Span of a Century: 1900s

The old Market House, which stood at 414–422 Federal Street, was totally destroyed by fire on May 13, 1900. On this site the Public Service building was erected, which now houses the Camden Library.

December 1, 1901 was the first day on which automobile owners were required to register with the Clerk of the Board of Freeholders. Each automobile was required to display a tag furnished by this official. A speed limit of ten miles per hour was fixed for all county roads.

The oil cloth plant of R.H. & B.C. Reeve was acquired by the Farr & Bailey Oil Cloth Company on May 21, 1902.

The Library Committee of City Council, on February 24th, adopted a resolution presented by Councilman Charles Ellis, formally accepting Andrew Carnegie’s offer of $100,000 for a public library in Camden. On April 28, 1903 the Free Library Trustees recommended the purchase of the Dialogue property, at Broadway & Line Street, 80 x 1600 feet, for the new Carnegie Library. The sum asked was $15,900 and on November 4, 1903 the property was obtained for that sum.

Forest Hill Park, of about eighty acres on the Cooper River, was purchased in 1904.

The Camden Park Commission on March 12, 1905 opened bids for the improvement of the tract of 80 acres known as Red Hill Park (later Forest Hill Park).

The old Armory building at West and Mickle Streets was burned down on March 16, 1906. The building was built in 1877 by the Farmer’s and Butchers’ Market Company with the intention of starting a large wholesale and retail market. The venture was not a success and after the building had been used for theatrical purposes for several years, it was taken over on June 9, 1883, by the 6th Regiment, National Guard of New Jersey, as an armory. When the Armory on Haddon Avenue was completed in 1898 the regiment moved there, and the old building was used for athletic exhibitions, roller skating, and for storage. The Camden Electrics of the National Basketball League, the first professional basketball league ever organized, made this building their home from 1898 until the team folded in 1904.

City Council, on February 28, 1907, adopted the coat of arms for the city. The design was proposed by the Camden Historical Society. The City Seal, containing the coat of arms, was adopted by Council on June 25, 1908.

The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was consecrated on May 3, 1908.

An effort was being made in January 1909 by the Anti-Tuberculosis League to raise a fund with which to pay a trained nurse, who would make daily visits to persons suffering with the disease and give them appropriate treatment.