Introduction
Valentine Doerr Jr.
VALENTINE WALTER DOERR JR. was the son-in-law of Christopher L. Dietz, who came to what was then Stockton in the early 1890s. Philadelphia Directories from 1885 through 1888 have Christopher L. Dietz at 2510 Kensington Avenue, operating a lager beer saloon. He then moved to 160 Lehigh Avenue, where he ran a restaurant specializing in oysters from 1889 into 1891, before moving to New Jersey.
Christopher L. Dietz came to what is now known as the Cramer Hill section of Camden by the time the 1892 Camden City Directory was being compiled. This neighborhood and what is now referred to as East Camden comprised the town of Stockton, which was annexed by Camden in the Spring of 1899.
Christopher L. Dietz first appears in the Camden City Directories in 1892, as the proprietor of the Union Hotel, at Union Street and River Road.
Union Street was renamed North 26th Street after the annexation, and River Road was renamed River Avenue, although to this day most people call this thoroughfare River Road. This building was given the street address of 948 North 26th Street after the annexation as well.
In 1893 Christopher L. Dietz moved one block, to the corner of River Road and Fulton Street (present-day 1001 North 25th Street), where he founded the Crescent Bottling Company. His daughter Catherine and her husband, Valentine Doerr Jr., who had come to Camden around the same time, stayed at the Union Street and River Road house, where they operated a retail business selling cigars and “notions” until 1898, when Doerr was granted a retail liquor license. Sadly, Valentine Doerr Jr. passed away on October 10, 1899, leaving his widow and young children.
Shortly before the 1896 City Directory was compiled, Christopher L. Dietz hired John Schimpf to work as a driver at the Crescent Bottling Company. John Schimpf eventually took over management and ownership of the business, which is still at the same location, albeit in a more modern building, in 2013. Christopher L. Dietz passed away on September 1, 1900 at the age of 61.
Camden City Directory Ad
1892
Named: Christopher L. Dietz, Union Hotel, Union Street, and River Road.
Stockton Liquor Licenses
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Town Council Grants a Number of Applications
At a meeting of Stockton Town Council last night the following retail liquor licenses were granted: John Hoosey, Geo. Doerfuss, Dorothy Feil, John G. Schramm, Louis Everly, B. L. Buenzle, Jacob Bauck, Valentine Doerr, B. J. Lyons, Thomas Tracey, Isaac H. Adams, George W. Sterling, Charles Kleeman, William Demuller, Gotthard Eisner, Jacob Bendinger, George W. Spieke, August Muench, John Costello, Dora Andrews, John Hafner, Charles T. Zoller, John J. Gallagher, Harry G. Vennel, Charles Mangold, Merritt Hall, John J. Trost, Frederick Wolfinger, Jacob Woly. C. L. Dietz and Frank Grunert were granted wholesale licenses.
Stockton
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Special to The Inquirer.
STOCKTON, July 23.—Miss Anna Evans, of Allegheny, Pa., has been the guest of Miss Cora Davis, of Dudley, during the week.
Walter Riggs has returned from a several days’ visit to Atlantic City.
Valentine Doerr, of Pavonia, spent several days of this week at Atlantic City.
Betsy Ross Council, Daughters of America, celebrated its second anniversary at Sigle Hall Wednesday evening.
Mrs. Riedinger and son Albert, of Westfield avenue, enjoyed the fore part of the week at the seashore.
Business Card
c. 1898
VALENTINE DOERR,
Wine, Liquor and Lager Beer Saloon
Cor: River Road and Union Street,
Pavonia, N. J.
Trolley cars to North Cramer Hill pass the door.
Mensch ærgere dich nich!
Trink eins und halt’s Maul!
Doerr
Philadelphia Inquirer —
DOERR.—On October 10, 1898, Valentine, Jr., husband of Catharine A. Doerr (née Dietz), and son of Sophia and the late Valentine Doerr Sr., aged 38 years and 9 months. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Wednesday afternoon, October 12, at 2 o’clock, from his late residence, River road and Union street, Pavonia, North Cramer Hill, N. J. Interment at Glenwood Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Dietz
Philadelphia Inquirer —
DIETZ.—On September 1, 1900, Christopher L. Dietz, aged 61 years. Funeral services on Monday afternoon, September 3, at 2 o’clock, at No. 1001 North Twenty-fifth street Camden, East Side, formerly North Cramer Hill, N. J. The members of the German Maennerchor Society and the German-American Beneficial Society and the German Quartette Club, of Pavonia, are invited to attend. Interment at Glenwood Cemetery, Philadelphia. Remains can be seen Sunday evening after 8 o’clock.