Introduction
Riley Street ran south from 419 Washington Street for one block to Berkley Street. There were ten two-story brick rowhouses on Riley Street, five to each side, numbered 431 to 440. The E.A. Stevens School’s lot backed against the houses on the east side of Riley Street.
Camden City Directories as far back as 1875 show listings on Riley Street. By 1947 only four houses were standing. The 1969 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory shows one house, 436 Riley Street, still occupied, and the party that had the telephone had moved by October of 1970. It is possible that the last house on Riley Street fell victim to the rioting of 1969.
Riley Street — Sanborn Map, 1891
Sanborn Map of Riley Street — 1891. The map was published with the image at a 90-degree angle; Berkley Street is to the south and Washington Street is to the north.
400 Block of Riley Street
Edward Jubb — Camden Fire Department. 433 Riley Street, 1885.
Walter A. “Weep” Stanton — 439 Riley Street, 1880.
400 Block of Riley Street — Occupants
City directory records, 1875–1969.
431 Riley Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1877 | Edwin Carles |
| 1878 | Samuel String |
| 1880 | Robert Wible |
| 1900 | Charles Kauffman |
| 1904 | Adolph Schick |
| 1908–1924 | Malachi Adams |
| 1921–1930 | Henry Hughes |
| 1930 | Samuel Booker |
| 1947–1950 | Jack Bush & Family |
| 1955 | Senatus Lodge 76, IOOF |
433 Riley Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1885 | Edward Jubb |
| 1933 | Samuel & Henry Thompson |
| 1947 | Wilber Sedden |
434 Riley Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1875 | William H. Doughten |
436 Riley Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Herman D. Jordan |
| 1969 | J.A. Washington |
437 Riley Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887 | William C. DuBell & Family |
438 Riley Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1876–1878 | John R. Coulter Jr. |
| 1914 | Mrs. Ethel White |
| 1947 | John Goodman |
439 Riley Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880 | James Stanton & Family |
| 1884 | Peter Geibler |
Related: Riley Is a Good Name — 431 Riley Street, 1955.
Related: 2 Arrested as Police Seize Still in Home — 433 Riley Street (Samuel & Henry Thompson), 1933.
Related: Defies Efforts Of 2 Chums to Rescue Him — 431 Riley Street (William Bush), 1950.
Related: Camden News In Brief — 438 Riley Street (Mrs. Ethel White), 1914.
Related: Peter Geibler — 439 Riley Street (Peter Geibler), 1884.
Riley Is a Good Name
Camden Courier-Post –
RILEY IS A GOOD NAME to mention today—St. Patrick’s day—but this structure at 431 Riley st., is nothing the Irish could brag about. Neither can Camden City, which condemned this property on April 28, 1954 as “flagrantly unsafe, unsanitary and a grave fire hazard.”
City records list the owner as Senatus Lodge 76, IOOF, care of William Dreher, of 832 Elm st. Built in 1875, this two-story home once “boasted” of an outside toilet and a dirt basement.
2 Arrested as Police Seize Still in Home
Camden Courier-Post – June 6 & 7, 1933
2 ARRESTED AS POLICE SEIZE STILL IN HOME
Samuel Thompson, 70, and his brother, Henry, 57, of 433 Riley Street, were arrested late last night when police raided their home and seized a 150-gallon still and a quantity of mash.
They were held for violation of the city disorderly house ordinance and will be arraigned in police court today. The raid was made by Lieutenant Herbert Anderson and Detectives Walter Smith, John Trout and Harry Kyler.
BROTHERS, 60 AND 57, JAILED IN STILL RAID
Samuel Thompson, 60, and his brother, Henry, 57, both of 433 Riley street, were sentenced to jail for 90 days by Police Judge Pancoast yesterday when they were unable to pay fines of $100 which were imposed on charges of operating a still.
The brothers were arrested Monday night following a raid on their home in which police seized a 150-gallon still and a quantity of mash. They pleaded guilty.
Defies Efforts Of 2 Chums to Rescue Him
Camden Courier-Post –
A 16-year-old boy was drowned in the Cooper river, near Eleventh and Linden streets, today after he jumped into the water, apparently to escape the heat.
The boy, William Bush, of 431 Riley street, was brought to Cooper hospital, where physicians used artificial respiration in an effort to save his life. Dr. Llewelyn Hunsicker pronounced the boy dead.
According to police, Bush, who could not swim, had been playing on the bank with two companions, Thomas Brown, 16, of 320 Washington street, and Raymond Hickman, 15, of 318 Washington street.
Police said the three decided to take a dip in the river. The Bush boy asked the others to watch him while he jumped in. He then leaped from the bank and immediately began bobbing up and down.
At first the other two thought Bush was joking, but soon realized that he was in trouble. Brown leaped in after him, but Bush was frantic by then and drove Brown away with his flailing arms.
Forced to Quit Effort
Another boy, Dennis Conway, 16, of 717 Fern street, who was swimming nearby, approached Bush and tried to grab him, but Conway also was forced to abandon the effort to save Bush when the latter thrashed at him.
Conway then shouted to one of the others to call the police. The boy was forced to run several hundred yards to the Scott-Smith Cadillac Co. to make the telephone call.
Fire Rescue Squad No. 1, at Fifth and Arch streets, under the direction of Battalion Chief Harry Wagner, administered artificial respiration until the arrival of Dr. Hunsicker, brought from Cooper hospital by police.
Orders Boy to Hospital
Dr. Hunsicker expressed belief Bush was already dead, but ordered the boy taken to the hospital for still further attempts to revive him.
Camden News In Brief
Philadelphia Inquirer –
Eating a combination of corn and lemon pie resulted in Mrs. Ethel White, aged 24 years, of 438 Riley street, Camden, being taken to the Homeopathic Hospital, a victim of ptomaine poisoning.
Peter Geibler
Philadelphia Inquirer –
Peter Geibler, of Riley street, above Hamilton, Camden, became insane yesterday from overwork and religious excitement, and being considered dangerous, was taken to the city hall and locked up and arrangements made to take him to the Blackwood Insane Asylum to day.