Cooper Browning Hatch was a prominent citizen of Camden in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born to Joseph and Mary Hatch in a farmhouse that now houses the Camden County Historical Society. His father, Joseph Hatch, owned extensive land in what is now East Camden, and Cooper grew up in the farmhouse at 2677 Mickle Street, which has stood since the 1890s.
Cooper Hatch became involved in politics early and served on both the Board of Freeholders and City Council before being elected mayor of Camden in 1898. During his term, which lasted until 1902, he oversaw the construction of the Manual Training and High School at Haddon and Newton Avenues. This building served as Camden's high school until the completion of the current Camden High School at Park and Baird Boulevards in 1918, after which it was renamed Clara Burrough Junior High School.
As mayor, Hatch promoted several key projects, including Camden's first asphalt paving and improvements to the municipal water system. After his tenure as mayor, he continued his public service as the Sheriff of Camden County from 1908 to 1911.
In addition to his political career, Cooper Hatch was on the Board of Directors of the Security Trust Company bank, located at 301 Market Street in 1916.
A lifelong bachelor, Hatch later lived near Diamond Cottage Park before moving to 206 North 6th Street in Camden, where he resided with his mother and sister. He passed away on February 15, 1922.
Several other members of the Hatch family played significant roles in Camden's history. His uncle, Hugh Hatch, operated the Fairview Brick Works at 14th and Federal Streets. His nephew, Hugh Morgan Hatch, co-founded Camden's pioneer Buick dealership, New Jersey Auto Supply, which operated for many years on Delaware Avenue before relocating to Federal Street at Wright Avenue in the early 1940s. Another nephew, Isaiah S. Hatch, served as Camden County Sheriff from 1920 to 1923, co-founded the Merchants Trust bank, and later managed the Hatch family's brick works in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
To honor his legacy, Cooper B. Hatch Middle School was named after him. Located at the northwest corner of Park Boulevard and Bradley Avenue in Camden's Parkside neighborhood, the school was completed in 1924.
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