Introduction
Peter Gondolf
Peter Gondolf is best remembered as the proprietor of what was for decades one of only two bars in Fairview, The Fairview Gardens, at 3007 Fenwick Road. Officially “The Fairview Grill Association,” the Fairview Gardens, known to Fairview residents for years as The Pink Cat, had a colorful history before its closure.
Peter Gondolf Jr. was born on October 25, 1877 in Pennsylvania. When the Census was taken in 1900 he was living at 1701 South 4th Street with his wife Marion, whom he had married around 1897, and his sister Pauline Gondolf. He then was working as a milkman. Within a few years he had opened a grocery at this location. By 1910 he had taken a position as a foreman with a railroad, most likely the Reading, and moved his family to 9-5 Woodland Avenue. The Gondolf family by then included five children, Harold, Richard, Gladys, Raymond, and Harry. The family was still residing at this address in 1914. By this time Peter Gondolf had secured an appointment to the Camden Police Department.
When it was time for him to register for the draft in September of 1918, Peter Gondolf was living with his family at 674 Fairview Street. Prohibition would come a year later, and shortly after that another career change. The Gondolfs remained on Fairview Street through January of 1920 but had moved to 3035 Tuickahoe Road in the then-new Yorkship Square section of Camden, better known in these times as Fairview by 1924. Peter Gondolf by then had left the police force and was in business in real estate and as a builder. By April of 1930 he had bought a property in Fairview on Fenwick Road worth $15,000… a large amount for that time. His residence was 3001 Fenwick Road. The next neighbor on the street at 3019 Fenwick Road was the Reno Canzanese family. Reno Canzanese was one of the brothers involved in the Seven Brothers Bakery in South Camden.
The Fairview neighborhood in Camden was originally part of Haddon Township, which was a dry town. Haddon Township ceded Yorkship Village Square and the surrounding neighborhood to Camden in 1918. Before any taverns could be established, the Volstead Act was passed in October of 1919, making the manufacture sale of alcoholic beverages illegal. Prohibition proved wildly unpopular, and Fairview, like most every other neighborhood in America had a speakeasy or two. The Fairview Gardens apparently was one.
The story goes that The Pink Cat started during Prohibition as a speak-easy. During those years it was run by Peter Gondolf. Its clientele included many influential people from the Camden County political arena. Due in part to this influential clientele, after Prohibition was repealed, Mr. Gondolf and friends organized a private club and acquired an official state liquor license, and “The Fairview Grill Association” was born. Although already known as Fairview Gardens, this name was apparently in use elsewhere in New Jersey, thus the “Grill Association” name.
It should be noted that Peter Gondolf’s brother, Edward Gondolff, was the owner and operator of the Temple Bar & Hotel at 407–409 Market Street in Camden prior to his death in April of 1918. Another brother, Frank Gondolf, served for a short time as a member of the Camden Fire Department around 1914 and from the 1920s into at least the late 1940s worked as a foreman, later as a chemist, and finally as superintendent of the City of Camden’s sewers and sewage treatment plants.
Peter Gondolf passed away on February 29, 1940 and was buried at New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr, New Jersey. His widow Marion ran the bar for a time with help from her sons. Richard Gondolf took over operation of the bar in the 1950s, and Marion Gondolf passed on in 1955. When Richard Gondolf retired, he sold the bar to Vincent and Josephine Canzanese, before passing away in August of 1973. Mrs. Canzanese, known to all as “Granny,” lived in the house and ran the bar for many years until she retired. Her son Arthur “Artie” Canzanese ran the bar until the late 1970s when he, too, retired, turning the bar over to his son, Gregory Canzanese, who ran the bar until its closure. The property now houses a state-run day care center and pre-school.
Photos
Peter Gondolf with two of his children, Gladys & Richard
Police Carnival Was a Gigantic Success
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Considered one of the most successful events ever given in Camden, the second annual industrial show and carnival of the Camden Police Beneficial Association came to a close in the Third Regiment Armory Saturday night with the “crowning of the queen.” Miss Margaret Rudolph, daughter of Chas. Rudolph, of Master street, was accorded that honor. It is estimated that during the week more than 50,000 persons visited the armory and participated in the festivities.
The committee that had charge of the affair included Milton Stanley, Captain Edward Hyde, Sergeant E. B. McClong, Frank Crawford, Peter Gondolf, William Lvone, Harry Miller, Arthur Colsey, Thomas Reed, William Potter, Tabor Quinn, Charles Whaland, George Anderson, Albert Shaw, Sergeant Horner and Thomas Cunningham.
Drowns Wearing Life Preserver
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Despite the fact that he wore a life preserver when he went bathing in the Delaware yesterday, Richard Knorr, a member of the crew of the German steamer Prince Oskar, lying off Kaighn’s Point, Camden, lost his life when apparently attacked with cramps. The fact that Knorr wore a preserver inclined the Camden police to the belief that he had deserted the ship, but late in the day Policeman Gondolf hooked the body with grappling irons off Jackson street. The preserver was still in place. Coroner Bushey viewed the body.
Sends Trio to Jail
Philadelphia Inquirer —
“You have caused enough trouble in this world and it is a wonder you don’t behave yourself,” said Recorder Stackhouse in the Camden Police Court yesterday, addressing Mrs. Frances Wienefsli, a member of the boathouse colony at the foot of Viola street. She had been arrested by Policeman Gondolf with Joseph Wachiski and Stanley Rubinski, who were fighting over her. She has been in the Police Court at various times since. Recorder Stackhouse sent the trio to jail for twenty days.
Committed to Jail on Assault Charge
Camden Post-Telegram —
Accused of participating in the atrocious assault upon Clarence V. Walsingham, of 536 South Sixth street, on Wednesday of last week, for which two other defendants were held under bail, Robert Petitt, aged 22 years, of 979 Florence street, this morning before Recorder Stackhouse pleaded not guilty. He was committed in default of $1,000 bail.
Walsingham identified Petitt as one of the three men who had him down on the ground beating him after they dragged him from his home to the street. Walsingham’s wife identified the defendant.
In his own defense Petitt said he could prove that he was not in the city on the evening of the attack. “You will be given an opportunity to prove your innocence in the Criminal Court,” answered Prosecutor De Unger. Policeman Gondolf arrested Petitt.
Woman Stricken on Witness Stand
Camden Post-Telegram —
Taken ill on the witness stand in the Criminal Court to-day Mrs. Carrie String, of 536 South Sixth street, collapsed in a dead faint after being lead to the corridor. She was quickly revived.
She was a witness in the case against Robert Petitt, who is accused with two others of atrocious assault upon C.V. Washingham, her son-in-law, on Wednesday of last week. Petitt claims to be able to establish an alibi. The case is still on.
World War I Draft Card
Peter Gondolf — World War I Draft Card
Suspect Is Nabbed at Fairview Home in Shooting of Cop
Camden Evening Courier —
Collingswood Man Held on Charge Made By Police at Springfield, Mass.—Accused of Having Gun When Caught Crawling From Cellar
A two-week search for a Collingswood man wanted in Springfield, Mass., on a charge of shooting and beating a patrolman, ended in Fairview this morning when George Fingerhut, 26, was captured by three Camden district detectives as he was attempting to flee from the home of his sister.
Fingerhut, who said he lived at 68 Collings avenue, Collingswood, was caught by Detective Howard Smith as he attempted to crawl through a cellar window, gun in hand. Fingerhut had been trailed from Collingswood by Patrolman George Smith, of the Collingswood police, a son of Detective Smith.
According to the Springfield police, Fingerhut was one of three men who shot Patrolman Joseph Gauderau two weeks ago when the patrolman surprised them in the act of stealing a car. After shooting the patrolman, one of the men beat him over the head with a revolver. Gauderau is not expected to live.
Jailed 60 Days
The suspect was arraigned before Police Judge Pancoast on a charge of carrying deadly weapons and being a fugitive from justice. He entered pleas of not guilty to both charges and was sentenced to 60 days on the deadly weapon charge. He was ordered held 30 days pending extradition proceedings.
Fingerhut, after the three detectives testified he had a loaded revolver in his hand when he attempted to flee from a house at 953 Monitor road, Fairview, asked Pancoast to set bail on the fugitive charge. Bail was set at $15,000. He said he reached Camden last night.
The residence at 953 Monitor road is occupied by Raymond Gondolf and family, according to the police. Raymond Gondolf is a son of Peter Gondolf, a Fairview contractor, Republican committeeman from the Fourteenth Ward. Mrs. Raymond Gondolf is Fingerhut’s sister.
The Gondolfs were away from their home last night. Fingerhut, finding the house unoccupied, used it as a hiding place, according to a report filed by Detective Smith.
Fingerhut’s brother, Hugh, and a man known to the police only as “Pete” have been arrested in New England and are being held in Springfield. George Fingerhut, according to the Springfield police, has a long criminal record.
Home Surrounded
The police received a tip yesterday that Fingerhut would try to visit Fairview last night. Detectives Theodore Guthrie, Clarence Bunker and Smith watched the house during the night, and this morning when no sign of Fingerhut was seen Bunker, [sic] went to the rear of the house, Smith to the side and Guthrie to the front door.
Guthrie knocked several times, but his knock was not answered. Then it was that Smith saw a man crawling through a cellar window with a revolver in one hand. Stepping behind some shrubbery, Smith waited until Fingerhut emerged from the cellar window and then covered him with a revolver.
At police headquarters Fingerhut refused to make any statements. His photographs and Bertillion measurements will be broadcast by the Camden police to ascertain if he is wanted in any other cities.
Hit and Run Death Is Charged to Man
Camden Courier-Post —
Indictment Returned Against Gondolf After 3-Month Probe
A police and private investigation into the “hit-run” death of a Fairview war veteran Christmas eve has resulted in an indictment charging manslaughter being returned against a Camden man.
In the indictment, returned by the grand jury, Harold Gondolf, of 3001 Fenwick road, is charged with being the driver of the automobile which fatally injured George Hall, of 2760 Constitution road.
Separate investigations lasting three months were conducted by the police department and Fairview legionnaires.
Prosecutor Baldwin, announcing the indictment had been returned, said Gondolf is the son of Peter Gondolf, Republican county committeeman from the Fourteenth ward. Evidence against Gondolf had been placed before the grand jury on an “informal complaint,” Baldwin said. Gondolf had not been arrested because of being ill in bed, Lawrence T. Doran, chief of county detectives, said last night.
Hall, veteran of the British army, was struck by the automobile on Morgan boulevard between Seventh and Eighth streets. An investigation was started by Sergeant George R. Thompson, head of the accident bureau, but no one was arrested. Thompson had appeared before the grand jury with a number of witnesses.
Thompson was aided in his investigation by members of the Fairview Post No. 71, American Legion, of which Hall was a member. Gondolf appeared at police headquarters several days after the accident and was questioned by Thompson. He was not arrested and a complaint was never made against him, according to Thompson. He repeatedly denied that he was the driver of the car.
“This was a hit-run case,” the prosecutor said, “and the city police started an investigation in an effort to learn who the driver of the death car was. Sergeant Thompson had charge of this investigation.
“The American Legion Post of Fairview became interested in the case and it, too, conducted an investigation, and turned over to my office all the information they obtained. As a result of this, the matter was laid before the grand jury on an informal complaint against Gondolf, and an indictment was found against him on the charge of manslaughter. I have questioned Gondolf, and he has repeatedly denied that he was the driver of the car that figured in the tragedy.
“Gondolf is the son of Peter Gondolf, and lived at 415 Morse street. Since the accident, however, the defendant has moved from this address. He will be placed on trial on the charge of manslaughter at the April term of criminal court.”