Cherry Street

Cherry Street is one of Camden’s “tree” streets, running east-west between Spruce and Walnut Streets.

The western end of Cherry Street, below South 3rd Street, was the original southern border of the Fettersville tract, named for Richard Fetters, a prominent citizen of 19th century Camden. Fetters played a vital role in establishing the City of Camden. Richard Fetters in 1833 purchased from Charity and Grace Kaighn the land lying between Line and Cherry Streets, extending from Third Street to the Delaware River. Fetters, a Quaker, was a political and civic leader light years ahead of his time in his commitment to address the needs of his fellow citizens. The town of Fettersville grew rapidly, and in 1835 an additional tract was purchased from the Kaighn family extending south to Mount Vernon Street.

Lots originally laid out by Fetters measured 30×200 feet and in 1835 were assessed at $50 each. These low rates attracted many buyers of modest mean, a large portion of them South Jersey and Philadelphia Blacks. He platted these lands into lots and sold them for $125 for a lot 40×100 feet. Fetter’s plan placed the fronts on the streets running east and west in consideration of his design for a ferry to be located at the foot of Spruce Street. This ferry never was built, as the Kaighns’ Point Ferry more than adequately serviced the area’s needs.

When I was a kid I remember that I was told that in I would guess the first twenty years or so of the 20th century, that Cherry Street was known for all the Italian umbrella makers and repairers, who lived in that neighborhood, and that some people called the west end of Cherry Street “Gas House” or “Coke House” because of the coke plant and PSE&G gas plant. A lot of the Italians that lived in that neighborhood were in the needle and garment trades years later.

At the northeast corner of South 3rd Street and Cherry Street stood 922 South 3rd Street, home from the 1890s through the 1930s to Johnny Carroll’s, one of Camden’s most storied saloons.

Harry Weeks, of 320 Cherry Street, had one of his feet crushed yesterday by a heavy stone falling on it while he was at work at Front Street and Kaighn Avenue. He was taken to Cooper Hospital. Philadelphia Inquirer, July 8, 1900.

Arrested early this morning by Policeman John Schott and charged with breaking and entering a Mechanic Street house, Rocco Martino, 35 years old, 335 Cherry Street, was fined $10 in police court this morning.

The complaint was changed to disorderly conduct after Martino said he couldn’t explain his actions at the home of Mrs. Helen Featherer, 323 Mechanic Street. The woman testified she was awakened at 6:40 o’clock by pounding on the back door of her home. She said Martino was trying to force the door and had broken a window. Camden Courier-Post, January 25, 1928.

Mystery shots that splintered the door of a South Camden home yesterday started the police on a search for a group of youths seen loitering in the neighborhood.

Mrs. James Falconiero, of 354 Cherry Street, reported to Detective Benjamin Simon that she was awakened at 5 a.m. by a series of shots. She said she looked out a window and saw several young men entering an automobile a short distance from her home.

An inspection of the front of the house revealed several holes in the door caused by bullets. One missile, of 38-calibre, was found buried in the plaster in the hallway. Camden Courier-Post, June 17, 1933.

Henry Shultz, the carriage builder, was held in bail by Recorder Baker [sic] last night for assault and battery on Pauline Gottenburg, of 422 Cherry Street. Philadelphia Inquirer, August 7, 1890.

P. S. HONORS EMPLOYEE

Charles J. Lack, 512 Cherry Street, Camden, completed 25 years’ service with Public Service February 3 and received a gold badge emblematic of the occasion. He is employee at the Burlington Generating Station of Public Service Electric & Gas Company. Lack started with Public Service at Camden and was transferred to Burlington in 1927. Camden Courier-Post, February 7, 1938.

Daubman Alley ran parallel to Broadway from Walnut to Cherry Street.

Coates Alley ran parallel to Broadway from Cherry Street to Division Street.

William Stroud, aged 16, living at 634 Cherry Street, was badly injured yesterday while at work in Dialogue’s ship yard. He was removed to Cooper Hospital. Philadelphia Inquirer, June 7, 1890.

YOUNG WIFE FOUND BEATEN ON STREET

Charges She Was Robbed — Estranged Husband Identifies Her

Blackjacked and contending she was robbed, a pretty 20-year-old South Camden married woman is in Cooper Hospital with a fractured skull. Her condition is reported as serious.

The woman was identified yesterday as Mrs. Margaret Templeton by her husband, William Templeton, of 722 Cherry Street. He said he has been estranged from her for some time.

Police are searching for the driver of a taxi and a man known to them as “Harry,” whom the injured woman told police took her from a cafe in Gloucester.

Police learned Mrs. Templeton and a man were deposited at Second and Penn Streets from a taxicab at 1:40 a.m. The woman was found on the same corner at 6:30 a.m.

She first told police her name was Martha Shay and later changed it to Margaret Shane. She gave an address at 401 Kaighn Avenue, but was not known there. Then she said she lived at the Cherry Street address of her husband. He denied this, although he identified her.

Police say the woman was struck over the head with a blackjack or blunt instrument. She will be questioned further when her condition improves. It was learned last night that Mrs. Templeton has been living at 1148 Kaighn Avenue. Camden Courier-Post, June 12, 1933.

60-DAY SENTENCE GIVEN IN THEFT OF WATCH

Sixty days in the county jail was the sentence meted out to Wilmer Brown, 52, of 3002 Thompson Street, when he was charged in police court yesterday with stealing a watch.

Arrested on complaint of Martin Nelson, 561 Spruce Street, Brown denied the charges and said he knew nothing of the timepiece. Nelson testified that he went to a house on Cherry Street near Sixth with Brown and fell asleep. His watch was taken while he slept, he said. He admitted he had been drinking.

William Pollard, of 751 Cherry Street, said he was in the back yard of the house on Cherry Street when Nelson and Brown appeared. An hour after they entered the place, he said, Brown asked him for a pair of pliers to cut it.

In sentencing Brown, Police Judge Pancoast said he believed the man wanted the pliers to cut Nelson’s watch chain. Camden Courier-Post, June 3, 1933.

MAN GETS 30 DAYS IN ROW OVER 9 CENTS

An argument over a 9-cent gambling debt yesterday sent Charles Minor, colored, 32, of 911 Cherry Street, to county jail for 30 days in default of a $25 fine for assault and battery on William Jackson, 913 Cherry Street.

Sentence was imposed by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast after Jackson testified that Minor struck him on the chin with some blunt instrument and knocked him down. Jackson said he and Minor had played cards Wednesday and Minor had accused him of cheating him out of 9 cents. The argument continued, Jackson added, when Minor struck him. Minor denied the charge. Camden Courier-Post, June 17, 1933.

George Strain, aged 28 years, of 938 Cherry Street, who was killed by a train Friday, was buried yesterday. Philadelphia Inquirer, July 12, 1905.