Camden Streets - Cooper Street east of 6th Street

COOPER STREET is one of the oldest streets in Camden, and is named after the Cooper family. William Cooper was one of the first settlers in this part of New Jersey. Camden was known as Cooper's Ferries for many years prior to the city being incorporated in 1828.

The curb line of Cooper Street, from Front Street to the tracks of the Camden & Atlantic Railroad Company, were moved twelve feet towards the center, and the street paved with Belgian blocks in 1881. In 1927 the curb lines were moved back twelve feet from 4th Street to 9th Street. This improvement was completed in September of 1927.

Cooper Street runs from the waterfront east to 9th Street, with a short block of homes and business still standing above 11th Street. Prior to the construction of Interstate Route I-676, Cooper Street ran all the way to 12th Street. Cooper Street was for many years one of the most prestigious addresses in Camden, and many homes of historic significance, due to both the residents and the architects of said homes, were and still are on Cooper Street.

The "beginning of the end" for Cooper Street came in the early 1920s, when three mansions were torn down to make room for the Walt Whitman Hotel. On June 30, 1940 all the homes on the south side of the 900 block were destroyed when the R.M. Hollingshead chemical factory, which occupied most of the block, fronting on 9th and on Market Streets, exploded and burned to the ground.

Little known outside of East Camden is the "other" Cooper Street, which runs between North 19th and East State Street. This short street only has one single family home and a block of 13 row homes.

Do you have an Cooper Street memory or picture. Let me know by e-mail so it can be included here.

Phil Cohen

600 Block of Cooper Street
	601 Cooper Street Meisel Tire Company Camden Courier-Post August 2, 1933 Click on Images to Enlarge
	605 Cooper Street The William Scull House as early as 1887 to at least 1947 Click on Images to Enlarge
	608 Cooper Street December 2002 Click on Images to Enlarge
	608 Cooper Street December 2002 Click on Images to Enlarge
	610 Cooper Street 1910s Charles Stockham
	611 Cooper Street George Genge Browning Dye Factory - 1870s-1880s John T. Bottomley President, Camden Woolen Mills 1889s-1890s The roof of this building is visible behind the trees, between 605 Cooper and the Hotel Walt Whitman
	613 Cooper Street
	617 Cooper Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	618 Cooper Street Malcolm MacDonald Lawyer 1870s-1890s
	618 Cooper Street 1900s-1920s Belford G. Royal
	620 Cooper Street
	622 Cooper Street April 17, 2004 Click on Images to Enlarge
	627 Cooper Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	627 & 633 Cooper Street 627 Cooper, designed by Arthur Truscott, for his brother, J. Lynn Truscott. Click on Images to Enlarge
	627 & 633 Cooper Street Howard M. Cooper lived at 633 Cooper Street in the 1890s H.B. Hanford H.B. Hanford & Alice Hanford 1890s-1920s Click on Images to Enlarge
	638 Cooper Street George K. Johnson Umbrella Manufacturer 1870s-1887 Isaac Z. Collings Carriage Builder 1887-1890s
	639 Cooper Street Benjamin C. Reeve 1870s-1880s Click on Images to Enlarge

	639 Cooper Street Camden Lodge 293 Benevolent Protective Order of Elks under construction 1920s-1930s The LEAP Academy 2002-2006 Click on Images to Enlarge
	639 Cooper Street Camden Lodge 293 Benevolent Protective Order of Elks 1920s-1930s construction photo published 1925 Building designed by Joshua C. Jefferis, architect The LEAP Academy 2002-2006 Click on Images to Enlarge
	639 Cooper Street Camden Lodge 293 Benevolent Protective Order of Elks 1920s-1930s photo published 1928 Building designed by Joshua C. Jefferis, architect
	639 Cooper Street Camden Lodge 293 Benevolent Protective Order of Elks 1920s-1930s photo published 1928 Building designed by Joshua C. Jefferis, architect

600 Block of Cooper Street - Before 1925
	617 Block Cooper Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	622 Cooper Street April 17, 2004 Click on Images to Enlarge
	626 Cooper Street Cyrus H.K. Curtis 1890-1891
	627 Cooper Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	627 & 633 Cooper Street 627 Cooper, designed by Arthur Truscott, for his brother, J. Lynn Truscott. Click on Images to Enlarge
	627 & 633 Cooper Street Howard M. Cooper lived at 633 Cooper Street in the 1890s H.B. Hanford & Alice Hanford 1890s-1920s Click on Images to Enlarge
	638 Cooper Street George K. Johnson Umbrella Manufacturer 1870s-1887 Isaac Z. Collings Carriage Builder 1887-1890s
	639 Cooper Street Benjamin C. Reeve 1870s-1880s Click on Images to Enlarge

	639 Cooper Street Camden Lodge 293 Benevolent Protective Order of Elks under construction 1920s-1930s The LEAP Academy 2002-2006 Click on Images to Enlarge
	639 Cooper Street Camden Lodge 293 Benevolent Protective Order of Elks 1920s-1930s construction photo published 1925 Building designed by Joshua C. Jefferis, architect The LEAP Academy 2002-2006 Click on Images to Enlarge
	639 Cooper Street Camden Lodge 293 Benevolent Protective Order of Elks 1920s-1930s photo published 1928 Building designed by Joshua C. Jefferis, architect
	639 Cooper Street Camden Lodge 293 Benevolent Protective Order of Elks 1920s-1930s photo published 1928 Building designed by Joshua C. Jefferis, architect

700 Block of Cooper Street
	700 Cooper Street Benjamin Starr 1870s-1880s Richard Henry Reeve 1887-1917 Augustus H. Reeve 1887-1890s
	701 Cooper Street Gerard R. Vogels 1870s-1888
	703 Cooper Street Benjamin C. Reeve 1870s-1880s
	708 Cooper Street Joseph H. Forsyth
	711 Cooper Street Samuel H. Grey
	712 Cooper Street Samuel H. Grey lawyer, president West Jersey Title and Guaranty Co 1887-1990s Jeremiah Steelman
	714 Cooper Street
	715 Cooper Street John Cooper vice-president, Camden National Bank 1870s-1880s Howard M. Cooper lawyer 1870s-1889 William Cooper 1910s-1920s
	715 Cooper Street Schroeder Funeral Home Bernhard F. Schroeder Bernhard C. Schroeder 1920s-1960s
	715 Cooper Street Schroeder Funeral Home Bernhard F. Schroeder Bernhard C. Schroeder 1920s-1960s Camden Courier-Post Ad July 17, 1967
	715, 717, 719 & 721 Cooper Street Aerial photo by Bob Bartosz July 7, 1965
	717 Cooper Street Frank B. Middleton 1870s-1900s
No Houses in 700 Block after 717 before 1880 census
	719 Cooper Street Alexander Boardman Real Estate 1887-1890 Amos Cooper 1887-1889
	721 Cooper Street George Genge Browning Browning Brothers Dye Works 1887-1890 George Pfeiffer Jr. 1890s-1900s Dr. James E. Rodger 1933
	721 Cooper Street July 7, 1965
	726 Cooper Street Frederick A. Rex 1870s-1880s Horace M. Sharp Charles W. Sharp 1887-1889
	726 Cooper Street February 29, 1984 View looking east Click on Image to Enlarge
	726 Cooper Street February 29, 1984 View looking southeast Click on Image to Enlarge
	728 Cooper Street John F. Harned 1889-1920s
	728 Cooper Street John F. Harned 1970s Click on Image to Enlarge
	728 Cooper Street John F. Harned 1970s Click on Image to Enlarge

800 Block of Cooper Street
	804 Cooper Street This home, at left, was built by real estate developer and builder Edward N. Cohn. Photo from 1893. David Baird Sr. had acquired the house by 1900, and lived there until his death. David Baird Jr. lived there until October of 1936.
	805 Cooper Street Dr. John W. Donges 1910s-1929
MAN JAILED 3 MONTHS IN THEFT OF WATCH Charged, with the larceny of a watch belonging to Albert L. Hawkins, of Collingswood; John H. Evans, 64, of 2117 Sherman Avenue, was sentenced to three months in jail Saturday by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast. Hawkins, who is a painter, said he was at work Thursday on the second floor of a vacant house at 805 Cooper Street, when he saw a man come in and take the watch from his trousers, which he had left downstairs. Hawkins recognized Evans' picture in the rogues gallery and police arrested the man. Detective Clifford Carr testified Evans has been arrested a number of times on larceny charges.	805 Cooper Street Camden Courier-Post June 25, 1933
Addresses below reported in the 1947 City Directory
	801 Cooper Street Dr. Joel B. Cunningham
	805 Cooper Street Dr. David L. Andrus
	807 Cooper Street Camden Lodge 293 Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks 1947
	811 Cooper Street Arthur H Holl & Earl B. Holl Funeral Home
	814 Cooper Street Esso Servicemaster Gas Station
	817 Cooper Street Camden Credit Association Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners
	819 Cooper Street Harry A. Louderbach Real Estate
	821 Cooper Street Mrs. Edna Knehr Harry J. Mitchell 1947 Charles J. Ball 1947-1950
Addresses below built after 1891, reported in the 1930 Census
	811 Cooper Street
	809 Cooper Street
	811 Cooper Street
	813 Cooper Street
	815 Cooper Street
	817 Cooper Street
	819 Cooper Street
	821 Cooper Street
	823 Cooper Street
	825 Cooper Street
	827 Cooper Street
	829 Cooper Street
	831 Cooper Street
	833 Cooper Street
	835 Cooper Street
Addresses below reported in the 1947 City Directory
	840 Cooper Street R.M. Hollingshead Corporation

900 Block of Cooper Street Built by 1887
	900 Cooper Street All the even-numbered homes in the 900 block of Cooper Street were destroyed on July 30, 1940 when the R.M. Hollingshead factory was destroyed by an explosion and fire on July 30, 1940. Click on Image to Enlarge
	901 Cooper Street Dr. William Moslander 1900s-1910s Mrs. Anna Moslander 1910s-late 1940s
	902 Cooper Street Murray L. Serotikin 1933
	906 Cooper Street Winfield S. Fisk 1930 Camden Courier-Post Ad March 12, 1930
	909 Cooper Street George W. Whyte 1910s-1930s
	921 Cooper Street Joseph E. Nowrey Sr. 1910s-1930s
Mrs. Chester D. VanDuyn, of 924 Cooper Street, is spending some time with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lane, of this city, at their cottage in Pitman. Mrs. VanDuyn's daughter, Miss Catharine S. VanDuyn, is spending this weekend in Washington, D. C .	924 Cooper Street 1930 Mrs. Chester D. Van Duyn Camden Courier-Post June 12, 1933
WILLIAM DICKINSON William Dickinson, 68, of 931 Cooper Street died today in Cooper Hospital. A lifelong resident of Camden, he had operated a garage and automobile repair business for the past 50 years. Surviving are his wife, Lena H.; two daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Heller, of Clementon; Miss Mary Dickinson, of Camden; a sister, Miss Marie Dickinson, of Philadelphia, and two grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday in the Murray Funeral Home, 408 Cooper Street. Burial will be in Harleigh Cemetery. There will be no viewing.	931 Cooper Street 1924-1958 William Dickinson William & Mgdalene Dickinson Elizabeth Dickinson Mary Dickinson Marie Dickinson Camden Courier-Post February 14, 1958
Students Return To Spend Summer Vacation Home Leon F. Rittenhouse of 1557 Bradley Avenue, is leaving today for California, where he will continue his study of medicine. Mr. Rittenhouse was a graduate from Washington Missionary College, in the national capital on Monday. Two of the Wilfred W. Frys' children were graduated at schools in New York and Massachusetts, this past weekend and today. Tonight Miss Eleanor Fry will be graduated from the Emma Willard School at Troy, New York Last week Wilfred W. Fry, II, was graduated from Mt. Hermon School, Mt. Hermon, Massachusetts. Henry J. Bowes Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Bowes of Merchantville, spent last week in Annapolis, Maryland, where he took entrance examinations for the United States Naval Academy. He was graduated last week from Valley Forge Military Academy, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Miss Helen Pratt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Byron Pratt of 213 North Fourth Street, has returned from Bucknell University for the Summer. Miss Eleanor Holman of 108 North Fourth Street and Miss Betty Dickinson of 931 Cooper Street, have returned to their respective homes for the Summer. They are attending Syracuse University. Miss Frances Snyder of 331 North Forty-first street, was graduated at Syracuse this month.	931 Cooper Street 1933 Betty Dickinson Camden Courier-Post June 12, 1933
	932 Cooper Street 1933 Alfred Shaefer
HARRY A. WILLE Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Monday for Harry A. Wille, 55, of 933 Cooper Street, who died yesterday after a short illness. Burial will be in Harleigh Cemetery. Mr. Wille, who was born here, was employed in the upholstery department of the J. B. Van Sciver Co.. He is survived by his widow, Ida, and a son, Henry C. Wille, 3rd, of Camden..	933 Cooper Street 1920s-1933 Harry Wille 1933-1947 Mrs. Ida Wille 1920s-1960s Henry C. Willie 3rd attorney Camden Courier-Post February 5, 1933
	934 Cooper Street J. Willard Morgan 1870s-1880s J. Eugene Troth Lawyer 1880s-1890s
MICHAEL BENSON The funeral of Michael Benson, 52, of' 939 Cooper Street, who died Tuesday, will be held at 8 a. m. Saturday, at 2850 Federal street. Mass will be held at 9 a. m., at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery. Mr. Benson is survived by a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Sidell, with whom, he lived, and a brother. He was a son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth Benson..	939 Cooper Street 1933 Michael Benson 1933 Mrs. Elizabeth Sidell Camden Courier-Post February 3, 1933
	943 Cooper Street Bethany Methodist Episcopal Church 1880s-late 1940s
	944 Cooper Street Dr. Thomas P. McConaghy 1940s-1950s

1000 Block of Cooper Street Built by 1887
	1016 Cooper Street Technical Sergeant Peter D. Wright 1930s-1940s
Mrs. Thomas P. McConaghy, of Tenth and Cooper Streets, this city, is registered at Chalfonte-Haddon Hall, Atlantic City.	1017 Cooper Street Dr. Thomas P. McConaghy 1920s-1930s Camden Courier-Post June 10, 1933
	1033 Cooper Street George M. Beringer Jr. George M. Beringer III 1920s-1930s
	1045 Cooper Street Charles J. Ball 1920s-1930s
	1046 Cooper Street Edmund Tydeman Family Vincent A. Tydeman 1887-1888
	1046 Cooper Street Mrs. Elizabeth Gosling Mahoney 1947
My Father, Harry Molotsky, had a grocery store called Harry's Red Front Market at 1048 Cooper Street. I am not sure what year he purchased the property, but it was in the 1940s. I was born in 1945 and my brother, Allan, in 1948. We lived behind the store until 1951 when we moved to East Camden at 420 South 30th Street. My father kept the business until the early 1960's when he had cataract surgery and the state took the property. Dad then worked for Two Guys in the deli department for many years before retiring. It was nice that he had normal working hours. My parents started taking vacations which they had not been able to do before. My father had a young man delivering groceries by bicycle. He let people buy groceries on credit. We never had to go grocery shopping as he always took home necessities and treats from the store. Since we kept kosher, we had to get our meat from the kosher butcher even though my father sold meat. He always had a butcher whose name was Warren Peaches. His son taught me how to drive. Father's parents had a grocery store at 6th and Elm Street. My aunt and uncle, Sam and Esther, had a grocery at 9th and Pearl if I remember correctly. A cousin of my dad, Abe Molotsky had a dry goods store, but I can't remember the location (442-444 North 8th Street- PMC). Lois Cohen, October 2007	1048 Cooper Street Harry's Red Front Market Harry Molotsky meats 1940s-1960s

1100 Block of Cooper Street Built by 1887
	1117 Cooper Street Private Anthony J. Flemming 1920s-1930s
	1124 Cooper Street 1929 Felisher & Rosa Beasley 1929 John Beasley 1929 Walter Beasley
	1126 Cooper Street 1947-1957 Robert Booker Camden Courier-Post December 19, 1957
	1127 Cooper Street John Sylvester Kellum 1880s
	1127 Cooper Street George R. Serfling Sr. 1900s-1920s
JAILED FOR ILL INTENT If you want to hit a man but can't because a member of the constabulary is at hand, that's assault. Police Judge Garfield Pancoast so ruled yesterday in making an interpretation of the law to Walter Beasley, 25, colored, of 1128 Cooper Street, who was sentenced to 60 days in jail because he said he desired to punch another man. Beasley was arrested Sunday night at Tenth and Cooper streets by Patrolman George Clayton. Clayton was assisting an ill man when Beasley approached and threatened to hit the man. Clayton locked him up. "I'd still like to take a punch at him," Beasley said in court yesterday. "You would, would you?" asked the judge. "Well, intending to strike someone is assault. If you do hit him, it's assault and battery. So I sentence you to 60 days for assault."	1128 Cooper Street 1933 Walter Beasley Camden Courier-Post June 6, 1933
	1129 Cooper Street 1947-1959 Felisher & Rosa Beasley Family 1947 Felisher Beasley Jr.
	1140 Cooper Street George R. Serfling Sr. 1890s-1900s Clinton Gilchrist Confectioner 1947
	1143 Cooper Street Wilson's Daily Express New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory 1936
	1143 Cooper Street 1947 No Listing
	1144 Cooper Street Clinton Gilchrist residence 1947
	1145 Cooper Street Ray R. Adams truckdriver 1920s - late 1940s
'NUMBERS' SUSPECT FREED IN $100 BAIL Suspected by the police of being a "numbers' writer, Clinton Gilchrist, 25, colored, of 1153 Cooper Street, was held in $100 bail by Acting Police Judge James Smith yesterday for a further hearing next Tuesday. Gilchrist who is charged with operating a "numbers" lottery was arrested Thursday in an automobile at Eleventh and Cooper streets by Detective Lieutenant Louis Shaw and Detective Clarence Arthur. In Gilchrist's possession, the detectives say they found some "numbers" slips and "loose coins."	1153 Cooper Street Clinton Gilchrist Camden Courier-Post February 4, 1933
	1161 Cooper Street William H. Johnson Robert Burk Johnson 1910s-1930s
	1163 Cooper Street William Hibbert 1870s-1890s
	1169 Cooper Street Edward Richards Tires 1947
	1171 Cooper Street Towmotor Corporation forklifts 1947

	Streets of Camden, NJ Cooper Street continued
Unit, 100 & 200 Blocks	300 Block
400 Block	500 Block
600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, & 1200 Blocks
1900 & 2000 Block

600 Block of Cooper Street Southeast of Broadway & Cooper Street
	The Wilson Building Broadway & Cooper Street April 17, 2004 Click on Images to Enlarge
	The Wilson Building Broadway & Cooper Street 2003 Click on Images to Enlarge
	Weitzman Liquors in The Wilson Building, & 622 Cooper Street 2003 Click on Images to Enlarge

1900 Block of Cooper Street Built by 1887
	1987 Cooper Street 1924 Thomas Fitzpatrick Razed by April 1930
	1988 Cooper Street 1924 Frank R. Ware 1933 The Olsen family 1947 Samuel R. & Elsie Sailer
	1989 Cooper Street Razed by April 1930
	1991 Cooper Street 1924 John J. McGinnis Razed by April 1930
	1993 Cooper Street 1924 John Koehler Razed by April 1930
	1995 Cooper Street 1924 Mrs. Sophie Beck 1924 Mrs. Madeline Pearce Razed by April 1930
	1997 Cooper Street 1924 Mrs. Lulu Nellett Razed by April 1930
	1999 Cooper Street 1924 Theron C. Nellett Razed by April 1947

2000 Block of Cooper Street Built by 1887
	2000 Cooper Street 1933-1959 George B. & Laura Ware Family 1959 George V. Ware paperhanger
	2002 Cooper Street 1933 Sam & Minnie Wishnaff 1947 Mrs. Minnie Wishnaff 1947 Edward Kavlick
	2004 Cooper Street Private Edward F. Murtaugh
	2004 Cooper Street 1924 John J. Murtaugh 1933-1947 Edward S. & Nellie Harding wool washer
	2006 Cooper Street Private Norman W. Wohlken
	2006 Cooper Street 1933 Norman & Agnes Stinger 1947 Mrs. Bessie A. Hans 1947 James Hans
	2008 Cooper Street 1933 Ray Lentz
	2008 Cooper Street 1947 John J. & Anna Greenwich Family Betty Greenwich Catherine M. Greenwich John J., Betty, and Catherine all employed at

Northwest Corner of Broadway & Cooper Street The Terminal Block - 1947-2000 Built on land that had been occupied in part by 605 and 611 Cooper Street

	Camden Courier-Post December 1947 Click on Image to Enlarge

611-633 Cooper Street Northeast Corner of Broadway & Cooper Street The Hotel Walt Whitman & Annex


Left: The Hotel Walt Whitman - 1933 Right: The Hotel Walt Whitman - 1950s Elks Home, now The LEAP Academy, at far right
Click on Images to Enlarge

700 Block of Cooper Street 701 to 721 Cooper Street - 1967 Click on Image to Enlarge