The Vansant Family Memory

By Camden NJ History

May 17, 2019 · Updated October 4, 2026 · 3 min read · Historical Accounts

I’m sending some information regarding 617 Bailey Street. It is where my mother spent the first 10 to 12 years of her life. My mother was born May 29, 1913, and moved from Camden to Upper Darby, PA, in the 1920’s.

Following their marriage and spending their honeymoon in Mount Holly, my grandfather, Francis (a.k.a. Frank) Vansant, his wife Elva Armentrout Vansant, and my mother, Margaret A. Vansant resided at 617 Bailey Street until 1927.

During the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s our family made myriad trips across the bridge on our way to Smithfield (the one near Mount Holly) to stay in a cabin on the Rancocoas Creek that my grandfather and his lumberyard staff built. You can imagine how many times I heard about where my mother had lived as we entered Camden.

Frank owned a lumber yard in Philadelphia, Magargal Vansant Lumber & Millwork, at 2nd and Montrose Street, Philadelphia. It was a convenient commute from Camden to his business near the PA end of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. He also owned a lumbering property in West Virginia, where he met his wife. When Philadelphia bought his business to build a high-rise, low income housing unit, he set up his foreman in a new lumberyard in Glenolden, PA, and retired. Until the day he died in his late 80’s, he went to an office that was made for him in the Glenolden business. I think everybody loved him! Though he was slightly over five feet tall, he had much respect.

In the 1880’s his father, Richard P. Vansant, owned the lumberyard and lived in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. Richard was also a sea captain who transported mahogany from his lumber yard in Columbia, South America, to his Philadelphia business.

617 Bailey Street: Margaret A. Vansant at 3 months — Vansant family photos: Margaret A. Vansant at three months and Francis Vansant at 31 years. Francis "Frank" and Elva Armentrout Vansant lived at 617 Bailey Street from 1912 to 1927.

617 Bailey Street: Elva, Margaret A., and Francis Vansant — Vansant family photos: Elva, Margaret A., and Francis Vansant.

During my mother’s later years she identified people and places in her photo album of her childhood years. It began with her proud parents and her in the Camden neighborhood and identified some of the neighbors with whom they had become friendly. One neighbor had the last name of Woods and worked at the Scott Paper Company in Essington, PA. One photo of my mother in a baby carriage was taken at Pyne Poynt Park, which was behind their home in Camden.

Judging by the photos after the 2007 fire, I doubt there are any parts of 617 remaining today.

617 Bailey Street: Margaret A. Vansant — Margaret A. Vansant at 617 Bailey Street.

617 Bailey Street: Margaret A. Vansant at Pyne Poynt Park — Margaret A. Vansant at Pyne Poynt Park, behind the family home at 617 Bailey Street.

617 Bailey Street: Francis Vansant (1882-1965) — Francis Vansant (1882–1965), who lived at 617 Bailey Street.

Jane Scarborough, May 17, 2019

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