Dayton Street

DAYTON STREET runs from Mount Ephraim Avenue to Hallowell Lane, 2 blocks south of Van Hook Street. Dayton Street is named for James B. Dayton, a prominent businessman in 19th Century Camden. Although the street was laid out by 1906, no homes are listed in the 1924 Camden City Directory. By 1929, however, most of the lots on the street had homes erected on them.

From its opening in 1946 until its closing in 1979 St. Joseph High School occupied the building that stands on Mount Ephraim Avenue between Decatur Street and Dayton Street. When it closed, the Diocese of Camden left the building unoccupied and unsecured for well over a decade, allowing it to become a haven for drug users and prostitutes. The neighborhood was severely impacted, needless to say. The building was finally sold in the 1990s and turned into a nursing home, primarily catering to indigent patients.

Phil Cohen

A flag-raising and parade are street among the events planned in the Fourth of July program being arranged by the Dayton Community Association.

Four-year-old Barbara Fallon unfurl a large flag at the home of J. Nehring, 1223 Dayton Street, at 9 a.m. In the flag-raising exercises, Nehring has donated the banner. Barbara is his granddaughter.

Arrangements have been completed to have American Legion Posts 74, 231 and 2685, together with two troops of Boy Scouts and a motorcycle police escort to parade with the officers and members of the association from Kaighn and Mt. Ephraim avenues to the scene of the flag raising.

The parade will form at 8.30 a. m. and will march along Mt. Ephraim Avenue to Dayton Street to Nehring's home.

Samuel P. Orlando, former assistant prosecutor, will deliver an address after the flag-raising. Herbert C. Vennell, the president, will preside. Henry Knauer, Republican county committeeman, will address the association at 1 p.m. The association will meet tomorrow night at the home of William Bowers, 1359 Dayton.

1929: first residents; 1942: William E. Brickner.

1929: Raymond H. Frederick; Mrs. Erna H. Mueller; Ralph N. Hartley. 1933: John Harrigan. 1947: Blanchard Apartments (Apartment 12 — Charles F. Morrisey). 1949: Charles F. & Clara Morrissey; Pearl Morrissey.

Dayton Street intersects with Norris Street.

The police court hearing of a man arrested on charges of operating a disorderly house and of two women arrested there, was postponed yesterday because District Detective Vernon Jones, who made the raid, was not in court to testify. It was the fifth time within a month that the case had come up for a hearing and was postponed.

The defendants are Alexander Lopez, Irene Brodowicz and Jean Welsh, all of 1334 Dayton Street. Lopez has been at liberty in $1000 bail since his home was raided January 9, while the two women have been released in $25 security each.

On the other occasion, postponements were granted for various reasons, among them being the fact that defense counsel was not in court for one hearing while Lopez pleaded illness for not appearing for another scheduled hearing. Today, Lopez was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charge, but Jones was not in court, whereupon Judge Pancoast deferred the case.

It was the fourth time that the Dayton Street house had been raided. On one occasion the police said they found a bar in the basement and ordered Lopez to remove it.

Dayton Street intersects with Pershing Street.

Dayton Street terminates at Hallowell Lane.

A parade for children, races for women and other features were included in the plans for a Fourth of July celebration adopted last night at a meeting of the Dayton Community Association.

The parade, to be held in the morning, will be made up of decorated coaches, bicycles and express wagons.

It was announced five women judges will be appointed. Races will be run on Sayrs Avenue between Norris and Pershing Streets by children, women and men in the afternoon. There will be dancing in the evening. A committee will make a house-to-house canvass, to obtain funds for expenses.

Many men of the community embraced by Van Hook Street, Decatur Street, Dayton Street, Browning Street, Sayrs Avenue, Mt. Ephraim Avenue, Cope Street, Norris Street and Pershing Street attended last night's meeting held at 1240 Browning Street. Herbert C. Vennell is president of the association.

I went to St. Joe’s High in the early 70’s and have many fond memories, dances basketball games and life long friendships I made there. It’s sad to drive by the area now seeing how its decayed over the years; having grown up in “pollock town” it sure is sad to see.

— Al Kusniasz, May 20, 2008