Introduction
Bernhard F. Schroeder was born in 1848. He came to Camden in 1882. He established his own undertaking business at 19 South 4th Street in 1884. He was at 15 South 4th Street by 1906. The business and the Schroeder family soon afterwards moved to 338 Arch Street, where it would remain for many years until 1926.
Two sons were born to Bernhard F. Schroeder and his wife Johanna. Robert G. Schroeder in 1890 and Bernhard C. Schroeder in 1892. Both would join their father in the mortuary trade.
By 1911 Bernhard F. Schroeder was engaged in a freight business, the Potter Express Company, with local businessman H.B. Hanford. Hanford was the president of the firm, while Mr. Schroeder served as vice-president. He was soon joined in business by his sons Robert Schroeder and Bernard C. Schroeder. By 1914, besides the funeral business at 338 Arch Street (southwest corner of North 4th and Arch Streets), the Schroeders also had stables in the rear of 408-410 Mickle Street, a warehouse at 326-328 Taylor Avenue, and a hall known appropriately enough as Schroeder’s Hall, at 336 Arch Street. By 1916 was serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Broadway Trust Company bank.
Oldest son Robert Schroeder took the lead in running the business in the 1920s. He also was politically active, serving as Camden County’s coroner in 1914 and in 1924. Sadly, Robert Schroeder suffered a fatal heart attack in 1925, not having reached his 36th birthday. Bernard C. Schroeder stepped forward, and in 1926 moved the business to the Labor Temple building at 538 Broadway. Bernhard F. and Johanna Schroeder had moved to a house at 6 Fifth Avenue in Haddon Heights NJ by this time. Bernhard F. Schroeder passed away in 1927, and was buried overlooking the lake at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden NJ.
Bernhard F. Schroeder was a member of Mozart Lodge No. 121, Free and Accepted Masons. He was elected to a one-year term as the lodge’s Master in 1899.
In 1936 Bernhard C. Schroeder purchased the John Cooper house at 715 Cooper Street. This address remained the location of the Schroeder Funeral Home as late as 1969, when the construction of Interstate Highway I-676 caused the historic building and many like it to be razed.
Photos
Named: Bernhard F. Schroeder, B. F. Schroeder & Sons, Undertakers, S.W. Cor. Fourth and Arch Streets, established 1884, and Bernhard C. Schroeder.
Rats Ate Her Eyes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
While the Husband Went for Assistance His Wife's Corpse Was Mutilated.
Undertaker Schroeder, of Camden, went to the house of Charles Marshall, in the rear of 259 Spruce Street, yesterday to prepare Mrs. Marshall's body for burial. He found her eyes eaten out and the face otherwise mutilated by rats. Marshall is an ‘itinerant’ umbrella mender and made barely enough money lately to keep himself and his wife from starving. They were wretchedly poor and the squalid quarters where the body lies are almost bare.
“The woman had been on a prolonged debauch and died on Friday from alcoholism. The husband threw a shawl over the corpse and went out to see if he could raise enough money to give the remains decent burial.
He was gone for several hours, and during his absence a horde of hungry rats feasted on the corpse.
Mozart Lodge Elects Officers
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Mozart Lodge, No. 121, F. and A. M., has elected the following officers: Worshipful Master, August Hettmansperger; senior warden, August Uehlinger; junior warden, Benedict Baler [sic]; treasurer, William Moering; secretary, Frederick Roedel; senior deacon, Bernhard Schroeder; junior deacon, Frank X. Braun; senior M. C., Jacob Gnang; junior M. C., Charles Poekerto; senior steward, Peter Greenwald; junior steward, Jacob Wagner; representative to Grand Lodge, William Moering; trustee, Francis Steinbach.
Merry Dancers in Gay Costumes
Camden Post-Telegram —
Twelfth Annual Masquerade Ball of the Camden Turn Verein.
The Camden Turn Verein held its twelfth annual masquerade ball last evening and Turner Hall was filled with a merry crowd of dancers in fancy costumes.
Martin Hartmann, master of ceremonies, and Mrs. Frederick Banzhof led the grand march. John Maier, August Hiller, Louis Hartmann, Ferdinand Zuber, Claus Ecks and William Uber were the floor managers, while the committee of arrangements consisted of Anthony J. Oberst, chairman; Francis T. Steinebach, secretary; John F. Rieger, treasurer; John Schmidt, William Bartlet, John Maier and Martin Hartmann.
The Turn Verein officers are: President, William Bartlet; vice president, Francis T. Steinebach; secretary, Anthony J. Oberst; treasurer, Bernhard F. Schroeder.
Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. William Barte[?]t, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Schroeder, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Korfhage, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Schradin, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Holler, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kobus, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Foulon, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Adam Schlorer, Mr. and Mrs. George Kadisch, Mr. and Mrs. George Brehm, Herman Fuchs, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore G. Maier, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lutz, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schlorer, Mr. and Mrs. Frank X. Braun, Mr. and Mrs. George Kruck, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Walz, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Colsey, Mr. and Mrs. John Graef, Mr. and Mrs. August Freitag, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Ladewig, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Fred Banzhof, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Ba[?]er, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schneider, Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Dalbey, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Maehler, August Weber, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Kohlenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Haehner, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Ahrens, Mr. and Mrs. Jaoob [sic] Ruff, Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Halbert, Mr. and Mrs. George K. Knauf, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Guenther, Mr. and Mrs. George Kroecker, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Leapold, Mr. and Mrs. Edward McCabe, Mr. and Mrs. Adam T. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Schwoeri and Mr. and Mrs. George Lotz.
Camden Memorial Day Committee
Philadelphia Inquirer —
In order that Camden veterans may have an elaborate celebration on Memorial Day, Mayor Ellis yesterday appointed the following committee of citizens to act in conjunction with them: William D. Vanaman, William Sangtinette, Frank W. Tussey, William Fox, Dr. J.W. Martindale, Walter L Tushingham, Ira E. Lutte, Harry C. Kramer, John W. Coleman, Bernhard Schroeder, Edward H. Nieland, Daniel M. Stevens, W.F. Powell, Abe Fuhrman, Jacob Neutze, Francis B. Wallen, Charles A. Ackley, Louis T. Derousse, James M. Bentley, John K. Newkirk, William Schmid, John Larsen, Sigismund Schoenagle, Charles M. Baldwin, and Harry A Whaland.
B. F. Schroeder Named Alternate Delegate
Philadelphia Inquirer —
•• B. F. Schroeder has been selected an alternate delegate to the National Funeral Directors’ convention at Detroit by the New Jersey Association
Camden Will Observe Decoration Day
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden has completed its arrangements for the annual Memorial Day exercises. All the local G. A. R. posts will visit the cemeteries early in the day to decorate the graves of their comrades.
At the Soldiers’ Monument special exercises will be held, one of the features being the singing of patriotic airs by school children. The assemblage will be called to order by Comrade William Thompson, prayer will be offered by Rev. A. H. Newton, the children will sing and a volley of musketry will be fired. Exercises will afterwards be held in the First M. E. Church, the oration to be delivered by Hon. Isaac T. Nichols, of Bridgeton. Camp fires will be held at night.
Richard Dease is marshal of the parade and H. L. Hartshorn assistant.
The veterans have been assisted in their preparation by a citizens’ committee appointed by Mayor Ellis, as follows. William D. Vanaman, chairman; Charles S. Ackley, Charles M. Baldwin, James M. Bentley, John W. Coleman, C. K. Deacon, Malachi D. Cornish, Louis T. Derousse, William Fox, Abe Fuhrman, Harry C. Kramer, Ira E. Lute, J. W. Martindale, Jacob Neutze, Edward Nieland, H. S. Riddle, William Sangtinette, Bernard F. Schroeder, William Schmid, Sigismund Schoenagle, Daniel M. Stevens, W. L. Tushingham, Frank W. Tussey, Francis B. Wallen and Harry Whaland.
Turn Verein Masque Ball
Camden Post-Telegram —
The inclement weather kept down the attendance at the annual masque ball of the Camden Turn Verein at Turner Hall last night, but jollity and enthusiasm was in evidence.
The grand march was led by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Goebel. Some interest was manifested in the awarding of prizes for the costumed participants. The two first awards went to Mrs. David Hunt and Mrs. William Briant, who were garbed at [sic] Dutch girls.
The following committee was in charge of the affair: Francis P. Steinbach, Fred Lutz, Bernard F. Schroeder, Anthony Oberst, William H. Bartmann, Jacob Gnang, Joseph Schmidt and Joseph H. Pfeifer.
Planning Memorial Day Program
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Mayor Ellis, in Camden yesterday, announced the committee of citizens who will act in conjunction with the veterans in arranging for the Memorial Day festivities. The committee follows: Frank W. Tussey, chairman; Charles M. Curry, secretary; Fred Roedel, William Sanginette, W. L. Tushingham, B. F. Schroeder, Edward H. Nieland, Daniel M. Stevens, W. F. Powell, Abe Fuhrman, C. K. Deacon, Jacob Neutze, Francis B. Wallen, Charles S. Ackley, Wallace McGeorge, Ralph D. Baker, Wm. F. Kelly, William Schmid, Lawrence B. Reader, M. D. Cornish, Harry Whaland, General John A. Mather, James E. Hewitt and David Jester.
B. F. Schroeder & Son’s
Camden Post-Telegram —
B. F. Schroeder & Son’s, Undertakers, Fourth and Arch Streets
Broadway Trust Company
Bank Directory —
Broadway Trust Company
Broadway below Walnut St., Camden, N.J.
Officers
| Name ↕ | Role ↕ |
|---|---|
| J.J. Burleigh | President |
| Anthony Kobus | Vice President |
| William J. Cooper | Vice President |
| Burleigh H. Draper | Secretary and Treasurer |
Directors
| Name ↕ |
|---|
| John J. Burleigh |
| William Mills |
| Dr. S.G. Bushey |
| Anthony J. Oberst |
| Ralph D. Childrey |
| John Wesley Sell |
| Robert H. Comey |
| Dr. Marvin A. Street |
| William J. Cooper |
| Wilbert L. Sweeten |
| George A. Frey |
| Edward B. Stone |
| Albert Fogg |
| Adam Schlorer |
| Frederick Grant |
| Bernhard F. Schroeder |
| John B. Kates |
| Edward Schuster Jr. |
| Dr. Grant E. Kirk |
| John O. Wilson |
| Anthony Kobus |
Schroeder Funeral Service, 538 Broadway
Named: 538 Broadway, Schroeder Funeral Service, 1926, and 1936.
The Home of Schroeder Service
Camden Courier-Post —
A Greater Camden Institution
The new home or [sic] Funeral Chapel, that is a part of SCHROEDER SERVICE, was designed and equipped—NOT out of profits nor to get higher prices—but to render a finer service, in keeping with the growth of our city and its suburbs. It is a memorial to that Greater Camden of tomorrow.
In the quiet privacy of the second floor there is a display room where all types of caskets can be seen.
As a matter of fact, our new Chapel and all other modern details of equipment actually counts for making possible the BEST at lower costs. The exceptional facilities this building and our entire equipment affords are offered the people at no additional increase in price. They make possible maximum quality, at minimum cost.
Our Funeral Chapel is very home-like. It has three private rooms for the funeral services, all convertible into one if necessary. And the grand organ is available for the music of the services.
Schroeder Service is exclusive but NOT expensive.
SCHROEDER FUNERAL SERVICE
B. F. Schroeder B. C. Schroeder
Established over 40 years
City and Suburban Service—Bell 400
Schroeder Funeral Service, 715 Cooper Street
Named: 715 Cooper Street, Schroeder Funeral Service, 1936, and 1969.
Broadway Trust Company
Bank Directory —
Harleigh Cemetery Family Plot
Named: Bernhard F. Schroeder Family Plot, Harleigh Cemetery, and Camden, NJ.