Oscar A. Moore

Oscar A. Moore was born November 11, 1892 in New Jersey. He was well known as a basketball player in his youth. A veteran of World War I, he married Maude Wright around 1920. At the time of the 1930 census, Mr. and Mrs. Moore were living at 590 Clinton Street, the home of his mother-in-law Mrs. Anna Wright. The census indicates that he was then a clerk at a grocery store.

Oscar Moore soon had his own store, a grocery store which he operated for many years at 501 South 6th Street, the corner of 6th and Berkley Streets. He was living at 543 Washington Street by 1939.

Oscar Moore took an interest in politics while still a teenager. He was elected to the Camden County Board of Freeholders from Camden’s 9th Ward in 1937, succeeding Francis B. Bodine. He was the first Democrat to win election from the 9th Ward in almost 50 years. On February 8, 1938 a testimonial dinner was given to Oscar Moore. Many of the leading political and judicial figures of the time in Camden and Camden County were in attendance, including Camden Mayor George E. Brunner, Edward J. Kelleher, Frank J. Hartmann Jr., Emma Hyland, Samuel P. Orlando, Gene R. Mariano, Joseph Varbalow, and Alice Kline Predmore, among others, and Frank Ryan, managing editor of the Camden Courier-Post newspapers.

During the late 1940s and into 1950, Captain Walter S. Mattison of the Camden Police Department, whose late wife was an aunt of Mrs. Moore, lived with Oscar Moore and family. Captain Mattison died on August 1, 1950.

Oscar Moore was still serving as a freeholder as late as 1959. Winning re-election to his office of Freeholder, he served as the Director of Camden County Board of Freeholders during the middle and late 1950s, in effect serving as the County’s highest ranking elected official. He also remained active in community affairs such as fund-raising for the March of Dimes into the 1950s. The 1947 Camden City Directory shows Oscar Moore living at 541 Washington Street in Camden. He was still there as late as 1970. He is not listed in the 1977 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory. Oscar Moore passed away in June of 1985.

Orlando Warns Democrats at Fete to Moore, Crean and Mrs. Soistmann

By Gordon Mackay

David Baird Jr. and his allies have already arranged their slate for the next city commission election and are laying plans to recapture the city government of Camden. Democrats should know of this movement and prepare to thwart the proposed plans at once. This warning was given by County Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando last night, at a testimonial dinner in the Hof Brau at which three Ninth Ward Democrats were feted, and at which 500 were present. The trio honored comprised Mrs. Mary Ellen Soistmann, state committee woman; Oscar Moore, freeholder, and John J. Crean, assistant city solicitor and county committeeman.

While the three guests were feted and presented with wrist watches and other tokens, the affair took on a love feast aspect for the three New Deal commissioners and all shades and leanings of Democratic leadership. Mayor George E. Brunner was toastmaster and took occasion to poke fun at the G.O.P. and its tribulations over the county headquarters.

Brunner Jests at G.O.P.

“I have just received word,” said the Mayor with due solemnity, “that the Republican county committee of whom I read today was having trouble over their headquarters, have finally solved their troubles tonight. I understand they are giving up their present location and have just been presented by the Bell Telephone Company with a booth, and are now looking for another tenant to whom the committee can sublet half the space.”

Orlando’s warning came after he congratulated the special guests. He said: “I have every reason to believe that Dave Baird and the rest of the Republican chieftains are already laying their plans to capture the city commission. They are working to the end with their own slate, so that they can take from the people of Camden the good government which they have received for some time. We Democrats do not want to take this warning lightly, we want to remember that Baird and his chieftains are already working toward capturing the government of Camden, and this is something that we want to prevent at all hazards.”

Orlando also congratulated the gathering as an indication of the growth of the party, and the faith that the people of Camden come to have in the Democratic party and in its principles. The prosecutor also prophesied greater honors in the future for the triumvirate who were the guests of the occasion.

Disclaims Harmony Rift

Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, postmaster and long a figure in Ninth Ward affairs declared she resented any newspaper stories that hinted that there was the slightest rift in the Democratic party. She told of the trouble the Democrats in the Ninth Ward, which, she declared, had never elected a Democratic freeholder until Oscar Moore was chosen. Mrs. Hyland told of detectives shadowing her home during election, and of ‘the struggles’ that she and Moore had known together in fighting for the party in that bailiwick.

“I want to say,” continued the postmaster, “that we must all be impressed by the spirit of harmony that this gathering means has come to pass. I don’t want you, and I will not myself believe all you read in the newspapers declaring we are fighting among ourselves, for if there is anything like that in progress, I don’t know anything about it and I don’t believe you do, either.”

County Treasurer Edward J. Kelleher, hailed as “The Father of the Democratic Party in Camden County” contrasted the spectacle before him with the harmony dinner which he and others sponsored years ago. “We sold 150 tickets,” he said, “and gave away 150 more, and when the sponsors reached the hall at 7 p.m., the hour of the dinner, there wasn’t a single other person on hand. Later the hall was filled, and it held 200 guests. 200 to attend a Democratic harmony dinner that embraced all of Camden county.”

Officials Laud Guests

Mrs. Bertha Shippen Irving, postmaster of Haddonfield; Police Judge Gene R. Mariano and others also congratulated the guests. Mayor Brunner introduced Commissioner Frank J. Hartmann by calling attention to the cleanup campaign now under Hartmann auspices. “Just as Hartmann is making Camden a cleaner city in which to live,” said the Mayor, “so has Commissioner Kobus made the city clean from crime. The streets are clean, the city is clean, and this has only been made possible by the efforts of the three commissioners who have worked in harmony, and who are going to continue to work in harmony.”

Crean, Moore and Mrs. Soistmann spoke their thanks to those present for the banquet, the gifts and the sentiments expressed.

Langham Avenue Veteran Receives Highest Average; Post Pays $1820

Fifteen Camden residents passed the civil service examination for appointment as a process server in the city’s new Tax Title Perfection Department, which is under the direction of Mayor Brunner. One will be appointed. Arthur R. Dorsey, 1130 Langham Avenue, a disabled veteran received the highest average. Another disabled veteran, Clifford C. Chalfant, 412 Haddon Avenue, was second, and Robert W. McCay, also a veteran, of 1269 Kenwood Avenue, was third. Fourth place went to Clarence E. Moulette, 902 North Second Street, who is doing the work at the present time.

The Tax Title Perfection Department was officially designated Thursday, when an ordinance setting up the bureau was passed on first reading. Others who passed the examination for the post which will pay an annual salary of $1820, are: Eugene Aumaitre, 2150 South Tenth Street; Oscar Moore, 543 Washington Street; Eugene C. Scranton, 832 Sylvan Street; Raymond J. Steward, 650 Washington Street; Harry J. Goldberg, 915 Broadway; Patrick J. McVeigh, 25 South Forty-first Street; Jack Kriede, 1579 Park Boulevard; Irvin Berlin, 574 Pine Street; Ventorino Francesconi, 426 Benson Street; Andrew J. Smith, 1123 North Eighteenth street; Clarence D. Leigh, 1300 South Sixth Street.

Temporary Laborers Dismissed, While Men Ousted by Hartmann Are Reinstated

Three dismissals, three promotions and four reinstatements and two new hirings were announced yesterday by City Commissioner Henry Magin, director of public works. Dismissed were Eugeni Gatti, 208 Washington street; Julio Marcozzi, 321 Line Street, and George Pollard, 336 Stevens street, all temporary laborers at $4 a day. James Carr, 1409 Princess avenue, a laborer on asphalt repairs at $6 a day, is reclassified as general foreman of the department, effective today, at $2100 a year, subject to Civil Service promotional examination. John Dziekanski, 1414 Mt. Ephraim avenue, a laborer in the building bureau at $6 a day, is reclassified as architectural draftsman at $2100, also subject to examination. Oscar Moore, 543 Washington street, Ninth Ward freeholder, will receive $6 instead of $5 a day as a temporary laborer. Reinstated were Lawrence Abbott, 910 South Third Street, a brother of Frank Abbott, deputy to Mayor Brunner, as a temporary laborer at $5 a day; Anthony Carrier, 416 Benson Street, a temporary laborer at $4 a day; James Jackson, 1117 Lawrence street, and Otis Still, 261 North Eleventh street. All were discharged by Frank J. Hartmann, Magin’s predecessor.

Trucks of Flowers in Funeral Cortege

Funeral services for City Commissioner Henry Magin were held today with his colleagues in official and veterans circles participating. Services were conducted in city commission chambers on the second floor of city hall, in charge of Rev. Dr. W.W. Ridgeway, rector of St. Wilfrid’s Episcopal Church. The casket was carried by war veteran associates of the public works director, who died from a heart attack Friday. A color guard from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion preceded the casket, followed by the four remaining members of the city commission, Mayor George Brunner and commissioners E. George Aaron, Mrs. Mary W. Kobus and Dr. David S. Rhone. A guard of honor lined both sides of city hall steps, 22 policemen on one side and 22 firemen on the other, representing Magin’s age, 44 years.

Hundreds of men and women waited outside the building to pay their respects as the solemn procession filed by. Mayor Brunner had declared this morning a holiday for city employees. The casket was borne by Thomas Jackson and Samuel Magill, both past Legion commanders; Leon McCarty, past commander of August Walter Chapter, Disabled American Veterans; Richard Jermyn, past commander of Post 1270, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Benjamin P. Thomas, past captain of Sparrow Ship No. 1269, V.F.W.; and William Miller, past State commander, D.A.V. Three trucks were required to carry the floral pieces from the scene of the services to the National Cemetery at Beverly, where burial took place.

An estimated 8000 persons from all walks of life paid their respects to the late official by viewing the body as it lay in state in the commission chambers. The throng of mourners of Camden city and county was the largest to converge on a public building since the funeral of Fire Chief Charles Worthington, who was killed while fighting a fire almost 20 years ago. His body was placed on public view in the rotunda of the old county courthouse.

File Past Bier

A continuous progression of people filed past the flag draped bier for more than three and one-half hours. Scores of Republicans and hundreds of Democrats joined in the tribute. Services were conducted by Camden lodges of Elks and Moose. Military rites were conducted by the Fairview Post, American Legion, of which Magin was a founder and past commander. The tribute was led by Mitchell Halin, post commander, and C. Richard Allen, past department commander. James W. Conner, chief clerk of the city water bureau and past State Commander of the V.F.W., conducted rites at the grave.

Mayor Brunner and Commissioners Kobus, Aaron, and Rhone came early and remained throughout the hours of viewing. Mrs. Helen Magin, the widow, and daughter Helen, attired in deep mourning, arrived shortly after 7:00 PM. Commissioner Kobus, who knelt in prayer before the bier, arose and went over to Mrs. Magin and her daughter. Mrs. Kobus embraced and kissed the widow and daughter of the late commissioner. They were in tears. Three firemen and three policemen maintained a vigil as a guard of honor. They were Patrolmen Jack Kaighn, George Weber, and William Deery and Firemen Arthur Batten, Warren Carter and William Reed. American Legion and V.F.W. members in uniform alternated as members of the military guard of honor.

A detail of 50 policemen was under command of Acting Lieutenant John Garrity. Fifty firemen, under supervision of Deputy Chief Walter Mertz, assisted the patrolmen in handling the crowd, which at times choked the stairways leading to the second floor.

Freeholders Arrive

Albert H. Molt, director of the Board of Freeholders and Freeholders John J. Tull, Oscar Moore, Ventorino Francesconi, Stanley Ciechanowski, Earl Armstrong and Emil J. McCall arrived shortly after 7:00 PM. Moore and Tull wore American Legion overseas caps. Albert S. Marvel, clerk of the board, accompanied the freeholders.