East Camden

By Camden NJ History

October 10, 2021 · Updated November 8, 2026 · 16 min read · East Camden

Originally a part of Stockton Township, the area that is now known as East Camden was merged into Camden proper in 1899 along with the neighborhood now known as Cramer Hill. It included the villages of Wrightsville, Stockton, and Rosedale, which lay along Federal Street. The area was served by the Pavonia Railroad Station, located along the railroad line at 27th Street. The East Camden and Cramer Hill area is bordered by the Cooper and Delaware Rivers, and Pennsauken Township.

Stockton Township had a large park that lay a block south of Federal Street and Marlton Avenue. This park, originally known as Stockton Park, had a long and varied history, and over the years has served as a rifle range, a park, the site of a private zoo, Depression-era family vegetable gardens, and, since 1954, the site of the McGuire Gardens public housing project.

East Camden Growth

Real estate developers such as J. Howard Kirkbride and Alfred Cramer bought large tracts of land, including parts of the Thomas H. Dudley estate, and laid out affordable building lots, which gave the area its residential character. Much of this activity occurred in the 1890s and early 1900s. Schools built in these times included the Dudley, Garfield, and Cramer Elementary schools. The Cramer School, built in 1913, also served as a junior high school at different times.

Leon Todd developed the neighborhood between Westfield and Rosedale Avenues, along the railroad tracks that bordered the Dudley estate, below North 33rd Street in the mid-1920s. Both Todd and J. Howard Kirkbride built homes in both Stockton/East Camden and Pennsauken Townships, and if it wasn't for municipal street signs one would not know where East Camden ends and the Pennsauken neighborhoods begin, especially in the area near 36th Street and Camden Avenue. The Octavius Catto School was built in the late 1920s for black children, as Camden's elementary schools were then segregated. The segregation of the elementary schools defied even the logic of those times, as the upper grades had always been integrated.

A similar development to the Westfield and Rosedale Avenues project was built between Federal Street and Crescent Boulevard (then State Highway 25, later US Route 130) along Terrace Avenue around the same time. The growth in East Camden caused the city to build Woodrow Wilson High School on Federal Street across from Dudley Grange in the early 1930s. The Federal government stepped in during the Depression, building the Westfield Acres homes at Westfield and Rosedale Avenues, with the first families moving in in 1938, and the Henry H. Davis Elementary School was built as a companion to this site.

More development occurred when Baird Boulevard was linked to Federal Street, and another period of building activity occurred immediately before and after World War II, ending in the 1950s. Another public housing project, the Peter J. McGuire Gardens, was built in the early 1950s, on the site of the old Stockton Park. The new Francis X. McGraw Elementary School, named for Congressional Medal of Honor awardee Francis X. McGraw, was also built during this period, at Dudley and Fremont Streets.

Industrial development occurred along the railroad tracks. One of the largest facilities was a warehouse at North 36th and Pleasant Street that was used for many years by the Campbell Soup Company.

Decline of East Camden

During the 1960s and 1970s, as the economic fortunes of Camden declined, so did new construction. A new junior high school was built adjacent to the McGraw School on Dudley; this school was simply known as East Camden Middle School. Two high rise apartment buildings, Westfield Towers and John F. Kennedy Towers, were built adjacent to the two public housing sites during this time.

East Camden has seen its ups and downs. For years it was one of Camden's more prosperous and stable areas, until being ravaged by drugs, poverty, and political corruption in the 1980s and 1990s. The neighborhood is currently undergoing a rebirth, in great part through the efforts of the Housing Authority of the City of Camden and the St. Joseph's Carpenters Society, and an influx of Asian and Mexican immigrants who have opened up many small businesses in the area.

Videos of Life in East Camden

Courtesy of Sandra Deady Piesco.

Henry H. Davis School — 1952

Do you recognize anyone here? If you do, please say so in the comments below.

Henry H. Davis School, Miss Ada Haley's 5th Grade Class, 1952

Group photo of about 20 fifth-grade children posed outdoors in front of a stone building, some eating ice cream. — Henry H. Davis School, Miss Ada Haley's 5th Grade Class, 1952

Maps of East Camden

1914 Street Maps

Cramer Hill & East Camden, from a map published in 1914.

Map of Cramer Hill and East Camden, 1914 — Cramer Hill & East Camden, from a map published in 1914.

Read the article: 1914 Street Maps

Bird's Eye View of Cooper's River North from Forest Hill Park

Bird's eye view of Cooper's River north from Forest Hill Park, about 1910

Colorized postcard view of a winding river through green meadow, with three boys in the foreground and factories in the distance. — Bird's eye view of Cooper's River north from Forest Hill Park, about 1910

Needless to say, everything on the right side of the river, the north side of the Cooper River, is East Camden. This picture is roughly 15–20 years prior to the building of the Delaware River Bridge (Ben Franklin Bridge) and the building of the Admiral Wilson Boulevard. This picture of the Cooper River was taken from a spot along the river roughly behind the site of the present-day Camden High School.

The City Commission of the City of Camden on December 1, 1927 changed the name of Forest Hill Park to Farnham Park, in appreciation of the late Levi E. Farnham, City Engineer of Camden for thirty years.

Stockton Annexed Against Protest of Democrats — March 1949

Read the article: Stockton Annexed Against Protest of Democrats

Intersection of North 27th Street & Federal Street, as Seen from Baird Boulevard — April 30, 1953

Baird Boulevard toward North 27th Street and Federal Street, East Camden, April 30, 1953

Looking from Baird Boulevard toward North 27th Street and Federal Street, April 30, 1953 — Baird Boulevard toward North 27th Street and Federal Street, East Camden, April 30, 1953

Rows and rows of tulips on Baird Boulevard? When those who were there said Camden was beautiful, this picture shows they were not kidding! If only this one had been in color!

Thanks to Curtis Parrish for furnishing this picture.

Read the article: Susan Leviton's Memories of East Camden

Pavonia Railroad Station — 1908

Pavonia Railroad Station, 27th & Federal Street, 1908

Pavonia railroad station with a covered footbridge, signal tower and platform, with a handwritten label on the photo. — Pavonia Railroad Station, 27th & Federal Street, 1908

Pavonia Car Shop, Pennsylvania Rail Road, 1908, as seen from River Road

Panoramic view of a rail yard with a steam locomotive, many tracks and a long car shop building, labeled P.R.R. Shops Pavonia. — Pavonia Car Shop, Pennsylvania Rail Road, 1908, as seen from River Road

Camden baseball tavern tournament team, early 1920s

Large group of young men and boys in caps posed outdoors with baseball bats and glasses of beer, and a dog in front. — Camden baseball tavern tournament team, early 1920s

“A photo of what appears to be a local Camden baseball tavern tournament team, early 1920s. My grandfather, Charles David Letts Sr., is lying on the ground with the open bottle. The rest of the males in the Letts family have always tried to follow his example. The picture looks like a cross between the Bowery Boys and the Katzenjammer Kids.” — Edward Letts, January 2011

Olga’s Diner

See Olga’s Diner.

24th & Federal Street, 1956

Black-and-white street corner with a man in a dark overcoat crossing and a police officer beside a traffic signal pole. — 24th & Federal Street, 1956

Jacob Naden Business Card

Business card (front) for Jacob Naden's store, 24th & Federal Streets, Camden

Color postcard-style business card showing Jacob Naden's brick furniture store at 24th and Federal Streets. — Business card (front) for Jacob Naden's store, 24th & Federal Streets, Camden

Business card (back) for Jacob Naden's store, 24th & Federal Streets, Camden

Back of Jacob Naden's business card, an invitation to visit his store with store hours. — Business card (back) for Jacob Naden's store, 24th & Federal Streets, Camden

East Camden Public Buildings

Starting in 1903, shortly after East Camden was made a part of Camden, public improvements were built.

At the intersection of Federal Street, Westfield Avenue, and 27th Street are the Firehouse, Police Station, and Public Library that were built between 1899 and 1906. The firehouse was still in use in 2003.

1903 datestone, East Camden police station, 2003

Small oval stone plaque with scrolled border reading A 1903 D. — 1903 datestone, East Camden police station, 2003

East Camden firehouse, Federal Street & 27th Street, 2003

Two-story red brick East Camden firehouse with a bell tower and three red engine doors, 2003. — East Camden firehouse, Federal Street & 27th Street, 2003

East Camden police station, 2003

Narrow two-story red brick building with a stepped gable, a white garage door and a Camden Police Dept. sign. — East Camden police station, 2003

East Camden police station, 2003

Front of a red brick police station with a stepped gable, white garage door and Camden Police Dept. sign. — East Camden police station, 2003

27th & Federal Street, 1956

Black-and-white view of the 27th and Federal Street intersection with a firehouse tower and the Boulevard Grille. — 27th & Federal Street, 1956

To the right, the Boulevard Grille, still open in 2003 as Freddie's Bar.

East Camden Real Estate Developers

Alfred Cramer and J. Howard Kirkbride laid out and sold lots in East Camden and in Cramer Hill. The neighborhood rapidly expanded, and many homes were built. After World War I was concluded, further development was done by realtors such as Leon Todd and Edward Miller.

Alfred Cramer, 1886

Sepia studio portrait of Alfred Cramer, a mustached man in a dark jacket and bow tie, 1886 — Alfred Cramer, 1886

Leon Todd

Oval sepia portrait of Leon E. Todd, a man in round glasses, with his name printed beneath — Leon Todd

James A. Garfield School — 2825 Cramer Street

James A. Garfield School, Cramer Street, Camden

Black-and-white photo of the two-story brick James A. Garfield School at Cramer Street, Camden, among bare trees. — James A. Garfield School, Cramer Street, Camden

Alfred Cramer School

Alfred Cramer School, 2003

Westfield, Merriel, & Rosedale Avenues at 32nd Street

Black-and-white photographs from April 1925; color photographs taken February 2004.

These pages show the many varieties of beautiful “Air-Lite” and “Air-Wa” homes on the outskirts of Camden. These pictures tell there [sic] own story of attractiveness, coziness, and unique fittings. This locality is especially attractive having ideal living conditions, good transportation by bus, trolley, and auto.

Camden First, 1925

3100 block of Westfield Avenue, April 1925.

3100 block of Westfield Avenue, 1925 — 3100 block of Westfield Avenue, April 1925.

3100 block Westfield Avenue, 1925.

Brick corner building with a ground-floor storefront, shop windows and a small balcony, beside a bare tree. — 3100 block Westfield Avenue, 1925.

Westfield Avenue east from North 32nd Street, 1925.

Unpaved road rising between tall utility poles and bare trees, with a frame house at the right. — Westfield Avenue east from North 32nd Street, 1925.

North 32nd Street from Rosedale Avenue, 1925.

Row of two-story brick houses with columned front porches, gabled rooflines and terraced lawns facing a street — North 32nd Street from Rosedale Avenue, 1925.

Corner of Westfield Ave. & N. 32nd Street, 1925.

Early motor bus on Westfield Avenue at North 32nd Street with brick rowhouses behind it, 1925 — Corner of Westfield Ave. & N. 32nd Street, 1925.

North 32nd Street from Westfield Avenue, 1925.

Row of new brick houses with columned porches and terraced lawns on North 32nd Street, 1925 — North 32nd Street from Westfield Avenue, 1925.

North 32nd Street from Rosedale Avenue, February 2004.

Snowy intersection with bare trees and brick rowhouses on North 32nd Street, February 2004 — North 32nd Street from Rosedale Avenue, February 2004.

North 32nd Street from Rosedale Avenue, February 2004.

Snowy street with parked cars, bare trees and rowhouses on North 32nd Street, February 2004 — North 32nd Street from Rosedale Avenue, February 2004.

North 32nd Street from Rosedale Avenue, February 2004.

Street with parked cars, a utility pole and rowhouses leading to a distant high-rise, February 2004 — North 32nd Street from Rosedale Avenue, February 2004.

Rear of North 32nd Street row homes, 1925.

Rear of brick rowhouses with garage doors and an exterior wooden staircase, 1925 — Rear of North 32nd Street row homes, 1925.

Interior of a home, 1925.

Interior of a 1925 home with a staircase, a tall clock, a table lamp and a table in the foreground — Interior of a home, 1925.

3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue.

3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, view 1, February 7, 2004

Rowhouses at 3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, Camden, with a bare tree and an alley beside the last house, February 2004. — 3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, view 1, February 7, 2004

3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, view 2, February 7, 2004

Rowhouses at 3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, Camden, seen from the street past a bare tree, February 2004. — 3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, view 2, February 7, 2004

3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, view 3, February 7, 2004

Rowhouses at 3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, Camden, with an alley and a high-rise in the distance, February 2004. — 3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, view 3, February 7, 2004

3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, view 4, February 7, 2004

Rowhouses at 3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, Camden, with Merriel Avenue houses and a fire hydrant, February 2004. — 3177 to 3187 Rosedale Avenue, view 4, February 7, 2004

Looking through the alley, one can see two houses on Merriel Avenue, and in the background the Westfield Tower senior citizens high-rise apartment building.

3187 Rosedale Avenue, late 1940s, courtesy of Fred Kalt

Black-and-white photo of the front porch of the brick house at 3187 Rosedale Avenue behind a white picket fence, late 1940s. — 3187 Rosedale Avenue, late 1940s, courtesy of Fred Kalt

“This is the house at 3187 Rosedale Ave, approximately late 1940s. It's the house I grew up in.” — Fred Kalt

Rosedale Avenue from North 32nd to 33rd Street, February 1, 2004

Snow-covered railroad tracks beside Rosedale Avenue with a row of houses between 32nd and 33rd Streets, February 2004. — Rosedale Avenue from North 32nd to 33rd Street, February 1, 2004

Rosedale Avenue from North 32nd to 33rd Street, another view, February 1, 2004

Snowy railroad tracks and a row of rowhouses along Rosedale Avenue between 32nd and 33rd Streets, February 2004. — Rosedale Avenue from North 32nd to 33rd Street, another view, February 1, 2004

3281 to 3291 Rosedale Avenue, February 1, 2004

Close view of rowhouses at 3281 to 3291 Rosedale Avenue, Camden, with a blue end house and snow on the ground, February 2004. — 3281 to 3291 Rosedale Avenue, February 1, 2004

School Staff and Administration

Alfred Cramer School dedication plaque, Board of Education and staff, 1913

Marble dedication plaque listing the 1913 Camden Board of Education members and school officials. — Alfred Cramer School dedication plaque, Board of Education and staff, 1913

Read the article: School Staff and Administration

Building Committee and Board Members

Building Committee and Board Members plaque, Alfred Cramer School, 1913

Marble dedication plaque listing the 1913 building committee, school board and architect of the Alfred Cramer School. — Building Committee and Board Members plaque, Alfred Cramer School, 1913

Read the article: Building Committee and Board Members

In 2004, the Real Camden Looks Like This

Nobody in the major media will ever tell you about the many, many streets in Camden that look like this: well-kept houses on clean streets.

100 block of North 35th Street from Rosedale Avenue, Camden, February 22, 2004

100 Block of North 35th Street as seen from Rosedale Avenue — February 22, 2004 — 100 block of North 35th Street from Rosedale Avenue, Camden, February 22, 2004

101–119 North 35th Street, Camden, February 22, 2004

101–119 North 35th Street (101–115 are rowhomes, 117 & 119 are singles) — February 22, 2004 — 101–119 North 35th Street, Camden, February 22, 2004

115-113 North 35th Street, February 22, 2004

Red brick row house at 113-115 North 35th Street with striped awnings and a white porch hood — 115-113 North 35th Street, February 22, 2004

East Camden in the News

Camden News Notes — June 21, 1903

Philadelphia Inquirer, June 21, 1903

Read the article: Camden News Notes — June 21, 1903

Must Stop Cars at Every Corner

Philadelphia Inquirer, March 5, 1913

Read the article: Must Stop Cars at Every Corner

Philadelphia Inquirer, September 15, 1915

Woman Hits Husband Hurling Stone at Dog

Philadelphia Inquirer, September 15, 1915

Rest of the Philadelphia Inquirer article about Mrs. Ella Taylor hitting her husband with a stone, September 15, 1915 — Philadelphia Inquirer, September 15, 1915

Read the article: Woman Hits Husband Hurling Stone at Dog

Aerial View of East Camden — July 1926

Aerial view of East Camden, July 1926, Bridge Avenue Estates advertisement by the Suburban Home Realty Company

Aerial view of East Camden published July 1926, Bridge Avenue Estates ad by Suburban Home Realty Company — Aerial view of East Camden, July 1926, Bridge Avenue Estates advertisement by the Suburban Home Realty Company

This aerial view of East Camden was part of a July 1926 ad by the Suburban Home Realty Company, located at 325 Market Street in Camden, run by Edward S. Miller.

The newly constructed Bridge Boulevard (later renamed Admiral Wilson Boulevard) and Marlton Pike run parallel, and Baird Boulevard crosses the tract. While streets had been laid out, the Depression and war would slow some homebuilding in this area.

Aerial View of East Camden — 1963

Aerial view of East Camden, 1963, showing Parkside, Baird Boulevard, Farnham Park, McGuire Gardens, Marlton Avenue, Admiral Wilson Boulevard and Airport Circle

1963 aerial photograph of East Camden showing Cooper River, Baird Boulevard, Farnham Park and Airport Circle — Aerial view of East Camden, 1963, showing Parkside, Baird Boulevard, Farnham Park, McGuire Gardens, Marlton Avenue, Admiral Wilson Boulevard and Airport Circle

Aerial view of East Camden, 1963, showing Woodrow Wilson High School, Federal Street, Westfield Avenue, Westfield Acres and Fremont Street

1963 aerial photograph of East Camden rowhouse blocks, a high school and its athletic field along a wide avenue — Aerial view of East Camden, 1963, showing Woodrow Wilson High School, Federal Street, Westfield Avenue, Westfield Acres and Fremont Street

Dudley Grange, 1963

Dudley Grange

The Library at Dudley Grange, 1928

Dudley Grange Park is located at Federal and Dudley Streets in East Camden. The park is on the remainder of the Thomas H. Dudley estate. The Dudley house was the home of the East Camden branch of the Camden Free Public Library up until the late 1970s. Neglect on the part of city government resulted in the destruction of this historic building by fire in August of 1980.

Responsibility for the care and upkeep of Dudley Grange Park fell to Camden County in the 1990s.

Children enjoying the splash pool at Dudley Grange, July 1926

Large crowd of children in bathing suits and summer clothes at the splash pool at Dudley Grange — Children enjoying the splash pool at Dudley Grange, July 1926

Dudley Grange Scene of Bible Conference — September 12, 1935

Read the article: Dudley Grange Scene of Bible Conference

Dudley Grange — Photos

Dudley Grange, 1944

Black-and-white photograph of the stone Dudley Grange mansion on a lawn, with figures at the foot of the slope, 1944 — Dudley Grange, 1944

Are those children or sheep in the photo?

East Camden girls at Dudley Grange, late 1940s. From left: Unknown, Ruth Grace Johnson, Unknown.