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. The workers were using a large auger to dig a hole for one of the fence-posts to be installed. At one point in the installation, the auger struck a metal box. The box, made of lead and sealed by having its seams welded, was penetrated. The workers looked at the contents, and seeing old newspapers and other artifacts, turned the box over to Mr. James Ferry, the owner of the company.
Mr. Ferry, whom I was acquainted with professionally but had only by telephone, mentioned the discovery to a mutual friend, Ed Neumann, who thought that it would be a good idea to copy as much of the printed material as possible for inclusion on this website. Mr. Ferry was in agreement. Due to circumstances beyond everyone's control, It was not until the first week of June 2006 that the contents of the box that were undamaged were turned over to me to be scanned for the Internet.
Upon examination, I determined that the time capsule was buried in June of 1858, when the new building of the Camden Mutual Insurance Association was dedicated at the southwest corner of Fifth and Federal Streets. In 1881 the business was renamed the Camden Fire Insurance Association. This building stood for about 40 years, and was replaced by a new building designed by architect Arthur Truscott, brother of then Association vice-president J. Lynn Truscott. The new building, known as the Camden Fire Insurance building, stood for about 100 years before being razed.
To give some context to the contents of the time capsule and the men who assembled its contents and buried it 148 years ago, I am first reprinting here the 1914 "Historical Sketch" of the Camden Fire Insurance Association, compiled by B.F. Bibighaus.
Phil Cohen, Camden, NJ June 9, 2006
The Building Committee and Builder included Edmund E. Read, John Ross, Ralph Lee, and Josiah D. Rogers, all of whom were directors of the Association. Edmund E. Read's son, Edmund E. Read Jr., served as the Association's president from 1899 to at least 1914, when the mentioned sketch was written. He also had a long tenure as a member of Camden's Board of Education. Josiah D. Rogers served as the Association's surveyor from 1853 through 1861.Henry Fredericks, David Lummis, Peter J. Fredericks. Henry Fredericks served as a director of the Association from 1858 to 1861, and then again from 1862 to 1867. Later, he held the position of Camden County Sheriff and was involved in various other civic and business activities in the city.Abner Sparks owned and operated a cigar manufacturing and tobacco business located at 302-304 Arch Streets. The business was later acquired by Frank J. Hartmann Sr.John Ross, Merchant Tailor, was a member of the 1858 Building Committee and served as a director of the Association from 1844 to 1861.James M. Cassady had a long and distinguished career in Camden's business and civic affairs. In recognition of his contributions, the James M. Cassady School, located at Third and State Streets in North Camden, was named in his honor.Jonathan Burr served as a director of the Association from 1852 through 1895. He held the position of secretary from 1853 to 1885 and then served as vice president from 1885 to 1895.Clayton Trueax, whose name often appears as Clayton Truax, served on the Board of Directors of the Association three different times: from 1851 through 1854, 1855 through 1861, and 1862 to 1877. He was elected to city council in 1855 and remained in elected office for nine years. In 1858, he was elected mayor on the American Party ticket, succeeding Benjamin A. Hammell. Clayton Truax was re-elected as mayor in 1859. After his mayoral terms, he returned to City Council, with Thomas B. Atkinson succeeding him as mayor.Jesse E. Huston was not a member of the Association's Board of Directors when the time capsule was buried in 1858. He joined the Board in 1861 and served continuously until 1884. Over time, he specialized in gravel roofing. The identity of Mr. Bender, his partner in the Huston & Bender enterprise, remains unclear at this time.Jesse E. Huston was not a member of the Association's Board of Directors when the time capsule was buried in 1858. He joined the Board in 1861 and served continuously until 1884. Over time, he specialized in gravel roofing. The identity of Mr. Bender, his partner in the Huston & Bender enterprise, remains unclear at this time.From the June 1858 Time Capsule: Mineral Water, Camden, N.J. Northwest Corner of 5th and Federal Streets.Daniel B. Murphy and Richard Fisler were in their early 20s when the time capsule was placed. Richard Fisler was the son of Dr. Lorenzo Fisler, who served as Camden's mayor on three separate occasions. Richard's brother, Weston Fisler, gained fame as a professional baseball player and is notable for scoring the first run in the history of the National League. Both Daniel and Richard remained in Camden and each established their own businesses in the 1880s and 1890s. The identity of "Stevens Grocer" and the person associated with the initials in blue remains unclear.Camden Marble Works. George Mott was born in New York around 1825. He was living in Camden by 1850, and was still in the city when the census was taken in 1860.Camden Patent Leather Factory 10 cent scrip.Officers of the City of Camden for the Year 1858
Mayor, Clayton Trueax
Recorder, Thomas B. Atkinson
Marshall,John Y. Hoagland
Solicitor,Peter L. Voorhees
Treasurer,Charles S. Garrett
Clerk,A. Hamilton Hamell
Council
Samuel Andrews, President
Joshua M. Lindale
John Armbruster
Isaac W. Mickle
Benjamin Browning
Samuel McLain
David Corson
Abraham W. Nash
William F. Colbert
Joseph H. Peck
Josiah Dorman
Samuel Scull
Jesse E. Huston
William Sharp
Joseph R. Hamell
Joseph Trimble
Samuel Lytle Jr.
George W. WatsonCamden, NJ Board of Education, 1858.
