Introduction
William Harry Werner was born in October of 1896 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Augustus F. Werner and his wife Annie. Shortly after William was born, the Werner family moved to Camden NJ. When the census was taken in 1900, Augustus Werner was working as a day laborer. The family resided at 446 South 2nd Street, the corner of South 2nd and Berkley Street.
By 1910 the family had moved to a rented house at 822 Market Street. Three other children had joined the family, daughters Anna and Ruth, and son Erwin. Augustus Werner had started his moving business by this time. Alma Werner was working as an “inspectress” at a department store, while William Werner was working as an errand boy.
Tragedy struck the Werner family in January of 1917 when young Erwin Werner died after falling down while playing with friends in the street. The family then lived at 513 Mt. Vernon Street. By this time Augustus Werner had gone into the moving business. William Werner had married and worked for his father as a driver.
On June 5, 1917 William Harry Werner registered for the draft. He was then living at 468 Liberty Street, was married, and the father of two children.
When the census was taken in 1920, Augustus Werner had bought the house at 523 Berkley Street. He conducted his moving and storage business from an office in the adjacent lot. Only daughter Ruth was still living with Mr. and Mrs. Werner by then. Alma Werner by this time had married. She and her husband Charles Aceto had moved to 441 Line Street. Charles Aceto was then working as a machinist in a shipyard. He would go on to a long business career in Camden, in renting automobiles and in parking, among other things. William Werner had also married. He and wife Jennie lived at 538 South 4th Street with sons William Jr. and Walter. William Werner was still working as a teamster for his father in the family business.
Augustus Werner died in his office, of a fatal heart attack, on October 28, 1939 or possibly 1940. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. His wife Anna Werner was still living at the Berkley Street address as late as 1959. The 1947 Camden City Directory lists William and Jennie Werner’s residence as 521 Berkley Street. He appears to have moved to Barrington NJ by the mid-1950s.
William Harry Werner passed away in October of 1971.
Boy Refuses to Name Lad Who Hit Him; Dies
Camden Post-Telegram or Camden Courier —
Camden Lad Says Injury Was Due to ‘Accident During Play
The name of the schoolmate who caused his death was locked behind the lips of seven-year-old Irwin Werner, when he died at the Cooper Hospital, Camden, today, of brain clot. He had steadfastly refused to reveal the name of the boy who knocked him down in a game, fatally injuring him. “There’s no use telling,” he said. “It was only an accident.”
The boy, who lived at 513 Mount Vernon street, Camden, was admitted to the hospital January 18, complaining of pains in his head. Physicians were unable to diagnose the case until, pressed for particulars, the boy explained that he had struck his head on a pavement when knocked down in play. More than that he would not tell.
Mourn Lad’s Tragic Death
Camden Post-Telegram or Camden Courier —
The death of 7-year-old Irvin Werner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Werner, of 513 Mt. Vernon street, is being mourned by scores of friends and neighbors who knew the lad for his gentleness. Irvin died yesterday at ten o’clock in the Cooper Hospital from the effects of blood poisoning. He had been in the institution only a short time. Arrangements for the funeral are being completed.
World War I Draft Card
World War I draft registration card for William Harry Werner, registered June 5, 1917, then living at 468 Liberty Street, Camden.
August Werner & Family
August & Anna Werner. August Werner founded a moving and storage business in 1897. His widow, Anna Werner, was living at 523 Berkley Street as late as the fall of 1959.
Ruth & Alma Werner, 1910s. Alma Werner, on right, is not wearing a wedding ring in this photo, which was probably taken around 1916–1917. She would marry Charles Aceto some time after June 5, 1917, when he registered for the draft.
Named: 521 Berkley Street, 1910s, 1920s, and Werner Moving & Storage.
Named: 521 Berkley Street, A. Werner, Piano and Furniture Moving, and by Padded Motor Vans.
Named: 521 Berkley Street, 1930s, and Werner Moving & Storage.
Named: 521 Berkley Street, 1930s, and August Werner in front of his home and business.
Named: 521 Berkley Street, 1930s, Werner Moving & Storage, and August & Anna Werner with daughter Alma Werner Aceto.
521 Berkley Street – 1930s
1930s–late 1940s – Werner Moving & Storage (also known as Werner’s Storage Warehouse). Photo is of a newly painted truck in front of the T. C. Tiedeken & Brother truck body shop in the 400 block of Van Hook Street, sometime in the 1930s.
August Werner – 1930s
521 Berkley Street – 1941 – Werner Moving & Storage. “My Grandmother—Jennie Long Werner—this picture was taken in 1941 in front of Werner’s Moving & Storage on Berkeley Street. The little girl on the left is my Mother, Anna Werner Miller; the girl on the right is my Aunt Evelyn Werner Camp.” — Floyd Miller, April 2005. “It looks like William Werner had erected a new warehouse and office building for his business during the time when the above photo and the one at left were taken.” — Phil Cohen, August 2005
Named: Ruth Werner, In front of the family business, Werner Moving & Storage, 1930s, and 1940s.