Henry Bellitz
As of 2003, the Bell Pharmacy has been operating at 1201 Haddon Avenue in Camden, the southwest corner of Haddon Avenue and Kaighn Avenue, since the 1930s. The business was owned and operated in its early days by Henry Bellitz.
Henry Bellitz was born in the Kamenets Podolsky guberniya (province) of Russia on June 24, 1892 to Solomon and Mollie Bellitz. The family came to the United States in 1901, and eventually settled in Philadelphia PA. Besides Henry there were at least six other children, Samuel, Beckie, Annie, Lizzie, and Jennie.
Henry Bellitz was already working as a pharmacist when he registered for the draft in Philadelphia PA on June 15, 1917, employed by C.P. Gabell at 5202 Lancaster Avenue. According to his draft card, Henry Bellitz was then married, and lived with his wife Marjorie at 1239 South 5th Street in Philadelphia. Brother Samuel Bellitz had by this time married and moved to Camden NJ. He lived at 775 Kaighn Avenue, and had already founded his business, the Novelty Hair Goods Company. 775 Kaighn Avenue later became the property of the Naden family, who operated their business, the Naden Store there for several decades.
It appears that Marjorie Bellitz passed prior to the 1920 Census, most likely during the flu epidemic of 1918. Henry Bellitz became a United States citizen that year.
Henry Bellitz served with the United States Army during World War I. He was living with his parents and sister Beckie when the census was taken in 1920, at 1938 Franklin Street, in Philadelphia.
He married Anna Friedrich around 1923. By 1930 Henry Bellitz owned a pharmacy at 601 South 11th Street in Philadelphia. He came to Camden NJ around 1932, and became the proprietor of the Bell Pharmacy at the corner of Haddon and Kaighn Avenues. Active in civic affairs, he was a member of the Tri-County Post, Jewish War Veterans of the United States and the American Legion. He also was a member of the South Jersey Pharmaceutical Association.
Henry Bellitz took ill in the fall of 1941. He passed away at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia PA on April 9, 1942. After services at the Holl Funeral Home at 1401 Princess Avenue in Camden, Henry Bellitz was laid to rest at Crescent Burial Park in Pennsauken NJ on April 12, 1942. He was survived by his wife, daughters Lenore and Marlyn, 5 sisters, and a brother, Samuel Bellitz, who operated the Novelty Hair Goods Company, first at 775 Kaighn Avenue, and later at 1408 Broadway and finally at 1138 Broadway. This business remained in Camden until its closing on December 4, 2003. The Bell Pharmacy, under different management, remains in business to this day.
World War I Draft Registration Card
World War I Draft Registration Card — Henry Bellitz
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook Ad
Bell Drug Company — Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, February 1940
Doctors, Druggists Plan Joint Outing
Camden Courier-Post —
Physicians and pharmacists of Camden county will hold a joint outing tomorrow at the Mohican Club on the shores of the Delaware river at Delair.
The physicians will be guests of the pharmaceutical dispensers, who have arranged a program of sports events, including races, softball, swimming and “what-have-you?” A dinner will conclude the affair. The outing will begin at 1.30 p.m.
The committee in charge includes former Assemblyman Robert K. Worrell, president of the West Jersey Pharmaceutical Association; Guy Luongo, of Audubon; N. Herman Rappaport, of Camden; Mrs. Eleanor Phillips, of Clementon, and Henry Bellitz, of Camden.
Henry Bellitz Dies; Parkside Druggist
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Resident 10 Yrs.; Ill Six Months; Served Overseas in War
Henry Bellitz, 42, proprietor of the Bell Drug Co., 1201 Haddon avenue, died yesterday in the Temple University hospital, Philadelphia, after an illness of six months.
Mr. Bellitz, who was born in Philadelphia, had lived in Camden for the last 10 years. He was a veteran of World War No. I and served overseas. He was a member of Tri-County Post, Jewish War Veterans of the United States, and of the American Legion. Mr. Bellitz also was a member of the South Jersey Pharmaceutical Association.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Anna Fridrich Bellitz, two daughters, Leonore, 16, and Marlyn, 14; four sisters, Mrs. Anna Gellman, Mrs. Jennie Linros, Mrs. Lizzie Eisenberg and Reba Bellitz, all of Philadelphia; and a brother, Samuel Bellitz, of Camden.
Funeral services will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Holl funeral home, 1401 Princess avenue. Burial will be in Crescent cemetery.
Bell Drug Company
Named: Bell Drug Company, Southwest Corner of Haddon Avenue & Kaighn Avenue, and October 20, 2005.