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Florence Street

Camden Street
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Florence Street

Florence Street originally ran from the railroad tracks that lay between South 6th Street and South 7th Street east to South 10th Street. Since Interstate I-676 was built, the 600 block of Florence Street begins at Master Street.

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600 Block of Florence Street

600 Block of Florence Street — Occupants

Directory records and institutional history.

697 Florence Street

697 Florence Street — 600 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1903–1923Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church
1923–1976 St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church
1989–2016St. Matthew Highway Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith Inc.

700 Block of Florence Street

700 to 759 Florence Street

700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants

City directory records, 1906–1961. Addresses 700–712 destroyed by fire January 28, 1961.

700 Florence Street

700 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947Mrs. Catherine Lazor (confectionary)
1960–1961Edward R. Chubik & Family — Destroyed by Fire, January 28, 1961

701 Florence Street

701 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947Fine's Grocery / Jacob Fine

702 Florence Street

702 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1906Russell Miller
1947–1961Nicholas & Louise Zitz & Family — Destroyed by Fire, January 28, 1961
1947–1961Nicholas Zitz & Family

704 Florence Street

704 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947Joseph A. Ellis
1960–1961William Wells — Destroyed by Fire, January 28, 1961
1960–1961William Wells

706 Florence Street

706 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947Vacant
1960–1961William Lekowski — Destroyed by Fire, January 28, 1961

708 Florence Street

708 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947Harry Small
1960–1961Joseph Danner — Destroyed by Fire, January 28, 1961
1960–1961Joseph Danner

710 Florence Street

710 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947Owen Thompson
1960–1961George Wells — Destroyed by Fire, January 28, 1961
1960–1961George Wells

712 Florence Street

712 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947Frank B. Ricmond
1961Austin Dickinson — Destroyed by Fire, January 28, 1961
1961Austin Dickinson

721 Florence Street

721 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947No listing

725 Florence Street

725 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947No listing

727 Florence Street

727 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947No listing

729 Florence Street

729 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
2011Vacant

743 Florence Street

743 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1916–1918 Nathan Wine

752 Florence Street

752 Florence Street — 700 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1955Carl Schmidt

Brass Valve Thieves Jailed

Philadelphia Inquirer —

On a charge of stealing brass valves from the yards of the Reading Railway, George Maryland, 19, of 2312 South 10th Street, and Russell Miller, 19, of 702 Florence Street, were yesterday committed to jail by the Recorder in default of $300 bail.

Newspaper clipping: brass valve theft, Philadelphia Inquirer, March 12, 1906

Brass Valve Thieves Jailed

On a charge of stealing brass valves from the yards of the Reading Railway, George Maryland, 19, of 2312 South Tenth street, and Russell Miller, 19, of 702 Florence street, were yesterday committed to jail by the Recorder in default of $300 bail.

747 Florence Street

747 Florence Street, November 1938

747 Florence Street — Photo from November 1938

Carl Schmidt

Camden Courier-Post —

Obituary for Carl Schmidt, 752 Florence Street, November 1955

CARL SCHMIDT — Carl Schmidt, 92, of 752 Florence st., died Tuesday in West Jersey Hospital after a long illness. A native of Danzig, Germany, Mr. Schmidt resided in this country more than 50 years. There are no known survivors. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 8.45 a. m. Monday in Sacred Heart R. C. Church, Broadway and Ferry ave. Friends will meet at 7.45 a. m. in the Creran Funeral Home, 400 White Horse pike, Oaklyn. Burial will be in New St. Mary’s Cemetery.

800 Block of Florence Street

800 Block of Florence Street — Occupants

City directory records, 1908–1955.

801 Florence Street

801 Florence Street — 800 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947–1955Christian Precision Manufacturing Co. / Albert K.A. & Amelia Christian / Frederick Christian
1955New Jersey Bell Telephone

810 Florence Street

810 Florence Street — 800 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1938Evelyn Bufo

821 Florence Street

821 Florence Street — 800 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1914James Eastlack & Family
1947Gone

879 Florence Street

879 Florence Street — 800 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1908George Miller
1929Vacant
1933Vincent Storer

881 Florence Street

881 Florence Street — 800 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1913–1914Mrs. Catherine Pettit
1913–1914John Pettit
1913–1914Robert Pettit

887 Florence Street

887 Florence Street — 800 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1947Lynn's Sweet Shop / Joseph Lynn / Post Office Substation No. 22
1947Post Office Substation No. 22
1947Jospeh Lynn
1955Walt's Auto Parts
1955New Jersey Bell Telephone

Christian Precision Manufacturing Co.

New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages — 1955

New Jersey Bell Yellow Pages ad for Christian Precision Manufacturing Co. Inc., 801 Florence Street, 1955

CHRISTIAN PRECISION MANUFACTURING CO. INC. — Precision Instruments, Machine-Precision Parts and Assemblies; Experimental & Designing, Production of Small Parts. WOodlawn 3-3289. 801 Florence St Cam.

Albert K.A. & Amelia Christian and Frederick Christian lived at 215 Fern Avenue in Collingswood, N.J.

Girl Witness Gone in Magalas Probe

Camden Courier-Post —

Newspaper article about Evelyn Bufo, 810 Florence Street, February 1938

Alleged Sweetheart of Luggi Vanishes as Police Relax Surveillance

Police fliers for the arrest of Evelyn Bufo, 18, alleged sweetheart of Frank Luggi, fugitive under indictment for the murder of Angelos Magalas, were sent out yesterday by city and county detectives. The girl, who had been at liberty on bail as a material witness, disappeared from her home at 810 Florence street, early today, it was reported.

Luggi has been a fugitive for several months. Miss Bufo is alleged to have aided him in his flight. Bail was set at $500 for Miss Bufo as a material witness.

An intensive search is being made for the girl and Luggi by city and county detectives. They have been working on the Magalas case since the Camden pool room proprietor was shot and killed in his establishment at 8th and Market streets last September.

Luggi, former Camden prizefighter, was indicted by the Grand Jury for the murder.

Miss Bufo, it was reported, had been under police surveillance but detectives relaxed their watch when they believed she was not planning to leave. This morning when officers called at her home, the girl had disappeared.

Camden Man's Head Severed by Express

Philadelphia Inquirer —

Newspaper article about James Eastlack killed by Reading Railroad express, July 1914

Stepped Directly in Front of Northbound Reading Railroad Train Near West Collingswood

James Eastlack, aged 50 years, of Eighth and Florence streets, Camden, was killed instantly at 7 o’clock last evening by a Reading Railroad express train near West Collingswood.

Eastlack was crossing the tracks when he stepped directly in front of the northbound express. The engine struck him and he was hurled 30 feet. His head was completely severed from his body.

The dead man was employed at the Eyre Iron Works, Camden. He is survived by his wife and two children.

The engineer of the train was A. H. Huber, and the train was running 50 miles per hour when the accident occurred. Coroner’s Physician Faber went to the scene and ordered the body removed to the morgue.

Caught in an Explosion of Acid

Philadelphia Inquirer —

Newspaper clipping about George Miller injured in acid explosion, 879 Florence Street, 1908

Caught in an explosion of acid. George Miller, 60 years old, of 879 Florence street, was seriously injured yesterday in the laboratory of a South Camden industrial plant. He was engaged in preparing a solution of vitriol and peroxide of soda when the explosion came. The man’s face, hands and arms were covered with the fiery liquid and he was terribly burned.

Auto Thieves Jailed

Daniel Ryrie, 16, of 2009 Fillmore Street, and Vincent Storer, 16, of 879 Florence Street, pleaded guilty to charges of larceny before judge Samuel M. Shay, in Special Sessions Court here yesterday.

Ryrie was sent to the Rahway Reformatory and Storer to the State Home for Boys, both for indefinite terms.

The complainant was Frank DeFrancisco, 1810 South Fourth Street, whose sedan they were charged with stealing, May 17 at 1623 Collings Road.

Storer, according to Prosecutor Baldwin, admitted that he and Ryrie had stolen other automobiles, in addition to robbing a gasoline station at Almonesson. They admitted, the prosecutor said, being arrested in Gloucester.

881 Florence Street

Philadelphia Inquirer article related to 881 Florence Street, January 1, 1914

Arrested When He Tried to Help Jailed Brother

ARRESTED WHEN HE TRIED TO HELP JAILED BROTHER

With one son in jail and another sent back to the Hunterdon Reformatory, Mrs. Catherine Petitt, of 881 Florence street, Camden, will have a sad New Year's. Robert Petitt, aged 17 years, was committed to jail for purloining copper wire from a telephone company.

Through the fraternal affection of Robert's brother, John, the latter was apprehended. He had been out of the Reformatory for several months, and he was charged with breaking his parole. None was the wiser until he went to police headquarters and tried to assist his younger brother in his difficulty.

When apprehended. [sic] John and his mother cried and later the brothers had a sad parting when Detective Fitzsimmons permitted them to meet for the last time in several months at least.

Walt's Auto Parts

New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages — 1955

New Jersey Bell Yellow Pages ad for Walt's Auto Parts, 887 Florence Street, 1955

WALT’S AUTO PARTS — Cars Bought-Sold-Exchanged; Parts For All Makes of Cars. EM erson 5-6503. 887 Florence St CAMDEN.

900 Block of Florence Street

By 2009 all buildings on the 900 block had been erased to build the new Morgan Village Middle School.

900 Block of Florence Street — Occupants

City directory records, 1906–2011. By 2009 all buildings had been erased to build Morgan Village Middle School.

903 Florence Street

903 Florence Street — 900 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1941Vacant

913–923 Florence Street

913–923 Florence Street — 900 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1913Built by Mockett Construction Co. for Dr. O. W. Saunders & Freeholder Thomas W. Leeson

917 Florence Street

917 Florence Street — 900 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1922–1950sJoseph L. Rocanella & Family
1922–1950sJoseph L. & Angelina Rocanella
1930s–1950James M. Rocanella & Family
1930s–1950James & Madeline Rocanella
1930s–1950James M. Rocanella Jr.
1942Yearbook
1930s–1950James Rocanella & Family

923 Florence Street

923 Florence Street — 900 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1931Mrs. Bertha Barkowski & Family / Julia Barkowski

953 Florence Street

953 Florence Street — 900 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1924–1927 Russell L. & Anna Benson

969 Florence Street

969 Florence Street — 900 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1923–1926James & Madeline Rocanella (moved to 917 by 1930s)
1947–1955Camden Photo Service / Eugene Zalewski
1955New Jersey Bell Telephone
1927–1929James Rocanella & Family

975 Florence Street

975 Florence Street — 900 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1920–1960August & Lena Rocanella DiVietro / Lawrence DiVietro / Mary Divietro Bonamassa / Michael Divietro
1923–1926James & Madeline Rocanella (moved to 969 by 1927)
1920–1960August Divietro & Family
1923–1926James Rocanella & Family
1923–1926James M. Rocanella

979 Florence Street

979 Florence Street — 900 Block of Florence Street — Occupants
Year ↕ Name ↕
1941Mrs. Myrtle E. Cunninghman

City Schedules Sale of Garage Building

Camden Courier-Post —

Newspaper article about city property sale, including 903 Florence Street, July 1941

The City of Camden will sell a one-story public garage building at 2626 Carman street containing 28 individual garages, which it acquired for unpaid taxes, in city commission chambers next Tuesday, Solicitor John J. Crean announced. The commission set $2500 as the minimum acceptable bid.

Seven other tax-delinquent properties also are scheduled for sale, as follows: vacant land 40 by 100 feet on east side of Twenty-seventh street 60 feet south of Garfield avenue, $250; two-story frame store and dwelling at 555 Division street, vacant, $150; vacant land 77 by 21 feet on east side of Mt. Ephraim avenue 40 west north of Sayres avenue, $100; lot at 523 South Fifth street, $75, and vacant dwellings at 215 North Ninth street, 903 Florence street and 211 Sycamore street for $50 each.

Building Permits

Camden Daily Courier —

Building permits listing, Camden Daily Courier, April 25, 1913

Charles W. Austermuhl, 8 two-story brick dwellings, 16.4x56 feet, at 1501-3-7-9-13-15-19-21 Baird avenue.

The Mockett Construction Company, for Dr. O. W. Saunders and Freeholder Thomas W. Leeson, 6 two-story brick dwellings, 14x59 feet, at 913-15-17-19-21-23 Florence street.

Barclay White Company, for S. Chew & Sons Company, three-story brick building, at 37-39 North Third street.

917 Florence Street — James M. Rocanella & Family

Joseph L. Rocanella, 917 Florence Street, 1943

(deed transfers — 411 Emerald Street)

Camden — No. 2026, 2022, 2024 Miller street; Rocco Maria Rocanella et al to Albert Bonelli, $1.

Camden — No. 2028 Miller street; Joseph L. Rocanella et ux to Albert Bonelli, $1.

Camden — No. 917 Florence street; Rocco Vincenzo Rocanella et ux to Albert Bonelli, $1.

Camden — No. 975 Florence; Angela Antonia Di Vietro et vir to Albert Bonelli, $1.

Camden — No. 411 Emerald Street; Raymond Gattone et ux to Albert Bonelli, 1.

Camden — Nos. 2026, 2022, 2024 Miller street; Albert Bonelli to Rocca Maria Rocanella, $1.

James M. Rocanella Sr., 917 Florence Street, 1945 Madeline Rocanella, 917 Florence Street

James M. & Madeline Rocanella — 917 Florence Street (1930s–1950). Left: James M. Rocanella. Right: Madeline Rocanella.

James M. Rocanella Jr., Woodrow Wilson High School yearbook 1942

James M. Rocanella Jr. — Woodrow Wilson High School, 1942 Yearbook

James M. Rocanella Sr. and Jr., 1943 James M. Rocanella Jr., 1943

James M. Rocanella & Family — Photos from 1943

James Rocanella with geese, 917 Florence Street

James Rocanella & Family — 917 Florence Street

James M. Rocanella, October 30, 1950 James Rocanella, November 9, 1950

James Rocanella & Family — 917 Florence Street, 1950

Six Are Arrested Following 'Party'

Camden Courier-Post —

Young Girls Accuse Married Man of Attacking Them in Bungalow

Three pretty girls, a married man and two youths were arrested last night on charges growing out from an extended whoopee party in a Blackwood Terrace bungalow.

Two of the girls, all of whom are related, are said to be runaways from Philadelphia. One of these and a Camden schoolgirl charge they were attacked by the married man.

The girls gave their names as: Julia Barkowski, 17, of 923 Florence Street, Camden; Mary Holod, 16, and her stepsister, Vera, also 16, both of 1325 Tyson Street, Philadelphia. Both Julia and Mary allege they were criminally assaulted early last week by Samuel Read, 31, who gave his address as 2847 Congress Road, Camden.

Linked as material witnesses in the case are John Barwick, 19, of 543 Fairview Street, and William Murdock, 19, of 548 Gordon Terrace, Camden.

According to the story gathered by Police Sergeant John Skolski and Patrolman John Larson, the three girls were strolling along Broadway on the night of October 12, when they were “picked up” by Barwick and Murdock, in an automobile. The girls related they were taken to a bungalow in Blackwood Terrace where they said they met Read. The two youths then left, they said.

The Barkowski girl and Mary Holod allege they were attacked by Read while Vera Holod told police she averted assault by fighting.

Return of the girls to the Barkowski home yesterday was followed by arrest of all six revelers. Mrs. Bertha Barkowski, mother of the Camden girl, summoned police. Read was lured to the house and placed under arrest and apprehension of the two youths was then made.

Julia was charged with being incorrigible by her mother. Police held Mary and Vera as runaways and as witnesses against Read. The Philadelphia girls are said to have been missing from home several weeks.

All are to be given hearings today before Police Judge Garfield Pancoast.

August W. Divietro

Camden Courier-Post —

Obituary for August W. Divietro, 975 Florence Street, July 1960

AUGUST W. DIVIETRO

August W. Divietro, 65, of 975 Florence st. died Thursday in his home. Born in Philadelphia, he was a Camden resident for 40 years. He was a War I veteran and an employé of Evanson and Levering Co. for 25 years.

Surviving are his wife, Lena; a daughter, Mrs. Mary Bonamassa, of Mt. Ephraim; two sons, Lawrence, of Delaware Township, and Michael, of Camden; two brothers, Lawrence, of Woodbury, and Dominick, of Camden, and nine grandchildren.

Requiem high Mass will be celebrated Tuesday at 9.30 a. m. in Sacred Heart Church, Broadway and Ferry ave. Friends may call Monday evening at the Falco Funeral Home, 1018 S. 4th st. Burial will be in New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.

975 Florence Street — James Rocanella & Family

James and Madeline Rocanella wedding photo, 975 Florence Street, 1920s

James & Madeline Rocanella — 975 Florence Street (1923–1926). Moved to 969 Florence Street by 1927.

Divorce Decrees

Camden Courier-Post —

Divorce decree news clipping mentioning Mrs. Myrtle E. Cunningham of 979 Florence Street, July 1941

Decrees also were recommended for a man and a woman who claimed their respective mates deserted them. They are Joseph P. Whitaker, of 321 Mt. Vernon street, who charges his wife, Dorothy, of 420 Jefferson street, tired of married life, and Mrs. Myrtle E. Cunningham, of 979 Florence street, who testified her husband, Edgar, of 131 East Wayne terrace, Collingswood, deserted her in 1921.

915 & 917 Florence Street — Photos

915 Florence Street, 2012

915 Florence Street — Photo from 2012

915 and 917 Florence Street, 2012

915 & 917 Florence Street — Photo from 2012

917 Florence Street, 2012

917 Florence Street — Photo from 2012

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