Introduction
Harvey Flitcraft born in 1862 to George and Joanna Flitcraft in Pilesgrove Township, Salem County NJ. George Flitcraft was a farm worker, and by the time of the 1880 census Harvey and older brother Wilmer were both working on the farm as well. The two brothers left the farm, and by 1887 Wilmer Flitcraft had established his grocery business at 501 South 3rd Street, the corner of South 3rd Street and Berkeley Street. Harvey Flitcraft was working for his brother. The 1888–1889 and 1890–1891 Directories show that Harvey Flitcraft had established his own grocery store at the southwest corner of West Street and Clinton Street, and that he lived there as well.
Harvey Flitcraft was one of the pioneer movie theater owners in Camden NJ. From 1905 until his death in 1913, Harvey Flitcraft operated at various times three different theaters in Camden at different locations on Broadway, known as the Casino, the Royal, and Fairyland. He owned a home in the latter part of his life at 558 Washington Street, but was residing at 942 Newton Avenue at the time of his death.
Harvey Flitcraft was survived by his wife Elizabeth, a daughter, and a son, Emmor W.H. Flitcraft, of Haddonfield NJ, and his brother Wilmer, who had moved back to Pilesgrove by 1920. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Camden. Elizabeth Flitcraft passed away in 1935.
The Camden Primaries
Philadelphia Inquirer —
THE CAMDEN PRIMARIES
A Stubbornly Contested Fight Among the Republicans Last Night.
One of the hardest fought political battles that has occurred in Camden for some time took place at the Republican primaries last night. There were fierce fights in the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth wards. In the Second ward Frank H. Burdsall, the ex-President of the Young Republicans, made the nomination for City Council almost a certainty.
At an early hour this morning the First ward had not completed counting off their votes. The indications pointed to this ticket:
Delegates to the City Treasurer’s Convention—Joseph Burt, William Bailly, James Logan. Councilman-at-Large—Samuel Elfreth, Robert Smith, John Cullen. City Council—Robert Smith, Benjamin Hutchinson, Samuel Yanaitis, Charles Hollnor. Board of Education—George W. C. Hansell. Board of Education—Henry Winters.
The delegates to the City Treasurer will indicate favor for W. P. Micheles, present incumbent. Dr. W. B. E. Miller will be nominated for Councilman-at-Large for acclamation. The delegates went to the various conventions and the ward nominees are as follows:
Second Ward—City Treasurer, W. Y. T. Young; Council, H. Wilson, Harvey; Councilman-at-Large, George Cook, John Brown, Thomas Brooks, Edward Roberts, John Brooks, George Peck, James Stewart; Freeholder, Cooper B. Hatch; City Council, Frank H. Burdsall; Board of Education, Charles Helmbold.
Third ward—D. Lewis Iretoo, H. L. Lawler, George Walls; Council at Large, Thomas Barber, Harvey; Council, James Stewart; Excise Commissioner, James M. Lane, D. M. Freeman, Isaac C. McKinney; Council, George F. Hannigan, Frank Michellon, E. D. Wilson; Board of Education, Harry C. Sharp.
Fourth Ward—City Treasurer, Heber C. Robinson; Councilman-at-Large, William D. Hart, Frank B. Sweeten, Albert Barber, Harvey Flitcraft; Excise Commissioner, William D. Hart, William Selle; City Council, Frank Michellon, William S. Jones; Board of Freeholders, Richard C. Mason; Board of Education, Joseph B. Fox.
Fifth Ward—City Treasurer, D. Lewis Ireton, Maurice A. Rogers, George W. Thompson; Council-at-Large, John R. McCabe, Solomon Knight, Harry Sanford; City Council, Hipolene Dine, Lockner, J. Oscar Weaver, Harry Gibbs; City Council, Elford S. Fish, Frank Chandler, Harry Weil; Board of Education, Homer Snyder.
Sixth Ward—City Treasurer, Samuel H. Stiles, Frederick W. Larkin; Councilman-at-Large, Reuben Gaskill, Jacob Thompson, Samuel Stillwell; Excise Commissioner, John Snifcher, Matthew Lewis, Elijah Thompson, Frank A. Ward, E. Jefferis; Board of Freeholders, Mark H. Mapes; Board of Education, J. Wesley Sell.
Seventh Ward—City Treasurer, Matthew Lewis, Elijah Thompson, Frank A. Ward; Councilmen-at-Large, Jacob T. Fish, Frank A. Ward; Excise Commissioner, D. M. Freeman, John Long; Board of Freehold, William Anderson; Board of Education, John Carmany.
Eighth Ward—City Treasurer, Samuel Johnson, Horace J. West, Peter P. Custis; Council-at-Large, Jonas Mellor, Stephen Harvey, John Zanders; Commissioner, James M. Lane; Freeholder, Lawrence Rhoads, Gabriel Johnson; Freeholder, Henry Sparrow; Council, Samuel H. Stiles, George W. C. Hansell; Ulie G. Lee.
Ninth Ward—City Treasurer, John N. Zanders, Martin Frank, Frank S. Heister; Councilman-at-Large, George H. Thornley; Excise Commissioners, D. B. Carriden, U. G. Lee, Thomas Weston; City Council, Elijah Thompson, Frank W. Baker.
Theatre Owner Found Dead
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Seated in the ticket box in front of his moving picture place, Harry Flitcraft, 51 years old, of 942 Newton avenue, Camden, was found dead by his wife yesterday. Coroner Bentley said death was due to heart disease, superinduced by the escape of gas from a radiator which Flitcraft had in the office. He was proprietor of two moving picture places, one at 935 Broadway and the other at Broadway and Benson streets, and he had gone to the former to prepare for the day’s entertainment. He was followed shortly after by Mrs. Flitcraft, who found his lifeless body. Besides his widow, two married children survive him. He was a member of Camden Lodge of Elks.
Evergreen Cemetery
Camden, NJ
Named: Flitcraft grave marker, Evergreen Cemetery, Camden, NJ. Harvey Flitcraft (1862, 1913) and Elizabeth C. Flitcraft (1865, and 1935)..