Alfred Cramer School
In 1913 the Eastside Elementary School was built in the 2800 block of Mickle Street, during the administration of Mayor Charles H. Ellis. During this time, under the guidance of Camden's longtime Superintendent of Schools Dr. James E. Bryan, a great many new schools were built in Camden.
As the population in East Camden began to grow, and as more children remained in school rather than entering the workforce at an early age, this building became a junior high and was renamed Alfred Cramer Junior High School, in honor of Alfred Cramer, an innovative real estate developer who made it possible for working-class people to buy building lots by paying in installments. He was responsible for much of the development in East Camden and of course Cramer Hill, which bears his name. As a junior high, most of the children attending public schools in East Camden went to Cramer.
In 1930 Woodrow Wilson Junior High School opened on Federal Street, and Cramer became an elementary school. In June of 1933 Dr. Leon N. Neulen, then Camden's superintendent of schools, announced that Woodrow Wilson would become a high school and that Cramer would once again be a junior high school. This plan went into effect in September of 1933.
Around 1957 Cramer became once again an elementary school. Since that time, Cramer has gone through many renovations and changes; it later operated as a Pre-K to Grade 4 elementary school with a full-day pre-kindergarten and kindergarten program emphasizing language development, positive self-image, and early reading activities.
The Cramer School has also served the immediate community for many years as a polling place when elections are held.
These Are the People Who Built the Eastside School, Later Renamed the Alfred Cramer School
John W.F. Bleakly — Dr. Henry H. Davis — James E. Bryan — Joshua C. Haines — Charles H. Ellis — Harry C. Sharp — George Bachmann.
Henry L. Bonsall School and Alfred Cramer School
Philadelphia Inquirer — September 14, 1914
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The public schools will reopen Wednesday, September 9. The two new schools, the H. L. Bonsall, at Mt. Ephraim Avenue and Pear Street, and the Alfred Cramer, at Twenty-ninth and Mickle, will not be ready for two weeks.
Miss Fitts' 3-B Class — circa 1915
“…an old class picture from my grandmother, Betty Ogle Laird, at Cramer School, probably around 1915. I have also scanned the back of this picture (‘class list’). My grandmother is the fifth from the left in the front row. It also says ‘Miss Fitts 3B Cramer School’ at the top of this list.” — Sharon Laird Ingersoll, July 2012
“…my dad, Wayne, was the young fellow on the end looking off to the left. I had to get my brothers in on the ID.” — Marie Gibbs Johnson, July 2012
Miss Fitts — 3B — Cramer School
Christian Kalt; Bud Piper; Floyd West; John Banks; George Spencer; Bob Sebastian; Walter Janssen; Richard Wilson; Bob Pinner; Ted Rice; Herm Schmidt; Wayne Gibbs; Ella Mae Sharp; Emma Abel; Margaret Dilworth; Hazel Stewart; Betty Ogle; Jennie Moore; Rose Shugart; Margaret Ross; Catherine Cadwallader; Evelyn Lacey; Margaret Letts.
Cramer School Pupils to Present Exhibit
Camden Courier-Post — June 7, 1933
An exhibition and demonstration of the year's work in all grades will be held today in Cramer School. The program, arranged for parents and friends of the school, will start at 2:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the demonstrations.
Handicraft Displayed by Cramer Students
Camden Courier-Post — June 8, 1933
Pupils of Cramer School, Twenty-ninth and Mickle Streets, demonstrated their work yesterday afternoon to more than 300 parents and friends, under the direction of Miss Elizabeth A. Mathews, principal. Children of the Second Grade exhibited Swiss handicrafts and art. A Swiss play and song were presented by pupils of the Second A class, coached by their teacher, Miss Elizabeth Mowers.
High Schools Here Revised; Junior-Senior Plan Cut Out
Camden Courier-Post — June 9, 1933
New System Gives Choice of Academic or Commercial and Arts Courses — Saves $500,000 Annex, Relieves Crowding
Reorganization of Camden junior and senior high schools has been effected with the approval of the local and state boards of education. By establishing the Camden Academic High School and Camden Commercial and Practical Arts High School, the school population of the present Camden High School will be reduced 50 percent when the September terms begin, according to Dr. Leon N. Neulen, superintendent of schools.
The new plan will cause a general redistribution of pupils in East Camden because the Woodrow Wilson Junior High School will become the Commercial high. The present junior high pupils will be sent back to Cramer school, from which they originally were transferred. Students in the Garfield and Dudley Schools will take their seventh grade in those institutions instead of junior high. Woodrow Wilson Junior High School now has 970 pupils and will have 643 at the Cramer school.
The new Academic High School will teach four courses: college preparatory, college technical, normal preparatory and general. The Commercial and Practical Arts High School will teach commercial and practical-arts courses. The plan eliminates Spanish; Latin will be taught four years, French three and German two. Art and music will no longer be compulsory. (By Frank Sheridan.)
Teachers Assigned to Cramer Junior High School
Camden Courier-Post — June 22, 1933
Assignment — Cramer Junior High School
English — Mary G. Dankor, Dorothy G. Dankor, Dorothy Milhous, Evelyn W. Heinold, Emily W. Smith, Ida L. Harman. Social Subjects — Edith Tietelman, Joseph W. Knouff, Charles D. Jones. Science — Mabel A. Rockhill, Florence C. Davis, Alan B. Henderson. Mathematics — Kay S. Witmer, Cheaster L. Witmer, Chester V. Kopuenhaver, Ida Berger, Mildred M. Stoner.
Commercial — B. Lucille Doerner. Music — May Marchant. Art — Leslie E. Hayden. Shop — Fred W. Bergmann. Practical Arts, Girls — Florence Pratt, Martha Bishop. Physical Education and Health — Mary F. Ladewig, Frank E. Sias.
Mitchell Mozeleski Is Assigned to Coaching
Camden Courier-Post — June 23, 1933
Local Star Athlete Will Assist Brooks — Sias at Cramer Jr. With Mary Ladewig
The appointments to the city's educational staff revealed that three former Camden High athletes are among the new appointees: Mitchell Mozeleski, Edward Lobley and Edward “Pat” O'Brien. Mozeleski, who captained the football and basketball teams at William and Mary, was assigned to the physical education department at Camden Academic High School to assist Phillip R. Brooks.
Frank Sias, who was on the physical-ed staff at the local high school and coached track, was appointed physical instructor at Cramer Junior High School and will be assisted by Mary Ladewig, another former Camden High graduate who starred for Temple University and Meadowbrook, holding a number of Middle Atlantic A.A.U. records. Grover “Worm” Wearshing will take charge of athletics at Woodrow Wilson High School. (By Frank Kopesky.)
Cramer School P.T.A.
Camden Courier-Post — October 11, 1933
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Named: Mrs. Samuel Smith; Mrs. M. Shaw; Morse Street; North 28th Street.
Pupils at Cramer Plan Programs to Pay for New Piano
Camden Courier-Post — February 21, 1936
Pre-War Instrument Replaced by Grand After Long Service — Sewing Classes Busy
Chords that helped youthful voices stay “in tune” for 25 years at Cramer Junior High School departed on a piano manufacturer's truck the other day. The school has bought a new piano — a rebuilt grand, replacing the instrument which had been in use in the school auditorium since pre-war days. The school itself assumed responsibility for meeting payments. An entertainment by Morton the magician and his trick dog “Onyx” was to be presented in the school auditorium to help pay for it; Ralph Smith, electric shop instructor, was in charge of tickets.
Eighth- and ninth-grade girls, working with their sewing instructor Miss Maude Griffin, made cotton frocks for the Camden Needlework Guild to be distributed to needy persons. Thelma Selby, new desk clerk of the traffic organization, managed the traffic room where student officers checked in and out under Fred W. Bergmann, who had charge of traffic. Betty Long was president of the traffic club. Home economics classes under Miss Florence Pratt prepared weekly hot lunches for teachers. (By Cecelia Cummings.)
Board of Education Shifts 14 Teachers
Camden Courier-Post — February 1, 1938
Appoints 2 Instructors and Pensions 2 Others; Wilson Enrollment High
The Camden Board of Education approved transfers of 14 teachers, the appointment of two new instructors, and the retirement on pension of two others. Most of the transfers were made to meet emergencies in teaching classes at Woodrow Wilson High School, where more than 1500 students would be enrolled for the second semester.
Transfers affecting Cramer included: Frank E. Sias, from Cramer Junior High to physical education at Wilson High; Jessie W. McMurtrie from Cramer Junior High to physical education at Wilson High; Wilton D. Greenway, from Cramer Junior High to mathematics at Camden High; Elizabeth Dickinson, from Bonsall to English at Cramer Junior High; Mrs. Mildred C. Simmons, from English to mathematics at Cramer Junior High; and Mrs. Esther S. Finberg from Cramer to Broadway school. Nathan Enten was appointed physical education teacher at Cramer.
To relieve overcrowding, the board approved the transfer of 7A and 7B classes from the Washington to the Cramer school, and voted to open a library in the Cramer school, with Raymond G. Price, supervisor of building, instructed to provide the necessary equipment.
Parent-Teacher Association News — Cramer
Camden Courier-Post — February 4, 1938
Cramer — Founder's Day will be celebrated at the regular meeting tonight. Mrs. Wilbur Peters is the chairman. Those taking part are Mrs. Harry Tueber, Mrs. Fred Miller, Mrs. Edith Greenwood, Mrs. William Gridley, Mrs. Arthur Fichter, Mrs. Mildred Simmons and Mrs. William Rowntree. Luncheon was served to teachers on Friday and Monday.
Asbury M.E. Players to Present Comedy
Camden Courier-Post — February 4, 1938
The Queen Esther Circle of the Asbury M.E. Church will present “Here Comes Charlie,” a three-act comedy, in the Cramer school auditorium tonight at 8 o'clock, under sponsorship of the Cramer School P.T.A. Robert Barrar coached the production. The cast comprises John Kissel, Dorothy Crowell, Frank Crowell, Frances Allenback, Robert Brasher, Ruth Selfridge, Ethel Lingenfelter, George Gardner and James Parker.
P.T.A. Throughout Nation to Honor Movement's Founders Wednesday
Camden Courier-Post — February 11, 1938
41st Anniversary Will Be Observed by Broadcast in Afternoon
The desire to carry on toward the goal envisioned by founders of the Parent-Teacher Association was emphasized throughout the country in honor of the 41st anniversary of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers. A Founders Day broadcast was heard on the Parent-Teacher Radio Forum over the NBC blue network.
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Mrs. Morris Foulk — director of the southern P.T.A. district and second vice president of the New Jersey Parents and Teachers Congress — was guest speaker at the Garfield School, Camden, P.T.A. meeting.
Cramer — The county president's message was read by Mrs. William Rowntree, president, at the meeting. A gift of $1.25 was sent to the committee on the Doll Dressing Contest. The executive committee will meet at the home of Barney Brown, vice president, 2566 Baird Boulevard. The association is sponsoring the three-act comedy “Here Comes Charlie,” to be given by the Queen Esther Society of Asbury M.E. church on Thursday night, February 17, in the school auditorium.
(The full clipping also carried Founders Day P.T.A. news from other Camden schools, including Broadway, Cassady, Cooper, H. H. Davis, Dudley, McKinley, Liberty & Starr, Parkside, North-East & Sewell, Sumner, H. C. Sharp, Washington, H. B. Wilson, Yorkship, and Lincoln.)
William Comerford at Cramer School, 1949
An undated 1949 photo showing William Comerford, driver for Camden's fire chief, passing out circulars to recruit support for police and fireman pay raises in front of the Alfred Cramer School.
10 Schools Represented
Philadelphia Inquirer — 1951
Schools representing eight public and one parochial school in Camden and the Pennsauken Township Junior High School competed in the Camden County marbles tournament sponsored by The Inquirer. Among the Camden school champions was Michael Marto, 14, of 215 Sewell Street, of the Cramer Junior High School, 29th and Mickle Streets. Other Camden champions came from the Harry C. Sharp School, Whittier School, the Powell School, Veterans' Memorial Junior High School, Holy Name Parochial School, the Mickle School, and the Davis School.
1953 Yearbook
Cramer Junior High School 1953 Yearbook — Principal, Student Government Officers & School Staff.
A 1953 Cramer Junior High School diploma and Certificate of Award, courtesy of Bernie Rieck.
1956–1957: Mrs. Stanford's Kindergarten Class
Mrs. Stanford's Kindergarten Class, 1956–1957. Photo courtesy of Judy Swerlick.
1959–1960: Mrs. McElhaney's Third Grade Class
Mrs. McElhaney's Third Grade Class, 1959–1960. Photo courtesy of Judy Swerlick.
1961–1962: Mrs. Plotnick's 5th Grade Class
Mrs. Plotnick's 5th Grade Class, 1961–1962. Photo courtesy of Judy Swerlick.