Camden Streets — Gordon Terrace

Gordon Terrace ran east from Broadway for one block, to South 6th Street, opposite the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyards, north of Morgan Street. Gordon Terrace was one of the blocks in what was known as “The Terraces,” four blocks of row houses that included the 500 blocks of Woodland Avenue, Lester Terrace, Gordon Terrace, and Fairview Street. Many of these homes had been abandoned by 1990, and were all for the most part razed by the end of the decade. The balance of the homes, perhaps a dozen or so, were acquired by local government and had been taken down by the end of 2008.

Phil Cohen

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.

I remember running up and down the ally in back of the houses when I would visit my Grandmother. We would also go over and talk to the Train Guy at the RR tracks too. My Grandfather, Uncle and Dad all worked at New York Ship. It was sad seeing what happened to that neighborhood. I remember reading in the Courier-Post one time that a drug dealer wanted to buy all the streets there to run his business. He even had the guts to go to a planning board meeting.

— Barbara A. Murdoch, May 2018