Silver Street
SILVER STREET is a two block street that runs north to south from Line Street to Division Street, west of South 8th Street. In the rear of the homes in the 700 block, that is from Line to Pine Street, is a short street with six homes named Gold Street, that is only accessible through an unnamed alley north of 708 Silver Street. By 2009 all of the homes on both Silver Street and Gold Street had been razed. Silver Street still exists in the sense that one can drive through it. Outside of the curb cutouts, all traces of Gold Street are now gone.
Silver Street does not appear in the 1885 Sanborn Maps of Camden. Houses in both the 700 and 800 blocks appear in the 1888–1889 Camden City Directory. There were still homes on both blocks as late as 1980. There are no homes listed on Gold Street in the 1930 Census, however.
Silver Street — Sanborn Maps
Silver Street — 1891 Sanborn Map.
Silver Street — 1906 Sanborn Map.
Intersection of Silver Street & Line Street
Top: Looking east on Line Street to the intersection of Pine & Silver Streets — 2009. Middle: Looking south on Silver from Line Street — 2015. Bottom: Looking south on Silver from Line Street at intersection of Silver Street and Gold Street — 2015.
700 Block of Silver Street
700 Block of Silver Street — 1891 Sanborn Map.
700 Block of Silver Street
708 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Vacant |
| 1934 | Harvey Oglesby |
| 1947 | Silas Mack |
709 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Mrs. Dorothy Cannon |
710 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Bertha Hooper |
| 1947 | Eugene G. Geterber |
| 1959–1969 | Charles McBey |
| 1980 | P. McBey |
711 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1895 | Samuel White |
| 1906 | Thomas Harvey |
| 1947 | Henry Hellmus |
| 1967 | John A. Raby |
| 1980 | C. Greene |
712 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1928–1930 | Mrs. Nellie Davis |
| 1930–1947 | Robert H. Barnes |
713 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1913 | Ida Stewart |
| 1947–1980 | Mrs. Nellie Jones |
714 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1909–1916 | Isaac Chambers & Family (Laborer) |
| 1909–1916 | Isaac & Caroline Chambers |
| 1909–1916 | Mary Chambers |
715 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947–1956 | Elsie Hughes |
| 1969–1980 | Vivian Davis |
716 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1928 | Raymond Elsey |
| 1930 | John Fulman |
| 1947 | Thomas A. Curry |
| 1971 | Sadie Demby |
718 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1928 | Robert Bumbrey & Family |
| 1928 | Robert & Clara Bumbrey |
| 1930 | Booker T. Johnson & Family |
| 1930 | Annie Johnson (half-sister) |
| 1930 | Benjamin Johnson (brother) |
| 1930 | Norman Green (nephew) |
| 1947 | Mrs. Rida Thomas |
| 1980 | D. Johnson |
719 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Mrs. Ruby Sanchious |
720 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900–1904 | James Clark & Family (farm laborer) |
| 1900–1904 | James & Esther Ann Thompson Clark |
| 1900–1904 | Charles Clark (grandson) |
| 1905–1917 | Jeremiah W. Brown & Family |
| 1905–1917 | Jeremiah Brown Jr. |
| 1920 | Allen G. Johnson & Family |
| 1920 | Allen G. & Percilla Johnson |
| 1920 | Mary Johnson |
| 1920 | Elva Johnson |
| 1920–1928 | Louis Bumbrey & Family |
| 1920–1928 | Louis & Ruth Bumbrey |
| 1947 | Carlton R. Scott |
| 1956 | Sam Smith |
721 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Mary Butler |
809 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1915–1926 | William H. Stewart & Family |
| 1915–1926 | William H. & Maria Stewart A. William Stewart. |
811 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1909–1912 | Frank Cain & Family |
| 1909–1912 | Frank & Emma Cain |
813 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1940–1947 | George H. Cooper & Family |
| 1940–1947 | George & Georgianna Coopwe |
814 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920–1927 | John A. Morton & Family |
| 1920–1927 | John & Mary Morton |
| 1920–1927 | Marian Morton |
| 1920–1927 | Ethel Morton |
| 1920–1927 | Dorothy Morton |
| 1920–1927 | Fayetta Morton |
| 1920–1927 | Constance Morton |
| 1920–1927 | John R. Morton |
| 1920–1927 | Robert A. Morton |
815 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947–1959 | Charles H. Pratt & Family |
| 1947–1959 | Charles H. & Louise Pratt |
| 1947–1959 | Thelma Ann Pratt |
817 Silver Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1903–1906 | Elwood A. Shorts & Family (coachman) |
| 1903–1906 | Elwood A. & Sarah E. Shorts |
| 1908–1914 | William H. Stewart & Family |
| 1908–1914 | William H. & Maria Stewart |
720 Silver Street — James Clark
James Clark died on 28 Aug 1910 at 923 Walnut Street, Camden, New Jersey. He was buried in Aug 1910 at 329 White Horse Pike, Lawnside, Camden, New Jersey.
Little Ones Started a Blaze — Philadelphia Inquirer, August 16, 1905
Sergeant of Police Edward Hyde, of Camden, was attracted to the house at 708 Silver street yesterday by the screams of children. He found three on a smoke-filled stairway and landing them safely in the street turned in an alarm. The little ones found a box of matches and while playing with them set fire to the bed clothes in the second story front room. The loss will amount to $100.
Driver Hurt Taking Stab Victim to Cooper — Camden Courier-Post, May 2, 1934
DRIVER HURT TAKING STAB VICTIM TO COOPER
William McCloud, 27, colored of 209 Stevens street, was injured last night while taking an injured man to Cooper Hospital, when his automobile collided with a bus at Broadway and Stevens street.
According to Detectives John Kaighn, McCloud was taking his cousin, Harvey Oglesby, 28, colored, of 708 Silver street, to the hospital for treatment of a stab wound received in a fight at Second and Sycamore streets.
McCloud was released after 22 stitches closed cuts of the face and neck. Oglesby was admitted suffering a collapse of the lung. Police are searching for his assailant.
Burglars Busy in Jersey — Philadelphia Inquirer, April 16, 1895
BURGLARS BUSY IN JERSEY
Railroad Stations and Several Houses Robbed.
Numerous robberies occurred in Camden county on Saturday and Sunday nights, but the thieves secured very little booty. The principal points at which they worked were along the Camden and Atlantic Railroad. The railroad officials have put detectives on the robbers’ trail.
The burglars began operations on Saturday night by breaking into the tool house at the junction of the Camden and Atlantic and Philadelphia, Marlton and Medford Railroads, below Haddonfield, and stealing several tools. Then they visited the Ashland Depot, where they pried open the door with a jimmy. They broke open the money drawer and threw the papers upon the floor. In revenge for their failure to find any money they cut the tires of Agent A. D. Plank’s bicycle.
The burglars then visited the Kirkwood Depot and made an unsuccessful attempt to blow open the safe. The money drawer was pried open and $1.22 was stolen. Leaving part of their tools in the office the robbers returned to the tool house and stole a hand car. When they reached Gill’s Cut, about a mile from Haddonfield, they threw the car down a steep embankment.
On Sunday night, while Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Risley, of Collingwood, were asleep, burglars ransacked their house and stole about $600 worth of silverware, jewelry and clothing. The thieves gained an entrance by cutting out a pane of glass and unlocking the window.
The residences of John Deane, of 781 Pine street, and Samuel White, of 715 Silver street, Camden, were entered on Saturday night by thieves, who stole provisions from each house. The burglars also entered the bed room, where Mr. White was asleep, and took $1.90 from his pantaloons pockets.
Thomas Henry — Philadelphia Inquirer, October 11, 1906
Thomas Henry, a negro, 37 years old, of 711 Silver street, had several hundred volts of electricity pass through his body yesterday. He was taken to the Cooper Hospital in a serious condition. He was employed at the coke works, and while adjusting a part of a dynamo he came in contact with a live wire.
Camden News Notes — Philadelphia Inquirer, October 6, 1909
Within a few hours after her return home from a trip she had taken to Delaware for her health, Mrs. Alma Brown, of 711 Silver street, died yesterday.
Man Held for Arson to Conceal Robbery — Camden Courier-Post, February 4, 1928
MAN HELD FOR ARSON TO CONCEAL ROBBERY
Radio Set, Clothing Taken From Silver Street House Before Fire
Believed by police to have set fire to the house of a neighbor to cover up the theft of a radio set and a quantity of clothing, Raymond Elsey, 22 years old, 716 Silver street, was being held today while detectives investigated the case.
After visiting her husband who has been a patient at Cooper Hospital for several weeks, Mrs. Nellie Davis returned to her house at 712 Silver street last night to find it badly damaged by fire. The radio set, shoes, dresses and three suits of clothing were missing from a room not reached by the flames.
Patrolman Lawrence Jordan arrested the young man on a warrant sworn out by Mrs. Davis. Elsey had told her in the afternoon he needed money by midnight. Mrs. Davis told detectives this morning. Mrs. Davis said there was no fire in the house when she left.
“I believe the fire had been set in the dining room, for the lamp was smashed and there were signs of oil on the carpet. The whole house smelled of kerosene.” she said. “I had not used the lamp for several days. There was oil in it, however.”
Elsey was in the crowd in front of the house when she returned from the hospital, Mrs. Davis said, and later came into the house to see just how badly it had been damaged.
For a time, firemen who responded to the alarm had a stubborn fight on their hands. While the house is one of a row of 10 brick dwellings, its inside framework was dry, and the fire had had a good start. Nearby houses were threatened before the flames were brought under control.
Mrs. Davis estimated her loss at more than $600.
Beau Slapped Her on Mouth — Camden Daily Courier, April 4, 1913
BEAU SLAPPED HER ON MOUTH
A woman’s shrill screams of murder! and police! sent Policeman David Ellis scurrying out to Eighth and Chestnut streets about one o’clock this morning. When he got there Ellis found the screamer to be Ida Stewart, a young negress, of 713 Silver street. Ida said that Wm. Milton, her beau, had slapped her mouth and kicked her on a leg and she wanted him arrested for assault and battery.
Dave did so and also sent Ida out on a charge of breaking the peace of the night.
Ida calmed down in Police Court and refused to press her complaint against Milton.
Recorder Stackhouse then fined the negro $3.75, which he liquidated and let Ida go.
Negro With Smallpox Discovered in Camden — Philadelphia Inquirer, January 6, 1916
NEGRO WITH SMALLPOX DISCOVERED IN CAMDEN
Alarms Police Department When He Surrenders—Came From Baltimore Prior to Christmas
Camden’s Police Department was thrown into consternation last night when a negro entered and nonchalantly announced to Deputy Chief Hyde that he understood the health authorities were looking for him. “I’ve got the smallpox,” said he.
Within two seconds the visitor had been hustled to a small room where he was kept confined until Inspector Munion, of the Board of Health, was summoned and found the man had a genuine case of the malady. The department and all the occupants were thoroughly disinfected, while the victim was taken to the Municipal Hospital, where he will be kept under strict quarantine. He was found to be Harry Savoy, 32, of Baltimore, Md.
Since before Christmas Savoy has been in Camden visiting relatives on Silver street. A search had been made for the negro in this city.
John Hawkins — Philadelphia Inquirer, 1906–1908
August 13, 1906 — Captain Stanley and a squad of policemen raided the house 716 Silver street yesterday and arrested the reputed proprietor, John Hawkins, colored, and five colored men. Hawkins is charged with keeping a disorderly house.
August 14, 1906 — John Hawkins, an old colored man, of 716 Silver street, was committed to the county jail yesterday by Recorder Stackhouse on the charge of keeping a disorderly house, in which it was testified that pistol firing was a favorite pastime of the habitues.
January 24, 1908 — Stating that his injuries were inflicted by a china plate, but declining to divulge the identity of his assailant, John Hawkins, aged 47 years, of 716 Silver street, Camden, had lacerations of the head and face sewed up at Cooper Hospital last night.
Adkins — Camden Courier-Post, June 21, 1971
ADKINS — Sadie Demby of 716 Silver St., Camden, on June 19, 1971. Age 84 years. Survived by son George Christian, 2 brothers George and Wharton Demby, 3 sisters Mrs. Leona Waters, Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher and Mrs. Hattie Dabney. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral services on Thursday 8 p.m. at St. Luke U.A.M.E. Church, 8th and Division Sts., Camden, where friends may call after 6 p.m. Interment Evergreen Cemetery, Camden. Services under the direction of the Carl Miller Funeral Home.
Accused Couple Freed by Court — Camden Post-Telegram, January 25, 1915
ACCUSED COUPLE FREED BY COURT
No Evidence to Hold Peter V. Moers and Mrs. Cowdrey Arrested Yesterday.
PRIVATE DETECTIVE IN GUISE OF NEGRO
Arrested early yesterday morning at the home of the woman at 717 Silver street on a charge of misdemeanor, Peter V. Moers, a watchmaker, aged 57 years, of 1728 Market street, Philadelphia, and Mrs. Sarah Cowdrey, a Mulatto, aged 38 years, were discharged to-day by Recorder Stackhouse for lack of evidence. The two were taken into custody at the Silver street house by State Detective Frank Miller on a warrant issued by Justice W. Taylor Wright. Both denied the allegation.
Disguised as a negro one of Detective Miller’s operators lurked in the neighborhood until he saw Moers enter the house. He sent word to his chief. They repaired to the house shortly before 2 o’clock, were admitted and placed the two under arrest.
Moers’ wife made the complaint on which the couple were arrested. She lives at 829 South street, Philadelphia. She stated that in May, 1911, she had the couple arrested on a like charge in Philadelphia.
January 26, 1915 — Because there was insufficient evidence to hold them on a misdemeanor charge, Peter V. Moore, aged 57 years, of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Sarah Cowdrey, a mulatto, of 717 Silver street, who were arrested in the woman’s house by Detective Miller after one of his men had disguised himself as a negro, were yesterday dismissed from custody by Recorder Stackhouse. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
720 Silver Street — James Clark & Family
James Clark & Family, 720 Silver Street, 1900–1904. James & Esther Ann Thompson Clark; Charles Clark (grandson). Farm laborer. James Clark died on 28 Aug 1910 at 923 Walnut Street, Camden, New Jersey. He was buried in Aug 1910 at 329 White Horse Pike, Lawnside, Camden, New Jersey.
Hospital Cases — Camden Courier-Post, August 14, 1956
HOSPITAL CASES
WEST JERSEY — John Coney, 5, of 2035 Kossuth st., cut scalp. Danny Sampolski, 5, of 1114 Broadway, burns of back. Joseph West, 15, of 325 Baird ave., Mt. Ephraim, cut forehead. Dennis Trice, 3, of Evergreen Trailer Park, cut forehead. Lester Fuller, 5, of 694 Van Hook st., contusions of face. Frencisco [sic] Colon, 34, of Cemetery ave., Hammonton, cut scalp and injured shoulder.
COOPER — Charlotte Taylor, 8, of 2106 Master st., puncture wound of foot. Sam Smith, 38, of 720 Silver st., cut hand. Edward J. Carroll, 4, of 1012 N. 3rd st., cut fingers.
Intersection of Silver Street & Pine Street
Top: 800 Block of Silver Street — 1891 Sanborn Map. Bottom: Looking east on Pine Street to the intersection of Pine & Silver Streets — 2012.
800 Block of Silver Street
Diphtheria in Camden — Philadelphia Inquirer, November 16, 1894
DIPHTHERIA, IN CAMDEN.
Additional Cases Reported Daily to the Board of Health.
Every day additional cases of diphtheria are reported to the Camden Board of Health. The report for the month ending yesterday showed seventy-four cases of contagious diseases, of which forty-nine were diphtheria cases. Three new cases of diphtheria and one death were reported yesterday from North Camden.
Coroner Hopper had three burials yesterday. One was the case of a child who had been dead since Tuesday, at No. 809 Silver street, but as the house was quarantined the parents could not get out to notify anyone. Directly across the street from this house there was another dead child. The Coroner also buried one of Naomi Drinkhouse’s children, from William and Washington streets. This is the second death in the Drinkhouse family and three other members of the family are seriously ill with the disease. The family is in destitute circumstances. They came from Hulmeville, Pa., about five weeks ago.
The Camden City Medical Society on Wednesday evening passed a resolution calling on the Board of Health to immediately organize a bacteriological laboratory to the end that no delay may ensue in diagnosing contagious diseases.
First Victim of “Fourth” Has Explosion in Pocket — Philadelphia Inquirer, June 7, 1916
FIRST VICTIM OF “FOURTH” HAS EXPLOSION IN POCKET
Camden Lad Badly Burned by Torpedoes—Yells Follow Reports
A William Stewart, 12 years old, of 809 Silver street, Camden, walked along Pine street yesterday, he suddenly became the centre of a miniature bomb explosion. A series of loud reports and much smoke came from the lad’s person followed by vociferous yells.
When pedestrians went to his aid, it was found that a pocketfull of torpedoes the boy was carrying had exploded. His hand and leg were severely burned. He was taken to Cooper Hospital and listed as the first victim of the “Glorious Fourth.”
Camden News Notes — Philadelphia Inquirer, February 25, 1909
Overcome by the fumes at the gas plant at Second and Walnut streets, Frank Kane, a negro, of 811 Silver street, was admitted to the Cooper Hospital yesterday. He was resuscitated.
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 14, 1912
With their lips swollen until they appeared like those of Hottentots, Harry Preller, 11 years old, of 2837 Cleveland avenue, and Irene Steward, 15 years old, of 811 Silver street, were treated at the Cooper Hospital. They were victims of insect stings.
O.V. Catto Lodge Surprise — Camden Post-Telegram, June 5, 1917
On last Saturday evening a large number of the O. V. Catto Lodge, No. 1492, G. U. O. of O. F., assembled at the resident of Allen Washington, 834 Kaighn avenue, and proceeded in a body to 814 Silver street, and tendered a hearty surprise to Isaac Chambers, a worthy brother of the order.
Camden News Notes — Philadelphia Inquirer, July 15, 1903
Edward Simmons, aged 12 years, of 816 Silver street, and Herman Gould, aged 13 years, of 731 Mt. Vernon street, both colored, were yesterday committed to the county jail in Camden on the charge of breaking into the house of Patrick Cleary, 751 Division street.
Mrs. Elizabeth Shorts — Philadelphia Inquirer, September 20, 1903
Mrs. Elizabeth Shorts, colored aged 23 years, of 817 Silver street, was admitted to Cooper Hospital early yesterday morning suffering from a gash in her left leg ten inches long. Heroic measures were resorted to before the surgeons succeeded in stopping the flow of blood, thus saving her life. The woman’s husband was arrested on the charge of doing the cutting.
Intersection of Silver Street & Division Street
Top: Looking west on Division Street to the intersection of Division & Silver Streets — 2012. Bottom: Looking north on Silver Street from Division Street — 2012.