Bernhard
F.
Schroeder

BERNHARD F. SCHROEDER was born in 1848. He came to Camden in 1882. He established his own undertaking business at 19 South 4th Street in 1884. He was at 15 South 4th Street by 1906. The business and the Schroeder family soon afterwards moved to 338 Arch Street, where it would remain for many years until 1926. 

Two sons were born to Bernhard F. Schroeder and his wife Johanna. Robert G. Schroeder in 1890 and Bernhard C. Schroeder in 1892. Both would join their father in the mortuary trade. 

Bu 1911 Bernhard F. Schroeder was engaged in a freight business, the Potter Express Company, with local businessman H.B. Hanford. Hanford was the president of the firm, while Mr. Schroeder served as vice-president. He was soon joined in business by his sons Robert Schroeder and Bernard C. Schroeder. By 1914, besides the funeral business at 338 Arch Street (southwest corner of North 4th and Arch Streets), the Schroeders also had stables in the rear of 408-410 Mickle Street, a warehouse at 326-328 Taylor Avenue, and a hall known appropriately enough as Schroeder's Hall, at 336 Arch Street. By 1916 was serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Broadway Trust Company bank.

Oldest son Robert Schroeder took the lead in running the business in the 1920s. He also was politically active, serving as Camden County's coroner in 1914 and in 1924. Sadly, Robert Schroeder suffered a fatal heart attack in 1925, not having reached his 36th birthday. Bernard C. Schroeder stepped forward, and in 1926 moved the business to the Labor Temple building at 538 Broadway. Bernhard F. and Johanna Schroeder had moved to a house at 6 Fifth Avenue in Haddon Heights NJ by this time. Bernhard F. Schroeder passed away in 1927, and was buried overlooking the lake at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden NJ.

Bernhard F. Schroeder was a member of Mozart Lodge No. 121, Free and Accepted Masons. He was elected to a one-year term as the lodge's Master in 1899.

In 1936 Bernhard C. Schroeder purchased the John Cooper house at 715 Cooper Street.  This address remained the location of the Schroeder Funeral Home as late as 1969, when the construction of Interstate Highway I-676 caused the historic building and many like it to be razed.

Camden Post-Telegram

October 14, 1912

Bank Directory - March-December 1916

538 Broadway
Schroeder Funeral Service -1926-1936

Camden Courier-Post - July 5, 1926

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715 Cooper Street
Schroeder Funeral Service 1936-1969

715 Cooper Street
Schroeder Funeral Service 1936-1969

Bank Directory - March 1, 1916

Harleigh Cemetery

Camden NJ

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