Introduction
Eddie Ferat
EDWARD CUMMINGS “EDDIE” FERAT was the son of Charles M. and Mary Ferat. He was born on July 19, 1880 in Camden NJ, where his father operated a candy store at 421 Federal Street. The Ferat family then lived at 26 Hudson Street. The family and the business later moved to 526 Federal Street.
A fine athlete, Eddie Ferat was a vital member of the Camden Electrics in the National Basketball League, the world's first professional basketball league. Coached by William “Billy” Morgenweck, the Electrics won the NBL championship in 1903–04. When the NBL folded, Eddie Ferat continued his pro career with the East Liverpool PA team in the Central League and with Lynn MA in the New England League.
After his basketball career ended, Eddie Ferat worked at the Pennsylvania Sugar Refining Company in Philadelphia and for the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden. Around 1925 he took a job in the tax office at Camden's City Hall, where for many years he worked alongside former City Clerk Otto Braun.
In 1935 Eddie Ferat was living at 1476 Kaighn Avenue in Parkside. His daughter Mary married George Anderson, son of Herbert Anderson, a senior officer with the Camden Police Department, in 1935.
In his later years he lived at 63 South 29th Street in East Camden. His older brother, Charles M. Ferat Jr., also worked at City Hall, as a clerk in the Camden County District Court.
Eddie Ferat remained employed in the Tax Office at Camden City Hall until his death on May 7, 1950. He is buried at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden NJ.
Camden Electrics
Named: 1898, 1899 Camden Electrics, Front: C. Weaver, J. Zimmerman, R. Cramer, Eddie Ferat, W.A. Stewart, and Rear: William “Billy” Morgenweck, A.P. Cartwright, R.J. Kelly, Charlie Newcomb, A. Middleton, Albert Austermuhl.
Named: 1901, 02 Camden Electrics, Front: Eddie Ferat, Sitting: Bob Dippy, Winnie Kinkaid, John “Snake” Deal, Billy Keenan, Howard Forest, and Standing: William “Billy” Morgenweck, Charles Bossert, Howard Middleton, Charles Stevenson.
Trenton Times — November 30, 1915
Trenton Times —
Trenton won Monday night over Camden, a team of real class and the local boys deserve all kinds of credit for their fine showing.
63 South 29th Street
63 South 29th Street, Camden NJ — July 7, 2003 — The brick wall and iron work were added around 2000
Camden Daily Courier — November 9, 1925
Camden Daily Courier —
Conn L. Mack Honored By Friends at Dinner
By FRANK SHERIDAN
Men of all political creeds gathered at the festive board on Saturday evening at Silver Lake Inn in honor of Daniel P. McConnell, sports editor of the Post-Telegram, better known as Conn L. Mack or Applesauce Dan.
Dan sort of owed the boys a dinner because of a new arrival at his home but we thought we would save him the money so we gave him the dinner. You married men, especially Howard Miller, know how that is.
Well it was some party. Judge Samuel M. Shay presided for a while as toastmaster then City Solicitor Howard L. Miller elected himself to rule over the destinies of the meeting much to the contempt of the Court.
“Red” Brigham, a newspaper man, made the speech of his life. He still insists that he is the only speaker, who paid a tribute to the guest of honor of the evening. “Red” was there when it came to quoting Shakespeare.
George Jacobs’s necktie was one of the bright spots of the evening. Mack Parker had a terrible time trying to set up an alibi. As cleanup man of the Post-Telegram staff, nearly all those of Democratic and No Party faith, agreed he was a good man to stay away from during campaigns.
But Charley Wolverton, former prosecutor, eased up the situation when he vouched that no newspaper man ever broke faith with him during his many years in the prosecutor’s office, either as an assistant or the big noise.
Genial Ethan Wescott, now Prosecutor of the Pleas, traveled all the way from Princeton to pay a tribute to our Dan and it came from his heart.
Al White, the jovial City Clerk, admitted he was a candidate for some office last Tuesday. He asked Charley Wolverton how it felt to know you were defeated before election. Charley said he was sure of his election a year ago, even after the votes were counted.
Frank Neutze paid a nice tribute to our Dan which the boys appreciated.
Eddie Kelleher, of Miami, Trenton and Camden, erstwhile political leader of Democrats, et al, said “May it please the court” and Judge Shay smiled as hopes of five more years on the bench loom on his horizon as a result of the election of Moore.
Mister Frank H. Ryan, sports editor of the Courier, simply blushed crimson pink when interrogated as to why he was so late.
Larry Doran, chief of county detectives, supported Mr. Wolverton in his contention that newspaper men never lie. All agreed that Larry must be a good detective because he has survived all kinds of administrations at the Court House.
“Tom” Littlehales, formerly a Councilman from the Ninth ward, but now a Philadelphian, crossed the river to join in the tribute to Dan and the bunch appreciated his thoughtfulness.
The guests included: Judge Samuel M. Shay, Prosecutor Ethan P. Wescott, former Prosecutor Charles A. Wolverton, Edward J. Kelleher, City Solicitor Howard L. Miller, Assistant City Solicitor Frank F. Neutze, City Clerk Alfred White, Edward Ferat, Thomas N. Littlehales, W. Brown, Charles H. Klump, Joseph Norcross, Lawrence Doran, Howard Smith, William Cleary, William Lyons, James Wren, George H. Jacobs, Frank H. Ryan, Andrew McLean Parker, John Brigham, Jack Dean and the oversigned.
Camden Courier-Post — June 3, 1933
Camden Courier-Post —
Judge Releases Youth for Crippled Parent
When a father pleaded he needed his son to drive a truck, Judge Samuel M. Shay yesterday suspended a Rahway Reformatory sentence for the youth and placed him on probation.
The youth is Raymond Kocinski, 19, of Liberty Street near Mt. Ephraim Avenue. He was sentenced to Rahway last January 3 after he was found guilty of breaking into the home of Edward Ferat, 1476 Kaighn Avenue, and taking $50 and $550 in jewelry Nov. 6, in company with another youth.
The father, Joseph Kocinski, appeared before Judge Shay in Common Pleas Court, said he was crippled and needed his son to drive a truck in the fruit and produce business. Judge Shay suspended sentence and placed Raymond in custody of Clifford Schemeley, county probation officer.
Camden Courier-Post — April 8, 1942
Camden Courier-Post —
Court Stars of Yesteryear Plan to Turn Out for Dinner
Eddie Ferat, Winnie Kinkaid, Bob Dippy and Howard Thomas, Members of Old Camden Electrics, Plan to Attend All Sports Banquet
By FITZ
On a chill March night back in 1902, a driving rain beat against the old Sixth Regiment Armory at West and Mickle streets. Inside a crowd of 1200 persons were cheering 10 husky gladiators.
It was that night that Camden won the National Basketball League championship by defeating New York, 47–34. Sports critics said the Camden team which captured that championship was one of the greatest basketball teams in the history of the game.
Four members of that team will attend the All Sports dinner which will be held at Neil Deighan’s, at the Airport Circle, next Tuesday night.
The team was the Camden Electrics. It was organized by the late “Billy” Morgenweck, who also organized the first basketball league in the United States, and the Camden team ranked the best tossers of the 90’s.
Before every game and between halves Morgenweck would give his team members a pep talk and they would receive electric shocks from a battery machine Morgenweck had in the dressing room. The machine accompanied the team on its playing trips. That was how the team got the name of the Camden Electrics.
Four Still Living
The team members who brought that championship to Camden included, “Snake”s Deal, Eddie Ferat, forwards; Bill Keenan, center; Charlie Bossert and “Winnie” Kinkaid, guards; and Howard Thomas, all-around substitute. Keenan and Bossert have passed on but the other four will mingle with about 400 other athletes who will also attend the event.
Morgenweck managed other great Camden teams in the 1900’s and some of his stars included Robert “Bob” Dippy, A. L. “Budge” Middleton and Howard Thomas. Morgenweck also loved to enthuse over the doings of Randolph Cramer, Ray Wynne, Tommy Peterson, Leon Goff, Al Gettie, George Tyler, who were among the “boys” who played for him in the old Camden YMCA when the playing floor was lined off and the forwards did all the scoring.
The late Dr. Bossert, who for many years, was beach surgeon at Atlantic City, was one of the first men in basketball to develop the “scoring guard” idea under the tutelage of Morgenweck. In those days, the guards devoted all their time to covering the forwards…
Camden Courier-Post — October 29, 1935
Camden Courier-Post —
George Anderson To Wed Mary Ferat In Camden Church
The marriage of Miss Mary Eloise Ferat, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Ferat, of 1476 Kaighn avenue, and George Henry Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Anderson, of 496 Newton avenue, will take place this evening in the Centenary-Tabernacle Church, Fifth and Cooper streets.
The ceremony will be performed at seven o’clock by Rev. John Pemberton, Jr., pastor of the church. Grant Harden, of this city, will play the wedding march and accompany Mrs. Vernon Jorgenson, of Philadelphia, in vocal solos.
The bride will be given in marriage by her father. She will wear a lovely gown of ivory-toned wedding ring velvet made entrain. Her veil of ivory toned tulle falls from a coronet and she will carry a shower bouquet of chrysanthemums.
Mrs. John Bachman, of Harrisburg, Pa., will be her cousin’s matron of honor while Miss Margaret Jones, of Merchantville, will be maid of honor and Mrs. George A. Restrick and Miss Anne Anderson, sister of the bridegroom, both of Camden, will be bridesmaids. They will wear velvet gowns with matching accessories, Mrs. Bachman in sapphire blue and carrying maize chrysanthemums; Miss Jones in rust and carrying bronze chrysanthemums and the bridesmaids in emerald green and carrying orchid chrysanthemums. Mary Ann Tweedy, of this city, as flower girl will wear a frock of yellow pleated net and carry a basket of baby chrysanthemums.
Mr. Anderson will be best man for his son and ushers will include: Solomon Walls, of Dover, Del., uncle of the bridegroom; John Bachman, of Harrisburg, and George Restrick, of this city.
Mrs. Ferat will be gowned in wine colored velvet and wear a corsage of gardenias, while Mrs. Anderson will wear sapphire blue velvet with gardenias.
A reception will be held at the Hotel Walt Whitman, which also will be in observance of the silver wedding anniversary of the bride’s parents. Following, Mr. Anderson and his bride will leave on a tour of the Southern States. They will be at home after November 15, at the Kaighn avenue address.
Camden Courier-Post — May 7, 1950
Camden Courier-Post —
Edward C. Ferat, Ex-Athlete, Dies of Heart Attack at 69
City Tax Office Aide Was Noted Star in Basketball League
Edward Cummings Ferat, 69, one of the most widely known professional basketball players in Camden's history, died in his home, 63 South Twenty-ninth street, Sunday of a heart attack.
Mr. Ferat, who was employed for 25 years in the tax office in city hall, was at work on Friday. He had been suffering from a heart condition.
Camden Courier-Post — May 10, 1950
Camden Courier-Post —
Funeral Services Are Held Here for Edward C. Ferat
Funeral services for Edward Cummings Ferat, 69, were held today in the Murray funeral home, 408 Cooper street. The Rev. Everett N. Hunt, pastor of the Asbury Methodist Church, officiated. Burial was in Harleigh cemetery.
Pallbearers were George Restrick, Harry Corcoran, Al Roberts, John Bachman, William Tweedy and Walter Frank.