James A. Garfield School at 2825 Cramer Street

The James A. Garfield School was located in East Camden at North 29th and Cramer Streets, one block west of Westfield Avenue. The school was built around the turn of the century, and was named for James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States, who was elected in 1880 and was assassinated within a few months of having taken office in 1881.

The Garfield School was most likely built around the turn of the century, when East Camden was still a part of Stockton Township, or shortly after its merger with the City of Camden, possibly as a series that included two other schools, the James G. Blaine School in Cramer Hill and the William McKinley School in the Rosedale section of East Camden. As the population in this part of Camden grew, four other public schools were added within a short walk of the Garfield School; the Thomas H. Dudley School, the Henry H. Davis School, the Octavius Catto School, and the Alfred Cramer School. Catto, built when Camden's elementary schools were segregated, is only two and one half blocks away.

The James A. Garfield School remained in use until the 1960s, when its age and declining enrollments in Camden caused it to be closed. The building was razed, and the site was used for a bank drive-thru during the 1960s and 1970s.

Camden Courier-Post - February 4, 1938

Parent-Teacher Association News

Garfield- The executive committee is meeting at the home of Mrs. William Reeves, 126 North Dudley Street today. The oyster supper committee appointed by William King, chairman of ways and means, includes Mrs. Samuel Josephson, ticket committee; Mrs. Samuel Ross, supper arrangements; assisted by Mrs. H. Corkhill, Mrs. P. Daniels, Mrs. M. Loscalso, Mrs. A. James, Mrs. A. Krivansky, Mrs. Mott, Mrs. J. Mohrfeld, Mrs. A. Gibson, Mrs. C. Landenberger, Mrs. J. Finnigan, Mrs. F. Young, Mrs. J. Wible, Mrs. M. Muckley. Mrs. M. Eckels, Mrs. C. Haines, Mrs. M. Henry, Mrs. E. McConnell, Mrs. W. Dodd, Mrs. E. Stubley, Mrs. B. Pierce, Mrs. Schirmer, Mrs. Conover, Mrs. Curran, Mrs. Cardwell and Mrs. W. Briggs. Mrs. Charles Fetters, Founder's Day program director will hold a rehearsal in the school tomorrow at 3.30 p. m..