Burns Street

April 8, 2025

Burns Street was in Camden's Poet's Row neighborhood. The three blocks of houses that came to be known as Poet's Row first appear in the Camden City Directory of 1890–1891. Named for famous figures of English literature, the streets ran east and west from North 2nd Street, north of Erie Street. The first street north of Erie was Byron Street, followed by Burns Street and Milton Street. Only a few homes are noted in the 1890–1891 directory on Burns Street, at either end of the block, and only the 200 block is listed. This would indicate that Byron Street was built first, from the ends in, then Burns, and lastly Milton Street. A 300 block of Byron Street was built later, and also a 500 block of Byron Street.

North Camden in the 1890s offered many employment opportunities. Camden's industries were booming, and entrepreneurs came to Camden to set up shop. The new houses were snapped up mostly by tradesmen and skilled workers, with more than a few taking advantage of the short walks to the Vine Street and Shackamaxon ferries to commute back and forth to Philadelphia. The builder also made provisions for corner stores so the residents could shop conveniently. The sidewalks, like many of that era, were brick, and the streets were paved with cobblestone.

The Poet's Row neighborhood remained a vibrant place for decades, until, of course, after World War II, when the jobs began to leave North Camden. Perhaps it was poetic, with no pun intended, that the disaster that destroyed Poet's Row occurred when a recently closed factory building caught fire; the fire spreading to the homes, and in one hellish night destroying Milton Street, Burns Street, and the north side of Byron Street, where only two homes at the east end of the block, 241 and 243 Byron Street, were saved. Burns Street was no more. When dawn broke on August 24, 1972 Burns Street was gone.

200 Block of Burns Street

200 Block of Burns Street — Occupants

Address and occupant records from city directories, 1890–1969.

200 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Charles Edwards
1947	Hughbert J. Crossett

201 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Vacant

202 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Max Feldestein

203 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Daniel H. Webster

204 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Raymond A. Seth
1969	R.W. Williams

205 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	William F. Evans

206 Burns Street

Year	Name
1918	Frank Herman Keeley — WW1 draft registrant
1929	Peter L. Walter
1947	George P. Morris

207 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Mrs. Catherine Turner

208 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Robert A. Allen — burglary victim
1926–1947	Gregory Worona & Family — Gregory & Mary Worona, Jennie Worona, Rosie Worona, Frank Worona

209 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Mrs. Sarah H. Walter

210 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Albert Gelser
1938	Adolf Lemm Jr.
1947	Willard H. Hatcher

211 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Harry C. Emore

212 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Mrs. Margaret M. DeHart

213 Burns Street

Year	Name
1930	Maude MacIntosh
1933	Leo O'Brien — jailed 30 days
1947	William Hilbmann Jr.

214 Burns Street

Year	Name
1915	Julius Narshinski — heat exhaustion
1929	Horace H. Dolson
1947	Edwin L. Sutton

215 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	George E. Hillary — trucking

216 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Mrs. Annie Mallen

217 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Walter Reighn
1947	William T. Sweeten

218 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Abraham Feldstein
1933	Harry & Margaret Dounch
1938	John Cool Jr. — hospital case
1947	Frederick A. Sevick

219 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Clifford Stevens
1965	For sale, asking $1,500

220 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Lansing Cowley
1947	William H. Blank

221 Burns Street

Year	Name
1938	Adolph Lemm Jr.
1947	Edward Sheppard

222 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Charles W. Rumbol
1947	Thomas Edmondson

223 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	John Tuminia

224 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Mrs. Victoria Johnson

225 Burns Street

Year	Name
1900s–1910s	John Winstanley & Family — Thomas Winstanley (son)
1947	Louis A. Hambrose

226 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Mrs. Anna M. Powell
1947	Mrs. Maude MacIntosh

227 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Mrs. Elizabeth Healey
1947	John Barber

228 Burns Street

Year	Name
1906	Mrs. Sarah Tydeman
1906	Vincent A. Tydeman
1947	Granville R. Guthridge

229 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	John H. Purkey
1947	Mrs. Eva Logan

230 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Mrs. Mary Reath
1947	Mrs. Emma V. Emore
1969	Mrs. Aloma Painter

231 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Michael J. Besso
1965	For sale, asking $1,500

232 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	John M. Carley
1930s	John Winstanley & Family — Thomas Winstanley (son)
1947	James W. Smith

233 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Elizabeth Condell

234 Burns Street

Year	Name
1890–1891	John Schimpf
1947	Mrs. Mary E. Johnson

235 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Lillie D. Carbaugh

236 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Sylvester Hampton
1947	Harold M. Sheff

237 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	John R. Koch
1947	Michael M. Choma

238 Burns Street

Year	Name
1897	John Feerick — lead pipe larceny
1947	Isaac Niemi

239 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Henry G. Murphy
1947	Mrs. Pearl G. Moeller

240 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Mrs. Edith M. Stretch — confectionary
1929	Ellis Stretch
1947	Mrs. Sarah Walter

241 Burns Street

Year	Name
1928	Mrs. Rosie Speller
1947	Arthur W. Jeanes

242 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Richard Wagner
1969	E. Fleming

243 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Charles W. Norris
1947	Henry M. Urban

244 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	No return

245 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Mrs. Gussie Hampton
1947	No return

246 Burns Street

Year	Name
1924	Earl Stopfer
1947	Mrs. Mamie B. Grover

247 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	No return

248 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Albert Vanderhaggen
1947	Mrs. Adelaide Helfer

249 Burns Street

Year	Name
1947	Joseph T. Bond

250 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	Mrs. Elizabeth Frew
1947	Charles D. Phillips
1956	Vacant, razed — owners B.H. Stow et ux, Marlton NJ

251 Burns Street

Year	Name
1930	Raymond Seth
1933	William Bolopue — huckster
1947	Leonard C. Beecher

252 Burns Street

Year	Name
1929	William Lucy
1933	Mrs. Mae Bard

253 Burns Street

Year	Name
1924	John Havlick (dead by 1930)
1933	Mrs. Mary Havlick & Albert Weller & Family — Albert & Jessie Havlick Weller, Russell Weller, Doris Weller
1947	Dan Hinkle

206 Burns Street — Frank Herman Keeley

World War I draft registration card for Frank Herman Keeley of 206 Burns Street, Camden — World War I draft registration card, September 12, 1918

Frank Herman Keeley, 206 Burns Street. Age 41, born December 25, 1876. Water Dept. employee, working at 26 Collingswood Ave., Collingswood, N.J. Registered September 12, 1918, Local Board for Division No. 1, City of Camden.

208 Burns Street — Gregory Worona

World War II draft registration card for Gregory Worona of 208 Burns Street, Camden — World War II draft registration card, 1942

Gregory Worona, 208 Burns Street, Camden. Born February 16, 1885, Poland. Employer: J.R. Evans, 2nd & Erie St., Camden, N.J. Serial No. 0971.

211 Burns Street — Harry & Jennie Emore

Harry and Jennie Emore of 211 Burns Street — Harry & Jennie Emore, 211 Burns Street

230 Burns Street — Emma V. Emore

Emma V. Emore of 230 Burns Street — Emma V. Emore, 230 Burns Street

Linden Street

October 8, 2024

Linden Street runs east from the Delaware River to North 12th Street. Over the years, large portions of the street have been demolished to accommodate the construction of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, Rutgers University, the toll plaza, and related infrastructure projects.

Clare Street

February 4, 2024

Clare Street is a one-block thoroughfare that runs south, from 338 Pine Street to 335 Division Street, in South Camden. It was originally called Pine Avenue, and appears to have been renamed between 1878 and late 1889 or early 1890.

Concerning the Clare Street listings in the 1887–1888 and 1888–1889 directories, the house number patterns are inconsistent with the location. The 1890–1891 directories have the proper house numbers.

By 2010, if not sooner, there were no homes remaining on Clare Street. Clare Street was renamed Jesthroe Hunt Sr. Lane by the City of Camden to memorialize former Camden Fire department member Jesthroe Hunt Sr. after his passing in 2005.

1946 Map of Camden showing Clare Street area — 1946 Map of Camden — Clare Street can be seen running between Pine Street and Division Street.

Looking south on Clare Street from Pine Street, August 2011 — Looking south on Clare Street from Pine Street — August 2011.

Clare and Pine Streets sign, August 2011 — Street sign at Clare and Pine Streets — August 2011.

Looking north on Clare Street from Division Street, March 2012 — Looking north on Clare Street from Division Street — March 2012.

Looking north on Clare Street, March 2012 — Clare Street looking north — March 19, 2012.

Clare and Division Streets sign, March 2012 — Street sign at Clare and Division Streets — March 19, 2012.

Clare Street 800 Block

811 Clare Street

Held for Larceny. Ella Mitchell alias Bella Clark was given a hearing before Mayor Westcott this afternoon, on the charge of stealing some underwear from Benjamin Cavanaugh, of 811 Clare street. She was held in $100 bail.

Santo DiMaggio, 811 Clare Street, 1917–1918 — Santo DiMaggio, of the John & Mary DiMaggio family at 811 Clare Street, 1917–1918.

Held for Assault — Robert Sapimora, 811 Clare Street, Camden Daily Courier, September 18, 1923 — Camden Daily Courier, September 18, 1923

Held for Assault. William Brown, 20 years old, colored, of 1120 Chestnut street, was today held under $300 bail by Judge Cleary, charged with assault and battery on Robert Sapimora, of 811 Clare street.

WPA Blast — Rev. H.J. Johnson, 811 Clare Street, Camden Courier-Post, May 13, 1938 — Camden Courier-Post, May 13, 1938

In a blast at the administration of WPA the Rev. H. J. Johnson, Negro minister, of 811 Clare street, charged jobs were given at the behest of politicians.

20 Taken in Raids Are Fined $850, Camden Courier-Post, January 26, 1932 — Camden Courier-Post, January 26, 1932

20 Taken in Raids Are Fined $850 (continued), Camden Courier-Post, January 26, 1932 — Camden Courier-Post, January 26, 1932 (continued)

20 Taken in Raids Are Fined $850. The raids were staged Sunday night on houses at 811 Clare street and Pine street by Lieut. Ralph Bakley of the South Camden Police force. Twenty men and women arrested were fined a total of $850 by Police Judge Pancoast.

Boy Badly Hurt by Truck — Joseph De Milo, 811 Clare Street, Camden Courier-Post, February 4, 1932 — Camden Courier-Post, February 4, 1932

Boy Badly Hurt by Truck. Joseph De Milo, 6, of 811 Clare street, is in Cooper hospital with a probable pelvis fracture inflicted when struck at Fourth and Pine streets by a truck.

B.E.F. News Vendor Held on Fraud Charge — Camden Courier-Post, August 25, 1932 — Camden Courier-Post, August 25, 1932

B.E.F. News Vendor Held on Fraud Charge. Joseph Gamello, of 811 Clare street, filed complaint that Louis Cistern secured 50 copies of the B.E.F. News for which he failed to pay.

813 Clare Street

Cases Treated at the Homeopathic. Rocco Giordani, aged 2 years, of 813 Clare street, lacerated scalp, from being hit by a bike.

Snowballers Are Taught a Lesson — Dominic Giordano, Clare Street, Camden Daily Courier, March 10, 1914 — Camden Daily Courier, March 10, 1914

Snowballers Are Taught a Lesson. Recorder Stackhouse in Police Court made an endeavor to put a stop to dangerous snowball throwing. Dominic Giordano, of Clare street above Fourth, was among those arraigned.

Marriage Licenses — Aimmizata Coppola, 813 Clare Street, Camden Post-Telegram, March 2, 1915 — Camden Post-Telegram, March 2, 1915

Marriage Licenses. Vincenzo Marandino, of 351 Pine street, and Aimmizata Coppola, of 813 Clare street.

815 Clare Street

Twice Arrested for Same Offense. Isaac Chambers, colored, of 815 Clare street, was arrested twice for assaulting Isaiah Nickerson on May 24. After an investigation by the county authorities Chambers was released from jail.

11 Injured When Coal Truck Hits Crowded Trolley — Joseph Davis, 815 Clare Street, Camden Daily Courier, June 15, 1917 — Camden Daily Courier, June 15, 1917

11 Injured When Coal Truck Hits Crowded Trolley. Joseph Davis, aged 45, of 815 Clare street, driver of the motor coal truck, was among those injured when his machine skidded into a trolley at Broadway and Mickle streets.

Woman Hurt in Crash Admitted to Hospital — Hilda Baylis, 815 Clare Street, Camden Courier-Post, October 7, 1939 — Camden Courier-Post, October 7, 1939

Woman Hurt in Crash Admitted to Hospital. Miss Hilda Baylis, 31, of 815 Clare street, was admitted to West Jersey Hospital with cuts of the face as the result of an automobile collision at Ninth street and Atlantic avenue.

817 Clare Street

Cases Treated at the Homeopathic. Rosetta Johnson, aged 14 years, of 817 Clare street, ankle sprained by a fall downstairs.

Police Roundup at 817 Clare Street — Edward Brown, Camden Daily Courier, May 13, 1918 — Camden Daily Courier, May 13, 1918

Captain Stohr and a detail of officers made a successful roundup of men and women at 817 Clair street. Edward Brown, 25 years old, who lives at that address, was charged with keeping a disorderly house.

Gets Four Months for Carrying Gun — Curly McGee, 817 Clare Street, Camden Post-Telegram, September 17, 1921 — Camden Post-Telegram, September 17, 1921

Three Colored Women Are Given Two Months — Camden Post-Telegram, September 17, 1921 — Camden Post-Telegram, September 17, 1921

Gets Four Months for Carrying Gun. Four months in the county jail was the sentence imposed on Curlie McGee, 36, of 817 Clare street, charged with carrying concealed deadly weapons.

819 Clare Street

Used Club on Ex-Boss. Angered because of the loss of his position at the coke works, Harrison Merchant, of 819 Clare street, brutally assaulted Henry A. Kulp, a foreman at the plant.

Local Light Luncheon — Angelo Tario, 819 Clare Street, Camden Post-Telegram, September 21, 1912 — Camden Post-Telegram, September 21, 1912

Local Light Luncheon. Angelo Tario, aged 19 years, of 819 Clare street, an employee of the N. Z. Graves Co., suffered a severe contusion of a shoulder after being caught between a wagon and a freight platform.

Former Sweetheart Nemesis in Court — Mary Water, 819 Clare Street, Camden Post-Telegram, January 17, 1914 — Camden Post-Telegram, January 17, 1914

Former Sweetheart Nemesis in Court. Hezekiah Allen appeared before Recorder Stackhouse, with Mary Water, now of 819 Clare street, as the principal witness against him.

Negro Burglar Held for Court — William Davis, 819 Clare Street, Camden Daily Courier, June 9, 1914 — Camden Daily Courier, June 9, 1914

Negro Burglar Held for Court. William Davis, of 819 Clare street, was arrested for breaking and entering the home of Mrs. Peacock, of 731 Penn street, and committed for court without bail.

Marriage Licenses — David Pratt, 819 Clare Street, Camden Post-Telegram, March 30, 1918 — Camden Post-Telegram, March 30, 1918

Marriage Licenses. David Pratt, aged 25 years, of 819 Clare street, and Anna Duncan, aged 30 years, of 1714 Mulford street.

823 Clare Street

In the Vale of Shadows. Ann, wife of John Dolan, died on Wednesday at her husband's residence, 823 Clare street.

Birthday Anniversary Party — Miss L. Agustus, 823 Clare Street, Camden Post-Telegram, March 31, 1913 — Camden Post-Telegram, March 31, 1913

A birthday anniversary party was tendered Miss L. Agustus at her home, 823 Clare street, Saturday night. The guests spent a merry evening playing games and in singing.

Four Are Arrested After Family Brawl — George Graham, 823 Clare Street, Camden Post-Telegram, June 18, 1915 — Camden Post-Telegram, June 18, 1915

Youth Held for Assault on Mother — Elwood Wiggins, 823 Clare Street, Camden Daily Courier, July 9, 1915 — Camden Daily Courier, July 9, 1915

Four Are Arrested After Family Brawl / Youth Held for Assault on Mother. George Graham, a negro, aged 38 years, of 823 Clare street, was arrested alongside his wife and stepson Elwood Wiggins following a domestic disturbance. Wiggins was later held in $200 bail for court on the charge of assault and battery on his mother.

Rabbi Naftoly Riff

November 21, 2021

Portrait of Rabbi Naftoly H. J. Riff in a brimmed hat, with beard and round glasses — Rabbi Naftoly Riff

Portrait of Rabbi Naftoly H. J. Riff in a skullcap and glasses, late in life — From the invitation to the May 23, 1976 Testimonial Brunch

RABBI NAFTOLY H.J. RIFF was the revered spiritual leader of Congregation Sons of Israel, which was located at 1128 South 8th Street, the corner of South 8th and Sycamore Streets. An Orthodox synagogue, Sons of Israel was popularly known in Camden’s Jewish Community as the “8th Street Schul.” Rabbi Riff led Sons of Israel from the early 1920s through the late 1960s.

Rabbi Riff was born in Bobrisk, in the guberniya (province) of Minsk, Russia on September 9, 1893. He came to the United States by way of Seattle in 1916 and by 1918 was ordained as a Rabbi. He had already come to Camden by June of 1917, when he registered for the draft. He then was boarding at the home of a hatmaker, Morris Gelman and his wife Sarah, 1112 Baring Street, just north of Kaighn Avenue. Rabbi Riff was at that time already serving as the head Rabbi at Sons of Israel, which had been founded in 1886.

Rabbi Riff applied for citizenship in December of 1920. By that time he had moved to 507 Mt. Vernon Street. By 1923 he had moved to 1426 Princess Avenue in Camden’s Parkside neighborhood. He brought his wife Bessie (Basja) to America from Russia in the summer of 1923 and became an American citizen in 1924. The Riffs had one child, a daughter named Roselynn. The Riff family resided on Princess Avenue through at least 1959.

Rabbi Riff led the Congregation in Camden for almost 50 years. In the late 1960s, changes in Camden’s demographics and the imminent construction of interstate highway Route 676 caused Congregation Sons of Israel to move to a new building in Cherry Hill. The 8th Street Schul was demolished shortly afterwards.

When Rabbi Riff stepped down from the pulpit in the late 1960s he retired to Israel, where his wife passed away. He became sick and returned to New York, where he passed in October of 1976. Besides his work in Camden at Sons of Israel, Rabbi Riff was the President from 1958 until 1976 of the highly respected Ezra’s Torah charitable organization, which has funded a variety of programs in Israel since 1915. The Rabbi Naftali Riff Yeshiva in South Bend IN, which operates as a high school and as a rabbinical college, was named in his memory.

Steve Ross, whose family lived on Baring Street during the time Rabbi Riff resided there and for whom Rabbi Riff was their spiritual leader, wrote the following article concerning Rabbi Riff during the summer of 2009:

Over the course of the last four years, I have embarked on a genealogy hobby to trace and document my family’s roots. Once I was able to recreate much of my family’s presence in Camden, I decided to expand the research web to include others who had a major impact on my family. As such, my first side-project involved one of the most esteemed rabbis ever in Camden, Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Riff. My research sources included personal interviews with Rabbi Riff’s daughter, Rachel (Riff) Gettinger, my own family and friends, numerous historical repositories such as the Camden County Historical Society and New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, census reports, deeds from Camden’s City Hall, and the indefatigable efforts of Phil Cohen, whose www.dvrbs.com website on Camden and its citizens has helped me immensely. Rabbi Naftali Riff was born on October 23, 1893 in Bobroisk, Pinsk Russia. He was named for his maternal great-grandfather, Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (1817–August 10, 1893), who led the famous Yeshiva in Volozhin (in what is presently Belarus) from 1854–1892. Rabbi Riff married Bashe Elivitsky, daughter of Rabbi Elieazar Isiah Elivitsky, on July 9, 1914 in Telechon, Poland.

Rabbi Riff descended from an illustrious line of rabbis and Talmudic scholars. Naftali Riff was the son of Rabbi Israel Riff & Miriam (Shapiro) Riff. He was educated at the Yeshiva in Volozhin before emigrating to the United States in 1916. Apparently, an uncle informed him that Camden had an opening at a shul as Congregation Sons of Israel purportedly had about 8 rabbis before Rabbi Riff arrived. There was also some sort of connection with Rabbi Riff’s mentor, Rabbi Bernard H. Leventhal of B’nai Abraham in Philadelphia. Rabbi Riff experienced a very arduous trip in order to get to America. Unlike most immigrants of the day, he did not travel westward over the Atlantic Ocean for arrival at an east coast port of entry. He travelled east from Russia because he was living in Czarist Russia at the time and Russia considered some Jews sympathizers to Germany. So Rabbi Riff and his brother, Chaim Riff, travelled east with their father who accompanied them part way toward their disembarkation point in Yokohama, Japan. However, they experienced a slight delay after they hired an illegal boatman to take the Riff sons from Russia across the border to Manchuria, China. The Russian police intercepted the boat and locked the Riff sons in prison, since they had no papers to speak of for proper travel and they could be considered spies. Nevertheless, the Riffs’ father, Rabbi Israel Riff, demanded to speak with the commanding officer in order to negotiate his sons’ release from prison. The officer arrived to hear what Israel Riff had to say when he detected a particular dialect from his home region. Sure enough, the Riffs came from the same town in Russia as the commanding officer. In fact, the police officer told Rabbi Riff a story that when he was young, his father admonished him to always respect a particular rabbi in the village. The particular rabbi happened to be Rabbi Naftali Riff’s maternal grandfather and Israel Riff’s father-in-law. It was this uncanny act of G-d that caused the Riffs to be released from prison where under most other circumstances they could very well have been killed.

According to Naftali Riff’s naturalization papers, he emigrated from Yokohama, Japan and sailed on the S.S. Taubman to the Port of Seattle around August 15, 1916. The journey took about 2 weeks and he undoubtedly bunked in steerage. Sometime after his arrival to Seattle, Rabbi Riff then took a 5-day train ride to New York and then took another train south to either Philadelphia or Camden. He boarded with Morris & Sarah Gelman and their family at 1112 Baring Street in Camden.

Rabbi Riff submitted his intention papers in the Common Pleas Court of Camden County to become a U.S. citizen on December 13, 1920. His papers stated that he was 5’ 8” tall, weighed 115 pounds, had black hair and brown eyes. At that time, he lived at 507 Mt. Vernon Street in Camden. By March, 1924 he submitted his Petition for Naturalization while living at 1426 Princess Avenue with his wife Basha. The two witnesses who attested for his character where Samuel Shane, merchant, living at 1026 Broadway and David Lefkowitz, real estate, living at 1216 Langham Avenue. Finally, on October 2, 1924 Rabbi Riff became a United States citizen.

In addition to being the rabbi at Sons of Israel, Rabbi Riff also performed his duties at Congregation Ahev Zedek and Congregation B’nai Abraham Shomre Sabbath, otherwise known as the Liberty Street shul. His other affiliations included being chairman of the board of education at Camden Hebrew School since 1918; member of the executive boards of Mizrachi Organization of America, Ezras Torah, Union of Orthodox Rabbis of US and Canada, Camden Federation of Jewish Charities, Camden branch of U.P.A, Central Relief, Yeshiva Etz Hayim in Jerusalem, Yeshiva of Volozhin and Yeshiva of Telechon.

The Rabbi’s wife, Bessie (Basha), was born on July 28, 1893 in Telechany, Poland. She emigrated to New York from the Port of Hamburg, Germany on the SS Kroonland and arrived at Ellis Island on July 18, 1923. She became a naturalized citizen in the Common Pleas Court of Camden, NJ on December 9, 1938. The two witnesses who attested for her character were Samuel Shane, insurance agent, living at 1488 Kenwood Avenue and Herman Natal, realtor, living at 1540 Wildwood Avenue.

Rabbi & Mrs. Riff had one child, Rosalind (Rachel), born in Philadelphia on November 15, 1927. Rachel (Riff) Gettinger lives in New York City with her husband, Rabbi Emanuel Gettinger, who is the Emeritus Rabbi of Young Israel of the West Side in New York City.

Many old Jewish families of Camden have their own personal connection to Rabbi Riff. In the case of my family, Rabbi Riff’s presence scaled generations. In 1919 he conducted the second marriage of my young-widowed great-grandmother and family matriarch, Rebecca Silverman, who in the 1920s sold her army-navy store to her son-in-law and daughter, Herman & Fannie Levin, who started Rochester Formal Wear at 299 Kaighn Avenue. The Rabbi married many of Rebecca’s daughters, one of whom was my grandmother, Anna Silverman, who in 1918 married Isreal Ross, a 29-year-old plumber who started Ross Plumbing & Heating Company at 1145 Baring Street and later at 1142 South Sixth Street. Rabbi Riff married also married two of three Ross sons, Manuel (1949) and Leonard (1958). Manuel is now 90-years-old and recalls that he was married in Rabbi Riff’s home study and that his daughter Rachel played the piano at his wedding. The Ross family lived right around the corner from Talmud Torah and also were loyal members of Congregation Sons of Israel at Eighth and Sycamore Streets for many years.

The Ross family performed all the plumbing work at Sons of Israel as well as the Rabbi’s home at 1426 Princess Avenue in the Parkside section of Camden. In order to properly divert natural rainwater for the shul’s mikvah, the Rosses built a cistern adjacent to the roof that provided the necessary amount of storage rainwater to be used for ritual baths. Since my grandfather, Isreal Ross, did a fair amount of plumbing work at the Riff home, he was approached one day by the Rabbi who claimed that no bill was submitted for some recent plumbing repairs. After my grandfather responded that it was his honor to repair the toilet in the Riff home, Rabbi Riff said something in Yiddish about maintaining a man’s pride and insisted that my grandfather treat him as a normal customer. To wit, Isreal the plumber subsequently billed the rabbi anywhere from $1 to $5 for services rendered. Clearly, he forgot to add tax to the bill!

I often heard from many old “Camdenites” that there wasn’t a dollar in Rabbi Riff’s pocket that he didn’t give away to people in need. He was a “rabbi’s rabbi” who conducted himself throughout his life with honor and integrity.

Thanks to Steve Ross, Elliot Rosen, and Rabbi David Herman for their help in creating this page.

World War I Draft Card

World War I draft registration card, front, Naftoli Zwi Juda Riff — World War I Draft Registration Card, June 5, 1917 — front

World War I draft registration card, back (Registrar's Report) — World War I Draft Registration Card, June 5, 1917 — reverse

Marriage License Signed by Rabbi Riff

New Jersey Certificate and Record of Marriage, April 8, 1919, officiated by Rabbi N. Riff — Certificate and Record of Marriage of Mayer London and Rebecca (Goldman) Silverman, signed by Rabbi Riff, April 8, 1919

1920 Census

Rabbi Riff was boarding with Morris Gelman at 1112 Baring Street.

1920 U.S. Census population schedule page, Camden, New Jersey (full sheet) — 1920 Federal Census, January 13, 1920 — Rabbi Riff boarding at 1112 Baring Street, Camden

1920 census, left columns: Morris Gelman household with boarder Nathan Reiff, Baring St. — 1920 Federal Census — detail rows, part 2

1920 census, right columns: occupation Rabbi, industry Synagogue — 1920 Federal Census — detail rows, part 3

Declaration of Intention to Become a U.S. Citizen

Rabbi Riff filed this in Camden with William D. Brown, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas.

Declaration of Intention (naturalization), N. H. J. Riff, Rabbi, 1920 — Declaration of Intention to Become a Citizen of the United States of America, December 13, 1920

Mrs. Riff Comes to America

S.S. Kroonland alien passenger manifest, Hamburg July 7, 1923, listing Basja Riff — Ships Manifest, SS Kroonland, July 18, 1923 — part 1

Kroonland manifest page 2: arrival at New York July 18, 1923, line 15 husband Rabbi Naftaly Riff, Camden — Ships Manifest, SS Kroonland, arriving at Port of New York, July 18, 1923 — part 2

Petition for Naturalization

Talmud Torah

Camden Courier-Post article "Miss Esther Markowitz to Wed Harry Gross" announcing a wedding at Sons of Israel Synagogue with Rabbi N. Riff officiating — Camden Courier-Post, February 10, 1928

1930 Census

Rabbi Riff was living at 1426 Princess Avenue, Parkside, Camden.

1930 U.S. Census sheet 15B, Camden City, Ward 13, with the Riff household — 1930 Federal Census, April 8, 1930 — Rabbi Riff at 1426 Princess Avenue, part 1

1930 census crop: Riff household, Nachtali, Bessie and Rosalyn — 1930 Federal Census — detail rows, part 2

1930 census crop, right columns: Riff entry, occupation Rabbi, Jewish Temple — 1930 Federal Census — detail rows, part 3

Return from European Trip Aboard the Steamship Bremen

S.S. Bremen List of United States Citizens, Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 1931, including Rabbi Naftaly Riff — Return from European trip aboard the steamship Bremen, sailing from Bremen August 30 and arriving at New York September 5, 1931

Crop of the Bremen citizens list heading and first lines, 1931 — Passenger manifest, SS Bremen — detail rows

Rabbi Levinthal Married

Who’s Who in American Jewry

RIFF, Naftoly Hirsch Jehudah, rabbi. Born Babroisk, Russia, Oct. 1894, s. Rabbi Israel and Miriam (Shapiro) R.; came to U.S. 1917. Ed. Yeshiva of Volozhin, Poland. Rabbi Cong. Sons of Israel, Cong. Oheb Zedek and Cong. B’nai Abraham Shomre Sabbath, Camden, N.J., since 1917. Chmn bd of edn Camden Hebrew Sch. since 1918; mem. exec. bd: Mizrachi Orgn of Am. since 1920, Ezras Torah since 1920, Union of Orthodox Rabbis of U.S. and Canada since 1922, Camden Fed. of Jewish Charities, Camden branch U.P.A., Central Relief, Yeshiva Etz Hayim (Jerusalem, Palestine), Yeshiva of Volozhin, Yeshiva of Telz. Married Bashe, d. Rabbi Elieazer Isiah Elivitsky, Oct. 1916, Terlechan, Poland; child, Rachael. Society: B’nai B’rith. Address: 1426 Princess Ave, Camden, N.J.

World War II Draft Card

World War II draft registration card, front, Naftoly Hersh J. Riff — World War II Draft Registration Card — front

World War II draft registration card, back (Registrar's Report), 1942 — World War II Draft Registration Card — reverse

Congregation Sons of Israel

Rabbi Riff & Study Group

Rabbi Riff and a study group posed in front of Congregation Sons of Israel — Rabbi Riff is seated, front row center. Congregation Sons of Israel, 1944.

Return from European Trip via K.L.M. Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines air passenger manifest, Amsterdam to New York, July 19, 1951 — Return from European trip from Amsterdam, Holland, via K.L.M. Royal Dutch Airlines, July 19, 1951

Crop of KLM manifest lines 13-17 including Naftoly Riff, July 1951 — Passenger manifest, K.L.M., July 19, 1951 — detail rows

Letter from Rabbi Riff — Translation

Handwritten Hebrew letter on Rabbi N. H. J. Riff letterhead, 1426 Princess Ave., Camden — Letter written by Rabbi Naftoly Riff

The script in the middle of the two printed addresses on the stationery is the hardest to make out, and it’s unfortunate, because it’s the date! It reads:

Baruch Hashem — Blessed be God. Wednesday, the fifth of the month Marcheshvan in the year of creation 5708 or 5728. [This corresponds to either November 28, 1947 or November 20, 1964. I would guess it’s 1947 because I’m not sure if Rabbi Riff was still active as late as 1964, but I don’t know.]

To my exalted, respected, dear cousin, Rabbi __________, may he long live, [a pity, the name is obscured] Shalom, and blessings.

I am requesting my exalted and dear cousin, in every language of entreaty, to perform an act of charity [a bit of a guess because the writing is not entirely clear] on behalf of the daughter of my departed brother-in-law, Reb Mordechai Sand… [complete name obscured] of blessed memory, who is an orphan of her father and mother, ….??… [a few obscure words] that if you would be able to try and [arrange] her acceptance to the Mizrachi School for Young Girls in Tel Aviv, it would be good; and if you were not successful, an admissions to a different place. If you would inform me of your efforts in this.

I look forward to the compassions of heaven.

Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Riff

Thanks to Elliot Rosen for taking the time to translate this letter.

Biography of Rabbi Naftoli H.J. Riff

A liberal translation of the Hebraic biography written by his loyal and devoted friend, Rabbi B. L. Levinthal

In conjunction with the splendid celebration which the City of Camden is planning in honor of its great spiritual leader, Rabbi N. H. J. Riff, it is my pleasant duty to congratulate both him and his community. I wish to indicate herewith several characteristics which distinguish Rabbi Riff as one of the most illustrious Rabbis of today.

I am, it seems to me, the proper person to give a genuine evaluation of his prominent personality, his outstanding gifts, his beautiful character and widespread influence. I know him well, for he has been a close friend of mine since he first arrived in this great and free country of ours.

Rabbi Riff was known long before he came to America. He was born in Russia in 1894 to a family renowned for scholarship and Jewish authority. (He is a descendent of Rabbi Isaac Al-Fasi, the much-cited Jewish codifier of 900 years ago.) He was privately instructed by his father up to the age of fifteen. He then entered the Yeshivah of Walozin, where he was taken care of by his grandfather, Rabbi Raphael, then the head of that Talmudic Academy. He studied there both the Babylonian and the Palestinian Talmuds as well as the post-Talmudic literature. When he reached the age of twenty, he had managed to acquire unusual versatility and skill in the wide spaces of Talmudic literature.

His learned ancestors believed that the study of the Torah is the greatest principle of Jewish life. Rabbi Riff is much influenced by his great ancestors, whose methods of study he follows very closely. All his ethically beautiful conduct is based upon the teachings of the Torah.

In 1916 he married into the eminent family of the late Rabbi Isaac Elhanan of Kovno. That very year he was elected Rabbi of Telechon, Russia, as the successor of his father-in-law. The community was soon completely destroyed as a result of the Great War. He then left Europe and came to the United States in 1920. We immediately recognized him to be an unusual personality, and recommended him as the Rabbi of Camden, whereupon he was elected without further delay.

Rabbi Riff is constantly aware of his duty to teach, preach and inspire his people. And like the responsible leader that he is, he never ceases to exert every effort to improve the religious life of his fellow-Jews. His public addresses are on all occasions replete with references to all branches of Jewish lore. He particularly stresses Jewish ethics, intending thereby to induce his audiences to the practical discharge of their daily duties of charity and benevolence rather than merely amusing them.

Rabbi Riff is a saintly character. When he opposes someone, he never does so from a personal dislike. He remonstrates with transgressors out of love for them. Therein lies the secret of his success with people. His relationship to his human surroundings is extraordinarily friendly. That is undoubtedly the reason that he is always listened to. His sympathy with the sufferings of others is boundless. Indeed, he symbolizes truth, justice, and uprightness. That is why he exerts an enviable influence upon all those who come in contact with him. In a word, he is beloved by all. He despises personal gain. This alone marks him as one of the few truly outstanding men in the Rabbinical world. His manifold charity is far beyond his financial means and too often at the expense of his own family welfare. His house is open wide to anyone in need. He and his devoted wife and daughter are invariably the hosts of many a stranger passing through town.

Rabbi Riff is very public spirited and he has been instrumental in making the Camden community one of the finest in the United States. The works and accomplishments of this distinguished Rabbi are too numerous to catalogue. His interests have found expression in a variety of activities in addition to his regular Rabbinical duties.

His untiring efforts have helped to establish the Federation of Jewish Charities, the Talmud-Torah, the Mizrachi Organization, various Palestine and relief drives and any other local, national and Holy Land charitable and educational institutions that may be mentioned. He has been named by the State Board of Health to be the local inspector of all kosher meats in Camden County. He is the director, with sole authority to issue licenses, for Shochtim in our community.

His influence is nation wide as evidenced by the position he holds as Vice-President of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada. Happy is the community that knows properly to evaluate and respect their most learned Rabbi. May God lend new strength to my dear friend, Rabbi Riff, his devoted wife, and his gifted daughter in order that they may continue their splendid work without interruption, and may God bless all of you for your interest in behalf of so great and so good a man.

Testimonial dinner program page 2: greetings from Ezras Torah and Rabbi B. L. Levinthal, Union of Orthodox Rabbis message, and program — Testimonial dinner program, page 2

Testimonial dinner program: portrait of Nathan S. Rubin, his message, and the Testimonial Committee — Testimonial dinner program, page 3

Testimonial dinner program: patrons, patronesses and well wishers — Testimonial dinner program, page 4

Testimonial dinner program: more well wishers and an Autographs page — Testimonial dinner program, page 5

1976 Testimonial Brunch invitation for Rabbi Naftoli H. J. Riff, Ner Israel Rabbinical College — Invitation to the May 23, 1976 Testimonial Brunch

Participants in Program:

Nathan S. Rubin — George E. Brunner — Rabbi Bernard L. Levinthal — Mrs. Betty K. Kapel — E. George Aaron — Rabbi Wolf Gold — Louis E. Levinthal — Rabbi L. Selzer — Jacob Zuckerman — Meyer Adleman — Mrs. Meyer Adleman — Dan S. Rosenberg — Nathan S. Rubin — Samuel Yaffe — Samuel A. Weiss — Mrs. Samuel A. Weiss — Joseph Getzov — Emanuel L. Kapel — Manuel Ross — Joseph Ruttenberg — Joseph Shapiro — Harry Antelman — Mrs. Harry Antelman — William Remer — Morris Finkelstein — Benjamin P. Rosensweig — Mrs. Benjamin P. Rosensweig — Irwin L. Levy — Saul Lippman — Mrs. Harry Albert — Mrs. Samuel Bellitz — Mrs. S. S. Lewis — Henry Gaulton — Mrs. Edward Markowitz — Mrs. Benj. Rosensweig — Mrs. Abe Stoolman — Allan Hecsh — Morris Kress — Samuel Zeff — Mrs. Samuel Zeff — Nathan W. Elkitz — Hyman Bloom — Simon Abramson — Isidor Savage — Benjamin F. Friedman — Maurice H. Clyman — Mrs. Maurice H. Clyman — Edward Adelman — Louis Markowitz — Michael Albert — Dr. Alexander Ellis — Stanton Tarter — Henry Schreibstein — Jules Jaspan — Nathan Wolpert — Samuel Rosen — Benjamin Asbell — Leon Faerber — Samuel Shane — Israel Heine — Joseph Grossberg — Barney B. Brown — Jacob L. Furer — Sol Hoffman — Martin Yuderfriend — Samuel L. Reichman — William Arensberg — Henry J. Bass — Cantor and Mrs. Louis J. Herman — Emil Wise — Abraham Brandt — Congregation Sons of Israel — I. Eskin & Son — Greenetz and Greenetz — Joseph Rosenberg — Dr. Samuel Yubas — Max Weisfeld — Harry Katz — Morris Finkelstein — Benjamin Davis — Mrs. Bessie Rubin — Ruby’s — Charles H. Blank — Philip Kalikman — Manuel I. Wertheimer — Meyer Leider — Beth Israel Sisterhood — Dealers Liquor Co. — Ladies’ Auxiliary of Congregation Sons of Israel — Rabbi and Mrs. Harry B. Kellman — Rabbi Albert Lewis — Rabbi Isaac Furman — Rabbi Lester Hering

Fire at 1135 Baring Street

Camden Fire Department — March 10, 2005

Camden Fire Department - March 10, 2005

3-10-05 ALL HANDS Dwelling Fire 4 Platoon

At 16:57 hours a full box assignment was dispatched to 1135 Baring street for a dwelling in the South Camden section of the city. Crews responded quickly as Car 2 Bravo Deputy Chief of Operations Tomas Quinn arrived and reported a 2 story middle of the row ordinary vacant with heavy smoke showing from the second floor, orders were given to Engine 8 to stretch a 1 3/4" line, and the Rescue Company to prepare to open the boarded up structure upon arrival. 2 lines were stretched into service quickly as 1 Truck assisted the Rescue with removing the boards on the structure. Engine 8 arrived on the second floor of the dwelling to find fire in the rear bedroom area and began the attack as the Squad stretched the back up line. Both the B bravo and D delta exposures were forced and checked for occupants and fire extension, the primary search in all 3 dwellings were negative with some minor smoke damage in the exposures.

My Camden Heritage

January 5, 2005

By Dr. Samuel Zuckerman

As published in the Jewish Community Voice, January 5, 2005.

I am sitting in my den and close my eyes, I see the city as it was in my youth and recall the many people that crossed my path.

I was eligible to go to Kaighns School but my parents didn't want to separate their two children, so my sister and I were sent to Fetters' School. My experiences in Fetters left me a lifetime of memories. I was the only Jewish student in my class and the classmates always reminded me that I was a Jew. Later on I was accepted as a fellow student and my friendships exist today.

My parents purchased a small deli on the 500 block of Kaighns Avenue, a predominately Jewish shopping area bound on the west by Broadway, one of Camden's business streets. I was so thrilled to live here because there were four 5 & 10 stores. There were two movie houses within my walking area and lots of activities. As I look back, I can recall Camden as a very pleasant city to live in.

Starting at Front and Kaighns Avenue, I would take the ferry late afternoons to get fresh smoked fishes for my parents' deli.

The Camden Cold Storage and Coles Lumber Yards were located on Front Street. The 200 block of Kaighns Avenue had Camden Bag and Paper Co., Kaplan & Shupak Pickle Company, Weiner & Cornfield Wholesale Grocery business, and Rochester Clothing Co., owned by the Levin family, on the north side. On the south side was a bar and the Deaconess Home. This Home had a playground and it was here that the neighborhood's young boys learned how to play basketball. Years later, where I practiced podiatry, I found out that the churches in Salem contributed to the Deaconess Home.

On the north side of Third and Kaighns was a wholesale owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ragone (who now live in Haddonfield), Denker's Dry Goods store, Zelnick's shoe store, Levin's furniture store, Greenberg's jewelry store, and Karp's bar supply store. The south side had Dr. Stimns's medical office and his drugstore. Soffer's electrical supply store, Cavallo's feed store, and a printer's shop. On this block, George Norcross, Sr.'s grandparents had a bakery. Mr. Norcross was a prominent union official in the City of Camden.

Harry Pinsky had a grocery on the corner of Liberty Street, Mr. Margolit had a grocery on Atlantic Avenue. Bobby Siris's butcher store was on the same street. The Odlen family had a steel plant and the Cohen family had a roofing business on Atlantic Avenue.

On the north side of Fourth and Kaighns we had Sam and Minnie Butler's dress store, Ruttenberg's furniture store, Dr. Yubas's optometry and optician offices. In this building were offices for Dr. Stanley Hillbroner, a podiatrist, and later on, the first office for my dear schoolmate, Dr. Benjamin Soffer.

There was Grendell Jewelry Store (a partnership between the Greenberg and Mandel families), Quality Drugstore (a chain store operated by Mr. Goldberg), Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Store, Stern's Men's Store, Brown's Ladies Dress Store, and another 5 & 10 store.

On the south side of Fourth and Kaighns there was a corner bar. Next was Emanuel Katz's real estate office, which later became a wholesale grocery business. Gerber's Boy's and Men's store, Aronberg Plumbing Supply, House of Ruttenberg Store (on top of this store was the South Camden Hebrew Association), Dr. Rubin's optometric office, Henry's Plumbing and Building Supplies, Levitsky's Deli, Goldstein's Shoe Store,Friedenberg's Dress Store, a small tobacco store, and Walgreen's drugstore. Mr. Siris had a kosher butcher store and the Barag family had a wholesale grocery business on this side.

On Broadway between Liberty Street and Kaighns Avenue, we had many stores. Around the corner from Walgreen's store was Herman's Sporting Goods store, First National Bank of Camden, Penn Fish Markets and around the corner on Liberty Street was Kravit's Tailoring store. Further down was Oxman's Laundry plant. On the south side of Broadway was Ginsburg Brothers Liquor Store, Harry's Radio and Sporting Goods store, Weinberg's Record Shop, Pinsky's Furniture Store, a hat cleaning business and corner saloon. On Liberty Street we had Katz's Scrap Yard, and the Sietchik Dress Plant. There was a soda water plant and Dora Rose lived on this block. Mrs. Rose was Congressman Charlie Wolverton's secretary for many years.

Dr.Reiter had a dental office on the second floor above Ginsberg's Liquor Store. On the south side of 500 Kaighns, Sarah and William Udell's chicken store, American Restaurant, Robbins Magazine Shop, Pastoris Shoe Repair store, the medical office of Dr. Meyer Segal, Singer's Grocery Store, Joe Fine's Bakery Shop, Aronow's roofing business and home, K & R Baking Store, Zuckerman's Deli, Sye's Dry Cleaning Plant, Leiter's Shoe Findings, Aronow's Bar, Bader's Bar, Segan's Washer Repair Shop, George Sommer's Locksmith Shop, Kumove's Kosher Butcher Shop, Price's Candy Shop, Herman Wienraub's Tailoring Shop, Dobin's Donut Bakery Shop, Copelen's Furniture Shop and Tom's Restaurant and Fox's Fruit Store.

On the north side of the 500 block of Kaighns we had Schulte Cigar Store,and on top was the Milford Beauty Shop owned by Eli Lewis, a barber shop, Andy's Restaurant, Sklaroff's Stocking Store, Klein Jewelry Store, Forman's Hat Shop, Molotsky's Women's Store, Louie's Bargain Store. A small side street called Marion St. was residential. Two of my dearest friends resided there: "Reds" Alfred Pierce, who became the mayor of Camden, and Huck Hunsberger, who was a foreman for PSE&G.

On the corner of Marion and Kaighns we had the little fish and chicken store of Victor Potamkin (who became one of the worlds largest Cadillac dealers), Louies Chinese laundry shop; the Sklars barber shop and Rhodesides grocery store. In the Potamkin store there worked a chicken plucker called Arnold Cream. He became heavyweight champion of the world, Jersey Joe Walcott.

Another small side street called Baring had a mixed population. On the west side was the Levin family, the Cole family, the Yaffa family, Goldstein family, Primas family, Ross family, Soloff family, and the Cabnet family. On the east side was the Morrissey family, Copelen family, the Weiss family, Yeres family, the Barbell family (whose two grandsons practice dentistry in the Cherry Hill area), the Gelman family, Pug Wilson's family (Pug was a motorcycle policeman in Camden) and the Litow family.

The Primas family is a large family in Camden. One of the Primas clan [Randy Primas --ed.] became the mayor of Camden and Dr. Primas was a practicing physician in Camden. On the corner of Baring and Kaighns was Lundy's Kosher Butcher Store.

Sixth and Kaighns on the north side had a bar, Camden Glass Shop, Weinberg & Steinberg Used Truck Sales, Camden Fire Station, Talmud Torah housed a religious school and a large coal yard. On the south side, we had Siedel's Gasoline Service Station, a building that housed a kosher slaughterhouse for chickens, Shane's Furniture Store, Caplans Furniture Store and Malamed Auto Repair Shop, which later became the Victory Garage. The Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Railroad ran through Seventh and Kaighns. On the north side of Seventh and Kaighns were the Green Goose Bar, small stores, the African-American Elks club, Elkins Dry Cleaning Plant, Lerman's Men's Store, Grossman Grocery Store, and the Naden Furniture Store.

On a small side street called Sycamore we had Singer Grocery Store and the Levin Grocery Store. Eighth and Sycamore was the Orthodox Congregation Sons of Israel Synagogue. Rabbi Riff was our beloved spiritual leader. There was one residential house on Kaighns Avenue, a large house for the prominent Tarter family. The Naden Furniture Store was a prominent business in Camden.

On Eighth and Kaighns we had two business establishments, Waples Funeral Parlor and Chinese Restaurant. There were residences including the home of Mrs. Mary Naden, the owner of Naden Furniture Store.

Ninth and Kaighns had one Establishment, Ed Rosen's Victory Garage. Behind the Victory Garage were several cigar factories. On Tenth and Kaighns the north side had a patent drug and notions store, and Polish bakery. The south side had Rosen's meat market and a photography studio [Walter Lange's studio --ed.]. The Artis family had a store and their son became a dentist, a food market owned by Mrs. Feldman, Rubins paperhanging store, the Horwitz family had astore, a restaurant owned by the American Restaurant.

In the 1100 block on the north side we had Plaskys Food Market, a physicians office, a Camden public school, and some residential homes. On the south side we Butlers Drugstore and Dr. Butlers medical offices with entrances on Mount Ephraim Avenue, Wolperts Confectionary Store, and Praissmans Dry Goods Store. This was a long block with several homes.

In the 1200 block of Kaighns on the north side we had Stomel's Confectionery business, Shane's Insurance and Auto License and Registration store, and Sol's Drugstore. This drugstore was a popular hangout for the young Jewish community of Parkside. On the south side was Puro Men's Store, Cassetts Jewelry Store, Markowitz Kosher Butcher Store, and Bell's Drugstore. Kaighns Avenue ended at the Airport Circle. On the north side at the circle was Neil Deighan's nightclub. On the south side was Central Airport Swimming Pool. Central Airport was a busy aviation terminal in Camden. Philadelphia didn't have a satisfactory airport. All planes landed in Camden and passengers were transported to Philadelphia by jitney. Next came the section of Camden called Parkside. This was mostly residential and the majority of residents were Jewish. There was a synagogue called Beth El on Park Boulevard. Camden High School was on Park and Baird.

The Kaighns Avenue immigrants who came to America and settled in Camden were hardworking entrepreneurs. These business people raised their families in Camden and now we have second and third generations living in Cherry Hill and in New Jersey. These children and grandchildren are all educated in many occupations. In Florida there is a Camden Club that meets during the months of January arid February. It's a warm feeling seeing old Camdenites and hearing familiar names. The names I hear bring back pleasant memories of their parents and grandparents. I treasure my roots of Camden.

Some of them are: Rabbi Riff, Judge Mitchell Cohen, Judge Joseph Varbalow, Benjamin Asbell, Dr. Charles Kutner, Dr. Joseph Stein, Dr. Ulysses Wiggins, Judge Benjamin Dzick, Carl Auerbach, George Aaron, Maurice Clyman, Gov. William T. Cahill, Camden Mayor Alfred Pierce, Meyer Adelman, Ellis Goodman, Louis Katz, the Heine family, the Ruttenberg family and Dr. Charles Brim.

If I have omitted some business or prominent names, please excuse my memory. I have spent 73 years in South Jersey and in my adolescent years, the city of Camden was a great place to live in.

Mrs. Levi String

Camden Courier-Post — July 28, 1941

Mrs. Mary E. String, 76, of 1131 Baring street, died at her home yesterday following an illness of several weeks. Her husband, Levi, summoned a police ambulance after his wife collapsed in bed and she was taken to West Jersey Hospital. Doctors said she was dead on arrival. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

String death notice — Camden Courier-Post, July 29, 1941 — Camden Courier-Post, July 29, 1941

STRING—On July 27, 1941, Mary E., wife of Levi G. String (Boyden), age 76 years. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral services on Wednesday morning, at 11 o'clock, at the funeral home of Joseph H. Murray & Son, 408 Cooper St., Camden, N. J. Interment at Harleigh Cemetery.

Hospital Cases

Camden Courier-Post — February 26, 1938

Cooper

John Passarella, 7, of 433 Spruce street, lacerated scalp. Peter Chiodi, 14, of 337 Spruce street, lacerated hand. John Cool, Jr., 7, of 218 Burns street, lacerated thumb. Michael Bottalico, 19, of 816 South Fifth street, lacerated hand. Kenneth Bell, 40, of 754 Wright avenue, lacerated upper lip. Irving Yerks, 9, of 1134 Baring street, lacerated thumb. Theresa Joyce, 61, of 507 Haddon avenue, possible fractured hand. William Malloney, 15, of 709 Morgan street, possible fractured nose. Leonard Schaffer, 10, of 119 Dudley street, fractured wrist. Florence Melari, 60, of 808 Princeton avenue, dog bite. Theresa Tenovese, 7 months, of 221 Railroad avenue, Glassboro, burn, hand. Marie Cahill, 5, of 2168 Berwick street, brush burns, hand. Howard Cannon, 30, of 751 Cherry street, nail wound, foot. Catherine Wolfer, 14, of Lindenwold, injured ankle. Alex Maloney, 29, of 425 South Fifth street, injured shoulder.

West Jersey

James Brady, 7, of 1580 Minnesota road, lacerated wrist. Betty Antonow, 6, of 1038 street, puncture wound, foot. J. E. Walker, 46, of 222 Washington terrace, Audubon, near amputation, tip of finger. Arthur Davis, 10, of Nicholson road, West Collingswood, lacerated scalp. Ed Cachell, 35, of 612 Robert street, lacerated finger. Dolores Pfeffer, 7, of 548 Haddon avenue, Collingswood, abrasions of thigh; communuted fracture of ankle. Ida Devlin, 40, of 1337 Morton street, contusion, wrist and possible fractured arm.

Joseph C. Jefferies

Camden Courier-Post — February 19, 1938

Joseph C. Jefferies

The funeral of Joseph C. Jefferies, 87, a resident of Camden 70 years, will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at the home at 1152 Baring street. Mr. Jefferies died Thursday after an illness of a year. He was first a gold beater by trade and later became a stationary engineer. He was the husband of the late Louisa Becker Jeffries. Surviving him are a son, Joseph S.; a daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Stauts; four grandchildren, among whom is Patrolman George Jefferies, and three great grandchildren. Burial will be private.

Camden Man Injured as Car Turns Turtle

Camden Courier-Post — February 1, 1933

Camden Courier-Post - February 1, 1933

A South Camden man received cuts of the legs and hands when his car turned over in an intersection collision at Eighth Street and Atlantic Avenue shortly before noon yesterday.

The injured man is Harry Katz, 25, of 1100 Baring street. He was taken to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital by Edwin Kelly, of 1603 Louis Street, driver of the other car. Both cars were damaged.

Removed to Hospitals

Camden Courier-Post — January 9, 1922

Camden Courier-Post - January 9, 1922

The police ambulance removed the following residents of South Camden to the hospitals late on Saturday afternoon:

West Jersey Homeopathic — William Perry, aged 62 years, 1725 Fillmore Street; Albert Biron, 24 years old, 1108 Baring Street.

Cooper Hospital — Mrs. Edna Rosenfelt, aged 23 years, 575 Washington Street; Margaret Radcliffe and John Carella, inmates of Children's Home.

Shocked to Death as He Oils Motor

Camden Post-Telegram — November 25, 1919

Harry Lay Electrocuted This Morning at Farr & Bailey's Oil Cloth Plant.

While oiling an electric motor under an oilcloth printing machine at the Farr & Bailey plant this morning, Harry Lay, 38 years old, of 1147 Baring street, was electrocuted.

A "leak" from a grounded wire in the motor killed Lay, who was lifeless when fellow employees, in answer to his screams, dragged him from beneath the machine.

It was Lay's duties daily to see that the electric motor was kept in condition. This morning he crawled under the machine to oil the motor. The power had been turned off. Lay had oiled one side and was leaning over the motor to oil the other side and in doing so he touched the motor, which was "alive" because of the grounded wire.

Officials of the company tested the motor and found the grounded wire which caused the workman's death. Coroner Arthur Holl viewed the body and gave a certificate of accidental death. The dead workman leaves a wife and three children.

Hold Woman's Assailant

Philadelphia Inquirer — September 11, 1918

On information received, Policeman Frank Truax appeared in the Camden Police Court yesterday and caused Jacob Ballerstein, 47 years old, of 1149 Baring street, to be held in $200 bail on a charge of assault and battery on Mrs. Rebecca Hoffman, wife of a saloonkeeper on Second street and Kaighn avenue. The policeman testified that when he was attracted to the side of the saloon he was informed that the defendant struck the woman over the head with a broom, inflicting such an injury that Dr. R. I. Haines had to be summoned.

Funeral of John Thompson

Camden Post-Telegram — December 11, 1914

The funeral of John Thompson, who died on Wednesday, was held at 2:00 this afternoon from the home of his son-in-law, Horace Bell, 1100 Baring Street. Score of floral designs were in evidence, a mute tribute to the deceased man. Mr. Thompson, who was 79 years of age, had been a resident of the Sixth Ward for more than thirty years. He formerly conducted a flourishing grocery business at Baring and Chestnut Streets. Failing health was responsible for his retirement.

Cordelia M. Shields

Philadelphia Inquirer — March 19, 1899

SHIELDS.—On March 16, 1899, Cordelia M., daughter of Samuel H. R. and Mary H. Shields, aged 3 years. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Monday, 20th inst., at 12.30 o'clock, from her parents' residence, 1115 Baring street, Camden, N. J. Interment at Old Camden Cemetery, private.

Ella V. Stone

Philadelphia Inquirer — May 23, 1895

Ella V. Stone death notice second printing, Philadelphia Inquirer, May 24, 1895 — Philadelphia Inquirer, May 24, 1895

STONE.—On the evening of May 20, 1895, Ella V., wife of George G. Stone, aged 26 years. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Sunday afternoon at 1 o'clock, from her husband's residence, No. 1142 Baring street, Camden, N. J. Interment at Evergreen Cemetery.

Rev. Felicyan Szulborski

Philadelphia Inquirer — February 20, 1894

Portrait of Rev. Felicyan Szulborski, rector of St. Joseph's Polish Church, Camden — Rev. Felicyan Szulborski

SZULBORSKI.—On February 18, 1894, at his late residence, 1159 Baring street, Rev. Felicyan Szulborski, rector of St. Joseph's Polish Church, Broadway, below Kaighn's avenue, Camden, N. J., aged 30 years.

William E. Eastlack

Philadelphia Inquirer — February 6, 1894

EASTLACK.—On February 2, 1894, WILLIAM E. EASTLACK, in his 74th year. The relatives and friends of the family, also United Council, No. 20, O. U. A. M.; William B. Hatch Post, No. 37, G. A. R., are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Tuesday, February 6, at 2 o'clock, from his late residence, 1141 Baring street, Camden. Interment at New Camden Cemetery.

EASTLACK.—On February 2, William E. Eastlack, in the 74th year of his age. The relatives and friends of the family, also United Council, No. 20, O. U. A. M., also William B. Hatch Post, No. 57, G. A. R., are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Tuesday, 6th inst., at 2 o'clock, from his late residence, 1144 Baring street, Camden, N. J. Interment at New Camden Cemetery.

David Babnew

Philadelphia Inquirer — September 1, 1893

DIED.

BABNEW.—On the evening of August 28, 1893, David, son of Joseph and the late Elizabeth Babnew, aged 15 years, 4 months and 8 days. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Sunday afternoon, September 1, at 1 o'clock, from his parents' residence, No. 1153 Baring street, Camden, N. J. Services at Memorial M. P. Church, Third and Liberty streets, Camden, N. J., at 2 o'clock. Interment at New Camden Cemetery.

Crime Runs Riot Over in Camden

Philadelphia Inquirer — July 29, 1893

A Murder, an Attempted Murder and Two Bold Robberies Within a Few Hours.

Crime is rampant in Camden and the residents are in fear of their lives. Within a radius of a few squares a murder, an attempted murder and two burglaries were committed in ten hours. The murder was the shooting of Mrs. Lizzie Copelain, of 68 Walghton's run, an account of which was printed in The Inquirer yesterday.

Stanley Murphy, a colored bootblack, went to the City Hall yesterday and told the authorities that a man answering the description of the supposed murderer was hiding in a house on Carter Campbell's stable, Gloucester City. Chief of Police Davis, Lieutenant Smith and Patrolman Fiore went to Gloucester, where they arrested James A. Jordan, 29 years old, of 1110 Sycamore street, Camden.

Says It Was Accidental.

Jordan made a confession, in which he said he had stolen a revolver from James [continued]

An Attempted Murder.

About half-past 2 o'clock yesterday, within a few hours of the Copelain crime, pretty 19-year-old Mary Morrison was assaulted by two supposed burglars. There is considerable mystery attached to this case. James Morrison keeps a grocery store at Kaighn avenue and Baring street, and the rest of the building is used as a residence by his family. The front room on the second floor is occupied by Mr. Morrison and his wife. Adjoining the store is the dwelling of the latter, Mary, Celia and Maggie, and in the back room his two sons and Walter Weeks, a boarder, also lives.

Hit With a Hatchet.

Miss Morrison was awakened by a noise about 2:30 a. m., and attempted to get out of bed, when she was struck over the head near the left ear with a hatchet. She fell back unconscious and the intruder escaped. The noise awoke her sister Celia, who called to her father. He immediately sent for a physician, who says the young woman is quite serious.

The assault was at first supposed to have been committed by a burglar. He was told that the burglar had effected an entrance through the back window, but on investigation he found the dust on the window-sill was not disturbed. The chief says he told Mr. and Mrs. Morrison he could lay his hands on the person who had committed the deed and asked if they had any suspicion. They answered they did not think anyone in the house had done it. The chief left.

They Were Chloroformed.

Burglars entered the residence of Francis Crossley, 729 Chestnut street, Camden, and after chloroforming the inmates proceeded to ransack the house. They secured about $10 and several valuables. The firm of Trone & Hollinshed, of Broadway and Kaighn Avenue, was also robbed of $500 worth of goods.

Engines in Collision

Philadelphia Inquirer — September 12, 1888

Three Men Hurt Owing to a Switch Carelessly Left Open

Frederick H. Kuebler, brakeman, aged 21, of No. 1103 Baring street, Camden; Matthew Stephens, aged 23, of No. 1714 Selfridge street, and Daniel Collins, brakeman, aged 24, of No. 1502 Wharton street, were injured about 4 A. M. yesterday by the collision of two Pennsylvania Railroad engines, one drawing a train and the other a tender only, which came together in consequence of a misplaced switch. The side-tracked cars had been switched off into a yard belonging to the premises occupied by Councilman Ardis on the east side of Swanson street, below Tasker. The police say there was no one at the switch. The side-tracked engine had begun to pull out of the yard when engine No. 968, running with only a tender, came backing southward. It was too dark to see the switch, and engine 968 was running too fast to stop, and a crash followed. The bumper was of oak as thick as a railroad tie, and it snapped like a match.

The crew of 968 took the injured men to Washington avenue, where a patrol wagon took Kuebler and Coleman to the Pennsylvania Hospital and Stephens to his home.