Tag: Leon Lucas
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Robert L. Lucas
Robert Lee “Bob” Lucas was the son of Alice and Leon “Donkey” Lucas. His father achieved recognition as a boxer in the 1928 Olympics, competing in the light-heavyweight division. In 1943, Leon Lucas purchased a bar located at 1223 Haddon Avenue from Mrs. Ada Mathews, the widow of Charles E. A. Mathews, a long-time bar…
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Leon Lucas
Leon Lucas, born in Camden, New Jersey on September 4, 1901, was the son of Polish immigrants. At the age of 18, he was living at 1103 Louis Street, working at one of Camden’s shipyards. In late 1926, while working as a hardwood floor layer, he began boxing at the Arcadia gym in Philadelphia, living…
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Donkey’s Place
1223 Haddon Avenue Donkey’s Place, at 1223 Haddon Avenue, does not appear as a bar in the 1918-1919 Camden City Directory. The building appears to have operated as a speakeasy during the Prohibition years, 1919 through 1933. A private club called the Parkside Athletic Association had space in the building, and an elaborate system of…
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Camden landmark does one thing – and does it right
Camden Courier-Post – December 3, 2004 Owned by one family for 61 years, Donkey’s Place sticks to cheesesteak by Eileen Stillwell, Courier-Post Staff Donkey’s Place, a bar and cheesesteak landmark on Haddon Avenue, is alive and well after 61 years of operation by the Lucas family. Located on the corner of Haddon Avenue and Liberty…
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Donkey’s Place is a Stubborn Survivor, and so is its Cheesesteak
Philadelphia Inquirer – July 11, 2004 By Rick Nichols, Inquirer Columnist It is a bit of Camden in amber now, Donkey’s Place is, or maybe a shrine – the dingy bar hung with photos of the founder, his dukes perpetually up; the grill steaming with steaks and onions; the back room still swathed in the…
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In Camden, A Neighborhood Bar with The Works
Philadelphia Inquirer – June 16, 1993 Cheers to Donkey’s Place, Still Kicking After 50 Years By Gwen Florio, Inquirer Staff Writer CAMDEN — It’s the classic neighborhood bar: all soothing dark wood and low, easy talk and the murmur of a ballgame from a discreet corner television. So it gives you a jolt to walk…
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Camden Reached Peak in Boxing in 1919-20
Camden Courier-Post – July 26, 1955 Standout Performers Appeared in Bouts Held at Armory Camden has had its ups and downs in the boxing game, but probably reached its peak so far as performers are concerned when bouts were held at the Haddon Avenue Armory during 1919-20. However, a number of clubs flourished in the…
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Webster Will Join Forces With Georgette, Prince
Camden Courier Post – November 20, 1948 By TOM RYAN A new boxing triumvirate soon will be formed in Camden, it was learned today. Those involved are Tony Georgette, Joe Webster and Eddie Prince, all Camden residents. The merger of the trio into one group has been talked over for the past months among the…
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Trenton ‘Phantom’ Gains Verdict Over Local Italian for Third Straight Time
Camden Courier Post – September 19, 1928 By TOM RYAN Before one of the largest crowds that ever witnessed a boxing shot at the Convention Hall, Vincent Forgione, of Philadelphia. won the referee’s decision over Babe McCorgary, of Oklahoma, in the last-half of the double-windup of the all-star benefit, show staged last night by the…
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Gorman Meets Test Against Joe Bashara
Camden Courier-Post – September 12, 1928 Hard-Hitting Middleweights Meet in Prelim to Forgione-McGorgary Bout Tuesday Successful so far in a comeback campaign launched recently, Joe Bashara, hard-hitting middleweight from Baltimore, will stack up against a tough customer in one of the preliminary bouts at the all-star show arranged by the Matthew Purnell Post 518, Veterans…