Camden, New Jersey

Camden History

Historical archives documenting the people, streets, and stories of Camden, New Jersey.

Welcome to Camden History, unsurprisingly about Camden, New Jersey, a city steeped in history and brimming with stories that have left an indelible mark on the tapestry of America's past. Situated on the banks of the Delaware River, Camden has a rich and complex history that spans centuries. From its indigenous Lenape inhabitants to the bustling industrial hub of the 19th and 20th centuries, and from its pivotal role in the Underground Railroad to its contributions to the birth of the recording industry, Camden has played a significant part in shaping the nation's narrative.

Camden's origins can be traced back to the early 17th century when European settlers first arrived in the region. Over time, it evolved from a quaint village into a thriving industrial center, earning it the nickname "The City Invincible" in the late 19th century. The city's industries, including shipbuilding, manufacturing, and commerce, contributed to its growth and prosperity.

But Camden's history is not just one of industry and commerce; it's also a story of resilience, community, and cultural diversity. Throughout its past, the city has been home to waves of immigrants, each adding their unique traditions and flavors to the city's vibrant cultural mosaic.

Join us on a journey through time as we explore the people, places, and events that have shaped Camden's captivating history. From the waterfront to the neighborhoods, from famous figures to everyday citizens, we invite you to discover the hidden gems and untold tales that make Camden a city worth exploring and celebrating.

Remnants of Camden's history are all around you if you know where to look!

Recently added — page 115

Courier-Post clipping, Gun Victim Identified As City Man, 1974
News Articles

Gun Victim Identified As City Man

Police identified the man found shot to death on a vacant lot off the 600 block of Woodland Avenue as James A. Williams, 40, of 808 Sylvan Street, in November 1974.

·1 min read
Courier-Post feature 'The Kids...The Breadman...The Cop...', September 7, 1974, on the 25th anniversary of the Unruh shootings
News Articles

The Kids…The Breadman…The Cop…

On the 25th anniversary of Howard Unruh's September 6, 1949 shooting rampage, the Courier-Post recalls William Joyce, bread-truck driver Roxy DeMarco and former policeman Harry "Barney" Tracy.

·1 min read
Courier-Post feature 'Yes, this is Howard...' on reporter Philip Buxton's phone call to Howard Unruh, September 7, 1974
News Articles

Yes, this is Howard…

A 1974 Courier-Post feature on reporter Philip W. Buxton's phone call to the Unruh house during the 1949 siege, and detective William E. Kelly's sworn account that a policeman answered it.

·2 min read
Newspaper clipping: Carl Sorg recalls the day of the Howard Unruh shooting, Camden Courier-Post, September 7, 1974
News Articles

Everyone was lying dead on the pavement

Carl Sorg, a teenager who lived half a block from the scene, recalls the day of the Howard Unruh shooting on River Avenue in this Camden Courier-Post feature of September 7, 1974.

·2 min read
Camden Courier-Post feature 'I had a clear shot at him...' with retired policeman John Ferry's account of the 1949 Unruh shootings
News Articles

I had a clear shot at him…

A Courier-Post feature of September 7, 1974 in which retired Camden policeman John Ferry, the first officer at the scene of Howard Unruh's 1949 shootings, recalls what he found and the moment he had a clear shot at Unruh.

·1 min read
Courier-Post, September 7, 1974: He Left a Trail of Death
News Articles

…He Left A Trail Of Death

A Courier-Post feature of September 7, 1974 retracing Howard B. Unruh's shooting spree of September 6, 1949 at River Avenue and 32nd Street in Cramer Hill, from the drugstore of Maurice M. Cohen to his surrender, confession to Prosecutor Mitchell Cohen and commitment to Trenton State Hospital.

·6 min read
Map of the 3200 block of River Avenue
News Articles

Map of the 3200 Block of River Avenue

A hand-lettered diagram printed with the Courier-Post's 1974 feature on Howard Unruh, showing the 3200 block of River Road and 32nd Street: the Harrie and Hamilton homes, the shoe repair and barber shops, the drug store, the Unruh apartment and where each victim was found. Camden Courier-Post, September 7, 1974.

·1 min read
Camden Courier-Post, September 7, 1974 - He Shot at Me Twice...Bang...Bang...
News Articles

'He Shot at Me Twice…Bang…Bang…'

Twenty-five years after Howard Unruh's 1949 "Walk of Death," Frank Engel — proprietor of Engel's Cafe on River Avenue in Cramer Hill — recounts to the Camden Courier-Post how he fired the shot that wounded the killer.

·2 min read
Gangster Murder Stock Photo
News Articles

Who Killed Margaret Day?

Margaret Day, a 19-year-old Rutgers student, was murdered May 3, 1974 near The Grille bar at 213 North 6th Street in Camden; the case remains unsolved.

·1 min read
Newspaper death notice headed HUMPHRIES for David W. Humphries of 113 South 35th St., Camden, a city firefighter
News Articles

Humphries

Death notice for David W. Humphries of 113 South 35th Street, a member of the Camden Fire Department for 26 years, who died April 19, 1974; interment at Arlington Cemetery.

·1 min read
Clipping "Cops Quiz Firebomb Suspects", Camden Courier-Post, January 28, 1974.
News Articles

Cops Quiz Firebomb Suspects

Camden police questioned suspects in the firebombing of the William Knoth Sr. home at 976 Woodland Avenue, where William Knoth Jr. and his mother, Martha, escaped serious injury when a bottle of gasoline or kerosene exploded in the living room.

·2 min read