Ventorino “Vallie” Francesconi
VENTORINO FRANCESCONI was active politically as a Democrat in South Camden in the 1930s and 1940s. In late June 1937, the board changed an application for alterations and additions from the Mount Vernon School to the C. A. Bergen School. They also applied for a $925,000 loan for a new school in the fourth ward, and for modernizing the Cooper and Grant Schools. The loan never materialized, and this school was never built. The Fourth Ward remained short on school space throughout the decade. Francesconi served as Fourth Ward Democratic county committeeman, and later as a Camden County Freeholder and chief clerk of the Camden City Health Department.
Mailbag: Note of Thanks
Camden Courier-Post —
To the Editor: Sir—I want to take this opportunity to thank all the workers and all my friends in the Fourth Ward who so loyally supported Mrs. Mary Di Pilla and myself as county committeewoman and county committeeman. Unfortunately Mrs. Di Pilla lost by four votes; but won a moral victory. I will do all in my power to serve the people of the Fourth Ward to the best of my ability and under no circumstances will I show any partiality.
VENTORINO FRANCESCONI
County Committeeman
426 Benson Street
4th Ward Democrats Elect James Laurino
Camden Courier-Post —
James Laurino was elected president of the Fourth Ward Democratic Club of Camden last night at its headquarters, Broadway and Washington streets. Other officers chosen are John Stewart, vice president; Joseph Panichella, secretary; Dominick Lombardo, re-elected treasurer; Fred Ross, financial secretary; Thomas Shannon, sergeant-at-arms. County Committeeman Ventorino Francesconi was named honorary president. David Visor was named to draw up by-laws. The charter is open for new members. The club will meet each Wednesday night.
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.
15 Men Pass Test for New City Job
Camden Courier-Post —
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. Moullette, 902 North Second Street, who is doing the work at the present time.
Mrs. Kobus Called Before Grand Jury
Camden Courier-Post —
Probe Concerns Vote Fraud Case; Court Asked to Oust 2 Freeholders
Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety, is to be among seven witnesses tonight before the grand jury investigating election frauds in Camden. This was announced yesterday by Assistant Prosecutor Patrick H. Harding after Circuit Court Judge V. Claude Palmer took under advisement the application of Republican attorneys to unseat Democratic Freeholders Stanley Ciechanowski and Ventorino Francesconi. The court was asked to “declare the election of their Republican opponents, Charles A. Burkett and George Farrell, because of ‘fraud, corruption or malconduct’ in nine precincts of five Camden wards ‘sufficient to permit the court to reject the entire vote in those districts.’”
Checked and Double Checked
Camden Courier-Post —
Former Judge Joseph Varbalow will soon announce he has purchased the Towers and Broadway Theatres from the Ellis family… Circuit Court Judge V. Claude Palmer will probably file his decision today in the fraud charges made by the Republican League against the election of Freeholders Ciechanowski and Francesconi… Since Judge Palmer told the Democratic attorney, Alex Feinberg, that Feinberg must complete his entire case in a half a day “because, frankly, I don’t see what answer you can make to this testimony,” you can draw your own conclusions about what the decision will be.
Baird Followers Make Bid to Regain Prestige in County
Camden Courier-Post —
G.O.P. Old Guard Names ‘Committee of 11’ Empowered to Promote Harmony in Party by Compromise with Any Faction
Camden County’s G.O.P. Old Guard, adherents of former U.S. Senator David Baird, made a bid last night to regain political prestige lost in last year’s Democratic landslide. Meeting in the Overbrook Villa at Lindenwold under leadership of former Freeholder James W. Wood, president of the Camden County Republican Club, the more than 100 in attendance voted to name a committee of 11 “with power to nominate and make compromises they see fit toward selection of candidates for sheriff, state senator, assemblymen and freeholders.”
The consensus of the meeting was that the fight at this Fall’s polls should be centered on the choice of freeholders. A review was given of the recent court action on unseating freeholders Stanley Ciechanowski and Ventorino Francesconi, following a Republican inspired recount. Removal of the two freeholders by Judge V. Claude Palmer was halted by a State Supreme Court ruling.
Francesconi Probes Hall Lift Service
Camden Courier-Post —
More than 5000 persons a day use the elevators in Camden City Hall, Freeholder Ventorino Francesconi said yesterday as he began an inquiry into complaints of poor service. Francesconi announced he would make a survey and work out a plan to synchronize movements of the elevators to prevent traffic jams. He also stated that uniforms for elevator starters were contemplated.
Swinton Promises to Hire Mechanics for WPA Projects
Camden Courier-Post —
Freeholders Told Every Available Man Will Be Put to Work
A pledge to hire “every available mechanic” to complete county WPA projects has been made by George R. Swinton, director of the South Jersey WPA district, it was reported yesterday to the Board of Freeholders. Freeholder Francesconi reported he and Freeholders Molt and McCall had conferred with Swinton at his offices in Atlantic City and had been promised “every co-operation.” Francesconi said 185 new men have been put to work on the projects and Swinton promised to reclassify men at work on the projects, who are mechanics, but not doing that type of work.
The board adopted a resolution appropriating $2100 as an emergency fund to pay Martin A. McNulty, thrice-dismissed county purchasing agent for the old Board of Freeholders. McNulty first demanded $3558.38 as his salary from Jan. 10, 1940, when he was first ousted, until May 21, 1941, when he was reinstated by the present board. His job was abolished later.
Henry Magin Laid to Rest By War Veteran Buddies
Camden Courier-Post —
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. 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.
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.
Freeholders Albert H. Molt, John J. Tull, Oscar Moore, Ventorino Francesconi, Stanley Ciechanowski, Earl Armstrong and Emil J. McCall arrived shortly after 7:00 PM. Among prominent officials and citizens who came to pay their respects were Congressman Charles A. Wolverton and his son Donnell; County Clerk Frank J. Suttill; City Clerk Clay W. Reesman; Fire Chief John H. Lennox; Albert Austermuhl, secretary of the board of education; Postmaster Emma E. Hyland; Horace R. Dixon, executive director of the Camden Housing Authority; former Judge Joseph Varbalow; S. Raymond Dobbs; former Assemblyman Rocco Palese; County Treasurer Edward J. Kelleher; Samuel T. French Sr.; Walter Budniak; Funeral Director Harry Leonard; Sidney P. McCord; C. Richard Allen, past department commander of the American Legion; and S. Raymond Dobbs.
Tenement Owner Granted 10 Days for Cleaning Job
Camden Courier-Post —
By WILBUR MORSE JR.
The Philadelphia owner of a South Camden tenement has been given 10 days to clean up the conditions at 432 Stevens street.
Louis R. Cohen, 271 South Fifteenth street, Philadelphia, was summoned to a hearing Monday before Director of Public Affairs Rhone, to show cause why he should not be restrained from operating the rooming house.
Charges lodged against the management of the property by city health inspectors and the fire marshal were read to Rhone by Ventorino Francesconi, chief clerk of the health department.
The inspections, Francesconi said, showed the tenement consists of 23 apartments, comprised of 29 rooms, occupied by 38 adults and 22 children.
Fire hazards were said by inspectors to include improper lighting of stairways and hallways; hallways and stairways blocked; loose wood and litter scattered about the premises, and an inadequate number of exits.
“Health violations,” Francesconi reported, “were contained in the excessive number of persons occupying single, or two-room apartments; improper disposal of garbage; faulty plumbing and general unsanitary conditions.”
Cohen, in his defense, laid the blame for the conditions on his tenants.
“You can’t make people be clean, if they don’t want to,” he told Rhone.
Termed Deplorable
Deputy Director Garrity, who had accompanied Dr. David D. Helm and Francesconi, on a tour of inspection of the tenement, however, told Dr. Rhone that a single, elderly woman was responsible for the janitor service of the 23 apartments and that from a standpoint of “public welfare” more adequate management, supervision and janitorial service should be supplied. Garrity labelled the conditions as “deplorable and shocking.”
Dr. Helm added that inadequate number of garbage containers were supplied by Cohen. He reported that the yard in back of 432 Stevens had been filled with “more than a truckload of filth,” for which no containers had been provided.
“It’s the tenants’ fault,” reiterated Cohen. “They send their three and four-year-old youngsters out to dump the garbage and trash.”
Despite his protests that the health department’s objections “already have been met,” Cohen agreed to further improve conditions at the tenement within 10 days.
Dr. Rhone said he would order another inspection by health department aides within that time.
“The matter of any violation of fire regulations is between you and the fire marshal,” Rhone told Cohen.
An official report by Capt. Maurice O’Brien, acting fire marshal, to Dr. Helm had recommended a further inspection of the property by fire underwriters.
Veterans Boxing Association Ring 6 — 11th Annual Banquet
Camden Courier-Post —
Veterans Boxing Association Ring 6 11th Annual Banquet, April 20, 1959. Featured boxer: Joey Powell, 1931, 127 lbs. Managers: Dick Graminga, Charles Humes, and Tony Georgette. Trainers: Eddie Prince, Lew Sparks, and Jack Blackburn.
Well-wishers also extend best wishes to Sergeant Ray Smith, Vallie Francesconi, Tom Ryan, Leon Lucas, Jesse Urban, Bobbie Zimmerman, Joe (Kid) Murphy, Pee Wee Wilson, Al Daley, and many other Camden sports figures and civic leaders.