it up until the mid-50’s. It was an Esso station then. You got gas from hose nozzle right on sidewalk.
John Ciafrani
May 2005