Historic Camden, NJ

David Baird Company

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Camden NJ History
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Alongside Elevators to the new Camden Bridge

The David Baird Company was founded by Irish immigrant David Baird Sr. in 1878. A protege of William Joyce Sewell, David Baird Sr. found a great success in the lumber business, and after Sewell’s death in 1901, led the Republican party in Camden for many years. David Baird’s business was national in nature, as he had lumber operations in eight states and operated ship’s spar yards in five different cities.

When David Baird Sr. passed in 1927, his son, David Baird Jr. took control of the company.

Much of the business of the David Baird Company was in lumber used in ship and barge construction. When the demand for wooden ships began to fall off after 1935, and the increased use of reinforced steel in construction. business declined. David Baird Jr., who was more heavily involved in the insurance business as president of the Smith-Austermuhl Insurance Agency, closed the yard and sold off its assets in June of 1950.

The site of the Baird lumberyard was the location of the Campbell Field baseball stadium, built in 1999 and torn down by 2018.

Related Photos

This mill is equipped with all modern labor-saving improvements for the manufacture of custom lumber.
Front End of Modern Sawmill This mill is equipped with all modern labor-saving improvements for the manufacture of custom lumber.
Alongside Elevators to the new Camden Bridge
Alongside Elevators to the new Camden Bridge
Group of Electric and Steam Cranes which handle units of lumber in and out of yard
Group of Electric and Steam Cranes which handle units of lumber in and out of yard
Group of Electric and Steam Cranes which handle units of lumber in and out of yard
Group of Electric and Steam Cranes which handle units of lumber in and out of yard
Group of Electric and Steam Cranes which handle units of lumber in and out of yard
Group of Electric and Steam Cranes which handle units of lumber in and out of yard
Discharging barge load of North Carolina sizes of three and better boards manufactured at our own mill at Haystack, Virginia
Discharging barge load of North Carolina sizes of three and better boards manufactured at our own mill at Haystack, Virginia
Discharging barge load of North Carolina sizes of three and better boards manufactured at our own mill at Haystack, Virginia
Lot of White Oak Logs suitable for ship and heavy construction.
Lot of White Oak Logs suitable for ship and heavy construction.
One of the labor saving devices adaptable for the distribution of lumber
One of the labor saving devices adaptable for the distribution of lumber
One of the labor saving devices adaptable for the distribution of lumber
One of the labor saving devices adaptable for the distribution of lumber
David Baird Co. Lumber Yard, 1940s
David Baird Co. Lumber Yard, 1940s

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