The Tarter Family of Camden, New Jersey

The idea for a page about a Jewish family’s years in Camden has been percolating (what a wonderful word!) for some time. I had already done a series of pages about the Goldstein family of Broadway below Kaighn, whose three sons all became doctors, and whose one daughter married a dentist, but I had yet to put a page tying it all together. In March of 2004 I received an e-mail from Jodi Paisner, the great-niece of Private Herbert Tarter, a Camden-born and raised young man who gave his life while serving as a paratrooper during World War II. Jodi had found the page I had set up in Private Tarter’s honor, and had some corrections and additional information for the page. When I asked her to tell the story of the Tarter family’s Camden experiences, she responded in detail. It was at that point I realized that this was the time to put a page of this nature together.

Like everything else on this website, and in our lives, it’s a work in progress. I welcome all comments, criticisms, and contributions… pictures are more than welcome.

Phil Cohen, Camden NJ — Last Updated November 17, 2007

Samuel Tartar was born in Russia in 1875. According to the 1920 Census he came to America, and he became a United States citizen in 1906. Around that time he married Sarah Frank. Sarah bore their first child, a son named Morris, on October 1, 1906. By 1920 there were three more children, daughters Rose, Evelyn, and Dorothy. America had been good to Samuel Tartar. He had bought a home for his family at 1142 South 6th Street, where Sixth Street met Kaighn Avenue, in those days one of the main shopping streets in Camden. Well-known members of Camden’s Jewish community, Samuel and Sarah Tartar were founding members of the Sons of Israel synagogue that stood for many years at South 8th and Sycamore Streets. He was also the first president of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey. A relation, Louis Tarter, was active in the local B’nai B’rith lodge.

Prohibition had been enacted in 1919, and Samuel Tarter was operating a bottling business on premises at 1142 South 6th Street. Apparently there was more than soda pop going into the bottles, for when Prohibition became law well over 200 families were impacted. There were mouths to feed and bills to pay. He branched out into real estate in the early 1920s.

In 1923 Sarah Tarter became pregnant with their fifth child. A son, Herbert Tarter was born on January 17, 1924. Sadly, Samuel Tarter would pass away six weeks after the birth of his son, on March 1, 1924. Highly respected in Camden’s Jewish community, the Samuel Tarter Home for Hebrew Orphans was named in his memory after his death.

Times were difficult for Sarah Tarter and her children, but the family and the local Jewish community pulled together and they got through. Morris “Toots” Tarter graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and became a successful lawyer. The Tarter family moved to 1138 Langham Avenue in the Parkside section of Camden at some point after April of 1930.

During the 1930s, life went on, and the Tarter sisters all married. Moe Sidewater and Joe Vederman (Moe and Joe) were best friends. Moe was one year older than Joe. Moe walked Joe to school every day. They were from Point Breeze Avenue in South Philadelphia. When they courted Evelyn and Dorothy Tarter, they found odd jobs to afford the 2 cents it cost to take the ferry to Camden. Evelyn married Morris Sidewater, and Dorothy married Joseph Vederman. Rose married Morris Caskey.

Herbert Tarter grew to be a tall fellow, attending Parkside Elementary School and Hatch Junior High School in the 1930s, and playing basketball for Camden High School before his 1942 graduation. In September of 1940 Morris Sidewater and his brother Arthur opened their first store on a busy neighborhood block in Philadelphia. Originally called Charm Shoppes, the store’s name was changed to Charming Shoppes, because their first choice was already registered to another business. Joe Vederman would join the firm later.

When America was attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941 the country was united in its determination to fight and win. Sons and daughters from families all across the country served in the military or in defense plants, and many parents of those in service did their part on the home front as well. The Tarter family was no exception. Youngest son Herbert Tarter was of draft age. After graduating from Camden High School, he attended South Jersey Law School in Camden briefly, before enlisting, on the advice of older brother Morris “Toots” Tarter. Toots suggested that Herbert enlist, believing that Herbert would receive a relatively safe assignment if he volunteered rather than wait to be drafted. Herbert enlisted, but subsequently volunteered for paratroop duty. Private Herbert Tarter was killed in action on Leyte, Philippine Islands, on February 8, 1945 at the age of 21. His brother, in the mistaken belief that he had poorly advised young Herbert to make a choice that resulted in death, never forgave himself.

In the late 1940s Joseph Vederman left his job as a salesman at the N. Fuhrman Furniture Store to go into business with brother-in-law Morris Sidewater at the Charming Shoppes chain. Charming Shoppes, which began the Fashion Bug stores in 1960, and added the Lane Bryant stores, is still operating, over 60 years after its founding. In 2004 Morris and Evelyn Sidewater are still living, while, in April of 2004, Dorothy Tarter Vederman still works at one of the stores, at the age of 88! Son Herbert Tarter Vederman left Camden but remained in the Delaware Valley. Herbert Tarter Vederman worked in the family business for 23 years, before embarking on a career in public service in Philadelphia and in the Governor’s office in Pennsylvania.

There also was a large extended family, as Samuel Tarter had a brother, Lewis, as well as three sisters in Camden. Sarah Tarter had siblings as well. Lewis Tarter’s daughter Beverly married Charles Smerin, who served as the Superintendent of Camden School District for many years. Lewis Tarter had three other children, a son Stanton and two daughters, Evelyn and Miriam.

Sarah Tarter passed away on August 15, 1970, and was buried next to her husband in the original Jewish section of New Camden Cemetery.

To be continued…

Phil Cohen, Camden NJ

A campaign to raise funds for the Federation of Jewish Charities of Camden was launched yesterday under the chairmanship of E. George Aaron. The drive will continue a week.

Funds raised will be contributed to the support of the Hebrew Ladies’ Sheltering Home, the Talmud Torah, and the Free Loan Fund.

The campaign, Aaron announced, will be aided by the Jewish charitable organizations of Camden and the following have been named team captains:

Rabbi N. Riff, Samuel Shane, L. Tarter, S. Lippman, A. Barbell, J. Grossberg, H. Odlen, Leon Rose, Lewis Liberman, Mrs. S. Litow, Mrs. M. Shapiro, Mrs. H. Kaplan, Mrs. S. Shane, Mrs. R. Bukstel, Mrs. F. Bloom, Mrs. V. Gerber and Mrs. S. S. Lewis.

There will be a meeting in the Talmud Torah tonight, when Rabbi B. L. Levinthal, of Philadelphia, will speak in support of the campaign.

Committee to Raise $10,000 for Aid, Told of Hardships in Germany

At an executive meeting of the United Committee for Relief of German Jews, held at Beth El Synagogue last night, the captains who will be in charge of teams for the purpose of raising $10,000 for relief of German Jews, were announced by Leon H. Rose, general chairman. In urging the appointees to intensive efforts, Rose said:

“Six hundred thousand Jews are in distress. They are ousted from office, discharged from employment, denied civil and economic rights, persecuted and systematically forced to starve to death.

“There is raging in Germany one of the coldest and cruelest pogroms against the Jews ever known to history.

“We must help. We must rescue those helpless ones. Our weapon for immediate retaliation is money, and we must supply those arms. By the widest stretch of the imagination, it is inconceivable how any Jew in this community can exclude himself from this cause.

“Thousands of German Jews, especially among the young, see a prospect of restarting their lives in Palestine to which some of them already have made their way. Determined, concerted Jewish effort can make it capable of providing a permanent home for a considerable part of German Jewry to whom the rest of the world, with few exceptions, is closed.

Immediate funds are needed. I appeal to you as self-respecting Jews who understand the suffering of your own race to come to the aid of your stricken brothers and sisters. Give them all you can.

Those named and the organizations they represent are: Jacob Leventon, Congregation Beth El; David Lefkowitz, Congregation Sons of Israel; Morris Josselson, Congregation Beth Israel; Benjamin Friedman, B’nai Brith; Mrs. I.S. Siris, Hadassah; Philip Miller, Hebrew Parent Teachers Association; Herman Odlen, Federation of Jewish Charities; Mrs. Rose Goldstein, Independent Social; Harry W. Markowich, Zionist Organization; Norman Heine, Junior Council; Julius Samson, Upsilon Lambda Phi.

Mrs. William Laub, Council of Jewish Women; A. David Epstein, Sigma Alpha Rho; Mrs. Aaron Heine, Beth El Sisterhood; Samuel Shane, Talmud Torah; M. Snyder, Workmen’s Circle; M. Bard, F. of S. U.; Louis Tarter, Independent Progress Lodge; Mrs. Zelda Lutz, Jacob J. Hernfeld Link; Dr. I.S. Siris, Jewish Welfare Society; Mrs. M. Shapiro, Hebrew Ladies Charities.

Saul Lippman, Mizrachi; Mrs. Samuel Litow, Welfare Social Club; D. Breslow, Gordonia; Dr. Reuben Cutler, Mizpah Lodge No. 245; F. & A. M.; Meyer Adelman, Camden Level Club; Mrs. Etta Rosen, B’nai Brith Auxiliary; Mrs. L. Weiss, Ladies Auxiliary of Progress Lodge; Miriam Morris, Junior Charity Workers; Mrs. A. Stoolman, Deborah Society; Mrs. M. Leider, Welfare Social.

Moses Bord was appointed captain of the workers. A mass meeting will be held June 20, at the Talmud Torah building, Seventh Street and Kaighn Avenue, and will be addressed by members of national, state and municipal governments, as well as outstanding Jewish leaders from New York and Philadelphia.

To learn more about each of these men, visit the Camden County War Dead Index.

Camden Families

Private Herbert Tarter — WWII, Philippines

Herbert Tarter Vederman

Camden County War Dead Index

Thanks to Jodi Paisner, Alan Tate, and Jay Vederman for their help in building this page.