Sarah Wachsman
SARAH KOPLAN WACHSMAN was born in Pennsylvania in May of 1892 to David and Rachel Koplan. Her father was a tailor. By May of 1893 the family had moved to Camden. The Census of 1900 shows the Koplan family, which then included six other children, living at 134 Walnut Street in South Camden.
By 1910 the Koplans had moved to 1023 South 2nd Street, where David Koplan had a successful tailor’s shop. Young Sarah Koplan became interested in real estate during her youth. She married Harry Wachsman around 1921. A daughter, Mildred, was born in 1922. The Wachsmans were still living at 1023 South 2nd Street as late as 1924. By 1927 they had moved to 649 State Street in North Camden, and Sarah Wachsman had gone into the real estate business. The Wachsmans had a son, Harold, in 1928. The family was still on State Street in April of 1930.
By 1943 Sarah Wachsman had relocated her home and business to 526 Benson Street. She brought her daughter Mildred and son Harold into the business during the 1940s.
Active in Jewish affairs as a member of B’nai B’rith and of the women’s auxiliary of the Jewish War Veterans, and of the Camden County Real Estate board, Sarah Wachsman passed away on Friday, April 8, 1949.
Harold Wachsman married Leona Schatz, daughter of Westville grocer Benjamin Schatz and niece of George Schatz, founder and owner of George’s Auto Service, one of Camden’s most successful auto parts and repair concerns of its time.
Sarah Wachsman Reared Babies to Be Realty Aides
Camden Courier-Post — 1940s
A Woman Succeeds in a ‘Man’s World’
MOM’S THE BOSS—Sarah Wachsman, veteran Camden realtor, 526 Benson street, gives a bit of dictation to daughter Mildred, her secretary, as son Harry, her salesman, listens attentively.
Twenty-seven years ago, a brown-haired girl sat in her father’s tailor shop at 1023 South Second street, and listened to a real estate woman — quite a phenomenon in those days — sell him some property.
The tailor, David Koplan, was successful, and had money to invest. In fact his cozy shop was a rendezvous for local doctors, lawyers and merchants.
Listening to the real estate woman, the tailor’s daughter, Sarah, thought she could do just as well. So she decided to try.
Years later, Sarah was married, but that didn’t stop her. She also had a two-year-old baby daughter, but that didn’t curb her style.
Hangs Up Sign
Within a few days a second sign appeared over the door of the tailor shop. It read: “Sarah Wachsman, Real Estate.”
The neighborhood responded gallantly to this business venture of the girl they had known as a student at Camden High school.
The corner grocer bought four houses right away. Other neighbors sought Sarah’s services.
And soon Sarah was whizzing through streets in a second-hand car. Mildred, the baby, cooed in the front seat. “For Sale” signs crowded the back.
Five years later, a baby son, Harry, also went along for the ride.
Seated in a private office in her home at 526 Benson street, with its handsome green velvet furnishings, Mrs. Wachsman doesn’t have to do much cruising around for business these days.
Still brown-haired with a girlish air given to soft, dark dresses, Sarah Wachsman is a widow today. But the two babies she drove on sales trips are now her helpmates.
Mildred, 24, is her mother’s secretary and bookkeeper. Harry just became her salesman.
Sarah trained her son to sell from his early youth. She saw that he served in grocery, haberdashery, jewelry and clothing stores after school.
“So he’d get the feeling of selling,” she says.
The city of Camden must look one issue squarely in the face, Mrs. Wachsman believes.
“It’s that this is a working man’s town,” she says.
Families of working men have increased faster than housing in this area, she maintains. Camden homeowners have been hospitable to home seekers, in her opinion, but due to lack of a long range housing program and the war — there still isn’t enough housing to go around.
The solution? Private ownership development of land about Camden would help a lot, says Mrs. Wachsman.
“The development should offer private homes that working people can carry for not more than $40 a month, a home they can live in and not lose,” she adds.
Mrs. Wachsman believes she understands working people.
She has worked in her time — and still does.
Mrs. Sarah Wachsman Dies; Realtor Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Sarah Wachsman, 55, widow of Harry Wachsman, of 526 Benson street, died Friday in Lakeland General hospital after a long illness.
A native of Philadelphia, Mrs. Wachsman resided in Camden for more than 50 years and operated a real estate agency at the Benson avenue address.
She was a member of Camden County Real Estate Board, the auxiliary of Camden post, Jewish War Veterans, and B’nai B’rith.
Surviving is a son, Harold; a daughter, Mrs. Mildred Cohen; three sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Markovitz, Mrs. Irene Berg and Mrs. Rose Levy, and two brothers, Samuel and Herman Koplan. Services were held yesterday, in Berschler’s funeral home, 1401 Princess avenue. Burial will be in Crescent Memorial Park.
WACHSMAN
Camden Courier-Post —
WACHSMAN—On April 8, 1949, Sarah I., beloved wife of the late Harry Wachsman, of 526 Benson street, Camden, N.J., devoted mother of Mildred Cohen, and Harold Wachsman. Sister of Rose Levey, Irene Berg, Dorothy Markovitz, Samuel and Herman Koplan. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral services on Sunday at David B. Berschler’s Funeral Chapel, 1401-03 Princess avenue, Camden [...] at Crescent Burial Park.
Harold M. Wachsman Real Estate License
1948 / Ending June 30th / No. W3034 SA.
THE NEW JERSEY REAL ESTATE COMMISSION
This Certifies that HAROLD M. WACHSMAN
is a duly licensed REAL ESTATE SALESMAN
Sarah Wachsman, T3084 Br.
with 526 Benson Street, Camden, Camden County
for the year ending June 30, 1948.
D. October 24, 1947. [signature] SECRETARY-DIRECTOR
Harold M. Wachsman — New Jersey Real Estate Salesman License, 1948