Thomas J. Daley
Thomas J. Daley was born on September 8, 1889 to Thomas and Isabella Daley at 337 Walnut Street, Camden, NJ. The elder Daley was a blacksmith and wheelwright by trade, and operated a smithy at 112 Kaighn Avenue for over forty years, during which time he was well known for his fine workmanship. The Daley family lived at 337 Walnut Street in the late 1880s and early 1890s.
After attending the SS. Peter and Paul school in Camden and St. Joseph's Prep School in Philadelphia, Thomas Daley graduated in 1909 from St. Joseph's College. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1913. He went to work in the engineering department of the City of Camden in July of 1913.
Thomas J. Daley married his wife Mary on September 8, 1915. A daughter, also named Mary, was born after the January 1920 census was taken. By then Daley was already working for the city as a civil engineer under the direction of long-time City Engineer Levi Farnham. When Levi Farnham died in November of 1923, Thomas Daley was appointed Acting City Engineer. On May 21, 1925 he was appointed City Engineer.
Several large public works projects took place while Thomas Daley was City Engineer, including the construction of Camden's new City Hall and a new marine terminal, both still in use in 2005.
The 1920 census shows Thomas Daley living with his wife and parents at 1471 Baird Avenue. His father, Thomas Daley Sr., passed away on February 19, 1928. Thomas J. Daley was still working as City Engineer and living at 1471 Baird Avenue when the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled.
The Daley family had left Camden by the time the 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory was released.
South Jersey: A History 1624–1924
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THOMAS JOSEPH DALEY—A man of energy and ability, public spirited and untiring in activity, Thomas Joseph Daley was born at No. 337 Walnut Street, Camden, New Jersey, September 8, 1889. His father, Thomas Daley, born in Ireland, was brought to Camden County, New Jersey, when an infant. Raised in the vicinity of Laurel Springs, he came to Camden when a young man and conducted a general blacksmithing and horse shoeing business for a number of years and then retired. His mother, Isabella (Kelly) Daley, was born in Camden.
Thomas Joseph Daley attended SS. Peter and Paul’s Parochial School, in Camden, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, in Philadelphia, where he was matriculated for St. Joseph’s College in 1905, and St. Joseph’s College where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1909. He took a course in civil engineering of four years at the University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated in 1913 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He was employed in the engineering department of the city of Camden on July 7, 1913. He became third assistant engineer on January 1, 1917; first assistant engineer on January 1, 1918, and acting city engineer on November 15, 1923, upon the death of the city engineer. He was appointed engineer of maintenance on January 1, 1925, and city engineer on May 21, 1925, in charge of the engineering department of the city of Camden. He holds a license from the State of New Jersey as municipal engineer and land surveyor.
Mr. Daley assisted in raising money for the Camden Community Hotel, and was a member of the team captained by Theodore Kausel. He was a member of the building committee which supervised the construction of the Elks Home. He is a member of Camden Lodge, No. 293, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart.
Thomas J. Daley was married in Pottstown, September 8, 1915, to Mary A. Keene, of Pottstown, daughter of Peter and Mary Keene, both of whom are living. They are the parents of Mary Isabella Daley, born February 17, 1920. Mr. Daley lives at No. 1471 Baird Avenue, Camden, and his business address is Engineering Department, City Hall, Camden, New Jersey.
— South Jersey: A History 1624–1924
Church and School of Saints Peter & Paul
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Baird Boulevard
Baird Boulevard (originally Baird Avenue) runs diagonally through the Parkside and East Camden neighborhoods, named for Camden businessman and U.S. Senator David Baird Sr. It begins at Kaighn Avenue, crosses the Cooper River and Admiral Wilson Boulevard, and terminates at the intersection of Federal Street and 27th Street in East Camden.
Joseph E. Nowrey
Joseph E. Nowrey, born in 1865 in Glendon, Pennsylvania, played a significant role in Camden, New Jersey's history. His father, Alexander Nowrey, established a dry goods business at 842 Locust Street in Camden before passing away in 1877.
Delaware Shad
Camden Courier-Post - October 6, 1939 CITY COMMISSIONER E. GEORGE AARON leaned back in his office chair the other day and gasped when this reporter informed him that we saw fishermen catch luscious shad in the Delaware River.
125 in County Form U. of P. Alumni Club
More than 125 Camden county graduates and former students of the University of Pennsylvania last night completed organization of an alumni club and became charter members of the organization, with the rolls held open for an expected 300 additional charter members.
U. of P. Graduates Meet Here To Form Newest Alumni Body
Judge Clifford A. Baldwin, designated by Thomas S. Gates, president of the university, to head Camden activities in connection with the bicentennial in 1940, presided at the meeting. It took the informality of a smoker, then developed into the serious purpose of bringing the 800 Penn alumni in Camden county into a group that eventually should form one of the largest alumni clubs anywhere in America.
Thomas J. Daley, Sr.
The funeral of Thomas J. Daley, Sr., father of Thomas J. Daley, city engineer of Camden, will be held from his late residence, 1471 Baird avenue, on Wednesday. Daley was known as one of the oldest blacksmiths and wheelwrights in the city.
City Engineer Clerk Is Again Discharged
E. Allan Weinstein, chief clerk in the office of Thomas J. Daley, city engineer, received notice today from Frank B. Hanna, superintendent of streets, that he has been discharged.
Where the Trees and 'Islands' Came From
Baird Boulevard property owners protested being taxed for tree planting and traffic island grading while Cooper Street property owners challenged road-widening assessments before city commissioners.
Marine Terminal Foundation Solid
Camden's new $2,000,000 marine terminal will rest on the strongest possible foundation, according to a preliminary report made today by Thomas J. Daley, city engineer, on the results of driving test piles for the project about 1,000 feet south of Clinton street.
Margaret Oberst Bride of Mr. West
Miss Margaret M. Oberst, the pretty and talented daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Oberst, of 809 South Fifth street, was married yesterday morning at 11 o'clock in SS. Peter and Paul's Church, St. John and Spruce streets, to Mr. James B. West, Jr., a prominent plumber and stepson of John McGowan, of 501 Trenton avenue.
Camden News Notes — February 1, 1903
Camden briefs for February 1, 1903, including Captain Stanley's raid on William W. Woomer's barber shop at 264 Kaighn Avenue on a warrant sworn out by Mrs. Edna M. Laird.