Bella Place
By Phil Cohen
Bella Place is an L-shaped court that at one time had nine houses, that ran north from 751 Spruce Street, with a narrow alley that ran from the court to 754 Division Street. Access from Spruce Street was through an alley that could accommodate a car or wagon. Access from Division was narrower, for pedestrian traffic only.
As of 2004 there are no houses left on Bella Place. There is no access from Division Street, as one of the homeowners has gated the alleyway.
All that remains of Bella Place is a lone telephone pole between Spruce Street and Division Street, that serviced the homes, two each on the east and west ends, and five on the north end, that once were there.
Maps
1946 Map of Camden — Bella Place is in upper left, running north from Spruce Street
Looking West on Bella Place from 833 Bella Place — 832 and 830 Bella Place are the homes with the porches; at right are 753 and 755 Bella Place
Bella Place map
2003 Map of Camden
Bella Place in 2006 — beginnings and endings marked
Photos
Bella Place looking north from Spruce Street — October 2004
Bella Place looking north from Spruce Street — October 2004
Bella Place Directory
School Thieves Fail
Thieves who broke into the Fetters school, Third and Walnut streets, early today left empty-handed after ransacking several teachers’ desks. Their entrance was discovered by Edward Troutman, janitor, of 759 Bella Place, who notified police.
Bella Place
Address and occupant records from city directories, 1906–1969.
753 Bella Place
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Mrs. Martha Stanley |
755 Bella Place
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Edward Fortiner |
| 1906 | Edward & Mary Fortiner |
| 1906 | Franklin F. Fortiner |
| 1947 | Booker T. Weeks |
757 Bella Place
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Pauline Hardy |
759 Bella Place
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930s–1949 | Edward L. Troutman & Family — janitor, Fetters School. Family: Edward L. & Elnora Troutman, Edward Troutman, William Troutman, Ethel Troutman, John Troutman, James Troutman, Betty Troutman, Kenneth Troutman, Elnora Troutman, Ronald Troutman |
| — | Ethel Troutman |
| — | John Troutman |
| — | James Troutman |
| — | Betty Troutman |
| — | Kenneth Troutman |
| — | Elnora Troutman |
| — | Ronald Troutman |
761 Bella Place
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Daniel Horn |
830 Bella Place
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | James DeShields |
| 1947 | Sally Jones |
| 1947 | Joseph Chapman |
| 1947 | Roy Batty |
| 1947 | Theodore Archer |
831 Bella Place
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1969 | N. Hicks |
Bella Place Memories
Hi. My name is Ronald Troutman, I am the youngest son of Edward and Elnora Troutman who once resided at 759 Bella Place. I in fact was born at that location. I remember most of the persons listed as former residents. I had five brothers and three sisters. Five members are deceased. Four of the male members were police officers in the City of Camden. Edward, William, John, and myself. My oldest sister still lives in East Camden, my youngest sister lives in West Berlin. My only living brother James lives in Parkside. I recall each night the service man coming around to light the gas light in Bella Place. I should mention that also we moved from Bella Place to 751 Spruce Street. That location was the corner entering Bella Place. I went to Kindergarten at Mt. Vernon School but transferred to Liberty School in the first grade in 1946. That year was the first that black children could attend. They were the good old days. I will close by saying that it is nice to be able to go on the internet and find so much information about the City and its residents former and current.
Ron Troutman — October 16, 2009
I also have a memory of an interesting street. It was only a half block long when I went to Liberty School… It was like walking through an alley from Division to Spruce, can’t remember how many houses were on it.
Jim Bessing — May 2004