Meyers Baker
MEYERS BAKER was born in August of 1896 to Oscar and Mary Baker, Jewish immigrants from what is now Poland. His father was in the dry goods business. The family lived at 834 South 4th Street in South Camden when the Census was taken in June of 1900. Besides Meyers, the family included older brother Louis and two younger children, Max and Sarah. By 1910 the family had moved to 419 North 3rd Street.
Meyers Baker most likely attended public school in Camden. It is reported that he studied medicine for a time at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, but by the fall of 1918 he had gone into the real estate business, where he would make his fortune and his mark in the annals of Camden. He saw some military service during World War I, was discharged due to a knee injury, and was later an active member of the Corporal Raymond C. Thoirs Post of the American Legion.
The 1920 Census shows Meyers Baker was still single and living with his parents at 419 North 3rd Street. Successful in his real estate business, he married Florence Goldberg in the early 1920s and by 1924 the couple had moved to 1518 Wildwood Avenue in Camden’s Parkside neighborhood. The Bakers stayed in Parkside for a few years, taking up temporary residence at the Hotel Walt Whitman before moving to what became their permanent home at 4752 Browning Road in Pennsauken. Meyers Baker’s place of business as early as 1915 through the early 1960s was 227 Federal Street, also known, appropriately enough, as the Meyers Baker building. This building was designed for Meyers Baker by architects Joseph N. Hettel and Benjamin Lackey, whose firm, Lackey & Hettel Inc., designed many public buildings in Camden and its environs in the 1920s and 1930s.
Meyers Baker was one of the organizers and first secretary of the Camden Real Estate Board. He was also active in the effort that raised the money necessary to build Camden’s community-owned (for a time) Hotel Walt Whitman in the early 1920s.
Florence Baker was very active in local and state politics and was a Republican State Committeewoman in the late 1930s. She attended the Republican Party’s national conventions as either a delegate or as an alternate in 1936, 1944, and 1948. She served as Vice-Chairwoman of the New Jersey Republican Party for many years and rose to Assistant Secretary of State for New Jersey in the administration of Governor Alfred E. Driscoll. Wendell Wilkie asked her to give the nominating speech for potential Vice-Presidential candidate Walter E. Edge at Republican National Convention in 1944. Edge had served (and would later serve again) as the Governor of the State of New Jersey.
The Bakers were not blessed with any children. Meyers Baker passed away in the early 1960s, survived by his wife Florence, who joined him in February of 1985.
Meyers Baker Building
Named: Meyers Baker Building, 227 Federal Street, and Camden NJ.
Boy on Skatemobile Is Killed by Auto
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Struck by Car in Camden Operated by Learner Receiving Instructions From Chauffeur
Almost instant death came to Stanley Montgomery, aged 11 years, of 715 Federal street, Camden, yesterday afternoon, when, astride a skatemobile he ran into an automobile driven by William F. Kay, of 2622 Federal street. The boy was hurried to Cooper Hospital, but was pronounced dead when that institution was reached. Kay was held by the police, while George Tomlinson, of 2620 Federal street, who was in the car, was discharged on his own recognizance. Louis Angeroth, a chauffeur, who was showing Kay how to operate the car, is being sought by the police.
Kay had recently purchased the auto and was, with his friend Tomlinson, taking lessons from Angeroth. The machine was not going more than five miles an hour, according to eye-witnesses, when Fogarty avenue was reached. There the boy was near the curb on his skatemobile. Apparently not seeing the auto, young Montgomery suddenly skurried into the street and directly toward the automobile.
According to Kay, who was operating the machine, and Tomlinson, he had the machine well under control, and would likely have missed the boy but Angeroth became excited and grasped the steering wheel. The next moment the boy was struck with full force and knocked down. Myer Baker, of 227 Federal street, who happened to be passing in his machine at the time, placed Montgomery in the auto and sped to the hospital, but the boy was pronounced dead. Kay and Tomlinson surrendered themselves to the police, but Angeroth disappeared.
Police Department Changes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
There were a number of changes in Camden’s Police Department yesterday, by Mayor Ellis. He appointed Sergeant John Golden successor to Captain Hugh Boyle, recently placed on the pension list. Patrolman Howard Smith was made a city detective, and Hall Officer James Clay was made a hall sergeant. Motorcycle Policemen Jefferson Kay and Charles Laib were appointed traffic sergeants, while Patrolmen Edmund Pike and Albert Cornog were made traffic policemen. Patrolman Robert Abbott was appointed a sergeant. Mayor Ellis has received the resignations of G. M. Beringer and Myers Baker as members of the City Plan Commission, the first getting out because of pressing business and the other because of going to Camp Dix.
Wm. P. Hallinger Board President
Camden Post-Telegram —
Much Important Business Transacted at Real Estate Men’s Annual Meeting.
A-SHAPED SIGNS ARE IN DISFAVOR
At the annual meeting of the Camden Real Estate Board at the Hotel Ridgeway these officers were elected: President, William P. Hallinger; vice president, Raymond L. Warren; treasurer, Joseph H. Forsythe; secretary, Robert D. Clow, Jr.; trustees, three years, George W. Kirkbride and Meyer Baker.
President Hallinger appointed the committees for the ensuing year as follows:
Legislative committee—Howard A. Walton, chairman; George W. Jessup, Raymond L. Warren, William B. Hambleton, John A. Ackley.
Arbitration committee—Frank Burr, chairman; R.A. Rockhill, Maurice B. Rudderow, Ralph D. Baker, Edgar A. Freeman.
Membership committee—William Schmidt, chairman; Charles S. Ackley, Meyer Baker, Charles G. Jessup, Clinton I. Evans.
Auditing committee—Anthony J. Oberst, chairman; Leon E. Todd, William Derham.
Ways and means committee—George W. Kirkbride, chairman; T. Yorke Smith, Eldred I. Hibbs, Henry Budney, Carl Evered.
The board passed a resolution asking City Council to pass an ordinance prohibiting A- or V-shaped signs being placed on properties in Camden, either for rent or sale. This is one of the many actions that have been taken by the Real Estate Board with a view toward protecting the property owner’s interest. It is the feeling of the members that the extension sign, known as A- or V-shaped signs, are a detriment to properties and also to the appearance of the city.
It is considered that properties will rent just as well by the advertising in the newspapers, and from the personal work by the office organizations as by having them defaced with signs.
Camden County in the Great War
City Farm Gardens
Another weapon to defeat the enemy was the establishment of City Farm Gardens in the country. They were urged by the Government and not only provided food for city residents, but abolished unsightly vacant lots. Mayor Ellis named the first City Gardens Committee on April 19, 1917, as follows: E. G. C. Bleakly, Judge Frank T. Lloyd, Zed H. Copp, William Derham, L. E. Farnham, B. M. Hedrick, David Jester, O. B. Kern, M. F. Middleton, Dr. H. L. Rose, Asa L. Roberts, W. D. Sayrs, Jr., Charles A. Wolverton, Earl T. Jackson, H. R. Kuehner, Herbert N. Moffett and Hubert H. Pfeil. At the initial meeting of the above date B. M. Hedrick was elected chairman; Zed H. Copp secretary and M. F. Middleton treasurer. Brandin W. Wright, a farming expert, was employed as general superintendent on May 3, 1917. At a meeting on May 18, 1918, the names of Frank Sheridan and Daniel P. McConnell were added to the publicity committee in the place of Messrs. Pfeil and Jackson.
In his annual report to City Council on January 1, 1918, Mayor Ellis urged the appointment of a committee by City Council on City Gardens and Councilman Frederick Von Neida was named as chairman. This committee with a committee of representative citizens met in the City Hall in February, 1918, to organize for the ensuing summer. The members of the Councilmanic committee were: Frederick Von Neida, Frank S. Van Hart, William J. Kelly and John J. Robinson.
The committee planned an exposition of farm garden products for the fall of 1918, but this plan was frustrated by the Spanish influenza epidemic.
The war gardens became victory gardens in the year 1919 when the committee met on January 29, 1919. Meyers Baker was elected secretary and William D. Sayrs, Jr., treasurer. At the meeting on March 25 committees were appointed for the Victory War Gardens Exposition held in Third Regiment Armory from September 15 to 20. Benjamin Abrams was elected general manager and Frank Sheridan publicity agent.
American Legion Card Party Dated For Friday in Hotel
Camden Courier-Post —
Tables will be placed for bridge, five-hundred and pinochle at the card party which Corporal Raymond C. Thoirs Post of the American Legion will give in the ballroom of the Hotel Walt Whitman on Friday evening.
Playing will begin at half after eight o’clock. Walter Garland, chairman of the card party committee, has announced.
The card party is one of the post’s main events of the year. The auxiliary is co-operating and it is expected that several hundred persons will attend.
Members of the committee in charge of the affair are Paul Engle, Russell Keen, George Seybold, LeGrande Roberts, Herbert Blizzard, Whitcomb Wright, Albert Smith, William Miller, Raymond Van Horn, Meyers Baker and Albert Wehner.
Tags to Be Sold in City, Suburbs to Aid Hospital
Camden Courier-Post —
Members of the Woman’s Board to the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital have gathered their forces and are in readiness for their annual Tag Day tomorrow.
The assistance of all the city and suburban auxiliaries as well as the aid of the Camden City Firemen have been enlisted. The city and suburbs will be covered by the various groups selling the small cardboards while food and flower sales will be conducted at various points. In Camden, the City Auxiliary will conduct a food sale at 407 Broadway, and the board members under the direction of Mrs. Charles Lacy will hold another at 540 Federal street.
General arrangements for Tag Day are under the direction of Mrs. William B. Scott, president of the Women’s Board. The members of the board include: Mrs. Harvey Cannon, Mrs. John Danenhower, Mrs. William Clifton, Mrs. Benjamin Wrobleski, Mrs. Ruth Blessing, Mrs. Isadore Green, Mrs. Meyers Baker, Mrs. Lee Griscom, Mrs. George Woodward, Mrs. Joseph Kobus, Mrs. James J. Scott, Mrs. Edith Kerbaugh, Mrs. A. K. Eynon, Mrs. Richard Connor, Mrs. Abe Fuhrman, Mrs. Clarence Fisher, Mrs. Kenneth Athey, Mrs. Robert Warwick and Mrs. F. T. Garrison.
Assistance of the fire department of the city has been arranged through the courtesy of Chief Thomas Nicholas. Sales being conducted by the auxiliaries are under the direction of the following chairmen: Audubon, Mrs. Henry R. Tatem, Jr.; Camden, Mrs. Harry Hackman; Collingswood, Mrs. Milton M. Bitter; East Camden Juniors, Miss Martha Stone; Delair, Mrs. William Morrow; Gloucester, Miss Elizabeth Felbs; Gloucester Heights, Mrs. Mary Gormerley; Haddonfield, Mrs. William F Clement; Haddonfield Juniors, Mrs. Hartje Riddel; Council of Jewish Women, Mrs. Henry Cooperson; Pennsauken and Merchantville, Mrs. J. Perry Long; Haddon Heights, Mrs. Frank Underkuffier; Italian Branch, Mrs. F. Puleo; Polish Branch, Mrs. Edward Praiss; Stratford, Mrs. Charles Jaggard; Woodlynne, Mrs. Charles Harrison.
Members of the Women’s Board of West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital are planning an outing to Washington’s Crossing on Monday, June 20. Mrs. William B. Scott, president, is chairman on arrangements for the trip which will be made by bus. The party will leave the Hotel Walt Whitman at 10 o’clock that Monday morning and luncheon will follow at The Olde Tavern Inn.
Louise Gilbert Recalls Meyers Baker
Meyers Baker was my aunt Florence Baker’s husband and he owned M. BAKER REALTY on Federal Street in Camden at 227 Federal. Uncle Meyers Baker died in the early 1960’s, 1962, I think.
No one and nothing could pull Aunt Florence out of her funk when Uncle Meyers died. The Democrats came into power and offered her several important positions but politically as well as romantically, Aunt Florence Baker was inconsolable.
Imagine my glee one Hanukkah morning when I came downstairs to find a full drum set fitting for Gene Krupa waiting for me!
The drum set was Uncle Meyers idea. He supposedly didn’t like any kids except me! I made out like a bandit ala Uncle Meyers!
Imagine my chagrin and pouting when my mother announced “drums aren’t for girls.” My father protested on my behalf but…no way! The world lost a drummer that day but gained a girly girl.