Introduction
COOPER STREET is one of the oldest streets in Camden, and is named after the Cooper family. William Cooper was one of the first settlers in this part of New Jersey. Camden was known as Cooper’s Ferries for many years prior to the city being incorporated in 1828.
The curb line of Cooper Street, from Front Street to the tracks of the Camden & Atlantic Railroad Company, were moved twelve feet towards the center, and the street paved with Belgian blocks in 1881. In 1927 the curb lines were moved back twelve feet from 4th Street to 9th Street. This improvement was completed in September of 1927.
Cooper Street runs from the waterfront east to 9th Street, with a short block of homes and business still standing above 11th Street. Prior to the construction of Interstate Route I-676, Cooper Street ran all the way to 12th Street. Cooper Street was for many years one of the most prestigious addresses in Camden, and many homes of historic significance, due to both the residents and the architects of said homes, were and still are on Cooper Street.
The “beginning of the end” for Cooper Street came in the early 1920s, when three mansions were torn down to make room for the Walt Whitman Hotel. On June 30, 1940 all the homes on the south side of the 900 block were destroyed when the R.M. Hollingshead chemical factory, which occupied most of the block, fronting on 9th and on Market Streets, exploded and burned to the ground.
Little known outside of East Camden is the “other” Cooper Street, which runs between North 19th and East State Street. This short street only has one single family home and a block of 13 row homes.
Phil Cohen
Memories of Old Cooper Street
Journalist Will Paul wrote an article around 1940 about growing up on Cooper Street in the 1880s. Be sure to read his Memories of Old Cooper Street.
Victor Plant Postcards
The Victor Talking Machine Company plant on Cooper Street, Camden, N.J. Top left: The Victor Plant, Cooper Street. Top right: “The Camden factories of the Victor Talking Machine Company.” Bottom: The Victor Plant with Johnson Park in the foreground — now known as Walt Whitman Poetry Center.
Cooper Park & Library Postcards
Cooper Park and Library postcards. Top left: Cooper Park, 2nd & Cooper Streets, circa 1907. Top right: Cooper Park Library, circa 1910. Center: Cooper Park Library, circa 1912. Bottom left: Cooper Park Library, circa 1916 — replaced by the large building donated by Eldridge Johnson of the Victor Talking Machine Co. Bottom right: The Cooper Free Public Library, known today as The Walt Whitman Poetry Center.
Unit Block of Cooper Street
10 Cooper Street — The Esterbrook Pen Company. The Esterbrook Pens Co. plant stood at Cooper Street and Delaware Avenue in Camden for several decades. Founded in 1858 in Camden by Richard Esterbrook, the plant was moved to Cherry Hill in 1964. In 1967 it became the Venus–Esterbrook company, and by 1969 it closed its Cherry Hill plant. When Esterbrook Pen left Camden, the old plant was acquired by RCA. Known as RCA Building 16, it was demolished in January of 1971. Photo circa 1920.
Unit Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
Noted occupants of the unit block.
10 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1858–1964 | Esterbrook Pen Company |
| 1964–1971 | RCA Building 16 (formerly Esterbrook) |
43 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880s–1900s | Rev. William H. Burrell |
Front & Cooper Street Intersection
1925 — as seen looking south from Penn Street. The 8-story Victor Talking Machine Company offices are at rear right of the photo. Johnson Park is at left.
100 Block of Cooper Street
Cooper Street and Johnson Park. Left: Looking northeast from Front and Cooper, 1907. Center: Johnson Park, circa 1920. Right: Johnson Park, 1926 Peter Pan Pageant. The Johnson Library and park were donated to the City of Camden by Eldridge Johnson, founder and CEO of the Victor Talking Machine Company. Built between 1914 and 1930, and first opened in 1918.
Cooper Street looking northeast from Front and Cooper, April 2005. Photo by Craig Campbell.
120–134 Cooper Street. The portrait is of William Abels, who lived at 126 Cooper Street from 1787 to 1882.
100–134 Cooper Street — Victor Talking Machine Company factory, about 1920. Right: Victor Talking Machine Company offices at the northwest corner of Front & Cooper Street, about 1920.
100 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
Noted occupants of the 100 block.
106 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880s–1890s | William H. Allen |
122 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| — | Dr. Samuel Harris |
| 1872 | The Dorcas Society |
126 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1787–1882 | William Abels |
200 Block of Cooper Street
Left: Cooper Street looking east from North 2nd Street — 1st house on right: 210 Cooper, 1st house on left: 215 Cooper. Right: 200–230 Cooper Street, February 7, 2004.
204 & 206 Cooper Street, February 7, 2004. 204 Cooper Street was the home of the College of South Jersey Law School in 1947, the predecessor to Rutgers Law School. Henry S. Ford lived at 206 Cooper Street in the 1930s and 1940s.
220 Cooper Street — Rudolph Preisendanz showroom. Rudolph Preisendanz was a prominent Camden cabinetmaker and interior decorator.
200 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
Noted occupants of the 200 block.
200 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| — | The Edward Sharp House |
201 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| mid-late 1930s | Turin Grotto |
| 1933 | C.R. Finney |
| 1933 | John Lynch Saloon |
| 1933 | Turin Grotto |
| 1947 | Palace Restaurant |
204 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | College of South Jersey Law School |
| 1891–1941 | Howland Croft & Family |
| 1891–1941 | Howland & Mary Grainger Croft |
| 1891–1941 | Clara Croft |
| 1891–1941 | Annie Croft |
| 1891–1941 | John William Croft |
| 1891–1941 | Miranda Croft Bottomley |
| 1891–1941 | George Grainger Croft |
| 1891–1941 | Samuel G. Croft |
205 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880s–1900s | Richard Pancoast |
206 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930s–1940s | Henry S. Ford |
209 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1896–1901 | Woman's Club of Camden |
210 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s–1930s | Charlotte C. French |
214 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s–1910s | Captain John B. Adams & Family |
| 1900s–1910s | John B. & Phoebe Adams |
| 1900s–1910s | Clarence Adams |
| 1920s–1932 | George W. Jessup |
215 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890s–1920s | Dr. Dowling Benjamin & Family (Dr. Dowling & Sarah Benjamin, Ada Benjamin, Helen Benjamin) |
| 1940–1947 | James A. Gravenor & Family |
| 1940–1947 | James A. & Lula M. Gravenor |
218–222 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1940s–1950 | Edward A. 'Dick' Malan |
| 1955 | Manchester Laundry & Dry Cleaning Co., Inc. (220 Cooper) |
| — | The Chalcar Apartments |
| Architects | Byron H. Edwards & Alfred Green |
220 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890s | Samuel Smith (Ice) |
228 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1877–1888 | Nathan F. Cowan Family (Nathan & Sallie Ann Cowan, William, Edgar, Herbert Cowan) |
| 1905–1931 | Richard Rilatt & Family |
| 1910 | Patrick Farley |
| 1869–1874 | Richard R.C. Wilkins |
232 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910s–1920s | Frank J. Hineline |
| 1910s–1920s | Ludwig Kind |
| 1910s–1920s | Charles H. Greer |
| 1910s–1920s | William MacFarland |
| 1910s | Philip Wilson |
| 1878–1903 | Abraham Anderson & Family |
| 1890–1903 | Abraham & Eliza Burr Anderson |
| 1878–1903 | Abraham & Martha Goldy Anderson |
| 1878–1903 | Harry Anderson |
| 1878–1903 | Ella Anderson |
| 1878–1903 | Robert Anderson |
| 1878–1903 | Voorhees Anderson |
| 1890–1903 | Abraham Anderson & Family |
| 1905–1910 | Patrick Farley |
| 1914–1915 | S. Conrad Ott |
Edward Sharp House
200 Cooper Street — The Edward Sharp House, February 7, 2004.
Autoist Held in Crash as Licenseless Driver
Camden Courier-Post —
Charged with driving without a license, Arthur Benjamin, 28, of 430 Liberty Street, was held in $10 security for a police court hearing following a collision at Twenty-third and High Streets shortly after noon yesterday. One man was cut on the head and legs.
Policeman James Banks made the arrest after Benjamin’s car struck and overturned the machine of C.R. Finney, 62, of 201 Cooper Street. Finney was treated by Dr. A. Lincoln Sherk. Benjamin was ordered to appear before Judge Garfield Pancoast June 29.
Charlotte C. French
210 Cooper Street — Charlotte C. French, 1920s–1930s. February 7, 2004.
Dr. Dowling Benjamin
215 Cooper Street — Dr. Dowling Benjamin & Family, 1890s–1920s. Dr. Dowling & Sarah Benjamin, Ada Benjamin, Helen Benjamin.
The Chalcar Apartments
218–222 Cooper Street — The Chalcar Apartments. Architects: Byron Edwards & Alfred Green. Edward A. “Dick” Malan resided here in the 1940s–1950. Left: 1925. Center: Dick Malan. Remaining photos: February 7, 2004.
Exterior Views, 222–228 Cooper Street
222–228 Cooper Street, February 7, 2004. 228 Cooper Street was the home of Nathan F. Cowan & Family from 1877 to 1888.
Frank J. Hineline
232 Cooper Street — Frank J. Hineline, 1910s–1920s. Other noted residents of 232 Cooper Street in the 1910s–1920s included Ludwig Kind, Charles H. Greer, William MacFarland, and Philip Wilson.
The Helene Apartments — 232 Cooper Street / 125 North 3rd Street
Southwest Corner of North 3rd & Cooper Streets
Southwest corner of North 3rd Street and Cooper Street. February 7, 2004.
The Helene Apartments, 125 North 3rd Street & 232 Cooper Street. February 7, 2004.
Cooper Street East of North 3rd Street — 1925
Cooper Street, east of North 3rd Street, 1925.
300 Block of Cooper Street — The 2004 Rowan University Development Plan
Rowan University 2004 Development Plan for the 300 block of Cooper and Market Streets.
Approved by the Camden Redevelopment Agency in 2004, after Rowan University announced plans to seize the 300 block of Cooper and Market between 3rd and 4th Streets. Actions by the Redevelopment Agency protected the businesses, residences, and historic buildings, and in the end, only one standing property, 326 Cooper Street, presently unoccupied, will be razed, and the Camden County Red Cross, presently occupying 312 Cooper Street, will relocate. This is a real victory for all Camden citizens who pay taxes, as only one ratable was lost, while the assessed property values of those saved will certainly rise. — Phil Cohen, April 2004.
300 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical notes.
300 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1882–1900s | Dr. William A. Davis |
| 1910 | Josiah MIddleton |
| 1910–1914 | Oscar K. Middleton |
| 1910–1914 | Joseph Woolman. Taylor |
| 1910–1914 | Anna E. Stockham Taylor |
| 1910 | Rosie Ivins |
| 1935 | Edward Clark |
302 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910 | James F. Davis |
| 1910 | Mrs. Mary E. Van Keuren |
303 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933–1947 | Dr. Max Ruttenberg |
305 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1885–1959 | Dr. H. Genet Taylor & Family |
| 1940s–1950 | Agnes Draper |
306 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930s–1945 | Emma Hyland |
| 1910–1930s | Joseph Potter & Family |
| 1910–1930s | Joseph & Ada Potter |
| 1910–1930s | Nettie Potter |
| 1974 | James A. Gravenor & Family |
| 1974 | James A. & Lula M. Gravenor |
311 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1928– | Bloom Apartments (Segwyn Realty: Dr. Meyer Segal, Meyer Wessel, Hyman Bloom) |
| 1947 | Cooper Plaza Apartments |
312 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1914–1922 | Camden Republican Club |
| 2004 | Camden County Red Cross headquarters |
315 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Lodge 111, Loyal Order of Moose |
| 1908 | Peter V. Voorhees |
318 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910s–1950s | E. G. C. Bleakly (prominent Camden attorney) |
| 1910 | Joseph S. Jenkins |
319 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Furnished rooms for rent |
321 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910–1915 | Mrs. Richard A. Brice & Family |
| 1910–1915 | Edna M. Brice |
322 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910 | Ella Elizabeth Glenn |
323 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890 | John J. Burleigh |
| 1920s–1938 | Francis D. Weaver |
325 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| Dr. Lettie Allen Ward (home and office) |
326 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s–1927 | Dr. Daniel Strock |
| Garrett Cowls | |
| Joseph Hamilton | |
| Kay Hamilton |
327 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s–1910s | Francis Ford Patterson Jr. |
| 1900–1926 | Francis "Frank" F. & Isabelle Patterson |
| 1900–1926 | Francis F. Patterson III |
| 1900–1926 | Robert L. Patterson |
| 1900–1926 | Isabelle Patterson |
| 1900–1926 | Mary Patterson |
| 1883–1899 | Dr. Alexander M. Mecray & Family |
329 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | William H. Sawyer (private detective) — 1955 NJ Bell Yellow Pages |
| 1955 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
330 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880s–1904 | Dr. William H. Ireland |
| 1880s–1904 | Loretta Ireland |
| 1863–1885 | John Morgan & Family |
| 1863–1885 | John & Caroline "Carrie" Morgan |
Related: Dr. Max Ruttenberg — 303 Cooper Street, 1933–1947.
Related: Bloom Apartments — 311 Cooper Street, opened 1928.
300–302 Cooper Street — February 7, 2004
300 & 302 Cooper Street. February 7, 2004.
302–312 Cooper Street, August 2004. Photo courtesy Craig Campbell.
Dr. Max Ruttenberg — 303 Cooper Street
Camden Courier-Post –
303 Cooper Street. February 7, 2004.
ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED
Dr. and Mrs. Max Ruttenberg, of 303 Cooper Street, have announced the engagement of Mrs. Ruttenberg’s sister, Miss Harriet Blieden, daughter of the late Rabbi and Mrs. Benjamin Blieden, of Philadelphia, to Max Kahener, of Philadelphia. Miss Blieden is a graduate of South Philadelphia High School for Girls and following attended Temple University. She is vice president of the South Philadelphia Hadassah. Mr. Kahener is a graduate of the Philadelphia Normal School, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the law school of Dickinson College. — Camden Courier-Post, June 15, 1933.
Dr. H. Genet Taylor — 305 Cooper Street
305 Cooper Street, the home of Dr. H. Genet Taylor & Family (1885–1959). February 7, 2004.
Emma Hyland & The Pierre Apartments — 306 Cooper Street
Emma Hyland, 306 Cooper Street, 1930s–1945.
306 Cooper Street — The Pierre Apartments. February 7, 2004.
Bloom Apartments — 311 Cooper Street
Camden Courier-Post –
311 Cooper Street — The Bloom Apartments. Completed and opened for business February 1928. Property developed and building erected by Segwyn Realty, Inc. — Dr. Meyer Segal, Meyer Wessel, Hyman Bloom. This building was known as Cooper Plaza Apartments in 1947.
BLOOM APARTMENTS / 311 Cooper St., Camden
OPEN for Inspection Sunday February 5th — “The future home of 34 families—see it to-day—you’ll want to live here.”
Rentals $40 to $75 Month
Home Features You’ll Like: Hardwood Floors • Frigidaire • Murphy Bed • Tiled Bath • Cabinet Gas Range • Plenty of Closets • Front Door Phone • Refuse Trap in Hall • Plenty of Windows • Artistic Lighting Fixtures • Locker Room in Basement • Janitor Service
Agent on Premises Daily — Camden Courier-Post, February 3, 1928.
300–312 Cooper Street — February 7, 2004
300–312 Cooper Street. February 7, 2004.
312 Cooper Street — Camden Republican Club & Red Cross
Camden Republican Club, 312 Cooper Street, 1914–1922.
312 Cooper Street — headquarters of the Camden County Red Cross. February 7, 2004.
201–311 Cooper Street — Aerial Photo, Late 1930s
Aerial photo showing 201 to 311 Cooper Street, late 1930s.
E. G. C. Bleakly — 318 Cooper Street
318 Cooper Street — the home of E. G. C. Bleakly, prominent Camden attorney, from the 1910s through the 1950s. Photograph published 1915.
319 Cooper Street — Furnished Rooms
Camden Courier-Post –
COOPER ST., 319—Attract. furn. rm. for gentleman. Mod. convs. Ideal loc. Ph. 728-W. — Camden Courier-Post, June 7, 1933.
John J. Burleigh & Francis D. Weaver — 323 Cooper Street
John J. Burleigh, 323 Cooper Street, 1890.
Francis D. Weaver, 323 Cooper Street, 1920s–1938.
Dr. Daniel Strock — 326 Cooper Street — February 7, 2004
326 Cooper Street. Home of Dr. Daniel Strock (1900s–1927). February 7, 2004. This building was razed in 2011 to accommodate Rowan University.
327 Cooper Street — Francis Ford Patterson Jr.
327 Cooper Street — home of Francis Ford Patterson Jr., 1900s–1910s.
323–329 Cooper Street
323, 325 & 329 Cooper Street.
327 & 329 Cooper Street.
323 to 329 Cooper Street, 300 Block.
Cooper Street Looking East from North 4th Street
Cooper Street looking east from North 4th Street — about 1910.
Cooper Street looking east from North 4th Street — February 7, 2004.
400 Block of Cooper Street
400 Cooper Street — Judge Mitchell H. Cohen Federal Building & Courthouse — February 7, 2004.
403 to 429 Cooper Street — February 7, 2004.
400 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical notes.
400 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1990s– | Judge Mitchell H. Cohen Federal Building & Courthouse |
403 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880s | Wilbur F. Rose |
| 1938 | George W. Johns |
| 1947 | Dr. Joseph E. Roberts Jr. |
| 1947 | Dr. Thomas M. Kain |
| 1947 | Dr. Thomas M. Kain Jr. |
405 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Dr. Paul Mecray |
| 1947 | Dr. Paul Mecray Jr. |
| 1947 | Dr. Albert H. Schaffer |
| 1947 | Dr. Walter A. Crist |
| 1947 | Dr. Alex Sochacki |
| 1947 | Dr. Saul S. Artis (dentist) |
| Dr. Sophia Presley |
406 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| Dr. A. Haines Lippincott Jr. | |
| Mrs. Miriam Lippincott |
407 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1916 | Jacob Elwell & Family |
| 1916 | Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Elwell |
| 1916 | Alice Elwell |
408 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929–1933 | Sarah Dollar |
| 1929–1933 | Dermot Dollar |
| 1931–1990s | Joseph H. Murray Funeral Home |
| 1911–1915 | John H. Dialogue Jr |
| 1916–1920s | Dr. J. Lynn Mahaffey & Family |
| 1916–1920s | Dr. J. Lynn & Alice Fogg Mahaffey |
| 1916–1920s | J. Lynn Mahaffey Jr. |
| 1916–1920s | Albert Mahaffey |
| 1916–1920s | Alice F. Mahaffey |
410 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929–1970s | Charles T. Murray (Murray Funeral Home) |
411 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1935–1936 | Mrs. Bertha Kephart Funeral Home |
412–414 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| mid-1920s | Camden Motorcycle Police |
| 1947 | Camden Medical Arts Building |
413 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | M. Tyler McNutt (realtor) |
| 1955 | Frank R. Buckman (prescription optician) |
| 1955 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
415 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887–1889 | Arthur Truscott |
| 1991 | Family Dental Association |
| 1938 | Joshua B. Franklin |
| 1960s | Morris E. Albert & Company |
417 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s | Dr. Henry H. Davis |
| 1940s–1950s | Thomas Murphy |
| 1964 | Family Dental Association |
419 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Gitomer & Company (real estate & insurance) |
| 1955 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
420 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Wilfred W. Fry Playground |
421 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1938 | Helen's Beauty Shoppe |
427 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| James S. White (residence) |
429 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1894 | Joseph J. Read & Family |
| Dr. Edward A.Y Schellenger Sr. | |
| Wolcott Patterson | |
| Dr. Edward A.Y Schellenger Jr. |
430 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church (also known as Centenary-Tabernacle ME Church) |
403 & 405 Cooper Street
403 & 405 Cooper Street — October 31, 2005.
403 Cooper Street: Wilbur F. Rose (1880s); Dr. Joseph E. Roberts Jr., Dr. Thomas M. Kain, Dr. Thomas M. Kain Jr. (1947).
405 Cooper Street — Dr. Sophia Presley
Dr. Sophia Presley — 405 Cooper Street.
405 & 407 Cooper Street — October 31, 2005. Also at 405: Dr. Paul Mecray, Dr. Paul Mecray Jr., Dr. Albert H. Schaffer, Dr. Walter A. Crist, Dr. Alex Sochacki, Dr. Saul S. Artis (dentist) — 1947.
406 Cooper Street — Dr. A. Haines Lippincott Jr.
Dr. A. Haines Lippincott Jr. & his wife Mrs. Miriam Lippincott — 406 Cooper Street. Photograph taken in 1978.
408 Cooper Street — Joseph H. Murray Funeral Home
Camden Courier-Post –
Little Bits of Wisdom… Garnered from the four corners of the earth
Every man is occasionally what he ought to be perpetually.
Jos. H Murray and Son / 408 Cooper St. and 114 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights / Camden 1460 – H’dn Hts 3300
Camden Courier-Post — October 15, 1931.
The Murray Funeral Home / 408 Cooper St. Camden / WOodlawn 3-1460 / Established 1902 — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages.
The Murray Funeral Home — 408 Cooper St. Camden — Camden Courier-Post, June 10, 1960.
Joseph H. Murray Funeral Home — Charles T. Murray, 1929–1970s. The funeral home used both 410 (at left) and 408 Cooper Street for business purposes. Photo taken in 1978. In the 1990s, these buildings were razed to make way for the Judge Mitchell Cohen Federal Courthouse.
407 to 429 Cooper Street — February 7, 2004
407 to 429 Cooper Street — February 7, 2004.
411 Cooper Street — Mrs. Bertha Kephart Funeral Home
411 Cooper Street — Mrs. Bertha Kephart Funeral Home (1935–1936) — October 31, 2005.
412–414 Cooper Street — Camden Motorcycle Police
Camden Motorcycle Police — 412–414 Cooper Street — mid-1920s.
412–414 Cooper Street — Camden Medical Arts Building (1947) — 1970s.
413 Cooper Street
413 Cooper Street — October 31, 2005.
M. Tyler McNutt / Realtor / 413 Cooper, Camden, N.J. / Residential Sales City & Suburban / Home – Farm & Business / Mortgages / Industrial Sites / Commercial Properties / WOodlawn 3-5510 — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages.
Frank R. Buckman / 413 Cooper St. Camden, N.J. / EMerson 5-2195 / Prescription Optician / Eyeglasses Expertly Styled & Fitted / Prescriptions For Eyeglasses Filled Accurately / Lenses – Frames Repaired & Replaced — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages.
413 & 415 Cooper Street — October 31, 2005.
415 Cooper Street — Family Dental Association
415 Cooper Street — Family Dental Association — 1991 Fire Watch Magazine Advertisement.
415 Cooper Street — Family Dental Association / Arthur Truscott (1887–1889) — 1991 Fire Watch Magazine Advertisement — October 31, 2005.
415, 417 & 419 Cooper Street — October 31, 2005.
417 Cooper Street — Richard C. Hardenbergh Agency
Camden Courier-Post –
RICHARD C. HARDENBERGH
Protect Your Family With Insurance
Fully Equipped to Survey all Your Insurance Needs and Geared to Write All Forms of Insurance.
Call WOodlawn 6-5250
Richard C. Hardenbergh Agency / 417 Cooper St. Camden, N.J. — Camden Courier-Post, May 19, 1964.
417 Cooper Street — Dr. Henry H. Davis (1920s), Thomas Murphy (1940s–1950s) — October 31, 2005.
419 Cooper Street — Gitomer & Company
419 Cooper Street — October 31, 2005.
Gitomer & Co / Residential – Commercial Real Estate / Insurance Service in All Forms / Auto – Fire – Marine – Casualty / 419 Cooper, Camden / EMerson 5-4994 — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages.
419 & 421 Cooper Street
419 & 421 Cooper Street — October 31, 2005.
421 Cooper Street — Helen’s Beauty Shoppe
421 Cooper Street — October 31, 2005.
Try Our Mid-Winter Special
Oil Permanent (Complete) $2.50
Helen’s Beauty Shoppe / 421 Cooper Street / Camden 1390 — Camden Courier-Post Advertisement, January 8, 1938.
425 & 427 Cooper Street
425 & 427 Cooper Street — October 31, 2005.
425, 427 & 429 Cooper Street
425, 427 & 429 Cooper Street — October 31, 2005.
427 Cooper Street — James S. White Residence
Architect’s Drawing — House for Mr. James S. White / 427 Cooper Street, Camden — Made for King Architects, 226 Walnut Street, Philadelphia PA.
427 & 429 Cooper Street — April 2003.
429 Cooper Street — Joseph J. Read & Family
Philadelphia Inquirer –
Professor Horatio Draper, principal of the High and Manual Training School of this city, wears a handsome gold watch and chain, the gift of the teachers of the Third district schools.
Philadelphia Inquirer — February 18, 1894. Residents at 429 Cooper Street in 1894: Joseph J. Read & Family, John R. Read.
429 Cooper Street — Joseph J. Read, Dr. Edward A.Y Schellenger Sr., Wolcott Patterson, Dr. Edward A.Y Schellenger Jr. — October 31, 2005.
430 Cooper Street — Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church
Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church (also known as Centenary-Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church) — 430 Cooper Street — as seen from the northwest corner of North 4th & Cooper Street — February 7, 2004.
Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church — as seen from the northeast corner of North 5th & Cooper Street.
Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church — as seen from the northeast corner of North 5th & Lawrence Street.
Hotel Plaza
500–512 Cooper Street — The Hotel Plaza.
The Hotel Plaza (also known as the Plaza Club Hotel) — 500–512 Cooper Street. Postcard circa 1935; postcard (early 1960s); April 7, 2004.
500 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical notes.
500–512 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| Hotel Plaza (also known as Plaza Club Hotel) |
501 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1940s–1950s | James M. O'Neil |
505 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1890s | Charles Cox |
| 1922 | Wilburforce Nash & Family |
| 1922 | Alan W. Nash |
509 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1927 | Remington & Vosbury Building (designed by Joseph N. Hettel Sr.) |
| 1955 | Nutter Real Estate |
511 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| pre-1887 | Dr. Joseph & Annie Beatty |
| after 1887 | Dr. Henry F. Hunt |
| 1900s–1910s | Dr. William A. Davis |
| 1906–1913 | William A. & Isabel M. Burrows Davis |
| 1906–1913 | Jean Davis |
| 1900s–1910s | Dr. Albert Davis |
513 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1977 | Fire Watch magazine commendation for Fr. Chuck Mayo, Ladder Co. 1 |
514 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1883–1890 | William T. Read Sr. |
| 1883–1934 | Lucretia Read |
| William T. Read Jr. | |
| Designed by Arthur Truscott |
515 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s–1910s | Dr. Paul Markley |
| 1927–1928 | Theosophical Society |
| 1910s–1920s | T. Yorke Smith |
516 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1917–1918 | Dr. William H. Pratt & Family |
| 1917–1918 | D. William H. & Maud G. Pratt |
517 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s–1910s | Dr. Byron Fortiner |
| 1970s–1980s | Dr. Robert Katz (optometrist) |
519 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1928 | Mary Jane Lovett (Camden High School yearbook) |
520 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Colonial House |
521 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Tommy Skymer |
| 1955 | Jerry's Beauty Salon |
522 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s–1936 | Dr. G. Russell Atkinson |
523 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Audiophone Company |
525 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1897 | Joseph Fearon Sr. |
| 1900s–1920s | Charles S. Boyer (residence) |
| 1939 | Madeline Palma (residence) |
| 1950s | Howard R. Yocum (lawyer) |
| 1940s–late 1970s | Frank F. Neutze Sr. |
526 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1922 | G. Dore Cogswell & Family |
| 1922 | G. Dore & Ida Cogswell |
527 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s–1910s | Judge Frank T. Lloyd |
| 1947 | Dr. William Lashman |
528 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| Frank M. Travaline Jr. |
530 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Health Sanitation Service Co. |
532 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1883 | Mrs. Mary Hugg |
| 1899 | Albert A. Howell & Family |
| 1899 | Albert A. & Maud Sparks Howell |
| 1910s–1920s | George W. Jessup |
| 1910s–1920s | Burleigh Draper |
| 1910s–1920s | T. Yorke Smith |
| 1955 | Camden Telephone Answering Service |
| 1955 | Hygienic Sanitation Co. (exterminators) |
| 1955 | Howard Fredericks Inc. (casters) |
534 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1901 | Sinnickson Chew |
| 1928 | Edwin Field Crane (Camden High School yearbook) |
538 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1892 | John Cheney House (designed by Arthur Truscott) |
| 1910s–1930s | Melbourne F. Middleton Jr. |
| 1938 | Pohle's Restaurant |
540 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1892 | Part of John Cheney Houses (designed by Arthur Truscott) |
| 1940s–1960s | Markeim-Chalmers Inc. |
| William T. Cahill | |
| Edward V. Martino | |
| John H. Reiners Jr. |
542 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1892 | Part of John Cheney Houses (designed by Arthur Truscott) |
544 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Weidler's Pharmacy |
Related: Hotel Plaza — 500–512 Cooper Street.
Related: 509 Cooper Street — Remington & Vosbury Building, 1927; designed by Joseph N. Hettel Sr.
Related: 511 Cooper Street — Dr. Henry F. Hunt; Dr. William A. Davis.
Related: Fr. Chuck Mayo — 513 Cooper Street, Fire Watch Spring 1977.
Related: 514 Cooper Street — Lucretia Read; designed by Arthur Truscott.
Related: 519 Cooper Street — Mary Jane Lovett, 1928.
Related: 525 Cooper Street — Frank F. Neutze Sr.
Related: 530 & 532 Cooper Street — 1892.
Related: 534 Cooper Street — Edwin Field Crane, 1928.
Related: Cheney Houses — 538, 540 & 542 Cooper Street, designed by Arthur Truscott, 1892.
501 & 505 Cooper Street
501 & 505 Cooper Street — April 17, 2004. 501: James M. O’Neil (1940s–1950s). 505: Charles Cox (1870s–1890s).
James M. O’Neil — 501 Cooper Street, 1940s–1950s.
509 Cooper Street
509 Cooper Street — 1927. Known as the Remington & Vosbury Building when erected, designed by prominent local architect Joseph N. Hettel Sr.
509 Cooper Street — Nutter Real Estate — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
505, 509 & 511 Cooper Street
505, 509 & 511 Cooper Street — April 17, 2004.
511 Cooper Street
511 Cooper Street — April 17, 2004. Home prior to 1887 of Dr. Joseph & Annie Beatty; after 1887 of Dr. Henry F. Hunt; 1900s–1910s: Dr. William A. Davis & son Dr. Albert Davis.
Fr. Chuck Mayo
Fire Watch — Spring, 1977
A TIP O’ THE HELMET TO” … Fr. Chuck Mayo of Ladder Co. 1, for his alertness and quick action in the prevention of serious injury and probable death to a brother member, while operating at 2nd Alarm-Box #1222, transmitted at 0348 hours on 2 January, 1977 for a fire located at 513 Cooper Street. Severely low temperatures and heavy icing conditions made roof level operations extremely hazardous. While working at roof level, atop the three-story fire building, another member slipped on an ice coated peaked roof above Chuck’s position, and began his downward slide toward, and inevitably over the edge. Fr. Mayo’s quick reflexes in grabbing the brother resulted in only a close call instead of a tragedy. A job well done.
Fire Watch magazine — Spring, 1977
514 Cooper Street
514 Cooper Street — April 17, 2004 (City Hall in background). William T. Read Sr. (1883–1890); Lucretia Read (1883–1934); William T. Read Jr. House designed by Arthur Truscott.
519 Cooper Street
519 Cooper Street — Mary Jane Lovett, 1928. Camden High School January 1928 Purple & Gold Yearbook.
520–524 Cooper Street
520–522 & 524 Cooper Street — April 17, 2004.
520 Cooper Street — Colonial House — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
521 Cooper Street — Jerry’s Beauty Salon — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad. Also at 521: Tommy Skymer (1947).
Dr. G. Russell Atkinson — 522 Cooper Street, 1920s–1936.
523 Cooper Street — Audiophone Company — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
524 Cooper Street — April 18, 2004.
525 Cooper Street
525 Cooper Street — Madeline Palma (residence, 1939). Also at 525: Charles S. Boyer (1900s–1920s).
Frank F. Neutze Sr. — 525 Cooper Street, 1940s–late 1970s.
524 & 530 Cooper Street
524 & 530 Cooper Street — April 17, 2004.
530 and 532 Cooper Street
530 & 532 Cooper Street — 1892.
530 Cooper Street — Health Sanitation Service Co. — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
532 Cooper Street — Camden Telephone Answering Service — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad. Also at 532: George W. Jessup (1910s–1920s); Burleigh Draper (1910s–1920s); T. Yorke Smith (1910s–1920s); Hygienic Sanitation Co. (1955); Howard Fredericks Inc. (1955).
534 Cooper Street
534 Cooper Street — Edwin Field Crane, 1928. Camden High School January 1928 Purple & Gold Yearbook.
534 to 500 Cooper Street looking west — 500 block with Hotel Plaza in background — February 7, 2004.
Cheney Houses — 538, 540 & 542 Cooper Street
The Cheney Houses at 538, 540, and 542 Cooper Street were designed in 1892 by architect Arthur Truscott.
538, 540, and 542 Cooper Street — The Cheney Houses, designed by Arthur Truscott, 1892.
Melbourne F. Middleton Jr. — 538 Cooper Street, residence 1910s–1930s.
Pohle’s Restaurant — 538 Cooper Street — June 22, 1938 — Camden Courier-Post Newspaper Ad.
540 Cooper Street — Markeim-Chalmers, Inc. — Camden Courier-Post, May 19, 1964. Also at 540: William T. Cahill; Edward V. Martino; John H. Reiners Jr.
544 Cooper Street
544 Cooper Street — Weidler’s Pharmacy — 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
500 Block Looking West from North 6th Street — 1892
Cooper Street — looking west from North 6th Street — 1892. Left side: the building with the conical roof is 538 Cooper Street; 604 Cooper at far left; also visible: 544, 542, 540, 538, 534, and 532 Cooper. Right: the first building at far right is 605 Cooper Street.
600 Block of Cooper Street — Looking West from 626 Cooper Street
Postcard — About 1907
Left side of street: The building with the conical roof is 538 Cooper Street. The building at far left is 604 Cooper Street. Also visible is 544, 542, 540, 538, 534, and 532 Cooper. Right: The first building at far right is 605 Cooper Street.
600 Block of Cooper Street — Photos
601 Cooper Street — Meisel Tire Company. Camden Courier-Post, August 2, 1933.
605 Cooper Street — The William Scull House, as early as 1887 to at least 1947.
605 Cooper Street — 1880s–1900s, William S. Scull & Family (Boscul Coffee). Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1900.
608 Cooper Street, December 2002.
601 Cooper Street — W.W. Fairweather Optical Company. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
603 Cooper Street — South Jersey Sporting Goods Co., Pat Bendetta. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
622 Cooper Street — George Robeson & Son, realtors. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
625 Cooper Street — Flowers By Hayes, S. H. Hayes. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
626 Cooper Street — Cyrus H.K. Curtis, 1890–1894.
626 Cooper Street — 1894, Cyrus H.K. Curtis. Philadelphia Inquirer, February 18, 1894.
627 Cooper Street.
627 & 633 Cooper Street — 627 Cooper, designed by Arthur Truscott, for his brother, J. Lynn Truscott. Howard M. Cooper lived at 633 Cooper Street in the 1890s. H.B. Hanford & Alice Hanford, 1890s–1920s.
634–640 Cooper Street — Kirk’s Atlantic Service. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
639 Cooper Street — Benjamin C. Reeve, 1870s–1880s.
600 block of Cooper Street, looking toward 7th Street, about 1925.
639 Cooper Street — Camden Lodge 293, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, under construction 1920s–1930s. The LEAP Academy, 2002–2006.
639 Cooper Street — Camden Lodge 293, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, construction photo published 1925; photo published 1928. Building designed by Joshua C. Jefferis, architect.
Northwest Corner of Broadway & Cooper Street
The Terminal Block — 1947–2000
Built on land that had been occupied in part by 605 and 611 Cooper Street.
The Terminal Block, northwest corner of Broadway & Cooper Street, 1947–2000. Camden Courier-Post, December 1947.
Prior to the early 1920s Broadway stopped at Market Street, and Cooper Street was uninterrupted between North 6th and North 7th Streets. 617 Cooper Street was acquired by the Community Hotel Corporation and then sold to the City of Camden so that North Broadway could be completed through to the bridge plaza. Construction of the Hotel Walt Whitman, the First Camden National Bank & Trust Building, the Wilson Building soon followed. The Terminal Block on the northwest corner came later, after World War II.
Southeast of Broadway & Cooper Street
The Wilson Building at Broadway & Cooper Street. Weitzman Liquors in The Wilson Building & 622 Cooper Street, 2003.
611–633 Cooper Street
Northeast Corner of Broadway & Cooper Street
The Hotel Walt Whitman & Annex
Left: The Hotel Walt Whitman, 1933. Right: The Hotel Walt Whitman, 1950s. Elks Home, now The LEAP Academy, at far right.
Northeast Corner of Broadway & Cooper Street — Camden County College Urban Extension Campus, 2004.
600 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical residents of the 600 block of Cooper Street, Camden, NJ.
601 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Meisel Tire Company |
| 1955 | W.W. Fairweather Optical Company |
603 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | South Jersey Sporting Goods Co. — Pat Bendetta |
605 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887–1947 | The William Scull House — William S. Scull & Family |
606 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920–1924 | Dr. Wesley J. Barrett & Family |
| 1920–1924 | Dr. Wesley & Sarah Barrett |
| 1920–1924 | Frances Barrett |
| 1920–1924 | Ruth Barrett |
| 1920–1924 | Grace Barrett |
608 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Listed in city directory |
610 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910s | Charles Stockham |
611 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1880s | George Genge Browning — Dye Factory |
| 1889–1890s | John T. Bottomley — President, Camden Woolen Mills |
618 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1890s | Malcolm MacDonald — Lawyer |
| 1900s–1920s | Belford G. Royal |
622 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | George Robeson & Son — realtors |
| 2003 | Weitzman Liquors in The Wilson Building |
625 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1946–1947 | Walt Whitman Flower Shop — Evelyn Odlen |
| 1955 | Flowers By Hayes |
| 1955 | S. H Hayes |
626 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890–1894 | Cyrus H.K. Curtis |
627 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1925 | Designed by Arthur Truscott for J. Lynn Truscott |
631 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | International Business Machines Corporation |
633 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890s | Howard M. Cooper |
| 1890s–1920s | H.B. Hanford & Alice Hanford |
634–640 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Kirk's Atlantic Service |
638 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1887 | George K. Johnson — Umbrella Manufacturer |
| 1887–1890s | Isaac Z. Collings — Carriage Builder |
639 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1880s | Benjamin C. Reeve |
| 1920s–1930s | Camden Lodge 293, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks |
| 2002–2006 | The LEAP Academy |
700 Block of Cooper Street — 701 to 721 Cooper Street, 1967
701 to 721 Cooper Street, 1967.
700 Block of Cooper Street — Photos
708, 702 & 700 Cooper Street and the intersection of North 7th Street & Cooper Street. This photograph was taken before 1926, shown by the fact that the Wilson Building at Broadway and Cooper Street had not been erected and is not to be seen. 708 Cooper Street is at the extreme left of this photograph.
708 Cooper Street — Joseph H. Forsyth.
117 Rooms—Furnished
BENSON ST., 572—(½ sq Broadway) Nicely furn. rooms, $3 up. Phone 5328-W.
BROADWAY, 1404—1 or 2 r., furn. for light hskpg. or lodging. Convs. Reas. Ap. Rm. 4
BROADWAY, 1439—Ideal loc., summer or winter. Large light rms., hskpg. privl.
CENTRAL LOCATION—Furn. or unfurn. rms., light hskpg. Apply 586 Benson St.
CHAMBERS AVE., 412—Near Cooper Hospital. 2 hskpg. rms., furn. Very reas.
COOPER ST., 319—Attract. furn. rm. for gentleman. Mod. convs. Ideal loc. Ph. 728-W.
COOPER ST., 712—Large des. furn. room, $3. Suit. 2. Also single room. Ideal loc.
COOPER ST., 1014—First floor rooms for light housekeeping or lodging. Adults; $2
COOPER ST., 1046—Nicely furn. rooms, lodging or light hskpg. Elec. and gas.
FRONT ST., N.—Newly renov. bedroom & kitchen, sink, $3 up. Apply 53 Penn St.
HADDON AVE., 554—Clean, cozy front rm., light hskpg. All convs. Ph. 3874-R.
HADDON AVE., 866—Nicely furn. room. All convs. Gentleman pref. $2.50 week.
KAIGHN AVE., 401—Furn. hskpg. suite, 3 rms. & bath. Light & gas incl. $6 wk.
715 Cooper Street — 1920s–1960s, Schroeder Funeral Home. Bernhard F. Schroeder & Bernhard C. Schroeder.
715 Cooper Street — Schroeder Funeral Home, Bernhard F. Schroeder & Bernhard C. Schroeder. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
715 Cooper Street — Schroeder Funeral Home. Camden Courier-Post Ad, July 17, 1967.
715, 717, 719 & 721 Cooper Street, July 1965.
721 Cooper Street, July 7, 1965.
726 & 728 Cooper Street — John F. Harned, 1889–1920s. Photo from the 1970s.
700 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical residents of the 700 block of Cooper Street, Camden, NJ.
700 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1880s | Benjamin Starr |
| 1887–1917 | Richard Henry Reeve |
| 1887–1890s | Augustus H. Reeve |
701 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1888 | Gerard R. Vogels |
701-703 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1959 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
| 1947 | American Oil Company |
703 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1880s | Benjamin C. Reeve |
708 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s | Joseph H. Forsyth |
711 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880s | Samuel H. Grey |
| 1910 | Charles A. Reynolds |
| 1910 | Charles A. & Emma E. Reynolds |
| 1910 | Elizabeth Reynolds |
| 1910 | George W. Reynolds |
| 1910 | Gertrude C. Reynolds |
712 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887–1890s | Samuel H. Grey — lawyer, president, West Jersey Title and Guaranty Co. |
| 1887–1890s | Jeremiah Steelman |
| 1933 | Furnished Rooms |
715 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1880s | John Cooper — vice-president, Camden National Bank |
| 1870s–1889 | Howard M. Cooper — lawyer |
| 1910s–1920s | William Cooper |
| 1920s–1960s | Schroeder Funeral Home |
| 1920s–1960s | Bernhard F. Schroeder |
| 1920s–1960s | Bernhard C. Schroeder |
| 1955 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
717 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1900s | Frank B. Middleton |
719 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887–1890 | Alexander Boardman — Real Estate |
| 1887–1889 | Amos Cooper |
721 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887–1890 | George Genge Browning |
| 1887–1890 | Browning Brothers Dye Works |
| 1890s–1900s | George Pfeiffer Jr. |
| 1933 | Dr. James E. Rodger |
726 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887–1889 | Horace M. Sharp |
| 1887–1889 | Charles W. Sharp |
| 1955 | Greater Camden Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society |
| 1938–1941 | R.E. Gebbie |
728 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1889–1920s | John F. Harned |
Cooper Street Looking West from 8th Street
Postcard mailed
Cooper Street, looking west from 8th Street. Postcard mailed October 10, 1906. The house on left is 804 Cooper Street.
800 Block of Cooper Street — Photos
804 Cooper Street — This home, at left, was built by real estate developer and builder Edward N. Cohn. Photo from 1893. David Baird Sr. had acquired the house by 1900, and lived there until his death. David Baird Jr. lived there until October of 1936.
900 Cooper Street — All the even-numbered homes in the 900 block of Cooper Street were destroyed on July 30, 1940 when the R.M. Hollingshead factory was destroyed by an explosion and fire.
807 Cooper Street — 1919, Frederick Himmelein & Family. Philadelphia Inquirer, June 22, 1919. Razed in early 1920s. The Elks building was erected on this site in May of 1926.
817 Cooper Street — Camden Credit Association / Credit Bureau Reports Inc. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
811 Cooper Street — Holl Funeral Service, Arthur H. Holl & Earl B. Holl. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
800 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical residents of the 800 block of Cooper Street, Camden, NJ. Built by 1887.
801 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Dr. Joel B. Cunningham |
804 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1893 | Built by Edward N. Cohn |
| 1900–1920s | David Baird Sr. |
| 1920s–1936 | David Baird Jr. |
805 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910s–1920s | Dr. John W. Donges |
| 1947 | Dr. David L. Andrus |
807 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1919 | Frederick Himmelein & Family — Razed in early 1920s |
| 1926–1947 | Camden Lodge 293, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks |
| 1912–1943 | Frederick Himmelein Jr. & Family |
810 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910 | Charles S. Elfreth |
811 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Holl Funeral Service |
| 1955 | Arthur H. Holl & Earl B. Holl |
| 1955 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
814 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1950s | Esso Servicemaster Gas Station |
817 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1950s | Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners |
| 1955 | Camden Credit Association — Credit Bureau Reports Inc. |
819 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1936 | George Clark |
| 1940s–1950s | Harry A. Louderbach — Real Estate |
| 1947 | Harry A. Louderbach |
| 1922 | Charles Elfreth & Family |
| 1922 | Charles & Mary A. Elfreth |
| 1957 | William P. Fish |
821 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Mrs. Edna Knehr & Harry J. Mitchell |
| 1947–1950 | Charles J. Ball |
| 1947 | Mrs. Edna Knehr |
| 1947 | Harry J. Mitchell |
840 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s–1955 | R.M. Hollingshead Corporation |
MAN JAILED 3 MONTHS IN THEFT OF WATCH
Camden Courier-Post —
Charged with the larceny of a watch belonging to Albert L. Hawkins, of Collingswood; John H. Evans, 64, of 2117 Sherman Avenue, was sentenced to three months in jail Saturday by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast.
Hawkins, who is a painter, said he was at work Thursday on the second floor of a vacant house at 805 Cooper Street, when he saw a man come in and take the watch from his trousers, which he had left downstairs.
Hawkins recognized Evans’ picture in the rogues gallery and police arrested the man. Detective Clifford Carr testified Evans has been arrested a number of times on larceny charges.
900 Block of Cooper Street — Photos
914 Cooper Street — 1940, John “Pete” Brecker & Kathryn Simon. Picture taken in the aftermath of the Hollingshead fire. Camden Police Detectives Vernon Jones (Left) and George Weber (center) return jewelry and cash recovered from home to Miss Simon, sister of Mrs. Brecker.
920 Cooper Street — 1955–1957, Arrow Garage. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
920 Cooper Street — Camden Courier-Post, December 12, 1957. Clifford Del Rossi, Howard L. James, Fogarty Avenue.
921 Cooper Street — Joseph E. Nowrey Sr., 1910s–1930s.
WILLIAM DICKINSON
Camden Courier-Post —
William Dickinson, 68, of 931 Cooper Street died today in Cooper Hospital. A lifelong resident of Camden, he had operated a garage and automobile repair business for the past 50 years.
Surviving are his wife, Lena H.; two daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Heller, of Clementon; Miss Mary Dickinson, of Camden; a sister, Miss Marie Dickinson, of Philadelphia, and two grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday in the Murray Funeral Home, 408 Cooper Street. Burial will be in Harleigh Cemetery. There will be no viewing.
Students Return To Spend Summer Vacation Home
Camden Courier-Post —
Leon F. Rittenhouse of 1557 Bradley Avenue, is leaving today for California, where he will continue his study of medicine. Mr. Rittenhouse was a graduate from Washington Missionary College, in the national capital on Monday.
Two of the Wilfred W. Frys’ children were graduated at schools in New York and Massachusetts, this past weekend and today. Tonight Miss Eleanor Fry will be graduated from the Emma Willard School at Troy, New York Last week Wilfred W. Fry, II, was graduated from Mt. Hermon School, Mt. Hermon, Massachusetts.
Henry J. Bowes Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Bowes of Merchantville, spent last week in Annapolis, Maryland, where he took entrance examinations for the United States Naval Academy. He was graduated last week from Valley Forge Military Academy, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Miss Helen Pratt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Byron Pratt of 213 North Fourth Street, has returned from Bucknell University for the Summer.
Miss Eleanor Holman of 108 North Fourth Street and Miss Betty Dickinson of 931 Cooper Street, have returned to their respective homes for the Summer. They are attending Syracuse University.
Miss Frances Snyder of 331 North Forty-first street, was graduated at Syracuse this month.
Miss Dickinson, Leighton Heller In Engagement
Camden Courier-Post —
Mr. and Mrs. William Dickinson, of 931 Cooper Street, announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss M. Elizabeth Dickinson, to Mr. Leighton J. Heller, son of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Heller, of 50 Fulton Avenue, Clementon.
Miss Dickinson was graduated from Syracuse University and is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She was formerly a member of the faculty at Camden High School. Mr. Heller is a graduate of Dickinson College and Law School and is a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He recently received an honorable discharge from the U. S. Army after serving for two and one-half years in India.
HARRY A. WILLE
Camden Courier-Post —
Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Monday for Harry A. Wille, 55, of 933 Cooper Street, who died yesterday after a short illness. Burial will be in Harleigh Cemetery. Mr. Wille, who was born here, was employed in the upholstery department of the J. B. Van Sciver Co.. He is survived by his widow, Ida, and a son, Henry C. Wille, 3rd, of Camden.
MICHAEL BENSON
Camden Courier-Post —
The funeral of Michael Benson, 52, of 939 Cooper Street, who died Tuesday, will be held at 8 a. m. Saturday, at 2850 Federal street. Mass will be held at 9 a. m., at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery. Mr. Benson is survived by a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Sidell, with whom he lived, and a brother. He was a son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth Benson.
900 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical residents of the 900 block of Cooper Street, Camden, NJ. Built by 1887. Even-numbered homes on the south side were destroyed when the R.M. Hollingshead factory exploded and burned on July 30, 1940.
901 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s–1910s | Dr. William Moslander |
| 1910s–1940s | Mrs. Anna Moslander |
902 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Murray L. Serotikin |
| 1891–1923 | Charles W. Cox & Family |
| 1891–1923 | Charles W. & Rachel "Ray" Cox |
909 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910s–1930s | George W. Whyte |
914 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1940 | John 'Pete' Brecker & Kathryn Simon |
| 1940 | Mr. & Mrs. Brecker |
| 1940 | John "Pete" Brecker |
916 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1940 | Mrs. Sue K. Devenny |
917 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920–1923 | Lewis Clark & Family (wallpaper & window shades) |
| 1920–1923 | Lewis & Carrie Clark |
920 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955–1957 | Arrow Garage |
| 1955 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
921 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910s–1930s | Joseph E. Nowrey Sr. |
922 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1917–1940 | A. Lincoln James & Family |
| 1917–1940 | Lizzie James |
| 1917–1940 | Anna May James Walz |
924 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930s | Mrs. Chester D. Van Duyn |
| 1930 | Mrs. Chester D. Van Duyn |
928 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1891–1898 | Anson H. Kelly & Family |
| 1891–1898 | Anson H. & Katherine Mathews Kelley |
| 1891–1898 | Anson Kelley |
931 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924–1958 | William Dickinson & Family — William, Mgdalene, Elizabeth, Mary, Marie Dickinson |
| 1924–1958 | William Dickinson |
| 1932 | Elizabeth "Betty" Dickinson |
| 1933 | Elizabeth "Betty" Dickinson |
| 1945 | Betty Dickinson |
| 1901 | Theodore Lynn & Family |
| 1901 | Theodore & Rosella Lynn |
| 1901 | Theodore J. Lynn |
932 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Alfred Shaefer |
933 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910 | Charles S. Elfreth |
| 1920s–1933 | Harry Wille |
| 1920s–1960s | Henry C. Wille 3rd — attorney |
| 1933–1947 | Mrs. Ida Wille |
934 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1880s | J. Willard Morgan |
| 1880s–1890s | J. Eugene Troth — Lawyer |
935 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1942 | Earl W. Vansant & Family (Camden Fire Department) |
| 1942 | Edna Vansant (sister) |
939 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Michael Benson & Mrs. Elizabeth Sidell |
| 1933 | Michael Benson |
| 1933 | Mrs. Elizabeth Sidell |
940 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1917 | H.E. Norris |
| 1918–1923 | J. Wallace Getsinger & Family |
| 1918–1923 | J. Wallace & Kate Getsinger |
941 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Joseph R. Hendricks — cleaners |
| 1955 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
943 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880s–1940s | Bethany Methodist Episcopal Church |
1000 Block of Cooper Street — Photos
1028 Cooper Street — 1903–1904, Louis DeLisle & Family. New York Times, January 2, 1904.
1030 Cooper Street — 1906, William Knight. Philadelphia Inquirer, January 8, 1907.
1035 Cooper Street — 1933, Norfleet Saunders. Camden Courier-Post, June 9, 1933.
Mrs. McConaghy at Atlantic City
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Thomas P. McConaghy, of Tenth and Cooper Streets, this city, is registered at Chalfonte-Haddon Hall, Atlantic City.
My Father, Harry Molotsky, had a grocery store called Harry’s Red Front Market at 1048 Cooper Street. I am not sure what year he purchased the property, but it was in the 1940s. I was born in 1945 and my brother, Allan, in 1948. We lived behind the store until 1951 when we moved to East Camden at 420 South 30th Street.
My father kept the business until the early 1960’s when he had cataract surgery and the state took the property. Dad then worked for Two Guys in the deli department for many years before retiring. It was nice that he had normal working hours. My parents started taking vacations which they had not been able to do before.
My father had a young man delivering groceries by bicycle. He let people buy groceries on credit. We never had to go grocery shopping as he always took home necessities and treats from the store. Since we kept kosher, we had to get our meat from the kosher butcher even though my father sold meat. He always had a butcher whose name was Warren Peaches. His son taught me how to drive.
Father’s parents had a grocery store at 6th and Elm Street. My aunt and uncle, Sam and Esther, had a grocery at 9th and Pearl if I remember correctly. A cousin of my dad, Abe Molotsky had a dry goods store, but I can’t remember the location (442–444 North 8th Street—PMC).
— Lois Cohen, October 2007
1000 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical residents of the 1000 block of Cooper Street, Camden, NJ. Built by 1887.
1000 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1913 | Mrs. WIlliam Calhoun |
| 1919–1962 | Howard D. Emery & Family |
| 1919–1962 | Howard D. & Augusta Emery |
| 1919–1962 | Carolyn Emery |
| 1919–1962 | Maurice Emery |
| 1919–1962 | Howard D. Emery Jr. |
| 1919–1962 | Frederick Emery |
| 1919–1962 | Augusta Emery |
1008 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1911–1922 | James Nettleton & Family |
| 1911–1922 | James & Mary Ann Coleman Nettleton |
| 1911–1922 | Catherine Nettleton |
| 1911–1922 | Agnes Nettleton |
| 1911–1922 | William Nettleton |
1011 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900–1907 | George H. Gomersall & Family |
| 1900–1907 | George H. & Harriet Gomersall |
| 1900–1907 | George W. Gomersall |
1014 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Furnished Rooms |
1016 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930s–1940s | Technical Sergeant Peter D. Wright |
1017 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s–1930s | Dr. Thomas P. McConaghy |
1028 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1903–1904 | Louis DeLisle & Family |
1029 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1903–1904 | Edward Rice |
1030 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | William Knight |
| 1897 | Edward Frank Sherman |
1033 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s–1930s | George M. Beringer Jr |
| — | George M. Beringer III |
1035 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Norfleet Saunders |
1045 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s–1930s | Charles J. Ball |
| 1930s–1950s | Bass Self Service Market |
| 1930s–1950s | Morris Bass & Family |
| 1930s–1950s | Morris & Mary Bass |
| 1930s–1950s | Kenneth Bass |
| 1930s–1950s | Herman Bass |
| 1930s–1950s | Jack Bass |
| 1930s–1950s | Edith Bass |
1046 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887–1888 | Edmund Tydeman Family |
| — | Vincent A. Tydeman |
| 1933 | Furnished Rooms |
| 1947 | Mrs. Elizabeth Gosling Mahoney |
1048 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1940s–1960s | Harry's Red Front Market — Harry Molotsky, meats |
1100 Block of Cooper Street — Photos
1108 Cooper Street — 1922, David Batchelor & Family — David & Blanche Batchelor. Philadelphia Inquirer, October 7, 1922.
1117 Cooper Street — Private Anthony J. Flemming, 1920s–1930s.
1126 Cooper Street — 1947–1957, Robert Booker. Camden Courier-Post, December 19, 1957.
1143 Cooper Street — Wilson’s Daily Express. New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory, 1936.
1152 Cooper Street — 1899, Howard Snyder. Philadelphia Inquirer, November 12, 1889.
1161 Cooper Street — 1910s–1930s, William H. Johnson & Family. Robert Burk Johnson.
1163 Cooper Street — 1955, Wire & Metal Products Inc. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
1171 Cooper Street — 1947–1955, Towmotor Corporation, forklifts. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
‘NUMBERS’ SUSPECT FREED IN $100 BAIL
Camden Courier-Post —
Suspected by the police of being a “numbers’ writer, Clinton Gilchrist, 25, colored, of 1153 Cooper Street, was held in $100 bail by Acting Police Judge James Smith yesterday for a further hearing next Tuesday.
Gilchrist who is charged with operating a “numbers” lottery was arrested Thursday in an automobile at Eleventh and Cooper streets by Detective Lieutenant Louis Shaw and Detective Clarence Arthur.
In Gilchrist’s possession, the detectives say they found some “numbers” slips and “loose coins.”
1100 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical residents of the 1100 block of Cooper Street, Camden, NJ. Built by 1887.
1108 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1922 | David Batchelor & Family |
| 1922 | David & Blanche Batchelor |
1117 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s–1930s | Private Anthony J. Flemming |
| 1930 | Joseph Flemming & Family |
| 1930 | Joseph & Alice Flemming |
1124 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1897–1898 | Benjamin Middleton |
| 1924 | Charles Gladney |
| 1929 | Felisher & Rosa Beasley — John Beasley, Walter Beasley |
| 1929 | Felisher & Rosa Beasley |
| 1929 | John Beasley |
| 1929 | Walter Beasley |
1126 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947–1957 | Robert Booker |
1127 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880s | John Sylvester Kellum |
| 1900s–1920s | George R. Serfling Sr. |
1140 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890s–1900s | George R. Serfling Sr. |
| 1947 | Clinton Gilchrist — Confectioner |
1143 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1936 | Wilson's Daily Express |
| 1947 | No Listing |
1144 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Clinton Gilchrist — residence |
| 1961 | Luther H. Collier |
1145 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s–1940s | Ray R. Adams — truckdriver |
1152 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1899 | Howard Snyder |
| 1903 | James Durkin |
1153 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Clinton Gilchrist |
1161 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910s–1930s | William H. Johnson & Family |
| 1910s–1930s | Robert Burk Johnson |
1163 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1906 | John Hibbert & Family |
| 1870s–1906 | John & Elizabeth Hibbert |
| 1870s–1906 | William Hibbert |
| 1955 | Wire & Metal Products Inc. |
| 1955 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
1169 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Edward Richards — Tires |
1171 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947–1955 | Towmotor Corporation — forklifts |
| 1955 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
1900 Block of Cooper Street — Photos
1999 Cooper Street — 1955–1990s, United Fabricators Company. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
1900 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical residents of the 1900 block of Cooper Street (East Camden), Camden, NJ. Built by 1887. Most houses were razed by April 1930.
1987 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Thomas Fitzpatrick — Razed by April 1930 |
1988 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Frank R. Ware |
| 1933 | The Olsen Family |
| 1947 | Samuel R. & Elsie Sailer |
1989 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Listed in city directory — Razed by April 1930 |
1991 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924 | John J. McGinnis — Razed by April 1930 |
1993 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924 | John Koehler — Razed by April 1930 |
1995 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Mrs. Sophie Beck & Mrs. Madeline Pearce — Razed by April 1930 |
1997 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Mrs. Lulu Nellett — Razed by April 1930 |
1999 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910s–1920s | W.W. Ross |
| 1924 | Theron C. Nellett |
| 1920s | Everett W. Staley |
| 1955–1990s | United Fabricators Company |
2000 Block of Cooper Street — Photos
2000 Cooper Street — 1933–1959, George Ware & Family — George B. & Laura Ware, George V. Ware. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
2014 Cooper Street — 1920s, John Lemmons. Camden Courier-Post, February 16, 1928.
2024 Cooper Street — 1906–1910s, Melvin & Nettie Gleason, Lester A. Gleason. 1930s, Tom & Dorothy Agin Family. 1947, Theo T. & Margaret Stone.
2000 Block of Cooper Street
Side view looking West from across State Street — late 1970s
Photos by Floyd Agin.
Left: The grocery store at 53 East State Street, known as Handleton’s 1930s–1960s. 2024 Cooper Street is at right, in the background. Right: 2000 Block Cooper Street as seen from East State Street. Bottom left: 2024 and 2022 Cooper Street. Bottom right: 2000 Block Cooper Street as seen from North 20th Street.
Cooper Street, looking west from East State Street, October 1, 2003. The first house on left is 2024 Cooper Street — the home of the Agin family during the 1930s.
Camden Courier-Post — August 1, 1936
12th Ward Club Sends Request to Hartmann; Suggests WPA Project
The Twelfth Ward Democratic Club has requested City Commissioner Frank J. Hartmann, Jr., to repair seven streets in the first precinct of the ward.
Recommendations for the fixing of the highways were made by Bernard J. Tracy, Democratic county committeeman of the ward, and unanimously adopted by the club, according to William A. Miller, secretary. The club meets at 2716 Federal street.
Commissioner Hartmann said he will give the request immediate consideration and will order an inspection of the streets. “Not only will I look at those streets,” said Hartmann, “but I will make an inspection of others in the immediate vicinity, and then will see what can be worked out. I am just as anxious as anybody to have the streets in first class condition, and we will see to it that Camden has streets worthy looking upon as improvement.”
When I first lived on Cooper Street it was 2 blocks long and unpaved. It was covered with black slag. At the end of the street there began a huge empty lot of many acres that had pure yellow sand just like an ocean beach. Nowhere else in the area was there anything like it. It was bounded by 19th Street, Federal Street, the railroad and the Haddon Bindery.
The Haddon Bindery is memorable for two reasons. One is that it supplied me with broken wooden skids which we used for heat and cooking. And the linotypists would give us kids lead slugs which we converted into lead soldiers. Just beyond the Haddon Bindery was the Mumsey Candy Factory which was always good for a handout.
I enjoyed reading [on www.dvrbs.com] about Warren Buck. For years I thought perhaps he was a figment of my imagination since no one else seems to have heard of him.
I grew up on little Cooper Street just a few blocks from Buck’s menagerie. I never heard of Stockton Park. We merely crossed Federal Street at 19th to what was referred to in my neighborhood as Hell’s Half Acre, namely Carman Street and environs. Then about a half mile up a dirt road to where only two large houses stood. One was the Fitzpatrick house and the other was Warren Buck’s. Like most people I thought he was Frank Buck’s brother. It was great to see the animals—gorillas, pythons, and everything in between. Spreading rumors to the women of the neighborhood that this or that animal had escaped was great sport.
A little further up the road was the swamp and city dump. Beyond that was the world’s first Drive-In Movie. We would stop at the swamp and cut cattails to take to the movie where we would light them to keep the mosquitoes away. Since we kids couldn’t afford to go in we would sit out on a small rise that gave us a perfect view of the screen. Sound was no problem since they had large loud speakers mounted on poles around the periphery, in-car speakers had yet to be invented. Also, I remember a Dog Race Track at Airport Circle that no one else seems to recall.
Thinking back to the 30’s there were horses in the neighborhood every day. The milkman, breadman, iceman, the ragmen collecting junk, even at times coal was delivered this way. There was even a miniature circus wagon pulled by a pony from which the guy sold waffles made on a gasoline stove on board. I can’t remember ever having a nickel to buy one but we kids enjoyed seeing them all the same. As each horse drove through we kids would run all over and pull grass to feed them.
I don’t know anyone who grew up in East Camden that doesn’t have fond memories of those times.
— Tom Agin
I attended St. Joseph’s. My brothers attended Dudley School, as did my playmates. They often spoke of their teachers. One in particular was a Miss Little. If I am correct Miss Little taught 6th grade at the time. She taught them a song called, “When I Grow Too Old To Dream, (I’ll have you to remember).” My friend sang the song to me so much. I loved it. The reason I mention it is; she is the one who learned it but I was the one who loved and always remembered it, along with Miss Little whom I never knew.
I guess one of my earliest recollections is walking to school and crossing 21st and Federal Street. Right on the corner we kids would stop and look in as the Blacksmith worked on the horse’s shoes. I can still see the man’s helmet which came down over his eyes to protect them from the flying sparks as he worked on the horses’ shoes. I never knew the name of the place.
I walked past The Black Cat Diner, Bill Grahams Tap Room, then a little candy store came next which sat on the corner. This is 21st. Across the small street on the corner sat the blacksmith. 21st did not run on the south side of Federal Street. On the other side of Federal Street across from the blacksmith sat Penn Jersey Auto Store, later a Pep Boys, which sat on the point, as Marlton Pike came in there.
I went to school with and lived next door to Cass Hanley. If two little girls were to roam today the way Cass and I did then — we would not be here to tell about it and I might add we love most of our memories.
Next door to Cass lived Mr. and Mrs. MacIntosh. Cass & I went to Mr. MacIntosh’s funeral. We always remembered it as it was a military honor. They gave him a 21 gun salute.
I would be remiss to share the pictures of the corner house which is 2024 Cooper Street without paying tribute to the “one person” who left its memory a shrine within the hearts of her children. Our beloved mother, Dorothy Agin. During the Depression, most of the homes on the “other” Cooper Street were owned by a Mrs. Brock. She was a very kind and compassionate lady. My father, Tom Agin, was a “Jack-of-all-trades.” Mrs. Brock engaged him to attend to the maintenance of her properties. In time she sold them to Mrs. Yost.
Of course tenants changed frequently. More than likely everyone rented. A few houses had inside bathrooms. Most had outhouses. Also there were no furnaces in the cellars. Most had electric. We, along with a few others, did not. In the winter time the stove was on which made cooking ready to prepare. In the summer the fire had to be made. First the paper—then the wood. Wow!
The “world came to an end” for us, when in 1940 we were evicted. We then moved to 624 Carman Street, right off of Broadway, not far from the City Hall. My mothers failing health and difficult life ended in May, 1941. Our life as a family had come to a close.
— Harriet Lynne Agin Stuhltrager
East Camden’s Cooper Street about 1933
| House | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The Olsen Family | Many others through the years |
| 2000 | George B. & Laura Ware | Children Bob, Dorothy & Lorraine |
| 2002 | Sam & Minnie Wishnaff | Josephine |
| 2004 | Edward S. & Nellie Harding | |
| 2006 | Norman & Agnes Stinger | Children Agnes, Norman, Myrtle & Pearl |
| 2008 | Ray Lentz | Two little boys |
| 2010 | Lou & Catherine Simpson | Children Ruth & Louie; Catherine’s mother, everyone called her Aunt Annie. She baked pies & took them down to the Haddon Press & sold them. |
| 2012 | William B. & Pearl C. Read | Children Katie (married) and Bill |
| 2014 | Mr. & Mrs. Owens | Son Johnny. He had the greatest bicycle ever, Black & Silver. |
| 2016 | Albert S. & Viola A. Ruebeck | |
| 2018 | Anna Miller & her mother | |
| 2020 | Herb & Molly MacIntosh | Veteran of World War I, Assembler at a radio factory in 1930. |
| 2022 | George & Bertha Hanley | Daughters Anita & Catherine “Cass” |
| 2024 | Tom & Dorothy Agin | Children Tom Jr., Harriet, Arthur, & Floyd |
East Camden’s Cooper Street in 1947
| House | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Samuel R. & Elsie Sailer | |
| 2000 | George B. Ware | 1959 — George V. Ware, Paperhanger |
| 2002 | Mrs. Minnie Wishnaff | Widow of Samuel Wishnaff |
| 2004 | Edward S. & Nellie Harding | Wool Washer |
| 2006 | Mrs. Bessie A. Hans | Widow of Albert Hans |
| James Hans | Packer | |
| 2008 | John J. & Anna Greenwich | Employed at J. Eavenson & Sons |
| Betty Greenwich | Employed at J. Eavenson & Sons | |
| Catherine M. Greenwich | Employed at J. Eavenson & Sons | |
| 2010 | John T. & Frances Smith | |
| 2012 | William B. & Pearl C. Read | Operator at East End Laundry |
| 2014 | Antonio & Margaret Derago | Trackman for the Pennsylvania Railroad |
| Robert Derago | ||
| 2016 | Albert S. & Viola A. Ruebeck | |
| 2018 | James & Mary Elward | |
| 2020 | John & Helen Lemayski | Mr. & Mrs. Lemayski had three sons, John, Robert, and Stan. Robert & Stan Lemayski both were career Camden Police officers, as was a cousin, Richard Pierznik. Son John Lemayski retired from Riverview Towers on Mickle Boulevard. |
| 2022 | George & Bertha Hanley | Watchman |
| Anita Hanley | Telephone Operator | |
| Estella Hanley | Telephone Operator | |
| 2024 | Theo T. & Margaret Stone |
Only George Ware was still on the block in 1959, according to the 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory. Of course it must be noted that not everyone may have had a telephone.
Little Cooper Street: Hard to believe anyone could be nostalgic about a place like that. But it was a helluva lot cleaner and in better repair at the height of the depression, this in spite of the fact that 90% of the residents were on relief. And there were only about two old cars in the whole neighborhood. One was an old Packard, the other a Willys-Overland.
The corner house with the bay windows is 2024. That was my abode from about 1932 to 1940. 2022 housed the Hanley family. Then came the MacIntosh’s. All the houses on Cooper Street had outdoor privies and no central heating. Heat usually came from pot bellied stoves. Although a few people had gas ranges most did their cooking on wood stoves. These were not fun for the boys who had to find and chop the wood nor the women who did the cooking on 100 degree days in July and August. Not all the houses had electricity including mine. Light was by oil lamp.
These were known as the good old days.
The triangular lot across the street was the site of a large two story house that housed the Ryan family until it was condemned and torn down about 1945.
The other end of the street, on the one side had a large vacant lot and a large frame house. That lot was always vacant. At times during the summer groups from the WPA used to set up a screen and projector and show films, mostly cartoons and short subjects.
The other side of the street at that point had about 12 row houses, only two of which I remember being occupied, the first was the Wallace house and the third housed the Finch boys, a couple of middle aged bachelors with nothing to do but sit on the front step and drink. The remaining ten houses were vacant. About 1936 they all were condemned and razed.
— Tom Agin, December 18, 2004
I can’t help smiling…
Tom Agin
I can’t help smiling when I read such tales of woe as “Heating with Coal.” Did everyone but me have central heating back in the 30’s?
Although it must have been fun to be able to spy on those downstairs through the ceiling grates, it must have been wonderful to feel the warm air rising into your freezing bedroom on a cold winters night. Most houses with central heating, which you didn’t use in the summer, came equipped with a gas range for cooking and most houses with gas had a water heater. Central heat via a furnace also meant the ability to pay for coal by the ton which few if any on little Cooper Street could even dream of.
Life on the other side of the tracks:
Coal was a luxury to be bought only when it was absolutely necessary and then only in 50 lb bags. Blue coal or pea or nut or even coke, it didn’t matter on any particular day, except which happened to be cheapest.
I would take my little wagon up to the Pavonia Ice and Coal Co. at 23rd and Howell Streets when we had the money and struggle with a bag I could hardly lift then haul it back home and try to carry it into the house. This was our secondary source of coal. At other times, which I hated, I would be ordered to take a bucket and walk the railroad tracks to find coal that had fallen off coal cars. This also meant playing hide and seek with the railroad police, who were not the friendliest people in the world. At that age it didn’t dawn on me that they were looking out for my safety as well as protecting railroad property.
My route for coal scavenging usually ranged from behind the Haddon Press down to behind Dimedio Lime, Dubell Lumber and Concrete Steel Co. On a bad day I would have to continue all the way beyond Warren Webster’s to the Standard Oil place at Federal Street and River Road to fill my bucket after which it was a heavy trip back to Cooper Street.
Our heating system at home consisted of a large wood/coal cooking range in the kitchen which was jet black and had shiny nickel plated parts hanging on it. I also had the job of polishing this stove which was done while it was very hot using a liquid consisting of an oil and carbon black dispersion. You rubbed this on with a cloth and it smoked like a volcano and you continued rubbing until it was dry and shiny black, and so were you.
This stove was used for cooking and heating water. There was only one faucet in the house and it was ice cold water. This is why in those days there was a Saturday bath, you didn’t shower a couple times a day even if you wanted to. There was no hot water and no shower. Bathing was done in the galvanized laundry tub. During the week you washed your face and hands.
Picture a woman’s life during this period:
Throughout the hottest time of the year she always needed a fire. To cook, to have water for the wash and to heat the iron for ironing. The wash was done on a wash board which most women today have seen only in museums. It was backbreaking labor…and let’s not forget my sister’s hair which also required a fire. With no electricity how else do you heat a curling iron?
There were two kinds of curling irons I remember my mother using. One was called a Marcelle Iron and this made waves. The other was a curling iron much like those used today, except that they weren’t heated with electricity. Then how were they heated?? Glad you asked.
The irons were held in the fire until they were hot. Then they were taken out and closed on a piece of paper, preferably a brown paper bag. This would smoke, turn black and sometimes erupt into flame. You would continue testing it until it no longer discolored the paper. At this point you would then proceed to put the hair in and roll it up as you do today. After a few minutes you would unroll it and hope the hair didn’t stay with the iron. Sound like fun?? I have a curling iron for you to try, if you are so inclined.
Ironing clothes on a 100 degree day was not fun either. Or any other day for that matter.
During the summer months we used wood which meant you could allow the fire to go out when it wasn’t needed. The wood was usually scavenged by me from old shipping skids. These could be obtained from the Haddon Press and a few other businesses by hook or crook. Usually the latter. Many commodities in those days were shipped in wooden barrels. These were usually made of gum wood which was difficult to chop. The ax jumped back at you as if it had hit a block of rubber.
Women today say they are overworked because one day a week they may have to DRIVE Johnny to Little League.
That takes care of the kitchen.
There was a pot bellied stove in the parlor which was seldom used at all. Parlors were generally used for special visitors or which happened, it seems, all too often in those days, wakes.
Next comes the pot bellied stove in the dining room which was where we lived. This room served as living room, dining room and family room. This stove was our primary source of warmth throughout the winter months. This stove was not large but it kept the room comfortable.
What about the bedrooms? There was zero heat except what your body generated and the quilts managed to hold next to you. The kitchen stove didn’t help because the kitchen was a separate room attached to the rear of the house.
As mentioned before the parlor stove wasn’t used for general heating. Because of the size and limited utility of the dining room stove there was no ceiling grate to allow heat to rise to the upstairs…which would result in cooling the down stairs.
I remember one occasion where I didn’t think it was warm enough and being home alone I proceeded to remedy that situation. I filled the dining room stove with coke, which was all we had on hand that day. Then I opened the damper all the way which I had seen my father do. In a short period of time the pot belly was glowing red. Soon after the stove pipe started to get red and the red rose higher and higher and I became more and more scared not knowing what to do about it.
The red was within three feet of the ceiling when my father walked in the door. In a short time he had the stove under control. As the stove returned to its normal black my bottom became redder and redder. I had doubts I would ever sit again.
This is the way life went on in the good old days…and they really were the good old days. Ask anyone who grew up during that period. You may get a different answer if you ask those who were unemployed adults during this time. It’s all in your perspective.
— Tom Agin, December 18, 2004
2000 Block of Cooper Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical residents of the 2000 block of Cooper Street (East Camden), Camden, NJ. Built by 1887. This short street runs between North 19th and East State Street.
2000 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933–1959 | George Ware & Family — George B. & Laura Ware, George V. Ware |
| 1955 | New Jersey Bell Telephone |
2002 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Sam & Minnie Wishnaff |
| 1947 | Mrs. Minnie Wishnaff & Edward Kavlick |
| 1947 | Edward Kavlick |
| 1905–1906 | William J. Hurlock & Family |
| 1905–1906 | William J. & Alice A. Bogart Hurlock |
| 1905–1906 | William Rexford Hurlock |
2004 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924 | John J. Murtaugh |
| 1933–1947 | Edward S. & Nellie Harding — wool washer |
| WWII | Private Edward F. Murtaugh |
2006 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Norman & Agnes Stinger |
| 1947 | Mrs. Bessie A. Hans & James Hans |
| WWI | Private Norman W. Wohlken |
2008 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Ray Lentz |
| 1947 | John J. & Anna Greenwich Family — Betty Greenwich, Catherine M. Greenwich (all employed at J. Eavenson & Sons) |
2010 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1894–1895 | John H. Anderson |
| 1933 | Lou & Catherine Simpson |
| 1947 | John T. & Frances Smith |
2012 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933–1947 | William B. & Pearl C. Read |
2014 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920s | John Lemmons |
| 1933 | Mr. & Mrs. Owens — Johnny Owens |
| 1947 | Antonio & Margaret Derago & Robert Derago |
| WWII | Sgt. Angelo Frank Derago |
2016 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1907–1911 | Richard Wilson & Family |
| 1907–1911 | Richard & Mary Wilson |
| 1907–1911 | Richard Wilson |
| 1907–1911 | Mary Wilson |
| 1933–1947 | Albert S. & Viola A. Ruebeck |
2018 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Anna Miller & her mother |
| 1947 | James & Mary Elward |
2020 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Herb & Molly MacIntosh |
| 1947 | John & Helen Lemayski Family — sons John, Robert, and Stan |
2022 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933–1947 | George & Bertha Hanley — daughters Anita, Catherine 'Cass', and Estella |
2024 Cooper Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906–1910s | Melvin & Nettie Gleason — Stewart Gleason, Lester A. Gleason |
| 1930s | Tom & Dorothy Agin Family — Tom Jr., Harriet, Arthur, & Floyd Agin |
| 1947 | Theo T. & Margaret Stone |
Tom Agin and his sister Harriet Lynne Agin Stuhltrager have shared some East Camden Cooper Street memories and photos. Click here for a few notes about the “other” Cooper Street.