Category: Historical Accounts

  • Old Ferries – Annals of Camden NJ

    Old Ferries – Annals of Camden NJ

    In this age of inventions, improvements and ever-changing modes of transportation, the ferry boat is still an important factor in carrying the traveller across that “goodly and noble” river which forms the boundary between the two Quaker Colonies of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, although founded several years after the first settlers had arrived in…

  • Basketball States: James F. Campbell

    Name: James F. “Soup” Campbell Height: 5′ 9″ Weight: 160 lbs College: None Born: 1896 Died: March 4, 1942 Hometown: Homestead, PA. Year Team League GA FGM FTM FTA PCT AST PTS AVG 1914-1915 Homestead Shippers Indep 1915-1916 Tower City (Pa) Indep 26 86 0 172 6.6 1916-1917 Pitcairn IBLWP 17 76 9 161 9.5…

  • Remembering Doctor Paul Cohen

    I’ve been meaning to ask you for quite awhile if you know of, or are related to our family Doctor from the 50’s and 60’s. His name was Paul Cohen and he was at 5th and State Streets. He treated every member of our family from the early 50’s thru the mid 60’s. The good…

  • Captain Benjamin Coley – History of Camden County

    Captain Benjamin D. Coley, son of John and Ann (Day) Coley, born at Baddell, Bedfordshire, England, February 1, 1826, emigrated with his parents to America in 1829, landed at Philadelphia and soon afterward located in Camden. At the age of six he went to live with a farmer in Burlington County and remained there, working…

  • A Zeppelin Over City Hall, Camden, NJ

    A Zeppelin Over City Hall, Camden, NJ

    Zeppelins were developed by Count Ferdinand Zeppelin, who was determined and tireless in his goal to build a dirigible for Germany. At age 61, he flew his first airship, the LZ1, over Lake Constance on July 2, 1900. Zeppelin lived to see his invention used by Germany during World War I for bombing and reconnaissance.…

  • The Story of the Gottlieb Family

    As Told by Dr. Stuart Gottlieb M.D. Since I grew up in Camden and worked with my dad at the family business on Mt Vernon St. from the time that I could hold a knife, about age 7 (1947),the site visit was particularly nostalgic. I will be happy to tell you more about the Gottliebs…

  • A. M. Mucci – V.F.W. Band

    The band was formed in the later thirties. Its founder was Joseph Constantino. Rehearsal facilities shifted a few times at different locations in South Camden. The band performed at most of the religious processions (honoring saints primarily) sponsored by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church. The pastor was Father Monica who was succeeded…

  • Admiral Wilson at the Naval Academy – 1921-1925

    Rear Admiral Henry B. Wilson '81 (1921-1925), the twenty-sixth superintendent, reported to the Naval Academy having just completed a tour as Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, reverting from a four star billet to that of a Rear Admiral upon acceptance of his new orders. An imposing figure, Wilson, ultimately referred to by midshipmen as “Uncle…

  • Mystery Postcard: Who Was John Randolph Watson?

    By Phil Cohen Over Memorial Day weekend of 2015, I received an e-mail from Carl Gainsborough containing the the two scanned images above. As you can see, the never mailed postcard is of a tavern in Standish Corner, and the rear shows the name and address of the sender. Carl called it a mystery… and…

  • Blue Collar Work

    By Robert A. Stanton During the summer of 1942 I worked as a laborer at a large factory, and my experience there has affected my opinions on labor relations ever since. The J. R. Evans Company Leather Factory at at 2nd and Erie Streets in Camden, New Jersey was established in 1858, and employed many…

  • Historical Sketch of the Camden Fire Insurance Association, Camden, NJ.

    Compiled by B. F. Bibighaus, 1914 Camden, New Jersey — from which the Association takes its name — was named after Earl Camden, Lord Chancellor of England. The Earl’s friendship for the American Colonists and his strong opposition to their unjust taxation by the English Parliament, made him very popular in this country. In the…

  • Camden Mutual Insurance Association

    Camden Mutual Insurance Association

    Southwest Corner of 5th and Federal Street In September of 2005, workmen employed by the FFC Construction Company of Gloucester City NJ were instructed to erect a fence at the southwest corner of Fifth and Federal as a safety precaution for pedestrians, as the recently installed River Line light rail tracks pass by the intersection.…

  • Charles Boyer – Excerpt

    This content is excerpted from South Jersey – A History: 1624-1924. CHARLES SHIMER BOYER was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1869, son of Benjamin Franklin and Alabama (Shimer) Boyer. On the paternal side, his great-grandfather, John Boyer, arrived in Philadelphia from the Palatinate in 1739, while on the maternal side he can claim American…

  • Milton E. Kelly – Anecdote

    This post was originally written in 2015. Milton E. and Eva Kelly had moved to a house at 3302 Rosedale Avenue by the time the 1924 Camden City Directory was compiled. On August 4 of that year, their first child, son Milton William Kelly was born. Another boy, William Roles Kelly came in 1928, and…

  • A Kelly Family History

    A Kelly Family History

    by William Roles Kelly My Paternal Grandparents My Maternal Grandparents: Milton A. Kelly and Charlotte R. Kelly I don’t remember a great deal about my grandfather, for he died in ’32 when I was barely 4 years old. But I do recall him as a smiling and gentle man. My memory is of a strong…