Tag: Tom Bergbauer
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In the ’30’s, they danced on a Cooper River barge – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor Over the years, Admiral Wilson Boulevard has been home to many attractions—some good and some not so good. Among the good ones were the first drive-in theater, which was in Pennsauken; the famous Whoopie Coaster, a wooden thrill ride that automobiles could drive onto for 25 cents; and…
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Orange Crates – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer – Retired Courier-Post Editor While reminiscing about street games and vendors and the subject of orange crates came up and how versatile they were in our early years. This struck a chord with me because innovation back then seemed to be a universal thing with the children of my time. Kids…
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Pyne Point Park – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor If you grew up in North Camden then you had to remember Pyne Point Park. They were synonymous. For many living in that part of the city it was a great escape, especially during the warm summer months. Many spent hours there swimming or playing baseball. This piece…
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The Sinking of the M & E Henderson – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor The sinking of the M & E Henderson off the coast of North Carolina on Nov. 30, 1879 had been one of South Jersey's most famous mysteries and tales. There is certainly great mystery and confusion about this ship. Clippings in the Courier-Post library report that the ship…
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Glass Windows and the Nicholson House – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor It's hard to imagine living in a house with windowpanes that you cannot clearly see through. Being able to view the outdoors without difficulty is something we take for granted every day. But there was a time when there was one thing that our forefathers could not see…
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Ferries Across the Delaware – Tracking History
The Fire on the Ferry New Jersey in 1856 By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor A need to cross the Delaware River between Camden and Philadelphia was felt as early as the 17th Century and it was ferry service between Cooper's Point in Camden and Saxamaxon Street in the city of Brotherly Love that…
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Ben Franklin Bridge – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor In 1926 the Delaware River Bridge was a marvel to behold with a 1,750 foot center span. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world—holding that record for three straight years until it was beat out by Detroit's Ambassador Bridge. Predictions from the bridge commission was that…
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Bellevue Hospital – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor A few times in the past two months I have received several phone calls from readers asking if a hospital ever existed in North Camden next to the Ben Franklin Bridge and if so, what was its name. The answer of course is, yes! The name of the…
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Gutter Fun – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor While driving not too long ago I noticed two youngsters playing in water at the curb of a street. Immediately I had flashbacks of water running down the gutter of my old city street in North Camden. They were draining the fire hydrant at the corner and it…
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Hucksters – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor They came through the alleyways and down the streets. They came like a parade at intervals hawking their wares. Those were the hucksters of our day. I have received many phone calls and emails asking me about hucksters and would if I do a column on them. I…
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Seven Unknown U.S. Soldiers – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor The inscription on the tombstone at Beverly National Cemetery reads “Seven Unknown U.S. Soldiers, Rev. War.” Sounds like the end. But it's not. Those seven revolutionary soldiers died on a sleety, windy February day in 1778 in a skirmish with the British in what is now downtown Camden.…
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Maps – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor I have to admit it—I love maps. It does not matter whether they are old or new, as long as they are maps. I have had a fondness for those folded charts since I was a kid growing up in North Camden. Not too long ago I wrote…
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Fairview – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor The Fairview section of Camden was the mother of all planned communities. It was born at the beginning of the “war to end all wars.” In 1917, when the United States entered World War I, the New York Shipbuilding Corp. on Broadway, owned by the American International Corp.…
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City Industry – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor Just 100 years ago Camden was a thriving, prosperous industrial metropolis and the future looked bright for this river city. At the end of the 19th century and in the first couple decades of the 20th century, industry in Camden came alive and at that time most of…
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The First Automobile In Camden – Tracking History
By Thomas A. Bergbauer, Retired Courier-Post Editor; Additional notes by Phil Cohen One hundred years ago change was on the horizon and new ideas were in the minds of many as the new century was still in its infant years. As the years unfolded the automobile appeared on the scene, but as most of the…