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Francis Street

Camden Street

Introduction

Francis Street ran two blocks from 126 Walnut Street to 135 Chestnut Street, between Front and South 2nd Street. It was laid out between 1878 and 1887.

The land bounded by Walnut, Chestnut, South 2nd, and Front Streets was consolidated after World War II for industrial development. Francis Street, and Ivins Street, a small street that ran between Mt. Vernon Street and Chestnut Street, were erased.

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Maps

Francis Street — 1946 Map of Camden

Francis Street — 1946 Map of Camden.

‘Forgotten’ Holdup Recalled in Capture of Fifth as Bandit

Camden Courier-Post —

Police last night cleaned up an old case of highway robbery that occurred at Second and Mt. Vernon Streets last August when Edward A. Turner, 48, of 1104 Cresson Street, was robbed of his watch, chain and knife.

At the time of the hold-up, Turner told police there were four or five colored men in the robbery. Detectives Robert Ward and Clifford Carr arrested Earl Bundy, 17, of 819 Sycamore Street, who they said had the articles in his possession; also Charles Wing, 17, of 1012 Francis Street; Sherman Smith, 17, of 1061 Ivins Street and William Jackman, 16, of 152 Sycamore Street. The last three pleaded guilty and were sentenced to Rahway Reformatory by Judge Samuel Shay.

Bundy pleaded not guilty and was lodged in the local jail.

Last night Ward and Carr with Patrolman Luke captured Oscar Moore, 19, of 135 Mt. Vernon Street as the fifth bandit. He will be held without bail on the same charge as the others.

1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)

City directory records, c. 1878–1955.

1001 Francis Street

1001 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Vacant
1947Gone

1003 Francis Street

1003 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Tom Thomas
1947Gone

1005 Francis Street

1005 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1910s–1930sRichard Alston & Family
1910s–1930sRichard & Dolly Alston
1910s–1930s Eugene Alston
1947Gone

1006 Francis Street

1006 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Alfred Hutt
1947Gone

1007 Francis Street

1007 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1927Benjamin Hunt & Family
1927Benjamin & Ella Hunt
1927 Jesthroe Hunt
1929Vacant
1947Gone

1008 Francis Street

1008 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929John T. Sullivan
1947Gone

1009 Francis Street

1009 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Lester Fuller
1947Gone

1010 Francis Street

1010 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929John Rozear
1947Gone

1011 Francis Street

1011 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Vacant
1947Gone

1012 Francis Street

1012 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Mrs. Mary A. Tinson
1931Charles Wing
1947Mrs. Florence Huggs

1013 Francis Street

1013 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Mrs. Mabel Heard
1947Gone

1014 Francis Street

1014 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Calvin Hamilton
1947Florence M. Sampson

1015 Francis Street

1015 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Mrs. Julia Horn
1947Gone

1016 Francis Street

1016 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947Norman J. Alston

1017 Francis Street

1017 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1907John Urbin
1917 Charles W. Cooke
1917Richard Alston
1929Vacant
1947Gone

1019 Francis Street

1019 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Henry T. Johnson
1947Gone

1021 Francis Street

1021 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1894T.A. Foster
1921–1923Walter 'Kentucky Rosebud' Edgerton & Family
1921–1923Walter & Minnie Edgerton
1929Mrs. Helen Knox
1933–1955Benjamin Branch & Family
1933–1955Benjamin & Roxie Anderson Branch
1933–1955Lillian Branch
1933–1955Benjamin Branch Jr.
1933–1955Alphonso Branch
1933–1955Ruth Branch
1933–1955Nolan Branch
1933–1955Carl Branch
1933–1955Gloria Branch
1952Camden High School Yearbook Photo

1023 Francis Street

1023 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1906Mrs. Sophia Franks
1929Stephens Stevenson
1947Vacant

1025 Francis Street

1025 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929Judge Thomas
1947Herman Bryant

1027 Francis Street

1027 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929James Anderson
1929Viola Fussell (rear)
1947Vacant

1028 Francis Street

1028 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929First Born Sanctified Church
1947Gone

1058 Francis Street

1058 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947No information available
1947Gone

1059 Francis Street

1059 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947No information available
1947Gone

1060 Francis Street

1060 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947No information available
1947Gone

1061 Francis Street

1061 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1910Peter Endt
1947Gone

1062 Francis Street

1062 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947No information available
1947Gone

1063 Francis Street

1063 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947No information available
1947Gone

1064 Francis Street

1064 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1890–1891 John J. Welsh
1947Gone

1065 Francis Street

1065 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947No information available
1947Gone

1066 Francis Street

1066 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947No information available
1947Gone

1067 Francis Street

1067 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947No information available
1947Gone

1068 Francis Street

1068 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947No information available
1947Gone

1069 Francis Street

1069 Francis Street — 1000 Block of Francis Street — Occupants (Walnut to Mt. Vernon)
Year ↕ Name ↕
1929–1947No information available
1947Gone

Related: John Urbin — 1017 Francis Street — Camden Post-Telegram, March 2, 1907.

Related: T.A. Foster — 1021 Francis Street — Camden Daily Courier, November 19, 1894.

Related: “Kentucky Rose Bud’s” Wife Called by Death — 1021 Francis Street, Camden Daily Courier, October 6, 1922.

Related: Benjamin Branch — 1021 Francis Street — Camden Courier-Post, September 19, 1933.

Related: Mrs. Sophia Franks — 1023 Francis Street — Philadelphia Inquirer, December 12, 1906.

John Urbin — 1017 Francis Street

Camden Post-Telegram —

Snow Bothers Fire Fighters — Francis St. House Is Badly Damaged — Camden Post-Telegram, March 2, 1907

Snow Bothers Fire Fighters

Heaped So High That They Had Difficulty in Tackling Flames.

Francis St. House Is Badly Damaged

Fire of unknown origin was discovered in the cellar of the home of John Urbin, 1017 Francis street, shortly before 11 o’clock this morning, and before it was put out the house and furniture were damaged to the amount of $500 upon which there is but partial insurance.

Francis street, one of the narrowest in the city, is west of Second street, extending from Walnut to Chestnut streets. It was piled high with snow and ice, and but one chemical engine could be taken close enough to do effective work.

For a while it looked as if the fire woul [sic] get away from the firemen so fiercely did a pile of coke and wood in the cellar burn, but a stream of water from a nearby fire plug was turned upon the blaze and it was soon under control.

In the meantime smoke began to curl up from the edges of the roof and from the second story windows, and the firemen were kept busy attending to smaller sheets of flame that threatened to set fire to the adjoining houses.

The alarm coming in from the vicinity of the Public Service Corporation gas plant, all the down-town companies responded and with them came a big crowd, causing considerable excitement as for a time there were wild rumors that a woman perished in the flames.

T.A. Foster — 1021 Francis Street

Camden Daily Courier —

Crazed by Cigarettes — T.A. Foster, 1021 Francis Street — Camden Daily Courier, November 19, 1894

Crazed by Cigarettes.

Overseer Watson Takes Foster to the Blackwood Insane Asylum.

T. A. Foster, the colored man who went crazy at 1021 Francis street last Thursday night, was taken to the insane asylum at Blackwood this morning by Overseer of the Poor Watson. Foster’s attack of lunacy is so violent that it has been found necessary to use severe measures to keep him from injuring himself or others. Overseer Watson had to seek aid in conveying the unfortunate man to the asylum. Cigarettes are said to have caused his mental trouble.

“Kentucky Rose Bud’s” Wife Called by Death

Camden Daily Courier —

'Kentucky Rose Bud's' Wife Called by Death — Frank Edgerton, 1021 Francis Street — Camden Daily Courier, October 6, 1922

Frank Edgerton, well-known in pugilistic circles as the “Kentucky Rosebud,” is going through the worst battle of his career, according to his own statement.

The “Rosebud” is mourning the death of his wife, Mrs. Minnie Edgerton, who died Wednesday at their home, 1021 Francis street. There are two sons, and one, believed to be in New York, cannot be located. This has added to the former pugilist’s troubles.

Mrs. Edgerton will be buried in Mt. Peace Cemetery on Sunday, at 2 o’clock. The services will be held at his husband’s home.

Benjamin Branch — 1021 Francis Street

Camden Courier-Post —

Falls Ill on Street, Dies — Mrs. Roxie Bright, 1021 Francis Street — Camden Courier-Post, September 19, 1933 Cooper Hospital Cases — Benjamin Branch, 1021 Francis Street — Camden Courier-Post, September 19, 1933

Falls Ill on Street, Dies

Collapsing at Newton avenue and Chestnut street, Mrs. Clara Jones, colored, of 234 Sycamore street, died last night a few minutes after admission to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital. Coroner Arthur H. Holl will perform an autopsy.

Mrs. Jones fell to the pavement while walking with Mrs. Roxie Bright, of 1021 Francis street. Mrs. Bright obtained a drink of water for her companion, then summoned police who took the unconscious woman to the hospital.

Cooper Hospital Cases

Benjamin Branch, 14, of 1021 Francis street; injured knee in collision with car.

Benjamin Branch Family — 1021 Francis Street

Camden High School — 1952

Benjamin Branch Family — 1021 Francis Street — Camden High School Yearbook, 1952

Benjamin Branch & Family — 1021 Francis Street. Camden High School yearbook, 1952.

Mrs. Sophia Franks — 1023 Francis Street

Philadelphia Inquirer —

Mrs. Sophia Franks rescued from fire — 1023 Francis Street — Philadelphia Inquirer, December 12, 1906

Pluckily fighting the flames that threatened her little home with destruction, Mrs. Sophia Franks, a widow, of 1023 Francis street, Camden, nearly lost her life yesterday. She was rescued by Assistant Fire Chief Samuel S. Buzine and Fireman Charles Robinson. The woman’s children had set the place afire by playing with matches.

Related: John J. Welsh — 1064 Francis Street — photo.

Related: Peter Endt — 1061 Francis Street — Philadelphia Inquirer, November 24, 1910.

John J. Welsh — 1064 Francis Street

John J. Welsh — 1064 Francis Street, Camden

John J. Welsh — 1064 Francis Street, 1890–1891.

Peter Endt — 1061 Francis Street

Philadelphia Inquirer —

Peter Endt rescues child at Third and Mt. Vernon Streets — 1061 Francis Street — Philadelphia Inquirer, November 24, 1910

Standing on the trolley tracks as though transfixed with horror, Gertrude Wallace, aged 4 years, was dragged from the path of a car in the nick of time by Peter Endt, whose heel was struck by the fender. The incident happened at Third and Mt. Vernon streets.

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