Salem Street, a brief one-block stretch, meanders from Ferry Avenue in the north to Viola Street in the south. The pages of history reveal that the initial residential appearance along the 1800 block of Salem Street dates back to the 1890-1891 Camden City Directory. Notably, homes are documented at addresses 1831 through 1841, with additional residences noted at 1836, 1838, and 1840 Salem Street during this period. The inhabitants of Salem Street predominantly hailed from British Isles ancestry and were primarily engaged in occupations within the local factories or the nearby waterfront. However, as the dynamics of Camden, along with other American cities, evolved to welcome immigrants from southern and eastern Europe, the demographic makeup of the street underwent a significant transformation.
During the tumultuous decades of the 1930s and 1940s, Salem Street, mirroring many others within Camden’s Eighth Ward, witnessed an influx of immigrants from regions including Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and what was then Yugoslavia. These immigrant communities gradually established their social and religious institutions in the neighborhood. For instance, the Yugoslav Club found its home in the 600 block of Ferry Avenue, while St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church graced the vicinity just across the tracks on Seventh Street. Additionally, many residents also became part of the congregation at the Church of the Sacred Heart, situated at the intersection of Broadway and Ferry Avenue.
As of the 1930 census, Salem Street comprised a mere twelve residential structures, spanning from 1815 to 1837 Salem Street. Remarkably, ten of these dwellings remain standing to this day, a testament to the enduring legacy of this historical thoroughfare. On the opposing side of the street, an edifice stands that was once conceivably a stable, possibly bearing witness to the transformations that Salem Street has undergone over the years.
Notably, Spiro Cecich, aged 37, residing at 1815 Salem Street, suffered severe injuries which occurred on March 9, 1932, due to an explosion at the Public Service Gas Company. Tragically, he sustained burns covering his entire body, and despite valiant efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away on March 11th.
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Salem Street
Salem Street, a brief one-block stretch, meanders from Ferry Avenue in the north to Viola Street in the south. The pages of history reveal that the initial residential appearance along the 1800 block of Salem Street dates back to the 1890-1891 Camden City Directory. Notably, homes are documented at addresses 1831 through 1841, with additional…
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George Torgun
George Torgun, originally named Gieorgiej Torgun, came into the world on April 23, 1923, as the child of Grzegorz and Marja Torgun in what is known today as Worotinici, Belarus. George’s father ventured to America in 1907, briefly returned to Russia, and then made a permanent move in 1912. By 1913, he had established his…
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