Byron Street was part of North Camden’s literary-themed Poet’s Row neighborhood, first documented in the 1890-1891 Camden City Directory. The streets, christened after illustrious English literary figures, extended east to west from North 2nd Street, northward from Erie Street. Byron Street, leading the way just north of Erie, was the first to be developed, followed by Milton and then Burns Street. Initially, only a few houses were recorded on Burns Street, suggesting a phased development with Byron Street being the earliest.
Employment opportunities were abundant in North Camden during the 1890s, attracting tradesmen and skilled workers who settled in these new homes, some commuting to Philadelphia via nearby ferries. The neighborhood was designed with convenience in mind, including corner stores and traditional brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets.
The area thrived until post-World War II economic shifts led to job losses in North Camden. In a tragic twist, a fire that started in a shut-down factory building one night in 1972 spread rapidly, decimating Milton Street, Burns Street, and the north side of Byron’s 200 block. By the following morning, Milton and Burns Streets were completely destroyed, with only two houses at 241 and 243 Byron Street remaining. The disaster marked the end of Poet’s Row.
Location
Related Photos
Related Articles
-
Burns Street
Burns Street was part of Camden's historic “Poet's Row” neighborhood, a small cluster of streets named after famous English literary figures. This charming section, located north of Erie Street and running east-west from North 2nd Street, included Byron Street, Burns Street, and Milton Street. These streets first appeared in the Camden City Directory for 1890-1891,…
-
Milton Street
Byron Street, Burns Street, and Milton Street in North Camden have an intertwined history that traces back to the late 19th century. According to the 1890-1891 directory, only a few homes existed on Milton Street, indicating that development started at the ends of Byron Street and gradually filled in. Byron Street appears to have been…
-
Byron Street
Byron Street was part of North Camden’s literary-themed Poet’s Row neighborhood, first documented in the 1890-1891 Camden City Directory. The streets, christened after illustrious English literary figures, extended east to west from North 2nd Street, northward from Erie Street. Byron Street, leading the way just north of Erie, was the first to be developed, followed…
-
Poet’s Row
Byron, Burns and Milton Streets East of N. 2nd Street 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…
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.