Introduction
Sabba Verdiglione
SABBA VERDIGLIONE born January 6, 1887. He was active in the civic life of Camden from the 1920s onward. He and his wife, the former Marie V. Kelley, made his home at 940–942 South 5th Street, and this is also where he maintained his business. Involved in real estate and insurance, he was the founder of the first Italian Democratic Club in Camden County. He also served as the court interpreter in Camden.
Marie V. Kelley had already established herself as one of the first important female politicians in Camden when the couple wed. Sabba Verdiglione served as the Democratic County committeeman in 1930, and ran again in 1934 on a ticket aligned with Harry Maloney and Emma Hyland. Both he and his wife were active in the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus.
Marie Verdiglione passed away in 1953. One of Sabba Verdiglione’s employees, Anthony Gentile, was tragically killed in a car accident in August 1954.
Sometime after Gentile’s death, Sabba Verdiglione moved his offices to 432 Mickle Street, where it was located in 1959, and his home to 601 Maple Avenue, in Haddonfield NJ. He passed away in July of 1970.
Sabba and Marie Verdiglione’s daughter Marie graduated Camden Catholic High School Class of ’56. She then went on to earn a Liberal Arts degree at Rutgers University before opening the popular nightclub 23 Skidoo / Some Place Else with her then-husband Anthony “Skeets” Tortu. Marie V. Tortu passed on January 29, 2012.
7 Democrats Rallies in County Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
Democratic speakers, urging suffrage in the interest of A. Harry Moore, gubernatorial candidate, and the local Democratic ticket, will invade seven political clubs in the city and county tonight.
County meetings, all at 8 p. m. and speakers are as follows:
First Ward Democratic Club, Gloucester, Mercer and Burlington streets, E. George Aaron, Firmin Michel and Marie V. Kelly.
Pennsauken Colored A. Harry Moore Club, Magnolia and Scovel avenues, Merchantville, Dr. Clement T. Branch, Eugene Aumaitre and Albert Melnik.
Lindenwold A. Harry Moore Club, Garden Lake fire hall, C. Lawrence Gregorio, Leon Rose, Joseph Varbalow and Mrs. Florence Melnik.
Glendora A. Harry Moore Club, fire hall, Mrs. Bertha Shippen Irving, Gene Mariano, Samuel P. Orlando and John Crean.
Somerdale Democratic Club, fire hall, Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, Edward L. Canning, Thomas Madden and John Delaney.
Fifth Ward Democratic Club. Fifth and Pine Streets, Samuel T. French, Rev. Robert A. Jackson, David L. Visor and Sabba Verdiglione.
Eighth Ward Democratic Club, 509 Ferry Avenue, Isaac Eason, Francis Homan, Charles Degnan and Judge Frank F. Neutze.
Moore Rallies Tonight in 3 Wards, Ashland
Camden Courier-Post —
Rallies in the interest of A. Harry Moore, gubernatorial candidate, and local candidates on the Democratic ticket will be conducted tonight in Ashland and in three wards of the city.
The meetings and speakers are as follows:
Sixth Ward Democratic Club, Fourth and Walnut Streets; E. George Aaron, Samuel P. Orlando, Boyd E. Morrison, Charles Degnan and Sabba Verdiglione.
Third Ward A. Harry Moore Club, Third and Benson Streets: Samuel T. French, Orlando, Edward L. Canning, C. Lawrence Gregorio, Frank Homan and Anthon Ruffo, of Trenton.
Eleventh Ward A. Harry Moore Club, 927 North Twenty-seventh street: Aaron, Canning, Isaac Eason, Marie V. Kelly and Judge Frank F. Neutze.
Ashland Democratic Club, home of Ida May Heidrick, Burnt Mill road and Second Avenue: Thomas Madden, Leon H. Rose and Eugene Mariano.
Democrats Arrange for ‘Maloney Day’
Camden Courier-Post —
July 9 Set for Reception and Picnic to New Revenue Collector
“Harry L. Maloney Day” will be celebrated by South Jersey Democrats, Sunday, July 9, when the newly-appointed collector of internal revenue will be guest of honor at a picnic at Silver Lake Park. State leaders of the party will attend. Maloney, Democratic state committeeman from Camden County and Mayor of Bellmawr, was named by President Roosevelt to succeed Edward L. Sturgess and is expected to take office by July 1.
Plans for the outing were made last night at a meeting in Democratic headquarters, 538 Stevens Street, at which Albert S. Marvel, Jr., was named chairman of the general committee. Vincent de P. Costello was elected secretary and former Mayor Victor King treasurer.
The committees follow:
Ways and means— Sidney Kaplan, chairman; Judge Samuel M. Shay, Judge Frank F. Neutze, Victor King, Vincent Gallaher, Samuel P. Orlando and Thomas N. Madden.
Entertainment— Joseph A. Varbalow, chairman; Patrick H. Harding, Joseph E. Nowrey, Calogero Salvagio, Thomas Cavanaugh and Joseph A. Gorman.
Refreshments— Ralph W. Wescott, chairman; Raymond Hadley, Walter Bateman, Joseph Ackroyd, James Hainesworth, Joseph Harczynski.
Athletics— Frank Abbott, chairman; John Lyons, Joseph McVey and Daniel T. Hagans.
Music— John P. Bissinger, chairman; Ventorino Francesconi, William Bell, Bernard Tracy and Matthew P. Johnson.
District organization— Michael J. Powell, chairman; Dominick Josephs, Ralph Comilli, Herbert McAdams, William Noonan, Edward Huston, Harry Daly and William Kistner.
Transportation— Mayor Emerson Jackson, of Gloucester, chairman; Lewis C. Parker, George Cohen, John Bennett, Horace L. Brewer and Sabba Verdiglione.
Printing— Charles J. Clark, chairman; Raymond Saltzman, Jack Goldstein, Walter Kelly and William M. Williams.
Publicity— Edward C. Bowe, Herbert Beattie, Patrick Whalen, Alfred R. White and Luke Bates.
Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, state committeewoman, and Miss Marie V. Kelley, vice-chairman of the county committee, will head a women’s reception committee to be chosen later.
The committees will meet again Monday night to complete arrangements.
K. of C. Here Plans Washington Ball
Camden Courier-Post —
Pre-Lenten Social Function Set for Feb. 22 in Honor of First President
Camden Council, Knights of Columbus, will hold a “George Washington Birthday Ball” February 22, at the Hotel Walt Whitman.
Grand Knight J. Frank Crawford says he can find no trace of a civic affair of this nature ever having been given in Camden to pay honor to the first President of the United States.
Usually the Knights’ pre-Lenten ball is held on the Friday evening preceding Ash Wednesday, but the dates are so close this year that the suggestion for a Washington’s Birthday Ball met with instant favor.
Both the main and junior ballrooms of the hotel have been engaged for the dance while numerous rooms in the hostelry have been reserved for dinner parties to precede the ball.
Arrangements have been made for lavish and substantial decorations. A life-size statue of Washington on a pedestal will be surrounded by the Stars and Stripes, palms and floodlights.
The ballrooms will be replete with bunting and shields, alternating to achieve the patriotic and nationalistic tinge that the Knights believe this annual occasion should invest the affair.
To carry out the significance of the event and to furnish an exceptional touch to the evening, a committee of women, with Mrs. Jere Crean as chairman, will have charge of the features of the entertainment.
This program will partake of early colonial social activities. There will be dances of those early days together with the march of “The Three Minutes,” the patriots whose picture has become as familiar to Americans as the sun and the moon.
Other members of this features committee include Mrs. Kirk B. Barb, Mrs. Patrick O’Connor, Mrs. Joseph McShane, Mrs. Sabba Verdiglione, Mrs. Joseph E. Mears, Mrs. Vincent de Paul Costello, Mrs. James L. Hughes, Mrs. John Reynolds, Mrs. Frank Daly and Mrs. Andrew J. McMahon.
There is also a Junior Ladies’ Committee headed by Miss Mary Verga and comprising the Misses Catherine Kelley, Margaret Powell, Madeline McFeely, Alice Dolly, Teresa Regnery, Catherine Fay, Julia Kirk, Margaret Kelley, Winifred Cogan, Marie Carr and Marie Stanton Daly.
Thomas J. McCloskey is chairman of the committee on decorations; William J. Hartman of music, and Francis J. Poplaski of publicity. District Deputy George J. Reed heads the reception committee with Grand Knight Crawford, Past Grand Knight John A. Reynolds is in charge of the general committee, with Theodore J. Stiles, secretary; Francis Halstead, treasurer, and Daniel Roche, treasurer of Camden Council, as advisory member.
Pre-Lenten Ball Planned by K. of C.
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Jere Crean Heads Women’s Committee for Event Feb. 22
One of the principal pre-Lenten events in this city will be the Knights of Columbus Ball which is to be held in the Hotel Walt Whitman on Tuesday evening, February 22.
Since the ball falls on Washington’s birthday the program has been centered around the observance of the national holiday.
The Women’s Committee has completed plans for its participation in the affair and has announced that many dinner parties are being arranged, preceding the ball.
John A. Reynolds is general chairman of the ball committee. Mrs. Jere Crean heads the women’s committee and is assisted by Miss Margaret Powell, Miss Madeline McFeeley, Miss Alice Dolly, Miss Margaret Moore, Miss Winifred Cogan, Miss Julia V. Kirk, Miss Kathryn Kelley, Miss Mary McGrath, Miss Teresa Regnery, Miss Margaret Kelley, Miss Jule M. Carey, Miss Winifred Stafford, Miss Rose Mary McKernan, Miss Marie B. Carr, Miss Rita Reigert, Miss Frances Jagod, Miss Mary Verga, Miss Anna Connell, Miss Monica Barrett, Mrs. Kirk B. Barb, Mrs. Marie Stanton Kelly, Mrs. Andrew McMahon, Mrs. Sabba Verdiglione, Mrs. John Reynolds, Mrs. Joseph Mears, Mrs. Charles Grimley, Mrs. John P. Daly,, Mrs. John Holt, Mrs. Frank Daly, Mrs. James A. Kane, Mrs. Joseph P. McShane and Mrs. Patrick A. O’Connor.
Checked and Double-Checked
Camden Courier-Post —
By JIMINY
THE week’s prize story, as it is being told around the courthouse, concerns the new “bingo” numbers racket in which a half dozen or more suspects were arrested. Prosecutor Orlando was questioning the prisoners when there came this repartee:
PROSECUTOR: “What’s the matter with you? Don’t you read the papers? Didn’t you read where we had banned bingo?”
PRISONER: “Yeah, I read that—but I thought you meant churches!”
* * *
Alleviating the daily burden of digesting news comes an occasional missive like this:
“Dear Sir:
“I am writing you to request a part time job writing column consisting of notes obtained from bartenders and waiters who work in cafes or inns and who advertise in the Courier-Post. I am married, 28 years old, have one child and good reference. If interested, call —— or write.
“B. R. McLaughlin.”
If there were such a job, it wouldn’t be open.
* * *
THE plan of David Baird to throw Harry Ecky out of his job for Bill Lehman is a shining example of how the Camden county Republican party is disintegrating because one man refuses to substitute gas-electric buses for horsecars. . . . The appointment of Harry Ecky was one of the few creditible [sic] appointments the Gentleman Farmer has had a hand in for some years. . . . Ecky is not only a straight, efficient registrar; he is a credit to his party, a popular man in North Camden and, until this political assassination, has been a loyal Baird follower in the face of endless adverse criticism. . . . The fact that Baird hopes to dump one of his most loyal workers merely to make room for his headquarters errand boy, doesn’t sit well with the uptown Republicans. . . . It is a good break for the New Deal Republicans, for such a flagrant case of double-cross brings sharply to the understanding of Old Guard Republicans why the New Deal Republicans seceded and struck out for themselves. . . . You can safely bet that regardless of whether Baird is successful in ousting Ecky, the First ward will henceforth be New Deal. . . .
One of the surprising features of yesterday’s recall election at Wildwood was the fact that William “Dutch” Kinsler was very active as a district leader. . . . For the Democrats. . . . “Dutch” was a guard at the Camden county jail for many years. . . . And was a vehement Bairdite. . . .
Social Notes: Prosecutor Sam Orlando is Florida-bound. . . . Al Woodruff is back from the West Indies. . . . Mrs. Emma Hyland and Mrs. Marie (Kelley) Verdiglione visited Gov. Moore at Trenton on Wednesday. . . .
In recent weeks we have been enjoying a joust with the editor (?) of a weakly paper and very probably he has been enjoying it too from behind the eight ball. . . Now, a political chameleon who issues a throw-away folder in the suburbs, is trying to muscle in to draw some comment from us. . . We can’t joust there, being under a handicap, as we cleave to facts and truth. . . Whereas no such restriction hinders or worries the suburban pensman. . . That can be attested by the fact that the Camden County Grand Jury once preseented [sic] him with a diploma. . . In recognition of his expertness. . . At criminal libel. . . He pleaded non vult (guilty) to the indictment, throwing himself upon the mercy of the court. . . The grand jury’s too busy these days with bingo and bagatelle.
Out in one of the suburbs the ABC agents are investigating a councilman who is a bartender in one of the taprooms in his community, which they say is illegal, since the governing body of which he is a member is also the issuing authority for liquor licensees. . . The taproom recently was told to close on time. . . It must be Spring . . . Mrs. Roy Lehman, of Lucaston, writes in this year’s first letter about having seen a robin. . . And some boys were playing marbles under the bridge around Third street the other day.
Some more social notes: Corporal Sol Polkowitz, of the Malaga state police barracks, is on a 36-day leave in order to tour England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Czecho-Slovakia and Roumania. . . Is Chief John Branin about to leave Delaware township? . . . Mrs. Kathryn Sheeran’s friends threw her a surprise birthday party the other night. . . Walter Fallon, who told us, wouldn’t say what birthday.
Charley Humes and Chinny Weber will battle it out for last place in the ping-pong league tonight. . . Mrs. Beatrice Di Guiseppe, of 425 Pine street, has a dracena plant which has just burst into rare bloom. . . She got it seven years ago from Pasquale Iannuzzi . . . One of the staff found an old photograph near Broadway and Federal, and it may have some sentimental value for the loser. . . On the back are some notations, among them this: “Don’t you think Robert James some boy—don’t you think you could love your little grandson”. . . It is torn in half, though, and maybe that’s a story in itself. . . Aside to Mrs. M. R. of Gloucester: Have you heard favorable word from the Westville authorities?
U.S.O. Drive Here Reports $17,423
Camden Courier-Post —
Upward Swing of Contributions Continues; Goal Is $21,000
The upward swing of contributions to the United Service Organizations continued yesterday.
It was announced by Ralph Vasso, chairman of the general committee which is conducting the free will offering campaign, that the total to date is $17,423.69. Camden’s goal in the nation-wide appeal is $21,000.
The money will be used by the United Service Organizations, which is made up of six national organizations, in providing recreational programs for men in the armed services of the nation, Vasso pointed out.
“Each day we are approaching the $21,000 goal,” said Vasso, “and the committee is hopeful that the total will be realized within a short while. Contributions are coming into the offices of the United Service Organizations in the Camden County Chamber of Commerce building, Sixth and Penn streets.” Sidney P. McCord, city comptroller, is the treasurer of the committee.
Today’s contributors are: Volney G. Bennett Lumber Company, $25; Dr. J. S. Shipman, $25; Mabel M. Craig, $3; Sabba Verdiglione, $2; L. Merochnik Sons, $10; John A. Shortell, $2; Camden City Lodge No. 11, Independent Order of Beth Shone, $10; Diamond Coal Company, $2; Camden Window Shade Company, $1; additional from employes of the Camden Fire Insurance Association, $1; J. Alpheus Harker, $1, and Thomas F. Gibson Company, $25.
Mrs. Santone Named Library Trustee
Camden Courier-Post —
Mayor Brunner has appointed Mrs. Dollie Santone, 564 Pine st., a trustee of the City Board of the Free Library to fill the vacancy created by the death of Mrs. Marie K. Verdiglione.
Mrs. Santone, who will serve through 1955, helped organize PTA groups at the Stevens and Central elementary schools and served as president. She is active in social and civic affairs and was formerly Third Ward Democratic committeewoman. The appointment was approved Wednesday.