Introduction
Pavonia Street is east of South 2nd Street, and ran at one time from south Kaighn Avenue to Mechanic Street. The street dates back to at least 1863 and was known as Kaighn’s Row. By 1871 it had been renamed Kaighn’s Alley, and by 1879 was known as Pavonia Street.
In more recent times Pavonia Street ends short of Liberty Street. As of the summer of 2011 there are only five houses standing on Pavonia Street, and of them, only one is occupied. Like its sister street, Hyde Park, which lay just east, running from Kaighn Avenue to Liberty Street, Pavonia Street will soon be just a memory.
1914 Map
1914 map showing the Pavonia Street area.
1946 Map of Camden
1946 map of Camden showing the Pavonia Street area.
Intersection of Kaighn Avenue & Pavonia Street
Intersection of Kaighn Avenue and Pavonia Street. Photographs taken December 22, 2005 and August 24, 2011.
1200 Block of Pavonia Street — Occupants
City directory records, 1878–1947.
1203 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1919–1920 | Elmer Gerhard & Family |
| 1919–1920 | Edward & Eva Gerhard |
| 1919–1920 | Elton Gerhard |
| 1919–1920 | Elglen Gerhard |
1205 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1886 | Mrs. Mary Ambruster |
| 1916–1920 | Richard Lummis & Family |
| 1916–1920 | Richard & Ella Lummis |
| 1916–1920 | Barclay Lummis |
| 1929 | Gone |
1207 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1878–1880 | Edward Finley & Family |
| 1878–1880 | Edward & Susan Finely |
| 1878–1880 | John J. Finley |
| 1878–1880 | Edward F. Finley |
| 1919–1929 | Mrs. Ellen Morgan |
1209 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1916 | Ella Dougherty |
| 1919–1920 | Julius Doughty & Family |
| 1919–1920 | Julius & ELizabeth Doughty |
| 1929 | Gone |
1211 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1919–1920 | George L. Smith & Family |
| 1919–1920 | William Smith |
| 1919–1920 | Harry Smith |
| 1919–1920 | Eddie Smith |
1212 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929 | James M. Metts |
| 1947 | Joseph DeCarlo Jr. |
| 2011 | Gone |
1214 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929 | Joseph DeCarlo |
| 1947 | Joseph E. Swanson |
1216 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929 | Benjamin Domanski |
| 1947 | No Reply to Directory Inquiry |
1218 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929 | Martin Bertolet |
| 1947 | Frank Simone |
1219 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1919–1920 | Edward Murrow & Family |
| 1929 | Frank Yachuck |
| 1941 | Daniel J. Lassby & Family |
| 1941 | Daniel J. & Mildred Knettle Lassby |
| 1947 | Thomas Gamble |
| 2011 | Gone |
1220 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929 | Charles Banke |
| 1947 | Frank Safryn |
1222 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929 | George H. Sessamen |
| 1947 | Mrs. Lena Parks |
1231 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929 | Laura Lauderback |
| 1947 | Gone |
1232 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929 | John H. Mears (trucking) |
| 1929 | John H. Mears |
| 1947 | Gone |
1233 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1885 | Joseph Valentine & Family |
| 1885 | Joseph Valentine |
| 1885 | Ella Z. Valentine |
| 1885 | Annie Valentine |
| 1888–1890 | Henry Eckert & Family (oysterman) |
| 1888–1890 | Harry & Annie Eckert |
| 1891 | Joseph Farley |
| 1903 | Charles J. Heinsius & Family |
| 1947 | Gone |
1234 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1911 | Joseph Smith & Family (wool sorter) |
| 1911 | Joseph & Annie Smith |
| 1911 | Frank Smith |
| 1929 | Mrs. Helen Buffington |
| 1947 | Mrs. Viola Milhausen |
| 2011 | Gone |
1235 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929 | Vacant |
| 1947 | Gone |
1236 Pavonia Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929 | William Marth |
| 1947 | Mrs. Josephine R. Marth |
| 2011 | Gone |
Related: A Slight Fire at 1205 Pavonia Street — Philadelphia Inquirer, March 20, 1886.
Related: Jail for Two Insulters — 1205 Pavonia Street, Philadelphia Inquirer, December 19, 1916.
Related: Holds Bootlegger in Bail — 1209 Pavonia Street, Philadelphia Inquirer, October 16, 1918.
Related: Youth Bares Army Deception To Win Bliss With Bride, 15 — 1219 Pavonia Street, Camden Courier-Post, November 27, 1941.
Related: Alleged Neglect — 1233 Pavonia Street, Camden Post, May 14, 1890.
Related: The Case Postponed — 1233 Pavonia Street, Camden Post, May 19, 1890.
Related: Frank Smith Scalded, 1234 Pavonia Street — Philadelphia Inquirer, November 20, 1911.
A Slight Fire at 1205 Pavonia Street
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A slight fire, caused by an overheated stove occurred at the dwelling of Mrs. Mary Ambruster, No. 1205 Pavonia street, yesterday afternoon. The damage was trifling.
Jail for Two Insulters
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Joseph Juvicz, of Chester, and Mike Toly, of Philadelphia, were sentenced to six and two months in jail at Camden yesterday for shooting at Barclay Lummis, of 1205 Pavonia street, who resented insulting remarks the two had passed toward girls.
Holds Bootlegger in Bail
Philadelphia Inquirer —
On the charge of selling liquor without a license Thomas Bryan, 43 years old, of 811 Locust street, was held under $500 bail by Recorder Stackhouse. The complaint was made by Irene Holloway, a neighbor. Bryan signed a statement admitting that he was guilty of the charge.
Recorder Stackhouse dismissed a disorderly house charge against Ella Dougherty, aged 53 years, of 1209 Pavonia street. The complaint was made by Peter Warburton, of 230 Kaighn avenue, who failed to appear to press the case.
Exterior View, 1214 Pavonia Street, August 2011
1214 Pavonia Street. Photograph taken August 24, 2011.
1214–1222 Pavonia Street, August 2011
1214 to 1222 Pavonia Street. Photographs taken August 24, 2011.
Exterior View, 1216 Pavonia Street, August 2011
1216 Pavonia Street. Photograph taken August 24, 2011.
Exterior View, 1218 Pavonia Street, August 2011
1218 Pavonia Street. Photographs taken August 24, 2011.
Youth Bares Army Deception To Win Bliss With Bride, 15
Camden Courier-Post —
Fort Dix Deserter Enlists, Registers Under Dead Brother’s Name
Tells Story to Cops; Ready to Face Fate
A 20-year-old South Camden bridegroom unburdened his conscience last night so he could be happy as a husband.
The cause of his plight, Daniel Joseph Lassby, of 1219 Pavonia street, told Detective Benjamin Simon, was the fact that he had enlisted in the U. S. Army under his dead brother’s name, later registered for the draft as the deceased brother, and subsequently went a.w.o.l. from Fort Dix.
Lassby was accompanied to police headquarters by his 15-year-old bride, who was Mildred Knettle, formerly of 145 Boyer’s court. After listening to the tale Simon notified Fort Dix authorities.
The youth’s line of affairs with military authorities ended after he and his wife decided to make a “breast of things” and “see what would happen.”
Lassby called police headquarters and told them the story. District Detectives John Huston and Leon Branch were sent down to the home to take him and his wife to the detective bureau. As the pair walked into the bureau, Lassby told Simon: “I have a story to tell you and I am ready to take my punishment.”
Lassby told Simon he enlisted in the Army on May 10, 1938, using his dead brother’s name of Howard Lassby. The brother died when Daniel was only eight months old. The youth was assigned to Panama for two years and subsequently discharged on July 30, 1940.
Last February the youth received a draft questionnaire, also addressed to his brother, Howard, from the local draft board. The youth filled in the questionnaire and returned it. He was called into service on April 24 and assigned to Company C, 1229 Reception Center, at Fort Dix.
After spending 18 more days in the Army, Lassby went absent without leave on May 12. Army authorities lost all track of him after that date.
Meanwhile, Lassby and his bride were married by Common Pleas Judge Clifford A. Baldwin in February. After deserting at Fort Dix, young Lassby obtained a job with Gaudio Brothers, produce merchants, at Second street and Kaighn avenue, in an effort to support his new wife.
The couple last night told Simon they were unable to be happy in their new life, because of worry about the husband’s past troubles.
Lassby is the son of Mrs. Bertha Lassby, and his wife is the daughter of Mrs. Violet Knettle. Simon could not answer the couple’s questions as to what disciplinary proceeding Army authorities will take. Meanwhile, Lassby is being detained at the Camden city jail.
Exterior View, 1220 Pavonia Street, August 2011
1220 Pavonia Street. Photograph taken August 24, 2011.
Exterior View, 1222 Pavonia Street, August 2011
1222 Pavonia Street. Photograph taken August 24, 2011.
Alleged Neglect
Camden Post —
Mrs. Annie Eckert, of 1233 Pavonia street, was arrested this morning by Overseer of the Poor Hunt, on complaint of the Society Prevention Cruelty to Children, on the charge of neglecting her children. Constable Hunt made a visit to the house yesterday, the mother was out. He found one of the children, a boy, 13 years of age, with several other companions “running the growler.” When asked where his mother was, he said, “I don’t know, nor care.” The mother will be given a hearing before Recorder Braker to-morrow.
The Case Postponed
Camden Post —
The case of Mrs. Annie Eckert, of 1233 Pavonia street, was brought before Recorder Braker again this morning, at the instance of Secretary Abel Smith, for the Society of Prevention to Cruelty to Children. The husband, who is an oysterman, was away at the time Mrs. Eckert was arrested, but came on this morning. The secretary and Recorder, after a consultation, postponed the case for two weeks. During this time the mother will retain charge of the children.
Frank Smith Scalded, 1234 Pavonia Street
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Upsetting a pot of boiling water, Frank Smith, aged 4 years, of 1234 Pavonia street, was severely scalded about the face. He was taken to Cooper Hospital.