Introduction
Orchard Street runs south from Old Camden Cemetery at 1150 Mount Vernon Street, across Chestnut Street, and ending at Sycamore Street.
Intersection of Mount Vernon Street & Orchard Street
Looking south on Orchard Street from Mount Vernon Street — June 10, 2011.
1000 Block of Orchard Street
1000 Block of Orchard Street as seen from Mount Vernon Street — August 2, 2006.
1044 Orchard Street — Destroyed by fire, June 9, 2011.
1048 Orchard Street — Camden Pottery (1890s–1955) — Destroyed by fire, June 9, 2011.
1000 Block of Orchard Street — Occupants
City directory records and historical notes.
1044 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | No listing in directory |
| 2011 | Destroyed by fire — June 9, 2011 |
1046 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | No listing in directory |
| 2011 | Destroyed by fire — June 9, 2011 |
1048 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890s–1955 | Camden Pottery |
| 2011 | Destroyed by fire — June 9, 2011 |
1100 Block of Orchard Street
Joseph J. Lesniewski & Family — 1100 Orchard Street, 1956. Joseph J. & Wanda Lesniewski; Joseph A. Lesniewski.
1100 Block of Orchard Street — Occupants
City directory records, 1920–1957.
1100 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920 | John & Victoria Pierzynski |
| 1934 | Frank Kulczynski |
| 1956 | Joseph J. Lesniewski & Family (Joseph J. & Wanda Lesniewski; Joseph A. Lesniewski) |
1102 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | No listing in directory |
1104 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | No listing in directory |
1106 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920 | Paul Pavlik & Family |
| 1947 | No listing in directory |
1108 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | No listing in directory |
1110 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Paul Pavlik & Family |
| 1947 | No listing in directory |
1112 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Charles Piontkowski |
1121 Orchard Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947–1957 | John Wawrzyniak & Family |
Related: Train Kills 2 Children on Tracks — 1121 Orchard Street (John & Florence Wawrzyniak), 1957.
Intersection of Sycamore Street & Orchard Street
Looking north on Orchard Street from Sycamore Street — June 10, 2011.
Boy, Girl Struck on Trestle
Camden Courier-Post —
—Courier-Post Photo by Arthur C. Jarvis
A BOY AND A GIRL died here today . . . suddenly.
Frantic parents today identified John Wawrzyniak Jr., 14, and his sister, Karen, 9, as the victims of a PRSL train at Mechanic and Louis sts.
Police said the parents were John and Florence Wawrzyniak, of 1121 Orchard st.
A boy and a girl, both unidentified, lost their lives today when they were struck by a Camden-bound Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines train at Mechanic and Louis sts.
Investigators said the boy, about 13 or 14, apparently died a hero’s death as he attempted to get the girl, possibly his sister aged 9 or 10, off the tracks of a trestle spanning the intersection.
The boy was pronounced dead on arrival at 10.10 a. m. at West Jersey Hospital. The girl died 20 minutes later in the hospital, authorities there said.
Railroad authorities placed the time of the accident at 9.40 a. m. Coroner Wooster was notified.
Witnesses said the youngsters were running in the same direction the train was heading and almost had cleared the trestle when they were struck.
Train 15 Minutes Late
A PRSL spokesman said the two-car diesel left Haddonfield at 9.31 and was due at the Broadway station at 9.42. It arrived 14 minutes late. Many of the passengers had boarded it at Hadodnfield [sic] after leaving a train from Atlantic City.
Engineer John C. Gillon, of Haddonfield, reported he saw the children on the trestle and sounded his whistle as he applied emergency brakes but was unable to stop in time. Walter D. Lamon, of Camden, was conductor.
The PRSL spokesman said the youngsters technically were “trespassing.”
Det. Sgt. Patrick Carr, who took over the investigation, said a witness, William Bukowski, 41, of 1508 Norris st., attempted to run up the ice and snow covered embankment when he saw their plight.
“I heard the whistle and saw the kids,” Carr quoted Bukowski as stating. “The girl appeared to be playing and bending over the tracks. When the boy heard the whistle, he turned and ran back and attemtped [sic] to drag her off the trestle. They were near the end of the trestle when they were struck.”
At the hospital, a marketing list and $7 was found in the boy’s pockets. It called for purchases of sauerkraut, pumpernickel bread, cracked wheat bread, cream cheese and cigarets.
Police were called to the scene by John Revallo, operator of a cafe at Louis and Mechanic sts., who relayed a report by Henry Uber, another witness.
Uber, a painting contractor with offices and shop at 1207-09 Liberty st., was clearing snow on the Mechanic st. side of his building when he heard the train whistle and looked up to see the children on the tracks. Both appeared to be running in the same direction the train was heading, he said, and were thrown part way down the embankment when struck.
Rites Slated Tuesday for Train Victims
Camden Courier-Post —
Solemn requiem high Mass for John Wawrzyniak Jr., 14, and his sister, Karen, 9, will be sung Tuesday at 9 a. m. in St. Joseph’s Church, 10th and Mechanic sts.
The children were killed Thursday by a Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines train on a trestle over Louis and Mechanic sts., less than four blocks from their home at 1121 Orchard st.
Preceding the Mass, friends will meet at 8.30 a. m. in the Ciechanowski Funeral Home, 1309 S. 10th st., where they may call Monday night. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Chews Landing.
The boy was an honor student at Hatch Junior High School, and his sister, a fourth-grade pupil at Lincoln School.
Surviving them are their parents, John and Florence; paternal grandparents, Casimir and Stefania Wawrzyniak, of Camden, and maternal grandparents, Francis and Laura Pierzynski, of Camden.
Slate Hearing In Two Deaths On RR Trestle
Camden Courier-Post —
(Reprinted from Wednesday’s Late Edition)
The engineer of a PRSL train that hit and killed two children on a trestle at Louis and Mechanic sts. last Thursday was released Wednesday in his own recognizance by Municipal Judge Marino pending further hearing next Wednesday.
John C. Gillan, 66, of 241 Rhoads ave., Haddonfield, the engineer, appeared in court, but Marino announced that through a clerical error the family of the children and the Camden police accident division had not been notified of the hearing.
The children were John Wawrzyniak Jr., 14. [sic] and his sister, Karen, 9, of 1121 Orchard st.
City Court Scene: Judge Holds Engineer in Child Deaths
Camden Courier-Post —
(Reprinted From Wednesday’s Late Edition)
Municipal Judge Marino Wednesday held a PRSL engineer and a motorist for grand jury action on a manslaughter charge. Both pleaded not guilty and were released in their own recognizance.
The engineer, John C. Gillon, 66, of Rhoads ave., Haddonfield, was operating a train Dec. 5 which killed John Wawrzyniak, 14, and his sister, Karen, 9, on a trestle at Mechanic and Louis sts.
The motorist, Samuel Trazzera, 39, of Mountain st., Philadelphia, was identified as the driver of a car which killed Mrs. Mary J. Grey, 76, of 842 Pearl st., Dec. 8 as she was walking at 10th and Penn sts.
Police Seeking Hidden Motive in Bar Slaying
Camden Courier-Post —
Doubt ‘Brawl’ Explanation in Fatal Bellmawr Shooting of Andrew Scarduzio
COUNTY DETECTIVE CHIEF ORDERS MORE QUIZZING
Police sought a “hidden motive” for the slaying early Sunday of Andrew Scarduzio, Eighth ward political worker, in a Bellmawr taproom.
Little credence was given to the story that the shooting occurred during a brawl which followed the barring of three men from the taproom at 5.30 a. m.
County Detective Chief Lawrence T. Doran today ordered the questioning of two women, one a resident of Camden, who were at the establishment when the shooting occurred.
Fresh Quiz Ordered
Doran also ordered further questioning of Dale Rose, proprietor of the saloon where the shooting occurred, on the Black Horse pike, at Bellmawr.
A third man was taken to City Hall early today for questioning by police, but whether he was held was not disclosed.
He is Joseph Romanowski, 28, of Mt. Vernon street, near Orchard street. According to Doran the latest man questioned denied he was present at the time of the shooting of Scarduzio, but was there two hours before when there was an argument over who was to pay for the drinks.
Romanowski was taken into custody in a tavern near his home by Detective Sergeant Thomas Murphy.
“I was at the Bellmawr saloon at 3 a. m., when the bartender closed the place for the night,” Romanowski told Doran, the detective chief said. “But I did not return at 5 a. m., when the murder was committed.”
Two Others Held
Police said the only criminal record against Romanowski was an arrest 10 years ago for carrying concealed deadly weapons. Disposition of the case is not on record.
The second man questioned and held in connection with the investigation is Joseph Lenkowski, 29. According to Dominic “Mickey” Hanley, bartender, who had an argument with five men over payment of drinks at 3 a. m., Lenkowski was one of them. Lenkowski is being held as a material witness.
Stephan Jaskiewicz, 22, a criminal registrant who came here from Pittsburgh in 1937, was held for investigation Sunday night.
Two other men are being sought. They are believed to have been members of the trio which forced its way into the Black Horse pike tavern, engaged in a free-for-all battle, fired seven shots from three guns and ran out.
Scarduzio, Eighth ward political worker, was shot in the groin and the ankle and died several hours later in West Jersey Hospital. The dead man was a brother of Nicholas Scarduzio, recently employed by City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety, to check parking law violations. Nicholas was a witness to the shooting.
Lenkowski, who was arrested yesterday, first broke into police records in May, 1931, when he was convicted of being one of four bandits who broke into the old Bridge Cafe at Front and Pearl streets. One of the bandits was killed by Policeman Everett Joslin. A jury convicted Lenkowski and on its mercy recommendation he was sent to Rahway.
Still Seeking Motive
When arrested by Chief Doran and City Detective Harry Kyler, Lenkowski gave his address as 535 South Eighth street. He was booked after being taken to Bellmawr for identification.
Hanley told the police that when the men refused to pay for what had been served to them, he said: “Okay. It’s my mistake and we’ll call it a little Christmas party on the house.”
A. B. C. Enters Case
No guns were flashed on the first visit and no reports of threats by the departing quintette have been made public.
Three agents for the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission entered the case yesterday to determine why Rose’s place was open at 5.30 Sunday morning. The agents are William Brooks, Bayard Sullivan and Roscoe Lockwood. They went to Bellmawr and took statements from Rose and others who were in the tavern at the time of the shooting.
The A. B. C. entered the case after the borough council at a special meeting Sunday afternoon suspended Rose’s license pending investigation by the council, mayor and county officials.
Police Seek ‘Break’ in Sadowski Death
Camden Courier-Post —
Vengeance by Quinn and Doublecross Seen as Likely Motives
Police today were hopeful of a “lucky break” which might help them to solve the slaying of Mitchell Sadowski, 27-year-old ex-convict shot to death here Friday midnight.
While they were following up every clue, however meagre, the investigators admitted they were without any definite leads to the identity of the killer.
Local and county detectives were investigating the possibility that Sadowski was killed by or on orders of Mickey Quinn, recently escaped holdup man, or by someone else in reprisal for a recent $1800 holdup allegedly perpetrated by Sadowski.
Sadowski was killed by shotgun blasts through the right eye, head and side as he left the Camden Pottery plant, Mt. Vernon and Orchard streets, where he was employed as a kiln operator.
Doublecross Suspected
City Detective Thomas Murphy said he had been informed Sadowski had held up a Camden sportsman and robbed him of $1800 which the latter won in a dice game. Murphy also said he was investigating the possibility Sadowski was killed in reprisal for that job as well as the alternative that Sadowski may have doublecrossed the Quinn mob in giving information on the Casablanca roadhouse holdup.
Sadowski has a criminal record dating back to 1933, when, at the age of 14, he was arrested for auto theft and attempted robbery of a chain store.
He was out on probation and parole from a sentence for the $4119 holdup of the First National Bank of Marlton when on June 14, 1939, he was picked up by Detective Gus Pfleiderer in a stolen car. Pfleiderer walked up to Sadowski as he was sitting in the parked car on Kaighn avenue near Mt. Ephraim avenue. As Pfleiderer walked up to him, Sadowski attempted to escape. Pfleiderer drew his gun and warned Sadowski he would shoot.
“Go Ahead, Kill Me”
“Go ahead and shoot and kill me,” the parolee answered, according to Pfleiderer. “I’d rather be killed than go back to state prison.” Pfleiderer said Sadowski threw away a pair of dark glasses and tried to hide a flashlight as he was awaiting the patrol car.
Police records show Sadowski has been involved in at least four holdup and robbery arrests and a series of attempted burglaries.
Detectives said they fear other Camden police characters and one from Philadelphia may meet Sadowski’s fate if his killers are not located quickly. One of the men said to be “on the spot” is Leon Grenkwicz, 30, of Bellmawr, who was shot March 22, 1945, when Romeo De Sanctis, star witness in the Casablanca robbery, was slain by gang guns. Grenkwicz recovered from the shooting but police have not been able to locate him since.
Cops Give Warning Quinn Is ‘Red Hot’
Camden Courier-Post —
Desperado Is Likened to A-Bomb; Hunt Centers Here and in Phila.
Underworld haunts throughout the East were being scanned today for a possible clue to the whereabouts of Michael J. “Mickey” Quinn, No. 1 fugitive of the area, who is said by police to be “as hot as an atomic bomb.”
The search of known criminal hangouts began following a request of FBI agents and Camden police.
Quinn escaped Nov. 24 from a Washington, D. C., jail when Catherine Davis, a 17-year-old sales girl smuggled four hacksaw blades into the prison hidden in a magazine. Four other inmates went out with Quinn. He was committed to the jail to await sentence on a conviction of holdup and robbery of a national bank messenger in the capital city.
Camden police are seeking Quinn as chief suspect in the murder of Mitchell Sadowski, slain last Friday midnight as he emerged from his place of employment at Mt. Vernon and Orchard streets.
It was reported the search for Quinn is being given particular attention in Philadelphia. Pointing to the fact Quinn formerly lived there, police believe he may have more “connections” in that city.
Suspected of the double murder of Patsy Castagno and Mrs. Mary Faulkner in a West Philadelphia apartment early this year police believe Quinn will seek assistance from some of his “pals” who are suspected of helping him in the slaying.
Castagno and Sadowski were prison mates of Quinn at Trenton state prison. After their release Castagno and Sadowski kept in constant touch with one another, police said.
At the time of the double Philadelphia killing, police said Quinn was the chief suspect because Mrs. Faulkner was his “girl friend” and Castagno became too friendly with her while delivering money from Quinn.