Beckett Street was named after Henry and Mary Beckett, who owned a large tract of land that was laid out into town lots about 1853. The Becketts at one time owned the land from Royden to Line Street and from West to Second Street.
Beckett Street originally ran east to west, from Front Street to West Street, north of Line Street. At some point after 1947, all properties between Clinton and Line Streets and South 2nd and South 3rd Streets were acquired and razed, and an industrial building was erected on the site. Today Beckett Street runs only from South 3rd Street to West Street.
Livio Joseph Banda, Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class, born and raised on Birch Street, was killed in action while serving with the United States Navy during World War II.
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1946 Map of Camden
Beckett Street runs east to west, from Front Street to West Street, north of Line Street. 1946 Map of Camden.
Intersection of South 3rd Street & Beckett Street
Southwest Corner of South 3rd Street & Beckett Street. Postcard circa 1906.
Looking east on Beckett Street from South 3rd Street. Photos taken September 8, 2011.
Southwest Corner, South 3rd & Beckett Street — 1920s–1930s, Wiley Methodist Episcopal Church; 1927–1930s, Rev. John S. Hackett; 1947, Little Rock Baptist Church.
Camden Fire Alarms
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Fire Alarms
Midnight Monday Until Midnight Tuesday
10.50 a. m., 2nd and Beckett sts., grass. 12.52 p. m., 2709 Federal st., grass. 1.40 p. m., 31st and Pleasant sts., grass. 4.35 p. m., 1245 Mechanic st., rubbish. 6.29 p. m., 322 Pine st., part of flooring and joists.
Burglars Steal Equipment, Wine
Camden Courier-Post —
Burglars last night took two movie projectors and two electric typewriters from the offices of the Manpower Development Training Center, 17th Street and Admiral Wilson Boulevard, Camden.
In a second incident, burglars took nine cases of champagne from a boxcar on a private siding of Gallo Wine Sales of New Jersey, 2nd and Beckett Streets.
The training center burglary was reported to Ptl. William Lewis by Eduvicis A. Ortiz of the center. He estimated loss at $1,530.
The wine loss was placed at $162 by Nathan Long, a Gallo official. The theft was reported by railroad police.
200 Block of Beckett Street — Occupants
City directory records, 1887–1947.
202 Beckett Street
202 Beckett Street — 200 Block of Beckett Street — Occupants
Year
↕
Name
↕
1947
Joseph A. Ambrose
204 Beckett Street
204 Beckett Street — 200 Block of Beckett Street — Occupants
Five persons were injured Saturday morning when a truck, and passenger automobile collided at Eighth and Van Hook Streets. The truck, containing four workmen, was overturned.
Dominic Fanelle, 20, of 703 Locust Street, driver of the truck, suffered chest and back injuries. The injured were taken to the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital.
The driver of the car, Mrs. Anna K. Holt, 30, of 2898 North Congress Road, was cut and bruised. The others injured were Fioranto Costanzo, 18, of 209 Beckett Street; Felix Lee, 50, Cuthbert Road, Haddon Township, and Love Troutman, 56, of 717 South Eighth Street. All were cut and bruised.
Intruder Held On Forceable Entry Charge
Camden Courier-Post —
Thomas Merrill, 29, of the 300 block S. 5th st., was held without bail for the grand jury by Municipal Judge Marino today on charges of assault and battery and threats to kill.
The charges were made by Mrs. Emma Brewer, 25, of 209 Beckett st., at whose home he was arrested early this morning.
Mrs. Brewer testified Merrill forced his way into her home, carrying a shotgun under his coat, threatened her of harboring a man he claimed attacked him with a knife.
An hour earlier, Merrill had reported to police that he was stabbed by an unidentified man who fled into a house on Beckett st. He was treated for cuts of the face at Cooper Hospital.
HILL.—At Camden, N. J., on January 16, 1900, Sarah V., wife of Warren C. Hill. Interred at South Laurel Hill Cemetery, Thursday afternoon, 18th inst.
Four Young Men Said to Have Confessed Thefts
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Said to have confessed to robbing their employers, the S. C. Childs Company, Charles Young, 20 years old, of 233 Beckett street; John Cross, 20 years old, of 225 Sycamore street; John Thompson, 20 years old, of 116 Mt. Vernon street, and Francis J. Bunker, 35 years old, of 1018 South Second street, were arrested in Camden yesterday by Detective Painter and held in $500 bail each by Recorder Stackhouse. A woman is also said to have been implicated, but on account of having several small children she was not prosecuted.
All four of the defendants were employed by the company in its large warehouse at the foot of Walnut street, and it is alleged by the police that they schemed to steal and dispose of provisions stored at that place. The complaint against them was made by George R. Pelouze, treasurer of the concern.
Some of the Beckett Streeters on a Sunday
A usual Sunday routine — after church, the neighborhood boys would go up to Broadway to check the movies appearing at the many movie houses in Camden or play ball in the “stable.” Photo was taken in front of 329 Beckett Street. Circa World War II.
Top, left: Woman in the window holding her nephew: Emma Arcaini. Top, right: Billy Polidora, US Navy, home on leave from the war. Top row, from left: Rinaldo Grazioli, George Bordi, Mim Marcozzi, Lou Bordi, Muzzy Albano. Middle row: Shiz Grazioli, Mifit Arcaini, Chipsey Giletto. Bottom row: Junior Di Frank, Nino Marcozzi, Sonny Auletto, Carmen Giletto.
A usual Sunday routine — after church, the neighborhood boys would go up to Broadway to check the movies appearing at the many movie houses in Camden or play ball in the “stable.
Anthony “Nino” Marcozzi Sr. May 2014
300 Block of Beckett Street — Occupants
City directory records, 1890–1973.
308 Beckett Street
308 Beckett Street — 300 Block of Beckett Street — Occupants
Year
↕
Name
↕
1947
Emedio Bordi
309 Beckett Street
309 Beckett Street — 300 Block of Beckett Street — Occupants
Year
↕
Name
↕
1947
Mrs. Sadie Del Moro
310 Beckett Street
310 Beckett Street — 300 Block of Beckett Street — Occupants
329 Beckett Street — 300 Block of Beckett Street — Occupants
Year
↕
Name
↕
1922–1947
Berardo Arcaini & Family (Berardo & Elisa Arcaini; Rose; Vincenzo; Dominic 'Mimi'; Alfred 'Miff'; Emma Arcaini)
1922–1947
Berardo & Elisa Arcaini
1922–1947
Rose Arcaini
1922–1947
Vincenzo Arcaini
1922–1947
Alfred "Miff" Arcaini
1922–1947
Emma Arcaini
1953–?
Ernest Feriozzi & Family (Ernest & Maria Feriozzi; Anthony; Oswaldo; Guido; Helen; Adriana Feriozzi) & Dominic 'Mimi' Arcaini & Family (Dominic & Helen Feriozzi Arcaini; Ron Arcaini)
—
Ernest & Maria Feriozzi
—
Anthony Feriozzi
—
Oswaldo Feriozzi
—
Guido Feriozzi
—
Helen Feriozzi
—
Adriana Feriozzi
—
Dominic "Mimi" Arcaini & Family
—
Dominic & Helen Feriozzi Arcaini
—
Ron Arcaini
330 Beckett Street
330 Beckett Street — 300 Block of Beckett Street — Occupants
Lewis Raupp, 53, 833 North 6th Street, dog bite of right index finger. Anna Veroline, 34, 318 Walnut Street, sprained ankle. Albert Passarella, 15, 433 Spruce Street, sprained ankle. Thomas J. Owens, 35, 420 Taylor Ave., bruised wrist and knee. Joseph Manfredi, 14, 335 Chestnut Street, infected palm. Margaret Cramer, 9, 323 Erie Street, infected finger. Laurence Wiggle, 5, 505 South 6th Street, cut hand. Joseph Carbone, 18, 336 Walnut Street, cut chin. Thomas DiRenzo, 13, 522 Clinton St., splinter in left foot. Cecelia Homan, 32, 511 Ray Avenue, foreign body in eye. Mary DiVincenzo, 10, 311 Beckett St., foreign body in eye.
West Jersey
Theresa Marolda, 59, 1713 South 4th Street, cut finger. Benjamin Druasowictz, 34, 1282 Van Hook St., cut finger. Charles Mangold, 52, 3 North 4th Street, cut finger. Stanley Kaminski, 25, 1119 Liberty Street, cut hand. Marie Birsch, 15, 697 Van Hook St., foreign particle in eye. Willard Dickson, 3, 1739 Railroad Ave., puncture wound of thigh.
DiMaggio Family
John DiMaggio & Family, 319 Beckett Street, 1919–1973. John & Mary DiMaggio; Santo DiMaggio; John DiMaggio; Anthony DiMaggio.
Ill since May 1 with an attack of pulmonary tuberculosis and heart trouble, Mrs. Daisy May Selby, of 326 Beckett street, died Saturday evening.
Mrs. Selby was the widow of Fire Lieutenant Harry Selby, who ended his life on May 8. Mrs. Selby was 40 years old and is survived by two sons and a daughter.
Funeral services will be held at her late residence to-morrow afternoon at 2 o’clock, with interment at Harleigh Cemetery, under the direction of Undertaker Frederick Roedel. Friends may view the remains this evening.
Frank Saia Family
Frank Saia & Family, 326 Beckett Street, 1940–1942. Frank & Sadie Saia; Benjamin; Pauline; Rose; Anthony; Joseph Saia; Anna Koenig (step-daughter).
Arcaini Family
Berardo Arcaini & Family, 329 Beckett Street, 1922–1947. Berardo & Elisa Arcaini; Rose Arcaini; Vincenzo Arcaini; Dominic “Mimi” Arcaini; Alfred “Miff” Arcaini; Emma Arcaini.
Woman in the doorway — Emma Arcaini. Middle row, center — Alfred “Miff” Arcaini. Photo courtesy of Anthony “Nino” Marcozzi, bottom row, 2nd from left. Dominic Arcaini later married Helen Feriozzi of 905 South 5th Street.
I was born in Camden in 1947, father Dominic Arcaini “Mimi” from 329 Beckett. Mother, Helen Feriozzi Arcaini of 905 South 5th Street. We lived with my grandparents, Ernest Feriozzi who owned and operated Feriozzi Construction Company and my grandmother Maria “Mary” Feriozzi. We all lived at 905 South 5th until my grandfather moved all of us to 521 Spruce in about 1953 which became the base for the construction company. I don’t know how long prior to my birth they owned the house on 5th street, but the 1940 census had my grandparents and all of their children living there. The children (my uncles) were Anthony (Tony), Oswaldo (Ozzie), and Guido. My mother was Helen and my aunt was Adriana (Adri).
Held In $1000 Bail After Witnesses Tell of Buying Heroin Downtown
Two alleged drug peddlers, one a boy, 16 years old, were held in $1000 bail each by Recorder Stackhouse today.
The youth is William Lovern, 210 Washington Street. With Harry Bolt, 24 years old, 420 Beckett street, he was arrested early today after they are alleged to have sold decks of heroin at Second and Beckett streets.
David Hunt and “Dorie” Guthrie, said two packages of heroin and cocaine were found on the suspect. Both denied their guilt.
Youths, who acted as amateur detectives to gather evidence accused young Lovern as the “little fellow” who sold them each a deck of heroin for one dollar. They said Lovern refused to take 75 cents for the drug and asked for the larger amount.
Palermo Family
This was the home of my best friend, Janie Palermo. In the early 60’s when we were between the ages of six and eight years old, Janie, and Gaila Levecchia (our other best friend), and I would walk with older friends or parents from Beckett St. to Broadway to go to the Camden Free Public Library. That library is where I first learned to love books.
Donna Loperfido Carlin January 13, 2008
Joseph & Christina Palermo Family, 415 Beckett Street, late 1950s–1970s. Jane Palermo; Joseph Palermo Jr.; Josephine Palermo.
Camden County Transfers
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden 416 Beckett — Harry L. Sanders to Ratcliffe Weitzman Co., $2550. Philadelphia Inquirer, September 15, 1915.
Loperfido Family
This is where I lived from my birth in 1954 until I was 8 years old. I have many happy memories of this house and the neighborhood. My maternal grandfather (VitoAntonio Leone) owned the building and he lived in it with my grandmother and their 6 children until 1946 when they moved to the larger house at 1121 S. 4th Street. After we moved out in 1962, he rented it to one or two more families, and then sold it. Years later, we learned that the building was blown up when a bullet or ‘bb-gun’ pellet hit a gas pipe, and thankfully everyone got out alive. The houses on either side (417 and 421) were also destroyed in the explosion and the houses no longer exist.
Donna Loperfido Carlin January 13, 2008
VitoAntonio & Costantina (Galasso) Leone Family, 419 Beckett Street, 1923–1962. See 400 Block occupants for full resident history.
Kairer Family
429 Beckett Street, 1893 — William G. Kairer Sr. & Family. 1929, Tony Levecchia. 1947, Henry Levecchia. Photo taken March 14, 2012.
431, 433, 435 Beckett Street. Photos taken March 14, 2012.
Intersection of White Street & Beckett Street
Southwest Corner, White Street & Beckett Street. September 8, 2011.
Intersection of West Street & Beckett Street
Looking west on Beckett Street from West Street. September 8, 2011.
