Railroad Avenue
RAILROAD AVENUE ran (no kidding) from Kaighn Avenue to Jefferson Street on the west side of the railroad tracks as late as 1969. In time Railroad Avenue between Kaighn and Jackson Street disappeared, the blocks between Atlantic Avenue and Jackson Street being absorbed by Camden Iron & Metal.
Early in the 20th century a rail station existed along the tracks at just to the south of Van Hook Street, and the one block of houses that had Railroad Avenue as an address lay between Van Hook and Ferry Avenues. Today if you are traveling east on Van Hook Street, look to the right just before the railroad tracks… you CAN turn right, but only travel about 100 feet down what was once Railroad Avenue before coming to an earthen barrier to prevent vehicle traffic along the tracks. A similar barrier exists on the Ferry Avenue side.
If you walk along the tracks in the 1700 block of Railroad Avenue, all you will see as of February 2004 are two street light poles with street light fixtures that no longer work, a chain link fence that once surrounded 1743 Railroad Avenue, a small section of brick wall that once belonged to that address, and an iron post in the middle of the block that also once was part of a chain link fence. Other than some depressions in the ground where houses once stood, and one or two mounds of what may have been demolition debris, there is no other physical evidence of the homes that once stood there.
A Railroad Avenue Memory
My wife’s family lived on Railroad Avenue many years ago and I have been trying to locate it, do you have any idea where it was?
1600 Block of Railroad Avenue
1600 Block of Railroad Avenue
1635 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900 | William Booth & Family |
1643 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1913 | Mrs. Maria Giordano |
Death Notice — Philadelphia Inquirer, March 26, 1900
BOOTH.—On March 23, 1900, William Booth, aged 60 years. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Tuesday afternoon, March 27, at 3.30 o’clock, from his late residence, No. 1645 Railroad avenue, Camden, N. J. Interment at New Camden Cemetery.
Marriage Licenses — Camden Daily Courier, May 23, 1913
MARRIAGE LICENSES
An echo of the brutal murder of Mrs. Maria Giordano, at her home at 1643 Railroad avenue, several weeks ago, was recalled at the City Clerk’s office today when Atica Giordano, the 20-year-old daughter of the slain woman and Dominick Di Carmino, of 348 Spruce street, took out a marriage license.
On the day of the murder, Carmino and Miss Giordano, were arrested at the Spruce street address, on suspicion by Detective Fitzsimmons, on account of the fact that the parents of the girl opposed her marriage to Carmino.
A thorough investigation by the authorities; however, established the innocence of the couple and they were released from custody. The real murderer of the woman is still at large.
Additional wedding licenses granted are as follows:
Louis Masio, aged 23 years, of 1808 South Fourth street, and Margaret Weekley, of 271 Liberty street.
Daniel E. Williams, of 2025 South Cecil street, Philadelphia, and Helen Ragan, of 2027 Cecil street, Philadelphia.
Leo Basiege, aged 37 years, of 937 Mt. Vernon street, and Florence M. McFarland, aged 22 years, of 427 Mt. Vernon street.
Intersection of Railroad Avenue and Van Hook Street
Intersection of Railroad Avenue and Van Hook Street, as seen from Route 676 — 2011. Railroad Avenue, barely detectable in 2011, runs parallel to the tracks on their east side. Photo by Gabriel Angemi.
1700 Block of Railroad Avenue
1700 Block of Railroad Avenue
1705 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Labinia Broadwater |
1707 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Joseph Prader |
1709 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930–1940 | Harry Roberts |
| 1947 | Steven Russian |
1711 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Mark Mills |
1723 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Benjamin Domansky |
| 1930 | Mark Domansky |
| 1947 | No Return |
1725 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Walter Clark & Family |
| 1930 | Walter & Ruth Clark |
| 1930 | Mara Clark |
| 1930 | Jenny Clark |
| 1930 | Irving Clark |
| 1930 | Russell Clark |
| 1930 | Florence Clark |
| 1940 | Lewis Romer Sr. & Family |
| 1940 | Lewis & Helen Romer |
1727 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1966 | Thomas Robinson |
1729 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Mrs. Mary Gibbs |
| 1947 | Brantley Fisher |
1737 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Carrie Burt |
| 1930 | James Tillman |
1739 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1940 | Adeline Wallace |
| 1947 | Mrs. Bertha Rogers |
1741 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Catherine Richardson & Family |
| 1930 | Corrine Richardson |
| 1930 | Catherine Richardson |
| 1930 | William Cromartie (boarder) |
| 1940 | Martin Alexander & Family |
| 1947 | Thomas Blair & Family (helper) |
| 1947 | Thomas & Pauline Blair |
1743 Railroad Avenue
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Howard Pollitt & Family |
| 1930 | Howard & Lucy Pollitt |
| 1930 | Beulah Pollitt |
| 1930 | Joseph Pollitt |
| 1930 | Hilda Pollitt |
| 1930 | Eva Pollitt |
| 1930 | India Pollitt |
| 1930 | Richard Pollitt |
| 1930 | Edward Pollitt |
| 1930 | Pauline Pollitt |
| 1930 | Estelle Pollitt |
| 1930 | Marjorie Pollitt |
| 1930 | Elsie Pollitt |
| 1947 | Louis Wallace & Family (helper) |
| 1947 | Louis & Adeline Wallace |
Joseph T. Michael — Camden Courier-Post, November 28, 1959
JOSEPH T. MICHAEL
Joseph T. Michael, 82, died Wednesday at his home, 1725 Railroad ave. Born in Philadelphia, he lived in Camden 60 years. He was a stationary engineer with Camden County and was stationed at the central power plant when he retired 12 years ago. He was also a member of the Holy Name Society of Sacred Heart Church.
Surviving are four sons, Joseph Lutz; Lawrence J.; Joseph F., all of Camden; William, of Sewell; three daughters, Mrs. Lena Creamer; Mrs. Anna Lovell; Mrs. Helen Mack, all of Camden; a brother Frank, of Barrington; 15 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Friends and relatives will meet at 8.30 a. m. Wednesday in the Frank J. Leonard Funeral Home, 1451 Broadway, prior to the 9.30 a. m. high Mass of requiem in Sacred Heart Church, Broadway and Ferry ave. Friends may call at the funeral home Tuesday night. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Chews Landing.
1727 Railroad Avenue — William T. Prader Family
William T. Prader & Family, 1727 Railroad Avenue, 1930–1947. William T. & Catherine “Katie” Prader; Dorothy, Margaret, William, Edwin, Dolores, Loretta, and Joan Prader.
Crowd Sees Aged Woman Block Railroad’s Move — Camden Post-Telegram, October 9, 1906
Mrs. Mary Gibbs, Seated in Flag-Draped Chair, Successfully Defies Gang of Italians.
CONTRACTOR VAINLY APPEALS TO POLICE
Seated in an arm chair draped with the national colors and facing a silk flag the staff of which was stuck in the earth, Mrs. Mary Gibbs, an aged woman, of 1729 Railroad avenue, successfully defied the efforts of a gang of about forty Italian laborers to dig a trench in front of her home this morning, while several hundred persons looked on and applauded her.
Some time ago workmen engaged on the new seashore trolley road endeavored to plant a pole on Mrs. Gibbs’ property, but she thwarted their efforts. Last week two big concrete piers were erected on the east side of the track directly opposite Mrs. Gibbs’ home. It was stated that it was the intention to erect a platform above the tracks to be equipped with the latest improved signals to be used for the main line of the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad and the cut-off, which begins a short distance above Vanhook street and extends to the old Camden and Atlantic Railroad. This latter line, when elevated, will be used as the trolley line to the seashore.
As soon as Mrs. Kelly learned what was the ultimate object of the company she determined upon a line of action and members of the family took turns in watching to see that the railroad company did not steal a march upon them.
This morning shortly after 9 o’clock the Italians, headed by a boss and Detective Harry Curtis, came upon the scene. The foreman immediately marked out the lines of the excavation he wanted made.
A brawny Italian dug a spadeful of earth and was about to throw it aside when a daughter of Mrs. Gibbs rushed between the Italians and, proudly planting the staff in front of them, defied them to continue the work.
A son followed with the draped chair and Mrs. Gibbs seating herself in it, announced that she would prosecute the first person who touched her or who attempted to dig any more dirt.
A big crowd collected and a number of men threatened violence to anyone who attempted to harm Mrs. Gibbs or to tear down the American flag. The Italians hastily withdrew. In response to a telephone message Captain Stanley, Sergeant Hyde and Policemen Booth and Miles went to the scene.
Detective Curtis wanted the police to remove the aged woman so that the laborers could go on with the work, asserting that City Counsel Bleakly had given an opinion that the railroad company was clearly within its rights, as it only intended to erect the concrete foundations on its own property.
The police declined to interfere unless there was a breach of the peace. The workmen left.
Mrs. Gibbs said she owned the property the railroad company wanted to use to erect an overhead signal system and that as she had not given permission to the railroad company to do so she did not intend that any of its employees or contractors should do so.
Attacked With Rake, Man Sent to Hospital — Camden Courier-Post, June 10, 1933
Cut in a surprise attack by a man with a garden rake, Clarence Zenzater, 32, colored, of 637½ Van Hook Street, was taken to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital yesterday.
He has four puncture wounds of the head and neck, doctors said.
Zenzater, questioned by Second District police, said a man attacked him while he was passing along Railroad avenue, near Van Hook Street.
The man, whose name is known to the police who seek him, struck him with a rake, Zenzater said. Police said the assailant has a criminal record and served five years in state prison after a conviction on charges of shooting two colored men.
Hospital Cases — Camden Courier-Post, February 14, 1938
COOPER
Lewis Raupp, 53, 833 North 6th Street, dog bite of right index finger. Anna Veroline, 34, 318 Walnut Street, sprained ankle. Albert Passarella, 15, 433 Spruce Street, sprained ankle. Thomas J. Owens, 35, 420 Taylor Ave., bruised wrist and knee. Joseph Manfredi, 14, 335 Chestnut Street, infected palm. Margaret Cramer, 9, 323 Erie Street, infected finger. Laurence Wiggle, 5, 505 South 6th Street, cut hand. Joseph Carbone, 18, 336 Walnut Street, cut chin. Thomas DiRenzo, 13, 522 Clinton St., splinter in left foot. Cecelia Homan, 32, 511 Ray Avenue, foreign body in eye. Mary DiVincenzo, 10, 311 Beckett St., foreign body in eye.
WEST JERSEY
Theresa Marolda, 59, 1713 South 4th Street, cut finger. Benjamin Druasowictz, 34, 1282 Van Hook St., cut finger. Charles Mangold, 52, 3 North 4th Street, cut finger. Stanley Kaminski, 25, 1119 Liberty Street, cut hand. Marie Birsch, 15, 697 Van Hook St., foreign particle in eye. Willard Dickson, 3, 1739 Railroad Ave., puncture wound of thigh.
3-Alarm Blaze in South Camden — Camden Courier-Post, October 5, 1966
Fire Hydrant Vandalism Cited
Camden’s director of public works today cited vandalism and improper equipment as reasons for yesterday’s fire hydrant problem at the scene of a three-alarm fire at 1729 Railroad Avenue.
Angelo Errichetti said the hydrant at 7th and Van Hook Streets, had been repaired Sept. 19 and charged vandals with damaging it again. The director also said that water department employes removed the cap on the hydrant opposite 614 Van Hook Street following the fire. Firemen charged they were unable to remove the cap at the time of the fire.
Errichetti said he will have the fire department equipped with heavier wrenches in preparation for a similar incident.
The fire, which destroyed an unoccupied house before it was brought under control, apparently was caused by vandals, according to Fire Capt. Philip A. Stinger. He added that the blaze is under investigation.
The blaze also sparked a double probe when Fire Chief Edward V. Michalak charged the two hydrants were “faulty.” The chief requested an explanation from the water department.
Errichetti explained that the city’s 1750 hydrants are inspected continually as often as manpower provides. He called vandalism the department’s biggest problem.
“Vandals break off fittings for the brass content,” he said. “Then they fill the hydrant with dirt, stones and debris which clog the fire pumpers.”
Errichetti also said he has notified all city junk dealers to report to police anyone attempting to sell the hydrant parts. He further cited the failure of motorists to report damaged hydrants following accidents. He said five were damaged during the past weekend.
The fire, which broke out at 1:28 p.m., destroyed the unoccupied house before it was brought under control at 2 p.m. A nearby home at 1727 Railroad Avenue suffered extensive damage on its roof and wooden window frames, but other neighborhood dwellings were unharmed.
Third Battalion Chief Theodore (Ted) Primas said, however, at its height, the blaze threatened to jump a 10-foot alleyway and burn nearby homes.
2 Firemen Hurt
At one point, the entire rear of the building collapsed and fell inside the walls. Firemen used the roof at 1731 Railroad Avenue to train water into the blazing building.
A fireman, Albert Jones, 26, of 1146 Kenwood Avenue, a member of No. 2 Ladder Company, was treated for a cut left eye at West Jersey Hospital after he was hit by flying glass during “cleanup operations.”
Jones and Thomas Robinson of 1727 Railroad Avenue, who suffered a sprained left ankle while fleeing the intense heat, were the only known victims of the fire.
Unconfirmed reports yesterday claimed one of two vagrants, known by neighbors to have been sleeping in the vacant building, may have been inside when the fire started, but no confirmation was made today.
KNEELING to hold hose in place, firemen backed off a moment later as rear of vacant building at 1729 Railroad Avenue caved in during three alarm blaze yesterday. Two persons were hurt. Probe of faulty fire hydrants has been asked. From Left: Captain Joseph Wolfinger, Albert Jones, William O’Dennis. Photo by Bob Bartosz.
Railroad Avenue — Spring 1974
Railroad Avenue, Spring of 1974. Left to right: Unknown — Earl Robinson, Unknown — Theodore Primas.
Railroad Avenue — February 19, 2004
Railroad Avenue, February 19, 2004. By this date the street had largely disappeared. Top left: looking south from Van Hook Street. Top right: looking northwest from Ferry Avenue. Middle row: looking northwest from Ferry Avenue (note old street lamp on pole); looking northwest. Bottom row: 1743 Railroad Avenue; where houses once were in the 1700 block. Bottom: 1743 Railroad Avenue; looking north from 1743; fence pole and streetlight pole.
Intersection of Jefferson Street & Railroad Avenue
Plenty of Mix Ups Caused by Blaze
Fire Chief’s Horse Ran Away, Store Was Wrecked and Two Victims Went to Hospital
South Camden was thrown into a turmoil yesterday afternoon indirectly through a slight fire at the Dunn Oil Cloth Works, at Railroad avenue and Jefferson street. A vat of oil boiled over and Charles Hampton, of 2124 Miller street, was terribly burned. He was removed to the Cooper Hospital. When the blazing oil set fire to the place an alarm was turned in.
On the way to the fire the carriage containing Chief Elfreth dashed into the moving van of John Schmidt, at Broadway and Chestnut street. The horse ran away and collided with the awning pole of the Story Furniture Company, at Sycamore street, the structure being partly wrecked.
Beneath the awning Harry Haines, a blind man, of 232 Kaighn avenue, was playing a fife for alms. The noise startled him, and when he attempted to get out of the way the frenzied horse dashed over him. Haines was taken to the Cooper Hospital, suffering from lacerations and contusions pretty much all over the body. The fire at the oil cloth factory did less than $25 worth of damage.
Southeast Corner — 1890s–1959: J.C. Dunn & Company, oil cloths. See Samuel S. Elfreth.
Intersection of Chelton Avenue & Railroad Avenue
Southeast Corner — 1890s–1959: Sitley & Son — Grain, Feed, Hardware, Building Supplies.
West Side of Railroad Avenue — 1906
1906 — West side of Railroad Avenue from Jefferson Street to Chelton Avenue.
1906 — West side of Railroad Avenue from Chelton Avenue to Bulson Street.