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Twelfth Street

Streets of Camden, NJ
Page Contents

Introduction

There are two Twelfth Streets in Camden, one north, one south, that share nothing but a name. North 12th Street ran at one time from Federal Street north to the Cooper River, and had some homes, industries including the Moro Phillips chemical works and the N.Z. Graves varnish factory, a baseball stadium and at its northern end, five frame homes and four boathouses. Highway construction has pretty much obliterated the street; it still appears on maps, between Federal and Penn Streets, but there are no addresses or buildings. A very small section of what was North 12th Street between Penn and Linden Streets appears on maps as Penn Street.

South 12th Street runs from Fairview Street to Lakeshore Drive and has rowhouses all built after World War II.

Maple Street, which crossed North 12th Street, was renamed Lawrence Street in 1912.

Advertisement

North 12th Street — 1906

Sanborn fire insurance map, North 12th Street, 1906 Sanborn fire insurance map, North 12th Street, 1906 Sanborn fire insurance map, North 12th Street, 1906 — detail of residential block Sanborn fire insurance map, North 12th Street, 1906 Sanborn fire insurance map, North 12th Street, 1906 Sanborn fire insurance map, North 12th Street, 1906 Sanborn fire insurance map, North 12th Street, 1906 — addresses 210–212, 214–216, 218–220, 222–224, 300–302, 304–306 Sanborn fire insurance map, North 12th Street, 1906 Sanborn fire insurance map, North 12th Street, 1906 Sanborn fire insurance map, 1906 — boathouses on North 12th Street at the Cooper River, carrying addresses 500, 502, 504, and 506 Sanborn fire insurance map, 1906 — boathouses on North 12th Street at the Cooper River

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, North 12th Street, 1906. The maps show homes at 210–212, 214–216, 218–220, 222–224, 300–302, and 304–306 North 12th Street, the N.Z. Graves varnish factory at 324, and boathouses on the Cooper River carrying the addresses 500, 502, 504, and 506.

200 Block — North 12th Street

200 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1891–1921.

210 North 12th Street

210 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1891No information available
1896–1913Samuel Ivins & Family (Samuel & Emily Ivins, Sarah E. Ivins, Mary Ann Ivins, Emma Ivins, William Ivins, Kate Ivins, Samuel Ivins Jr., Edward Ivins, Frank E. Ivins, Harry Brick Ivins, Alonzo Ivins, Laurence Ivins, Nellie Ivins)
1892–1915Samuel & Emily Ivins
1892–1915Nellie Ivins
1896–1913Samuel & Emily Ivins

212 North 12th Street

212 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

214 North 12th Street

214 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1910–1911Louis Mayer

216 North 12th Street

216 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

218 North 12th Street

218 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1920 Joseph & Alice G. Flemming & Family

220 North 12th Street

220 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

222 North 12th Street

222 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

224 North 12th Street

224 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1920–1921Mrs. Dora Kwiotkowski

300 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1862–1925.

300 North 12th Street

300 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1912William John McGinnis Jr.

302 North 12th Street

302 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

304 North 12th Street

304 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

306 North 12th Street

306 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

324 North 12th Street

324 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1862–1902M.A. Furbush & Sons Machine Company (woolen machinery manufacturer)
1905–1925N.Z. Graves & Co. (varnish manufacturers)

500 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1932–1940. The addresses 500–506 were boathouses on the Cooper River; highway construction later obliterated most of the street.

500 North 12th Street

500 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940William Crane

502 North 12th Street

502 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940Charles Fleming & Daniel Fleming
1940Charles Fleming
1940Daniel Fleming

504 North 12th Street

504 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940No return

506 North 12th Street

506 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940John Cantoner

508 North 12th Street

508 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1932–1940 Joseph Pollitt

2400 Block — South 12th Street

City directory records, 1959–1991. South 12th Street runs from Fairview Street to Lakeshore Drive; the rowhouses were all built after World War II.

2401 South 12th Street

2401 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2402 South 12th Street

2402 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2403 South 12th Street

2403 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2404 South 12th Street

2404 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2405 South 12th Street

2405 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2406 South 12th Street

2406 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2407 South 12th Street

2407 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2408 South 12th Street

2408 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2409 South 12th Street

2409 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2410 South 12th Street

2410 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2411 South 12th Street

2411 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2412 South 12th Street

2412 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2413 South 12th Street

2413 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2414 South 12th Street

2414 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2415 South 12th Street

2415 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2416 South 12th Street

2416 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2417 South 12th Street

2417 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2418 South 12th Street

2418 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2419 South 12th Street

2419 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2420 South 12th Street

2420 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2421 South 12th Street

2421 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1991Robert Pugh

2422 South 12th Street

2422 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2423 South 12th Street

2423 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2424 South 12th Street

2424 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2425 South 12th Street

2425 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2426 South 12th Street

2426 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2427 South 12th Street

2427 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2428 South 12th Street

2428 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2429 South 12th Street

2429 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2430 South 12th Street

2430 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2431 South 12th Street

2431 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2432 South 12th Street

2432 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1959Paul M. & Mary Murphy Frederick

2433 South 12th Street

2433 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2434 South 12th Street

2434 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2435 South 12th Street

2435 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2436 South 12th Street

2436 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2438 South 12th Street

2438 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2440 South 12th Street

2440 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

Related: Frank Ivins, 1906 · In Police Court, 1913 · Arrest Follows Luring of Girl, 1910 · Flemming Family

Frank Ivins — Canary Breeder

Philadelphia Inquirer —

Philadelphia Inquirer, August 5, 1906 — Frank Ivins, canary breeder, 210 North 12th Street

Frank Ivins, of 210 North Twelfth street, has a male canary that has been mated for several months, during which eighteen sets of birds have been hatched. All during this season the bird has sung freely. Fanciers say this is a rare case.

In Police Court

Camden Post-Telegram —

Camden Post-Telegram, May 31, 1913 — In Police Court column

Decoration Day was prolific of fights, scraps, stealings and the like, the result being that Recorder Stackhouse this morning had a fine array of offenders before him. As he sent quite a few over to the county jail, the Grand Jury will have its labors considerably augmented in the way of making inquiries as to the merits of these momentous issues.

“I pawned them,” said Elizabeth Evans, a colored damsel, to the Recorder when she was asked concerning a charge of purloining a gold watch and a suit of clothes from Henry Clark, of 816 South 2nd Street. That was all there was to it and Elizabeth was committed to jail in default of $200 bail.

Michael Walsh, of 133 Boyer’s Court, stood charged with assault and battery on his wife, Elizabeth, a pretty little woman with an infant in her arms and a youngster tugging at re [sic] skirts. Mrs. Walsh said her husband, without provocation, had knocked her down, unmercifully beating her about the body. Walsh had nothing to say when he was committed to jail in default of $300 bail.

Then there was a mix-up between Andrew McCready, of 944 Federal street, and Harry Ivins, of 210 North Twelfth street. It was not made clear as to what the fuss was all about, but Ivins exhibited a patched up face, asserting that McCready had struck him. The assailant was held in $300 bail.

Arrest Follows Luring of Girl

Camden Daily Courier —

Arrest Follows Luring of Girl - Camden Daily Courier, August 22, 1910

A Nineteen-Year-Old Youth Taken Into Custody on a Serious Charge

HE TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY

Charged with the rape of a 14-year-old girl, Louis Mayer, 19 years old, who lives near Twelfth and Federal streets, was held without bail by Recorder Stackhouse in Police Court this morning, to await extradition papers from the Pennsylvania authorities, where the alleged crime was committed.

The girl in the case, as exclusively told in Saturday’s “Courier,” is Katherine Corkhill, of 90 Alberta street. The girl disappeared from her home nearly two weeks ago. Word was received that she was seen in the company of three men on several occasions. On Friday night, a letter was received by the parents that the girl was being detained in a house in Philadelphia against her will and to keep her from leaving the house, her clothes had been taken away from her by her jailers.

The Philadelphia police were notified and the girl was released. The names of her capturers were turned over to the police of both Philadelphia and Camden.

On Saturday afternoon Policeman Howard Smith accompanied by Special Policeman Russell, of the Twenty-third and Brown streets station, Philadelphia, saw Mayer, whose name ‘had been’ furnished them by the girl, at Eleventh and Market streets, Camden, and placed him under arrest.

The boy tells an entirely different story from the girl. He declares that the girl came to him and told him that she had been “fired out of the house” and asked him if he wouldn’t take her away from Camden. He says that he took her to a house on Brown street near Eighth and that she was at liberty to come and go as she pleased. Their actions, he declared, had been agreed to by both.

Flemming Family — 218 North 12th Street

Joseph and Alice G. Flemming, 218 North 12th Street, 1920

Joseph & Alice G. Flemming, 218 North 12th Street, 1920.

Private First Class Anthony J. Flemming

Private First Class Anthony J. Flemming, son of Joseph & Alice G. Flemming.

300 Block — North 12th Street

200 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1891–1921.

210 North 12th Street

210 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1891No information available
1896–1913Samuel Ivins & Family (Samuel & Emily Ivins, Sarah E. Ivins, Mary Ann Ivins, Emma Ivins, William Ivins, Kate Ivins, Samuel Ivins Jr., Edward Ivins, Frank E. Ivins, Harry Brick Ivins, Alonzo Ivins, Laurence Ivins, Nellie Ivins)
1892–1915Samuel & Emily Ivins
1892–1915Nellie Ivins
1896–1913Samuel & Emily Ivins

212 North 12th Street

212 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

214 North 12th Street

214 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1910–1911Louis Mayer

216 North 12th Street

216 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

218 North 12th Street

218 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1920 Joseph & Alice G. Flemming & Family

220 North 12th Street

220 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

222 North 12th Street

222 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

224 North 12th Street

224 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1920–1921Mrs. Dora Kwiotkowski

300 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1862–1925.

300 North 12th Street

300 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1912William John McGinnis Jr.

302 North 12th Street

302 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

304 North 12th Street

304 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

306 North 12th Street

306 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

324 North 12th Street

324 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1862–1902M.A. Furbush & Sons Machine Company (woolen machinery manufacturer)
1905–1925N.Z. Graves & Co. (varnish manufacturers)

500 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1932–1940. The addresses 500–506 were boathouses on the Cooper River; highway construction later obliterated most of the street.

500 North 12th Street

500 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940William Crane

502 North 12th Street

502 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940Charles Fleming & Daniel Fleming
1940Charles Fleming
1940Daniel Fleming

504 North 12th Street

504 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940No return

506 North 12th Street

506 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940John Cantoner

508 North 12th Street

508 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1932–1940 Joseph Pollitt

2400 Block — South 12th Street

City directory records, 1959–1991. South 12th Street runs from Fairview Street to Lakeshore Drive; the rowhouses were all built after World War II.

2401 South 12th Street

2401 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2402 South 12th Street

2402 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2403 South 12th Street

2403 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2404 South 12th Street

2404 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2405 South 12th Street

2405 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2406 South 12th Street

2406 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2407 South 12th Street

2407 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2408 South 12th Street

2408 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2409 South 12th Street

2409 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2410 South 12th Street

2410 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2411 South 12th Street

2411 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2412 South 12th Street

2412 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2413 South 12th Street

2413 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2414 South 12th Street

2414 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2415 South 12th Street

2415 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2416 South 12th Street

2416 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2417 South 12th Street

2417 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2418 South 12th Street

2418 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2419 South 12th Street

2419 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2420 South 12th Street

2420 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2421 South 12th Street

2421 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1991Robert Pugh

2422 South 12th Street

2422 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2423 South 12th Street

2423 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2424 South 12th Street

2424 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2425 South 12th Street

2425 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2426 South 12th Street

2426 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2427 South 12th Street

2427 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2428 South 12th Street

2428 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2429 South 12th Street

2429 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2430 South 12th Street

2430 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2431 South 12th Street

2431 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2432 South 12th Street

2432 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1959Paul M. & Mary Murphy Frederick

2433 South 12th Street

2433 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2434 South 12th Street

2434 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2435 South 12th Street

2435 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2436 South 12th Street

2436 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2438 South 12th Street

2438 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2440 South 12th Street

2440 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

Related: Falls Seriously Injure Two, 1912 · Furbush Company Disposes of Plant, 1902 · N.Z. Graves Fire, 1908

Falls Seriously Injure Two

Philadelphia Inquirer —

Philadelphia Inquirer, October 17, 1912 — Falls Seriously Injure Two

Falls resulted in two Camdenites receiving serious injuries yesterday. William McGinnis, 16 years old, of 300 North Twelfth street, slipped from the edge of the roof at his home and fell to the ground. He suffered a fracture of the skull and his death may result. While high in a tree gathering chestnuts, William Cutdalis, 18 years old, of 1062 North Thirty-first street, fell from a limb to the ground. He suffered severe contusions and internal injuries. Both were taken to the Cooper Hospital.

Furbush Company Disposes of Plant

Camden Post-Telegram —

Camden Post-Telegram, March 29, 1902 — Furbush Company Disposes of Plant

Big Machine Works Sold to a Massachusetts Loom Company.

HAS BEEN HERE A HALF CENTURY

The Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, of Worcester, Mass., one of the biggest concerns engaged in the manufacture of looms in the world, has purchased the loom business of the M. A. Furbush & Son Machine Company, whose plant is located at 324 North Twelfth street, this city, where it has been carried on about half a century.

Simultaneously with these negotiations arrangements have been made by the Crompton & Knowles Loom Works for the erection of new buildings in Philadelphia for the manufacture of the looms heretofore made by the Furbush Company in this city. These are principally for the weaving of carpets and rugs. Eventually all kinds of Crompton-Knowles looms will be made there.

The main offices of the M. A. Furbush & Son Machine Company are at Nos. 428–30 Bourse, Philadelphia. C. E. Grice is the president and treasurer of the company, and Benjamin F. Meyer the secretary.

Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire

Philadelphia Inquirer —

Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908 Exciting Scenes Feature Big Fire - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1908

Camden’s Spectacular Fire and Incidents Attending the Conflagration Which Licked Up Valuable Property

Conflagration in Paint and Varnish Works, in Camden, Resulted in Destruction of Much Valuable Property

Panoramic Scene of the Fire.

Moved Out as a Precaution.

Lowering Their Effects from Window.

More than five hundred thousand dollars-worth of property destroyed, three persons seriously injured and half a score of families forced to flee from their homes were a few of the effects of a disastrous fire which yesterday swept its way through the big plant of the N. Z. Graves Paint and Varnish Company, on Twelfth street, Camden, between Linden and Federal streets.

It was the explosion of a mixing tank that caused the blaze, but no reason has yet been assigned for the explosion, and the only workman who was near the vat at the time is now lying in a critical condition at the Cooper Hospital.

Explosion followed explosion with the same deafening roar as that made by opposing batteries in a battle, and during the three hours when the fire raged its fiercest more than two hundred tanks blew up.

Spectacular Blaze

From the spectacular viewpoint the blaze was one of the greatest in years, owing to the chemical nature of the varnishes and paints which were destroyed. Flames mounted as high as two hundred feet in the air and could be plainly seen from Twenty-first and Market streets in this city.

Often as a vat exploded a dense mass of black smoke would mount high towards the heavens and then suddenly burst open like a huge pyrotechnic and out would come a large ball of flame. Then suddenly the whole building would seem to send up a solid square of flame that, after becoming lost in the clouds of smoke which hid the sky, would suddenly veer to the east or west and set fire to some small building.

Not the least of the curious sights was the throwing by the sun of a beautiful rainbow whose arch was easily one hundred feet long across a background of smoke. The sun had caught the spray from a fire hose and reflected it across the smoke. Another time, from one of the small buildings which had caught fire, but from which no flames came, there issued a dense cloud of red smoke which gradually changed to purple, then became white and finally black.

Tanks Intact

While all these explosions occurred and while the heat of the flames was so great that it singed the hair of persons on the opposite side of the street, thirty large tanks containing from five to ten thousand gallons of gasoline and benzine and located almost directly in the rear of the blazing buildings, remained unharmed, although it was momentarily feared that they, too, would explode.

All but one of the eight buildings of the Graves Company were either totally destroyed or so badly damaged that they will have to be rebuilt. Three houses were badly damaged and half a score of other houses scorched.

The persons injured were Joseph Pease, of 941 Kimball street, this city; George Ward, foreman of Fire Company No. 2, and Peter Gray, a fireman.

Pease was the workman who was near the vat at the time the first explosion occurred, and he was thrown high in the air and had his face, arms and body burned by the flames.

Ward was injured while leading his men in an attack upon the flames. He was mounting a ladder leading to the room of a dwelling at 316 Twelfth street when the cornice of the roof came off, fell and struck him on the head and caused an ugly wound of the scalp. Ward kept his hold upon the ladder and managed to descend. He was immediately hurried to the hospital.

Fireman Peter Gray was burned by the flaming benzine from a small tank which exploded.

Attacked Flames With Vim

Although one of the largest buildings resembled an enormous cauldron when they arrived upon the scene the Camden firemen, nothing discouraged, attacked the fire with vim, and while they could not confine it to the one building, they did splendid work in saving a number of small houses of workmen which surround the plant. They also saved one of the large buildings of the plant.

The police boats Ashbridge and Visitor, from this city, were sent to the fire, but were unable to get up Cooper Creek, which is in the rear of the plant, owing to the ice and mud. The Pennsylvania Railroad’s fire tug Jamestown, however, got to the plant and did effectual service.

Mayor Ellis was early upon the scene and had his hair singed while directing the firemen.

In Philadelphia great interest was taken in the fire, and at one time it looked as though all Camden were ablaze.

It was about half-past eleven yesterday morning that Pease, while working in what is known as building No. 1, at the Greaves plant, a large three-story brick structure, fifty by one hundred and twenty-five feet, was suddenly hurled from his feet by the explosion in a vat. Accounts differ as to what really occurred, but it is certain that there was an explosion. This building is used partly as an office building and partly to mix paints and varnishes.

General Alarm Sounded

For a minute the flames did not spread rapidly and a call was sent to the police headquarters for a chemical engine. By the time this apparatus arrived the whole building was on fire and a general alarm was sent in.

In the few moments elapsing between the call for the chemical engine and its arrival upon the scene several other explosions occurred and caused the employes to flee for their lives. There were only about fifty men, or one-third the regular force, working yesterday.

As soon as the firemen all arrived they tried to save building No. 3, which is of the same size and structure as the No. 1 building, but in which were stored one hundred and eight large vats of various kinds of varnish and paint, and all of them combustible.

Between the two buildings was a narrow archway, and over this the flames crept and defeated the efforts of the fire fighters. Then began the series of explosions that not only lit up the skies, but carried the fire to half a dozen dwelling houses.

These buildings are double houses and are two and one-half stories high. When the house at 306 Twelfth street caught fire all the other occupants of the row started to throw their household goods in the street, and in several cases the sparks set fire to bed clothing. Later in the day the residents, still fearful of their homes, secured wagons and carted their belongings away.

Thought of His Hens’ Eggs

One man, James Demsey, when he found his house afire, thought only for a dozen of Plymouth Rock hens’ eggs which he had secured for the purpose of raising some chickens. Regardless of his danger he dashed into the burning building, secured the eggs, and then made his escape.

Prompt work by the firemen soon put an end to the flames which had attacked the dwellings, but against the blaze which raged in the two buildings of the paint works the fire fighters were helpless. It seemed that the more water was poured upon the buildings the wickeder the flames arose. Not until all the floors had fallen and everything burnable had been consumed did the flames cease their work of destruction, and the walls had been so scorched that half of them fell crashing into the interior of the buildings.

Besides the two large buildings the stable of the works caught fire, but the employes of the plant were able to get all the horses and wagons out safely.

A. Graves, a son of the proprietor of the plant, stated that he did not know how great the loss would be nor could he tell exactly how the fire started. There is about $265,000 insurance upon the plant.

Bucket Brigade at Work

Later the residence at 1194 Linden street, where lives George Brown, was ignited. A bucket brigade did yeoman service there. To add to the excitement word reached the firemen that the plant of the R. F. South Lumber Company, Federal street and Cooper Creek, had been fired by sparks. An engine company was withdrawn and sent to the scene of the new blaze, which was extinguished with a trifling loss.

When the walls of No. 3 building fell, forcing the firemen to abandon their post, one of the recently purchased engines was left under the ruins. It wasn’t there long, however, a rope being attached and the steamer being pulled out by a hundred or so volunteers.

The first two dwellings to take fire were those of C. W. Sleighs, 306, and John Taylor, 304 North Twelfth street. The other houses in the row are tenanted as folows [sic]:

In 302 is Harry Smith; 300, vacant; 224, Frank Pullinger; 222, Mary Rass; 220, Joseph Eccles; 218, Charles Sibert; 216, Fred Exler; 214, Henry Palmer; 212, Charles Mills; 210, Samuel Ivins.

500 Block — North 12th Street

200 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1891–1921.

210 North 12th Street

210 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1891No information available
1896–1913Samuel Ivins & Family (Samuel & Emily Ivins, Sarah E. Ivins, Mary Ann Ivins, Emma Ivins, William Ivins, Kate Ivins, Samuel Ivins Jr., Edward Ivins, Frank E. Ivins, Harry Brick Ivins, Alonzo Ivins, Laurence Ivins, Nellie Ivins)
1892–1915Samuel & Emily Ivins
1892–1915Nellie Ivins
1896–1913Samuel & Emily Ivins

212 North 12th Street

212 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

214 North 12th Street

214 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1910–1911Louis Mayer

216 North 12th Street

216 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

218 North 12th Street

218 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1920 Joseph & Alice G. Flemming & Family

220 North 12th Street

220 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

222 North 12th Street

222 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

224 North 12th Street

224 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1920–1921Mrs. Dora Kwiotkowski

300 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1862–1925.

300 North 12th Street

300 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1912William John McGinnis Jr.

302 North 12th Street

302 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

304 North 12th Street

304 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

306 North 12th Street

306 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

324 North 12th Street

324 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1862–1902M.A. Furbush & Sons Machine Company (woolen machinery manufacturer)
1905–1925N.Z. Graves & Co. (varnish manufacturers)

500 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1932–1940. The addresses 500–506 were boathouses on the Cooper River; highway construction later obliterated most of the street.

500 North 12th Street

500 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940William Crane

502 North 12th Street

502 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940Charles Fleming & Daniel Fleming
1940Charles Fleming
1940Daniel Fleming

504 North 12th Street

504 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940No return

506 North 12th Street

506 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940John Cantoner

508 North 12th Street

508 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1932–1940 Joseph Pollitt

2400 Block — South 12th Street

City directory records, 1959–1991. South 12th Street runs from Fairview Street to Lakeshore Drive; the rowhouses were all built after World War II.

2401 South 12th Street

2401 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2402 South 12th Street

2402 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2403 South 12th Street

2403 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2404 South 12th Street

2404 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2405 South 12th Street

2405 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2406 South 12th Street

2406 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2407 South 12th Street

2407 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2408 South 12th Street

2408 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2409 South 12th Street

2409 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2410 South 12th Street

2410 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2411 South 12th Street

2411 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2412 South 12th Street

2412 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2413 South 12th Street

2413 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2414 South 12th Street

2414 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2415 South 12th Street

2415 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2416 South 12th Street

2416 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2417 South 12th Street

2417 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2418 South 12th Street

2418 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2419 South 12th Street

2419 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2420 South 12th Street

2420 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2421 South 12th Street

2421 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1991Robert Pugh

2422 South 12th Street

2422 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2423 South 12th Street

2423 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2424 South 12th Street

2424 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2425 South 12th Street

2425 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2426 South 12th Street

2426 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2427 South 12th Street

2427 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2428 South 12th Street

2428 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2429 South 12th Street

2429 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2430 South 12th Street

2430 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2431 South 12th Street

2431 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2432 South 12th Street

2432 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1959Paul M. & Mary Murphy Frederick

2433 South 12th Street

2433 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2434 South 12th Street

2434 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2435 South 12th Street

2435 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2436 South 12th Street

2436 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2438 South 12th Street

2438 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2440 South 12th Street

2440 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2400 Block — South 12th Street

200 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1891–1921.

210 North 12th Street

210 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1891No information available
1896–1913Samuel Ivins & Family (Samuel & Emily Ivins, Sarah E. Ivins, Mary Ann Ivins, Emma Ivins, William Ivins, Kate Ivins, Samuel Ivins Jr., Edward Ivins, Frank E. Ivins, Harry Brick Ivins, Alonzo Ivins, Laurence Ivins, Nellie Ivins)
1892–1915Samuel & Emily Ivins
1892–1915Nellie Ivins
1896–1913Samuel & Emily Ivins

212 North 12th Street

212 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

214 North 12th Street

214 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1910–1911Louis Mayer

216 North 12th Street

216 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

218 North 12th Street

218 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1920 Joseph & Alice G. Flemming & Family

220 North 12th Street

220 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

222 North 12th Street

222 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

224 North 12th Street

224 North 12th Street — 200 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1920–1921Mrs. Dora Kwiotkowski

300 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1862–1925.

300 North 12th Street

300 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1912William John McGinnis Jr.

302 North 12th Street

302 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

304 North 12th Street

304 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

306 North 12th Street

306 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

324 North 12th Street

324 North 12th Street — 300 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1862–1902M.A. Furbush & Sons Machine Company (woolen machinery manufacturer)
1905–1925N.Z. Graves & Co. (varnish manufacturers)

500 Block — North 12th Street

City directory records, 1932–1940. The addresses 500–506 were boathouses on the Cooper River; highway construction later obliterated most of the street.

500 North 12th Street

500 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940William Crane

502 North 12th Street

502 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940Charles Fleming & Daniel Fleming
1940Charles Fleming
1940Daniel Fleming

504 North 12th Street

504 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940No return

506 North 12th Street

506 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1940John Cantoner

508 North 12th Street

508 North 12th Street — 500 Block — North 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1932–1940 Joseph Pollitt

2400 Block — South 12th Street

City directory records, 1959–1991. South 12th Street runs from Fairview Street to Lakeshore Drive; the rowhouses were all built after World War II.

2401 South 12th Street

2401 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2402 South 12th Street

2402 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2403 South 12th Street

2403 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2404 South 12th Street

2404 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2405 South 12th Street

2405 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2406 South 12th Street

2406 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2407 South 12th Street

2407 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2408 South 12th Street

2408 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2409 South 12th Street

2409 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2410 South 12th Street

2410 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2411 South 12th Street

2411 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2412 South 12th Street

2412 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2413 South 12th Street

2413 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2414 South 12th Street

2414 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2415 South 12th Street

2415 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2416 South 12th Street

2416 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2417 South 12th Street

2417 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2418 South 12th Street

2418 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2419 South 12th Street

2419 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2420 South 12th Street

2420 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2421 South 12th Street

2421 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1991Robert Pugh

2422 South 12th Street

2422 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2423 South 12th Street

2423 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2424 South 12th Street

2424 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2425 South 12th Street

2425 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2426 South 12th Street

2426 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2427 South 12th Street

2427 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2428 South 12th Street

2428 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2429 South 12th Street

2429 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2430 South 12th Street

2430 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2431 South 12th Street

2431 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2432 South 12th Street

2432 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
1959Paul M. & Mary Murphy Frederick

2433 South 12th Street

2433 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2434 South 12th Street

2434 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2435 South 12th Street

2435 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2436 South 12th Street

2436 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2438 South 12th Street

2438 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

2440 South 12th Street

2440 South 12th Street — 2400 Block — South 12th Street
Year ↕ Name ↕
—No information available

Related: 2421 South 12th Street, 1991 · Frederick — 2432 South 12th Street, 1959

2421 South 12th Street

2421 South 12th Street, 1991 — Robert Pugh

2421 South 12th Street, 1991. Resident: Robert Pugh.

Life Hereabouts

Camden Courier-Post —

Life Hereabouts - Camden Courier-Post, March 19, 1949

BY CHARLEY HUMES

DOWN MEMORY LANE with that Old Gang of Yours . . . in a few of the years when Our Town was as good a sport town as any in the land . . . from the time that Taylor and Gunnis promoted fights through the years to Roxey Allen . . . Mickey Blair . . . Eddie Chaney . . . Shamus Maguire . . . Pee Wee Ross . . . Jackie Hindle . . . Watson Finch . . . Georgie Abner . . . Nick Nicholas . . . Dixie Allen . . .

The days when Camden was the Mecca for Philly fight fans . . . with champions like Mike O’Dowd . . . Benny Leonard . . . Pete Herman . . . Jimmy Wilde . . . Gene Tunney . . . fighting in the Armory on Haddon avenue . . . for One, Two and Three . . . tax included . . . the days of John Smith . . . whose son, Lee, became one of our great friends . . . the days when Philly came to Camden to see the best fighters in the land . . .

AND THEN DOWN through the years with Lou McFarland . . . Higgins and Kaplan . . . Tommy James . . . the man named Doyle who always gave us a smile when we called him “Mister” because he was so kind . . . When Sergeant Ray Smith became a referee . . . “Pose” Robinson . . . the days of Willie Davis . . . Harry Smith . . . Jim Kelly . . .

Fights in the ball park at Twelfth and Federal streets . . . at the Fairview Ball Park . . . in the Temple Theatre . . . the Star Theatre . . . Newt Blanchard, the only promoter who gave us MORE money than we asked for . . . The Broadway Theatre . . . the early days of Convention Hall . . .

THE TIME they opened the Plaza Hotel Gym and all the fine lads on the program . . . with the late Mayor Stewart in the audience . . . and many other dignitaries . . . and being “dared” into a match with Ray Smith, because his opponent failed to show . . . the same guy who fought Tunney . . . Mike Brennan . . . Gibbons . . . Martin . . . Dempsey . . . Loughran . . . and seeing the Sergeant’s body covered with blood in the second round . . . our very own blood . . .

THE YEARS when Gloucester city was the fightenest town in the nation . . .

The days of K. O. Joey O’Donnell . . . who fought them all. . . Of Frankie Conway . . . who never took a backward step . . . and still has the same courage today. . . . Of Willie Spencer . . . who headlined show after show. . . . Charlie Daggert . . . now a referee in Philly. . . . Jimmy Rafferty . . . Eddie (Kid) Wagner . . . Young Sherlock . . . Abe Wustbond, later an instructor of boxing at Herman’s gym in Philly . . . Eddie Forrest . . . and his brother, who fought Battling Nelson . . . the crowd-pleasing Willie Fuller . . . Joey O’Connor.

Back when “Chick” Hunt fought under the name of Eddie Melson . . . and later, in professional ranks, the night he fought Joe “Kid” Fisher at the Apollo theatre in Gloucester. . . . Chick is our friend today . . . but we don’t believe he ever will forgive us for that night when we yelled at Joe to . . . well, we yelled at Joe . . . The days of Harry “Dick” Donohue, trainer and manager of Nick Nichols.

AND THE BEST, learning the business under the incomparable Eddie Prince . . . who knows how to condition fighters . . . then and now . . . with the best in the nation. . . . The days when they called Mister Georgano “Lemons” . . . but affectionately . . . not because he was ever sour.

When Johnny Sapio . . . who only days ago was honored at a banquet at Weber’s Hof Brau by so many people the walls bulged . . . fought under the name of Young Joe Grim.

HOW MANY will remember when our own Eddie Garrity, now the sedate deputy director of public safety in Our Town, was a boxer . . . with plenty on the ball? . . . When George Murphy boxed around here . . . and the Tighe brothers, Eddie and Jimmy . . . Remember Richie Hoehner? . . . Jimmie Jordan? . . . Eddie Douglas? . . . Bobby Graham, then a soldier stationed in Gloucester? . . . Steve Jackson? . . . Frankie McLaughlin (whose brother Neil WAS on Retreat with us, Mrs. McLaughlin, and gave us much of this information)?

Recall Johnny “Homo” Bryan? . . . Duncan Carswell, Jimmy and Jack Dean, referees, all three? . . . Theo Ellick, the matchmaker. . . . And who could forget Joe Spearing, afraid of nobody then and now . . . he fought our boy Fisher three times to our knowledge . . . once in Atlantic City . . . another at one of the ball parks here and the third (the windup, no less) in Gloucester. . . . Who won . . . who cares?

THE DAYS when a Cook was a promoter . . . and a Politician(?) got the gravy. . . . The time “Red” Haines fought Roxey Allen over top the old Standard movies at Second and Vine streets . . . amateur against a near-champ . . . and what a battle . . . when Everett Joslin and Johnny Taylor were on the First district wagon and backed it up to the door leading to the second floor, and all the people gathering around because they thought it was a raid . . . and all they came to see was a round or two of the fights.

Back when Joey Powell had an iron fist . . . and Soldier Freedman an iron jaw. . . . When Mayor Victor King was always in the front row at the bouts . . . when Augie Oswald “worked” the river in his boat for shad and other fish . . . when a dollar was a dollar and not 27 cents . . . when the downtown fight gym was operated by Charley Mack . . . whose brother Battling Mack was a great drawing card and a great fighter . . . and Charley was no softie, either.

THE SUMMER BOUTS in the ball park when you could get a swell bleacher seat for half a buck—and be closer to the bouts than $50 seats at some of the big clubs now . . . and see better fights, too.

When Camden had growing pains . . . and its people started moving to the suburbs . . . when a guy who made 40 slugs a week was a “big executive.” . . . When copy boys on the papers got $4 a week . . . and had enough left over from their salary to lend money to reporters who made the tremendous sum of $25 a week. . . . Great days, say you . . . great days, say us. . . . Nostalgia.

Frederick

Camden Courier-Post —

Camden Courier-Post, June 20, 1959 — Frederick death notice, 2432 South 12th Street

FREDERICK—On June 17, 1959, Paul M. (Beans), husband of Mary (nee Murphy), of 2432 S. 12th st., Camden, N. J. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral on Monday at 8:30 a. m. from the Robert J. Blake Funeral Home, 226 Collings ave., Collingswood, N. J. Solemn Mass of Requiem at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden, 9:30 a. m. Friends may call Sunday evening.

Elimination of 20 City Blocks Urged by Housing Committee

Camden Courier-Post —

Elimination of 20 City Blocks Urged by Housing Committee - Camden Courier-Post, August 21, 1936 Elimination of 20 City Blocks Urged by Housing Committee - Camden Courier-Post, August 21, 1936

Advisory Board Suggests Razing 895 Dwellings In 2 Areas, Classified as Sub-Standard; Mayor Favors Plan For Parking Spaces

Elimination of 20 blocks of what were characterized as sub-standard properties in Camden was recommended to the city yesterday by the Camden Housing Advisory Committee.

Although it was urged that the city clear out two large areas as an economy measure, no plan was suggested whereby the city could obtain money to finance the clearance project.

The two areas that would be affected if such a proposal were carried out are as follows:

Area A: Tenth street to Twelfth street, between Market and Linden streets, embracing Linden, Penn, Lawrence and Cooper streets between Tenth and Twelfth.

Area B: Line to Stevens streets, between Second and Third streets, embracing Stevens, Benson, Washington, Berkley, Senate, Clinton, Royden, Beckett and Line streets, between Second and Third.

Made by Burnison

The recommendation was made in the office of Mayor Frederick von Nieda, by James W. Burnison, head of the housing advisory committee. Burnison termed the two areas of ten blocks each definitely sub-standard and said that the city should consider them for condemnation proceedings to effect an appreciable saving to Camden of municipal service costs.

The recommendation was made on the basis of a survey completed by the State Housing Authority. Conditions in the 20 blocks were pictured as causing an annual total loss to the city of $156,791.04. In the two areas are 895 dwellings.

It was estimated in the state survey that the city’s annual operating costs in the first area, Area A, are $95,335.30. The annual income to the city in the same area was put at $27,061.63. The annual loss to the city was fixed by the survey as $68,273.67.

Operating costs in Area B were estimated at $106,178.88 per year with an income of $17,661.51. The loss was placed at $88,517.37.

The costs were said to embrace fire protection, police protection, education, relief and health expenditures. The income is from taxes and municipal liens.

Burnison said that by tearing out the affected areas, free parking districts could be established there, bringing considerable trade and money to the city. Operating costs would be eliminated, he pointed out, and tax rates would go down generally with the removal of a costly burden.

Joseph N. Hettel, also a member of the committee, pointed out that both areas would be ripe for use as industrial sites or for a new housing project. Hettel said that if a city housing authority were established, such an agency could obtain its own bonds and be established as an independent venture, divorced from the municipal government but perhaps subsidized by the federal government.

Mayor von Nieda, expressing himself in harmony with plans for eliminating sub-standard areas, declared that he was opposed to the city’s spending any money until the city could receive assurance that the income would be as much as the loss.

The committee also considered the project on which the government is spending $3,000,000 at Westfield Acres in the construction of a low-cost housing venture. George V. Walsh, Camden district manager of the PWA housing division, said the superstructure bid of Anthony P. Miller, of Atlantic City, had been accepted.

Jobs for 500 Men

The Miller contract figure was $2,489,000. The contract has not been awarded as yet. Walsh said that foundation work would be finished Sept. 10 and that superstructure work would start Sept. 15. Completion in one year is provided by contract.

Walsh said 500 men would be employed on the superstructure work and that 800 men would be given jobs at the peak of the work. The housing plan is for three-story apartments of three, four and five rooms each. There will be 598 apartments in all, with central heating and fireproof construction. The Westfield Acres project will cover 25 acres.

Mayor von Nieda criticized the estimates of the state survey group when he said that the figures given for relief and school costs were high. These are the city’s main operating expenses, he said, and they would go on though persons living in the two areas went elsewhere.

Abe Rosenfeld, a real estate man, and James V. Moran also attended the meeting.

Captain Mortica M. Clark Retires After 30 Years as City Fireman

Camden Courier-Post —

Captain Mortica M. Clark Retires After 30 Years as City Fireman - Camden Courier-Post, May 17, 1941

Oldest Member of Department in Point of Service Honored by Fellow Workers, Officers and School Children in Exercises at Station House

Camden’s oldest fire captain in point of service retired yesterday after more than 30 years of answering alarms.

He is Captain Mortica M. Clark, who was honored at a gathering of fellow firemen and officers.

The exercises, which included the presentation of a fishing rod and reel, a ring, smoking utensils and flowers, took place at his home company’s headquarters, Ninth and Morgan streets. The presentations were made by Fire Chief John H. Lennox.

The gifts were from his staff, other captains, the Three-fifteen Association, local school children and his family. Captain Clark expects to pass considerable of his time fishing and boating near his home at Palermo.

“He is one of the best firemen and one of the best leaders I have known,” was Safety Director Mary W. Kobus’ tribute to him.

Captain Clark served as senior captain for 21 years and during his years with the department was never late for duty. He never reported any of his men for any violation of the rules. Many times he was cited for heroic acts.

During the State Street church fire he dragged Chief Peter N. [sic] Carter from the flaming building as the roof collapsed. He rescued four children from the burning Mary J. Ball Home and worked 49 consecutive hours during the Hollingshed fire last July. He was responsible also for efficient work at the Kaighn avenue ferry blaze and the fire at the Graves Varnish works, Twelfth and Federal streets.

In addition to his wife, Emma, Captain Clark’s family includes four children, Mrs. Florence Kolman, Catherine, George and Archie.

Brave Fire-Fighter Heads New Company

Philadelphia Inquirer —

Brave Fire-Fighter Heads New Company - Philadelphia Inquirer, May 22, 1905 Brave Fire-Fighter Heads New Company - Philadelphia Inquirer, May 22, 1905 Brave Fire-Fighter Heads New Company - Philadelphia Inquirer, May 22, 1905

EDGAR BOLTON

Who has been chosen foreman of the new fire company in Camden

The new fire house on Federal street above Twelfth, in the heart of the mill, factory, foundry, textile and lumber district of Camden, is rapidly nearing completion and will soon be ready for occupancy.

Edgar Bolton, of the Second ward, at present a member of the company at Fifth and Arch streets, who has been elected foreman of the new company, was chosen by the Foreign [sic] Commissioners because of his ability and bravery shown at some of Camden’s recent big fires.

One of the institutions of which Camden is proud is its paid fire department, made up of trained fire-fighters, among them Foreman Bolton, who doesn’t know the meaning of the word fear.

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