Henry H. Davis School

The Henry H. Davis School was built in 1925 at 3425 Cramer Street in East Camden. The school was designed by architect Benjamin Howell Lackey, and was featured in the book that the firm of Lackey & Hettel. Inc. published shortly thereafter. The school is named after Dr. Henry Hill Davis, a Camden physician. He was a school board member, Camden’s first medical inspector, and first chief medical inspector. His work in the areas of school health and nutrition saved countless lives of the young children in Camden.

The Henry H. Davis School was accepted by the Board of Education on July 26, 1926, and dedicated on October 2. It replaced the old Rosedale School on 32nd Street near Westfield Avenue, which came into the school district with the annexation of Stockton Township in 1899. This school was reopened in 1928 to serve crippled and handicapped children. The first principal was Minerva C. Stackhouse. She held the position until her retirement in June of 1933.

The Davis school has for many years served the students of East Camden, including the Rosedale and Westfield Acres neighborhoods.

H. H. Davis— The executive committee met at the home of Mrs. Stanley Dill* and plans were made for a Founders’ Day program. Mrs. William Allen was appointed historian. Calvin Chambers, publicity chairman, and Joseph Martin received certificates for completing a first aid course given by the Red Cross. Miss E. A. Matthews, Miss K. Weber, E. A. Harker, Mrs. O. Richardson and Mrs. Calvin Chambers attended the city group meeting.

* Ethel Kalt Dill

3 Camden Schoolgirls First in Doll Dressing Competition, Will Spend Two Joyous Days in Metropolis With Chaperone

Three Camden schoolgirls who won first awards in Camden’s first annual Dressmaking and Doll Dressing Contest, jointly sponsored by the Camden Recreation Commission, the Courier-Post Newspapers and the Camden City Parent-Teacher Association, will leave at 9:30 a. m. today on a two-day New York trip.

The girls embarking on the adventure are Lillian Paglione, 10, of 331 Benson street, who attends the E. A. Stevens school; Evelyn Stevenson, 13, of 406 North Fortieth street, a pupil at Davis school, and Merfrida Di Filippo, 10, also attending E. A. Stevens school. Jean Drew, member of the staff of the Courier-Post newspapers, will chaperone the contest winners.

An outline of arrangements for the trip was made by Mrs. Rocco Palese, chairman of the general committee of the Recreation Commission and Camden city Parent-Teacher Association chairman. She has been assisted by other members of the commission, Frank H. Ryan, managing editor of the Courier-Post newspapers; the Camden City P. T. A., and the services of the National Youth Administration.

Special rates have been offered the contest winners by the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. They will be furnished with a suite of rooms.

Julius Haber, in charge of the press division of RCA Manufacturing Company, Camden, has obtained passes for the children for a Rockefeller Center guided tour, an NBC studio tour, tours of the museum of science and industry and museum of modern art at Radio City. In addition, Haber has made arrangements for the girls to view an NBC radio broadcast while in New York.

Upon their return to Camden, Haber plans to have the children make a recording at the Camden RCA plant of their trip to New York. Each winner may keep this as a lasting souvenir. Another representative of RCA has arranged for tickets to admit the contest winners to the Music Hall, and Jack Weinberg of Warner Brothers is obtaining passes for the Capital Theatre in New York City.

The contest party will leave for New York from the Broad Street Station, Philadelphia. Samuel E. Fulton, president of the commission, and Mrs. Palese will see the party to the train and Fulton will meet them upon their return to Camden tomorrow night.

41st Anniversary Will Be Observed by Broadcast in Afternoon

Homemakers Off Air

4th Annual Child Welfare Institute Being Planned for April

Will Hold 4 Classes

The desire to carry on toward the goal envisioned by founders of the Parent-Teacher Association will be emphasized throughout the country in honor of the 41st anniversary of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.

A Founders Day broadcast will be heard on the Parent-Teacher Radio Forum next Wednesday from 4.30–5 p. m. over the NBC blue network.

Mrs. Percy Powell, Mrs. Fred M. Raymond and Miss Mary England are in charge of the program.

One of the vital topics to be considered that day is “What needs to be done for children today?”

The celebration of Founders Day started by Mrs. David O. Mears in 1910, thirteen years after the organization of the National Congress of Mothers, and the “birthday gifts” from local units are used for the extension of this service to childhood so that it may be carried to every girl and every boy in the country.

Americanization

Mrs. Herbert Schoellkopf, county Americanization chairman, urges every parent-teacher member to display the American flag on three important birthdays being celebrated this month, namely: Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12; Founder’s Day, February 17, and Washington’s Birthday, February 22.

Word has been received of the cancellation of the “Homemakers Forum” on station WOR. The series of talks on the adolescent which were to have been given on this program, are available in mimeographed form from the office of the home demonstration agent, Miss Mary M. Leaming, room 208, courthouse, Camden. In requesting this information, the name of the particular talk desired and the definite number of copies needed should be specked.

Parent-Teacher members are looking forward to the fourth annual Child Welfare Institute to be held in April. Plans for this institute are being formulated by Albert M. Bean, superintendent of Camden county schools, who is general chairman. The theme this year will be “Guidance” being divided in four classes pertaining to career, character, community and health.

Guest Speaker

Camden Zone

Broadway — Mrs. Ralph Jones, county magazine chairman, was the guest speaker at the meeting Tuesday night. A playlet in commemoration of Founder’s Day was presented by a group from the Northeast-Sewell association. Mrs. Thomas Melchore presided. Mrs. George Lee, welfare chairman, has made arrangements for an industrial tour on February 21. Mrs. Walter Gross attended the meeting of the Home Demonstration Extension on Monday. Mrs. C. Fred Becker, parent discussion group leader, is holding a meeting in the school on Tuesday at 1.30 p. m. A donation of $1.25 was approved to be given the recreation committee toward the New York trip of the winners in the sewing contest held recently.

Cassady—Mrs. M. Moullette, Summer round up chairman, has appointed a committee to assist her in her work. They are Mrs. E. Hudson, president; Mrs. R. Bowen, vice president; Mrs. H. Mount, secretary; Mrs. A. Reinhold and G. McGrath Kershaw. The executive committee will hold a meeting next Wednesday at the home of Mrs. K. Hudson at 8 o’clock.

Cooper—Health night was held at the regular meeting Monday. Mrs. G. Kramer, county health chairman, spoke on the importance of correct food for children. A play was presented by the Seventh grade English class, under the direction of Miss E. Hanna. A violin solo was rendered by Miss A. Claypool, accompanied at the piano by Miss V. Merwall. An educational trip has been planned for this afternoon at 1.30.

Cramer — The county president’s message echoes from the release were read by Mrs. William Rowntree, president, at the meeting last week. A gift of $1.25 was sent to the committee on the Doll Dressing Contest. Mrs. Arthur Fichter, membership chairman; Mrs. Fred Creager, welfare chairman, and Mrs. William Rowntree, president, attended the city group meeting last week. The executive committee will meet at the home of Barney Brown, vice president, 2566 Baird boulevard, on Tuesday night at 8 o’clock. The association is sponsoring a three-act comedy, “Here Comes Charlie,” to be given by the Queen Esther Society of Asbury M. E. church, on Thursday night, February 17, at 8 o’clock in the school auditorium.

H. H. Davis—Members of the discussion group met in the school yesterday under the leadership of Mrs. William Allen, discussion group chairman, followed by rehearsal for the Founder’s Day play arranged by Miss Kathleen Willetts, Founder’s Day chairman. A candle lighting ceremony will also be given in observance of Founder’s Day, at the meeting Thursday. Calvin Chambers will compile the publicity record book to be displayed at the annual luncheon. A trip to an industrial plant is planned for next Wednesday afternoon. A bus will leave the school at 1 p. m.

Dudley—Mrs. Elizabeth James and Mrs. Sarah Miller who were in charge of purchasing of basketball suits for the school team, reported that donations of $10.65 have been received from business people and friends. The executive committee has approved sending $1.25 to the Recreation Commission toward the New York trip for winners of the Doll Dressing Contest. Mrs. Clara Batten, chairman of the committee in charge of purchasing a new banner, has been authorized to purchase same as soon as possible. Mrs. Florence Fiedler, newly appointed summer round-up chairman, is making plans for a thorough survey of the school neighborhood in order to enlist the aid of the parents of preschool children. Founders’ Day exercises will be held tonight at the meeting.

McKinley—Harry Roye will speak at the meeting next Tuesday night. There will also be a Founders’ Day ceremony. Those taking part will rehearse Friday at 3.30 a. m. at the school. Mrs. Rudolph Koerner will hold a study group meeting at her home next Wednesday at 2.00 p. m. Next Thursday a covered dish luncheon will be held by Mrs. R. Koerner and Mrs. Morris Sellers at the home of Mrs. R. Koerner, Fremont and Thirty-fifth street. On Thursday a meeting on character education will be held at the school at 3.30 p. m. Miss Alice Butler, general secretary of the Y. W. C. A., will speak.

Liberty & Starr—The meeting of the executive committee will be held next Thursday night at the home of Mrs. Charles Baden, 954 Pine street. Mrs. Emily S. Hurd, publicity chairman, who served as chairman of the judging committee of the sewing contest sponsored by the Recreation commission, recently acted as judge of the sewing contest held by the T. A. at SS. Peter and Paul school on Tuesday night.

Parkside—Mrs. Robert Simmington, council chairman, and Mrs. Rocco Palese, city chairman, gave brief talks at the meeting last Thursday night. Corsages were presented to them by Mrs. Sinclair Sondie, program chairman. Proceeds from the sale of a cake will be sent as a Founders’ Day gift to the National Congress to be used for extension work.

North-East & Sewell — Mrs. Grace Dill, discussion group leader, attended the meeting in City Hall Monday under the direction of Miss Mary Leaming, home demonstration agent. A meeting of the discussion group was held in the Sewell school on Tuesday afternoon.

Sumner—The ways and means committee met at the home of Mrs. Grace Thomas, president, on Monday. Plans for various entertainments for the months of February, March and April were made. A membership campaign was launched. The topic of discussion at the meeting on Wednesday was “How the School Prepares for Home and Family Life.”

H. B. Wilson—Plans were made for the Founders Day program at the executive committee meeting Thursday afternoon in the school. Mrs. Lawrence Miller was named chairman. Miss Harriet Reiners will speak on character education at the next meeting. The basketball team was furnished with suits by the unit.

Yorkship—After a short business session with Mrs. James L. Ferris presiding, the monthly meeting was turned over to Mrs. J. P. McMillion, county chairman of alcohol and narcotics. Rev. H. S. Lepperd, of Fairview M. E. Church, spoke. Mrs David Pyper, chairman of ways and means, announced plans for a cake party to be held on February 18. Proceeds will be used for expenses to carry on the monthly dances and Annual Field Day. The discussion group met today in teachers lunch room. Mrs. Malcolm Steck, leader, will use as a topic “What Interests Adolescence.” As a special feature for the monthly dances the organization has arranged to have a half hour of dancing instructions before the regular dancing begins. Attending the city group meeting at City Hall were Mrs. James L. Ferris, president; Mrs David Pyper, Mrs. M. Johnson, Mrs. Eleanor Wynn, Mrs. W. Clemmens Mrs. George Mehaffey and Mrs. Harold Turner attended.

Lincoln—Dr. Helen Schrak gave a talk on health and a report on health conditions of the children of this school at the last meeting. A Founders Day sketch was presented by Mrs. M. Beaumont, Mrs. G. Welmrich, Mrs. E. Schelpat and Mrs. K Conlin.

The schools represent eight public and one parochial school in Camden and the Pennsauken Township Junior High School. The Camden county competition is part of the annual marbles tournament sponsored by The Inquirer.

Champions were developed yesterday at the Pennsauken School, which registered a total of 41 boys and eight girls in its first year’s competition. Robert Barroway, 11, of 5303 Sherwood Terrace, and Vera Polk, 12, of 3466 Gladwyn Avenue, both seventh-grade Pennsauken students, captured the titles.

Camden school champions are Albert Colsey, 12, of 2807 Cleveland Avenue; and Iola Brooks, 13, of 2728 Garfield Avenue, of the Harry C. Sharp School, 32nd Street and Hayes Avenue; James Twyman, 13, of 807 Chestnut Street, winner at Whittier School, 8th and Chestnut Streets; Michael Marto, 14, of 215 Sewell Street; of the Cramer Junior High School, 29th and Mickle Streets; Alfred Medley, 13, of 1177 Lawrence Street, of the Powell School, 10th and Linden Streets.

Champ’s Brother Wins

Also, Nicholas Martell, 13, of 1041 North 31st Street, brother of last year’s Camden champion, and Arlene Fallon, 13, of 811 North 28th Street, both of Veterans’ Memorial Junior High School, 26th Street and Hayes Avenue; Ronald Rowan, 51 North Street, champion of the Holy Name Parochial School, 5th and Vine Streets, competing for the first time this year; Ann Coles, 13, of 697 Van Hook Street, girl winner at the Mickle School, 6th and Van Hook Streets, and Stephen Trout, 14, of 305 Beideman Avenue, representing the Davis School, 34th and Cramer Streets.

Other Camden school winners announced earlier included Paul Palla, 11, of 1087 North Merrimac Road, of the Yorkship School, and Robert Hudson, 11, of 2123 Van Buren Street, boy winner at the Mickle School. Runners-up who will be alternates at the district playoffs include Yorkship School, Jerry Hunt, 13, of 3150 Colorado Road; Mickle School, John Jones, 14, of 673 Central Avenue and Brenda Bates, 10, of 569 Ferry Avenue; Sharp School, William Wagner, 12, of 1107 Lois Avenue and Jean Martell, 12, of 1041 North 31st Street; Pennsauken, Adrian Mencer, 14, of 4311 Union Avenue, Delair, and Lorraine Brucks, 13, of 2228 Sherman Avenue, Pennsauken.

Also Whittier School, Edward DeGrilla, 14, of 732 Chestnut Street; Davis School, Robert Kerby, 13; Holy Name School, Samuel Montanez, 13, of 621 Cedar Street; Powell School, Sterling Davis, 13, of 323 North 11th Street, and Veterans School, Herbert Betts, 14, of 1155 Bergen Street and Judith Arensberg, 13, of 2730 Garfield Avenue.

I recently came upon two class pictures from Davis School 1957–8. I am submitting them to you in hopes that you can post them onto the DVRBS website under Davis School. I did the best I could with the names, but I was only in 3rd and 4th grades, so my spelling is questionable — Frank Garrett, February 6, 2009.

By Lavinia DeCastro, Courier-Post Staff

In June of 2003, Davis School Teacher Karen Borrelli served as a coach on America’s Special Olympics Team at the World Summer Games in Ireland.

College could not prepare Karen Borrelli for her first job — teaching physical education to disabled students at Camden County Vocational Technical School.

“Back then, there were basically no resources to tell you how to teach them,” Borrelli said. “You just had to figure things out, like how do I get you to run a 50-meter dash if you can’t see.”

She did figure it out.

And nearly 30 years later, she is still helping disabled athletes to excel, this time as a Special Olympics Team USA coach.

Borrelli, a physical education teacher at Dr. Henry H. Davis School, is one of five people coaching 15 New Jersey athletes who will represent the United States in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland.

The delegation left Sunday for Belfast. They’ll practice there the rest of the week. The games begin Saturday in Dublin.

“I didn’t even know there was a Team USA,” said Borrelli, a Lindenwold resident. “Then I got a letter saying ‘You’ve been nominated’ . . . I didn’t even know what was involved.”

What’s involved is a lot of work.

“She spends a lot of time after school,” said Florence Gavin, principal of Davis School. “At least six months out of the year she has kids coming in here from 3 to 4:30, and that’s all volunteer.”

And that’s also just part of Borrelli’s regular Special Olympics activities, such as the roller hockey team she coaches and summer camp she organizes.

To coach the athletes in the World Summer Games, she had to attend six training camps and travel to Special Olympics’ New Jersey headquarters in Lawrenceville once a week the past two months.

During the training period, she’s had a chance to share the experience with athletes such as 25-year-old Jason Clark, a Washington Township resident who plays table tennis.

Borrelli and Clark are the only members of the New Jersey delegation making their first trip to the World Summer Games.

“They picked a good year,” said George Clark, Jason’s father, noting this is the first time the games will be held outside the United States.

One of the most unusual and unique teachers I ever had was at Davis Jr. High School back in the mid-sixties. Mr. Motzer taught 9th grade Latin. He had a long craggy face with thinning hair greased and combed straight back, often badly colored with what his students commonly assumed was black shoe polish. He was undoubtedly Irish-Catholic and a product of the Catholic education system, perhaps the Jesuits. How he got marooned teaching at Davis is a story that is unknown. One wonders if he befell the common trip stones for Irishmen of the bottle or women or both.

He was loud, colorful, passionate, opinionated, intimidating, and a strict disciplinarian. Any male student full of their adolescence he would call to the front of the class with disdain in his voice, saying, “Come here sonny boy” and proceed to dress them down in front of the whole class.

In his class he expounded on his principles, the first and foremost was, “Children, your religion comes first.” It seemed quaint even back then before the mention or support for any traditional faith in the public schools had not advanced to the crazed politically correct hostility we know today. He usually reaffirmed that principle around holidays, whether Jewish or Christian, as his way of being non-sectarian.

He would shamelessly flirt with Miss Ryan, our gray-haired spinster librarian, calling her “the apple of my eye” whenever she entered the room. She would even beam up a smile on her otherwise dour face at such obsequious and flattering attention. No doubt she was embarrassed but still liked being appreciated by a man, no matter how weird or homely an admirer.

He was no less effusive in his praise of men, calling Dr. Ferren, his proctologist, “One of the nicest men God ever gave breath to.” That was the highest praise he could bestow on his fellows. His worst epithet for someone he disapproved of was to call them a “yahoo,” that Swiftian denigration that has fallen out of popular language.

Mr. Motzer tried to instill in his students a sense of integrity. He drilled into us the nominative declensions and verbal conjugations of Latin inflections (“Children, you must get your perfect passive participle”), but the ardors of translating even simple sentences from Latin led to a lot of homework sharing in homeroom. Somehow he found out about it. That morning he closed the door to his classroom and was so overwhelmed with indignation and disappointment that he went into an apoplectic fit and couldn’t even get words out of his mouth. No one who was there will ever forget it.

Despite all his eccentricities, the thing that we all understood was that he cared. His pedagogical methodology was rote memorization and drill. It worked — I can still recite the first two declensions even today. Mr. Motzer is an example of one of my most firmly held convictions: that people are not remembered in this life because of their title or how much money they make, but because of who they are, because of the principles they live by.

Camden Board of Education — Davis School Website

Davis School Website