Span of a Century: 1850s

The “Dudley Charter” for the City of Camden, written by Thomas H. Dudley, was passed on March 5, 1850. The ward division — North, Middle, and South — were retained.

The drug store at Fifth and Federal Street, which was still in existence in 1928, was opened by Dr. T.G. Rowand in 1851. This store was owned successively by A.P. Brown and Dr. George M. Beringer. By 1947 the Beringer pharmacy had relocated to 801 Market Street, where the pharmacy would remain in business through at least 1959.

St. John’s Parish was incorporated on January 7, 1852, having been in its inception a mission of St. Paul’s Parish. In 1853 a lot was secured at the northwest corner of Broadway and Royden Street. The “Floating Chapel of the Redeemer for Seamen of the Port of Philadelphia”, moored at the foot of Spruce Street, Philadelphia, was bought, removed from the two canal boats upon which it rested, and drawn across open lots and placed on this site. This building was re-christened as St. John’s and was used as a place of worship from September 11, 1853 until Christmas Day of 1870, when it burned down. A new stone building was at once erected, the cornerstone being laid on April 21, 1871, by Bishop Odenheimer. The parish buildings were added in 1884–1885. The Men’s Club was opened on May 29, 1893.

The Camden City Medical Society was organized June 2, 1853.

A rolling mill was erected at the head of Third Street in 1854, for the manufacture of bar iron. This plant subsequently became a part of the Camden Rolling Mills Company. It was badly damaged by a fire on December 23, 1867, but was rebuilt. At the time of the fire it was one of the most extensive industries in Camden, but misfortune overtook it after the death of its active head, J.W. Middleton. It was sold by order of the United States District Court in 1870. The foundry was purchased by Jesse W. Starr & Sons, who sold the rolling mill and attached property to Philadelphia capitalists.

The Third Baptist Church on Broadway above Van Hook Street was founded on August 1, 1855 under the name of Stockton Baptist Church. Its place of meeting was in a building on Van Hook Street, which had been erected in 1854 for the use of the Sunday School by those who subsequently founded this church organization. This building was sold to the Church of Our Savior in 1863 and a new one erected on the present site on Broadway. The name of the church was changed in 1871 to the Third Baptist Church, the reason for the change being that under the new charter the town of Stockton became part of the Eighth Ward of the City of Camden.

The Camden Light Artillery Company was organized November 24, 1855 with Isaac W. Mickle, who had served as a Captain in the New Jersey Battalion during the Mexican War. When the Civil War broke out thirty-one of the thirty-six members entered the Union service under Captain Mickle.

Trinity German Evangelical Lutheran Church organized December 22, 1857.

The Washington Grays were organized in 1858. When President Lincoln issued the first call for troops on April 15, 1861, 46 out of a muster roll of 50 immediately volunteered. Within four days this number was increased to one hundred and was mustered into service at Trenton as part of Company A, Fourth Regiment.

The first Catholic Church in Camden was opened October 9, 1859, and dedicated by Bishop Bayley on November 20th. This building was situated at 5th Street and Taylor Avenue. Previous to this time services were held and masses said in the old City Hall, in Starr’s Hall, and in private houses by visiting priests. The original church was used as a chapel until the completion of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Broadway and Market Street. This building was formally opened on July 27, 1866. The Parochial School was erected in 1874; and the Catholic Lyceum opened January 18, 1897.