Introduction
Named: The Holl Block, Broadway north of Stevens Street, east side, and Camden, NJ..
Broadway looking north from Stevens Street — about 1906.
George and Lewis F. Holl built many houses and commercial buildings in Camden in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The 1887–1888 directory for Camden shows George Holl at the corner of Broadway and Benson Street, and the directory for 1888–1889 has him at 310 Broadway. Lewis Holl lived with his wife Emma L. Holl at 328 Mount Vernon Street; Emma Holl also worked as a teacher. During this time the Holl brothers erected 12 three story business properties on the east side of Broadway between Mickle and Stevens Streets. George Holl passed away on April 16, 1912, and Lewis on December 18, 1919. The brothers were buried in adjoining plots at Evergreen Cemetery in Camden. The properties on Broadway remained in the family for a time, but eventually found their way into Orphans Court, and were sold at auction in 1941.
In 1942 the Holl block was demolished, and 10 one story stores were built which remain in use as of April of 2003.
Camden Courier-Post — June 15, 1932
See also: Charles L. Humes.
Borstein Electric — 1936
Looking south on Broadway from the elevated railroad tracks at Mickle Street — 1936.
On left, 200 to 222 Broadway, known as the Holl Block. The 12 story Stevens Building was at 300 Broadway; gone, the site made into a parking lot.
On right, Broadway beginning at 201, which was at the time the home of Borstein Electric. It had been the home and place of business of Roy R. Stewart, Mayor of Camden from 1931 to 1935. In 1936 Roy R. Stewart’s business was at 203. The second building is the Grand Theater. The movie playing was the 1936 release “The Princess Comes Across,” a comedy starring Carole Lombard and Fred McMurray.
Holl Block Going, New Stores to Rise
Camden Courier-Post —
Broadway Landmark of 50 Years Will Retain Name of Its Founders
The old Holl Block, landmark in Camden for more than half a century, soon will be no more. The 12 three-story stores comprising it are being torn down.
In their place on the east side of Broadway between Mickle and Stevens streets will rise 10 one-story modern stores.
The only thing that will remain will be the name—the Holl Block—and some party walls of the old structures. The 10 new stores, which will have Vermont white marble fronts and be modern in every detail, will be erected at a cost of $100,000.
The stores will be completed by May 15 or June 1, it was announced by J. William Markeim, of Markeim-Chalmers-Ludington, Inc., rental agents.
Work Being Speeded
Markeim said work on the new stores is being rushed so that completion will be as soon as possible, to the end that the new stores may be occupied and thereby furnish additional facilities and merchandise for the shoppers who have used this old shopping center.
The new stores will occupy a frontage of 220 feet by a depth of 93 feet, Markeim said. There will be eight stores with a frontage of 17 feet eight inches, and a depth of 93 feet six inches, and two corner stores of 36 feet width and 93 feet depth. There will be a 13-foot private driveway in the rear which will facilitate the moving of merchandise into the stores.
The plan, Markeim said, is to floodlight the stores at night and there will be a large clock in the center of the block.
Built 50 Years Ago
The stores replace 12 old three-story structures erected more than half a century ago by George Holl, a well known Camden builder, and his brother, Lewis. The brothers owned much property in the city years ago. George Holl died April 16, 1912, and his will provided that none of the real estate could be sold until 10 years after his death.
In March of last year Judge Clifford A. Baldwin, sitting in Orphans’ Court, conducted an auction sale of the property when several persons bid for the old property. The property was knocked down to Markeim for $68,100. Markeim represented the Ludmar Corporation, of which Nicholas S. Ludington is president and he is treasurer.
Built Back From Line
When Holl erected the original properties, he built them 20 feet back from the city property line. It was set forth that the 20 feet was for “light and air restriction.”
The same type of restriction applied to Mickle street for 15 feet and Stevens street for 10 feet from the property line “for the benefit of the property owners around the entire block.”
To lift the restriction on Broadway and use the 20 feet for the new stores in addition to the original depth of the lot, it was necessary to get court approval. The case was taken before Chancellor Luther A. Campbell, who agreed to the lifting of the restriction. The Ludmar Corporation did not ask that the restriction be lifted on Mickle and Stevens streets, Markeim said, although with that 25 feet thrown in an additional store could be erected.
With the cost of the property at $68,100, the court costs incident to the vacating of the 20-foot restriction, and the cost of erection of stores at $100,000, Markeim said that the completed job will cost the Ludmar Corporation $175,000. Thalheimer & Weitz, Philadelphia, are the architects for the stores and the Toll Barkan Company, Fifteenth and Race streets, Philadelphia, is the builder.
The Holl Block — April 2003
Above: Looking south from Mickle Boulevard.
Below: Looking north from Stevens Street.
What Do YOU Think?
Camden Courier-Post —
GAG
Credit this one to Joe Frisco and Pat Rooney at the Friars Frolic in New Yawk this last weekend:
Pat—“I’m gonna’ make a speech.”
Joe—“What yu’ gonna’ talk about.”
Pat—“Washington’s farewell address.”
Joe—“Aw, the hell with that! I’d rather hear Hoover’s.”
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INFORMATION
Maybe you’ve wondered why it is that all fellows, after joining the police force, appear to grow heavy almost at once.
Well, stop wondering at once and give a looksee to the equipment a cop MUST carry in addition to those heavy-woolen suits.
They must carry a service pistol with belt and extra ammunition, blackjack, chain, whistle, flashlight, notebook (not only Wilkie, either), pencil, city guide, badge, watch, keys to police box, etc., etc., etc.
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TIP
One of New York’s really Big Shots in the land of Rackets has been in Camden, off and on, for the last two weeks. He has visited numerous beer peddlers, giving them to understand that they must do business with the outfit he represents—or else.
Now what I wonder (and I’ll bet you do, too) is what that other fellow who delivered an ultimatum to the peddlers some time ago thinks of the new muscle-in.
But if you must have it in plain words, what is Al Silverberg going to do about this fellow Nate’s demand.
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PURELY PERSONAL
I hear my good friend Commissioner Hanna has gone and had his tan-colored auto repainted a Packard blue . . . And I also hear he is going to buy a new car shortly . . . which will be a blue Packard . . . Were you one of the six or seven fellows who held that whoopee party in old Holl Block the other nite? . . . Did you get a look at that well-known woman speak proprietor at Third and Cooper the other nite? . . . Wonder if she drank some of her own stuff? . . . Have you been told that Frankie Conway is now peddling near-beer? . . . And that all you guys who use [sic] to get a thrill when he climbed through the ropes could help a lot by lookin’ him up and grabbin’ yourself a case or two . . . Jack Weinberg says that the movie stars who are making personal appearances have nothing on him as he makes a personal appearance on the Clementon Theatre stage every nite . . . Yes, he’s manager there . . . When is it gonna’ get warm so those hospital nurses can give the lads in the Broadway-Stevens Building another thrill . . . Archie McNew wanted me to tell you that his sea-food emporium down in Gloucester has NOT closed for the season. . . .