Philip Street

Philip Street is in the Centerville Section of Camden and has seen much change over the last 135 plus years, since coming into Camden with the annexation of the former Newton Township in 1871. The street at one time ran south from 851 Van Hook Street, crossing Central Avenue and Ferry Avenue, and at one time was intended to go as far south as Bulson Street.

After World War I a city swimming pool and playground was built on the east side of Philip Street, between Central Avenue and Ferry Avenue. In the early 1950s the entire block, running from Van Hook Street to Central Avenue, was taken and razed to make room for the Roosevelt Manor public housing project, as was the entire west side of the block running from Central Avenue to Ferry Avenue, with the exception of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which is still there. Also in 1947 the All America Apartments, a privately held development, were built with units on the east side of Philip Street between Ferry Avenue and Chelton Avenue. In the early 2000s the entire Roosevelt Manor project was demolished and eventually rebuilt, with a community center on the northwest corner of Philip Street and Ferry Avenue. A public library was also built in the 2000s, sitting on the southeast corner of this same intersection. The city pool is long gone, but all of Philip Street between Central Avenue and Ferry Avenue is still park and playground.