Camden Streets - Main Street

Streets
of
Camden, NJ

Main
Street

MAIN STREET is a diagonal street that runs southeast from the intersection of State Street and Point Street in North Camden. It first appears in the Camden City Directory in 1878, at that time beginning at the entrance of the Vine Street Ferry. Main Street is a VERY wide street, its width necessitated by the railroad tracks that ran from the waterfront, originally belonging to the Camden & Amboy Railroad. Prior to the construction of the Ben Fra

nklin Bridge, these railroad tracks ran up Main Street, intersecting and crossing the railroad tracks that lead to the Pavonia Yard, and traveling on to the rail line to points south in New Jersey. These tracks now carries the PATCO High Speed Line. Main Street in the 1880s ran all the way to 11th Street. From the 1920s through the 1960s Main Street reached Penn Street between 7th and 8th Streets in these days.

After the construction of the bridge and the establishment of the Bridge Plaza, Main Street terminated in the 600 block. The rail line continued to 7th Street, where a large coal yard operated for many years by the R. McAllister Company was located. By 1952 the tracks had been covered over at 7th and Linden Street. On 7th Street between Penn and Linden stood the triangular Bridge Plaza Parking Garage, which had housed the Edstan Ford automobile Dealership in the 1930s. The rear of this building faced Main Street south of Linden. Photographs indicate however, that due to railroad tracks that still existed as late the 1950s, that Main Street was closed to automobile traffic here. No buildings had addresses on Main Street east of 6th Street by 1947.

By the late 1970s the railroad tracks were long gone, as were the port facility and most of the industries in North Camden that they supported. Only a few houses, mostly in the 100 and 200 blocks remain.

Notable Main Street residents over the years included journalist Daniel P. "Dan" McConnell, and his father, also named Dan, Daniel D. McConnell, who was a noted boxer in South Jersey in the 1890s and early 1900s. The Oberman family ran a bar at 505 Main Street from the 1900s through the 1940s, a bar operated here as early as 1887 through the mid-1960s. One of the Oberman sons, Frank A. Oberman, had a long and distinguished career as a member of the Camden Fire Department, having reached the rank of Captain by the late 1940s. A hardware store operated at 132 Main Street for well over 50 years. 323 Main housed a stable as early as the 1880s, and when the automobile came to Camden, the building became a garage.

For many years at 201 Vine Street, the intersection of Vine, Second and Main Streets stood Daly's Tavern, founded by John F. Daly and run by his family into the 1970s. The North Camden Theater, which is still standing, was next door at 203-205 Vine. The Mancine family ran a bar from the 1930s until it burned down in the 1970s on the southwest corner of North 3rd and Main streets. The family still has a liquor store on the same block, at North 3rd and Elm Streets.

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

Phil Cohen

1952
Main Street and Point Street

The Camden Casket Company, formerly the Weidenhammer Bottling Works, is visible in upper right hand corner of this picture

Looking Northwest
on the
100 Block
Main Street
1970

Kelly's Bar
69 State Street
at rear

Photo Courtesy Of
Floyd Miller

100 Block of Main Street

115 Main Street

4 BITTEN BY DOGS, ONE FORMER PUGILIST

Four persons, including a former Camden boxer, were among victims of dog bites recorded over the weekend.
George Delker, 54, of 29 South Forty-second Street, the former boxer was attacked at Pennsville while romping on the beach with a pet spaniel. Delker was treated by a physician for lacerations of the left foot.

At Cooper Hospital three persons received treatment. They are Jonas Cooper, 24, of 1163 Lawrence Street; bit on left arm; Lawrence Repetto, 2, of 117 Main Street, bit on leg, and a physician John Garrity, 17, of 205 Byron Street, bit on leg.

117 Main Street

123 Main Street

125 Main Street

1901-1914
Daniel D. McConnell & Family
Boxer - Oyster Restaurant
Daniel D. & Teresa McConnell
Daniel P. "Dan" McConnell
May McConnell
Henry F. "Harry" McConnell
Bertha McConnell

1914
William "Billy" Dieffendorff
Oyster Restaurant

125 Main Street

Daniel P. "Dan" McConnell

Click on Image to Enlarge

125 & 127 Main Street

1935 to 1947
Harry Wieland

Click on Image to Enlarge

125 Main Street

1950s
Joey & Lolly Knox
Luncheonette

Click on Image to Enlarge

125 Main Street
1959
Mabel Knox Toner

Click on Image to Enlarge

125 & 127 Main Street

June 6, 2004

Click on Image to Enlarge

129 Main Street

1900s
Thomas Homan

130 Main Street

1900s-1920s
Walter Banks Family
Walter & Alice Banks

William R. Harring Sr. & Family
William R. & Ida May Banks Harring
Quentin Harring
WIlliam R. Harring Jr..

131 Main Street

132 Main Street

1900-1940s
Paxson Hardware

Charles Gillingham Paxson & Family
Charles G. & Zoe L. Smythe Paxson
Ethel V. Paxson
Charles E. Paxson
Rebecca G Paxson
Victor J. Paxson
Marguerite Paxson
Sarah E. Paxson

Left: Victor J. & Charles G. Paxson

Left. Charles G. Paxson

Photograph circa 1914

132 Main Street

1955-1956
Crossley Hardware Company

1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone
Yellow Pages Ad

132 Main Street
1959
as seen from in front of 125 Main Street
Mabel Knox Toner and Nipper in picture

to the left:
Herman's Soda Fountain
at 623 North 2nd
to the right:
128 Vine Street

1930s-1940s
Victor J. Paxson Hardware
1955-1956
Crossley Hardware Company
1960s-2004
Richards Hardware Company

1940s- Looking Southeast on Main Street
at the intersection of North 2nd Street, Vine Street, and Main

Where a playground now stands at the "point" created by the intersection of Vine & Main Streets, James F. Walton traded as "Walton the Plumber" prior to his death in 1927. He was eventually succeeded by Taggart & Green, plumbers. At 208 Vine, the next building, with doors and signs on both sides, was the Chin Bock Suey Chinese laundry. The photo dates from the early 1940s, when Taggart & Green's office served as Civil Defense station for Air Raid Wardens in the area. Main Street is at right.

Click on Image to Enlarge

200 Block of Main Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	201 Main Street 1913 Camden City Directory Advertisement James F. Walton
	201 Main Street 1913 Camden City Directory Advertisement James F. Walton
	201 Main Street 1940s Camden City Directory Advertisement
	208 Main Street 1959 Mrs. Sadie Hiers Camden Courier-Post February 8, 1959
	210 Main Street 1890 Charles B. "Barney" Harvey
	210 Main Street Sergeant John J. Smith Jr.
	212 Main Street 1888 Charles B. "Barney" Harvey
	212 Main Street
	214 Main Street
	216 Main Street
	216-1/2 Main Street 1935-1937 William H. Leash & Family William & Anna Duncan Leash Clarence Leash William Leash Grace Leash Theresa Leash Myrtle Leash White Camden Courier-Post August 29, 1935
	216-1/2 Main Street 1935-1937 William H. Leash & Family William & Anna Duncan Leash Clarence Leash William Leash Grace Leash Theresa Leash Myrtle Leash White Camden Courier-Post April 23, 1937
	218 Main Street
	220 Main Street
	220-1/2 Main Street
	222 Main Street
	224 Main Street 1884 Charles B. "Barney" Harvey
	224 Main Street 1917 James Murphy Philadelphia Inquirer April 30, 1917
	226 Main Street Photograph Taken November 4, 2011
	226 Main Street 1894-1914 Charles B. "Barney" Harvey
My Grandparents Raffaele & Anna Roggi pur- chased 228 Main Street in 1920 & lived there until my Grandmother died in 1950. The tree it the pic- ture in front of 228 on your site was planted by my Grandfather. It's no longer there. They also purchased sometime in the the early 30's 228 Main Street & when my parents got mar- ried in 1935, purchased it from my Grandparents. When my Grandmother died 228 was turned over to my parents, Joseph & Mary Gellura. Our family continued to live there until my Brother Joe sold 226, 228 232 & 234 Main Street in June 1994. My Brother Joe also purchased in around 1980, 224, 222, 220 1/2, 220, 218, 216 & 214 Main Street, built the garage on the grounds of 224 and 222, and made the rest a beautiful garden. Ralph Gellura March 31, 2019	226 Main Street 1935-1994 Joseph Gellura & Family Joseph & Mary Gellura Joseph Gellura Ralph Gellura
	228 Main Street 1914-1918 John W. Plum
	228 Main Street 1920-1950 Raffaele Roggi & Family Raffaele & Anna Roggi Frank Roggi Mary Roggi John Roggi
	228 Main Street 1959-1970s Frank W. Vlerebome Family Frank & Helen Vlerebome 1976-1977 Phil Cohen Photograph Taken November 4, 2011
	228 & 230 Main Street Photograph Taken November 4, 2011
	230 Main Street Photograph Taken November 4, 2011
	230 Main Street 1890-1893 Charles B. "Barney" Harvey
	230 Main Street 1895 William Harry DeFord Philadelphia Inquirer December 30, 1894
	230 Main Street 1895 Joseph Cunningham & Family Joseph & Eleanor Cunningham Eleanor Cunnigham Philadelphia Inquirer May 24, 1895
	230 Main Street 1895 Abigail DeFord Philadelphia Inquirer June 4, 1895
230 Main Street was occupied by Paul & Helen Mumman with their son Paul, from 1949 till Paul's Sr death in 1995. - Ralph Gellura	230 Main Street 1949-1995 Paul Mumman Sr. & Family Paul & Helen Mumman Paul Mumman Jr.
	232 Main Street Photograph Taken November 4, 2011
	232 Main Street 1919-1930s Edward E. Peraria Sr. & Family Edward E. & Frances Peraria Edward E. Peraria Jr. Frances Peraria
	232 & 234 Main Street Photograph Taken November 4, 2011
	234 Main Street Photograph Taken November 4, 2011 1887 Hugh Scroggy

Looking Southwest from the corner of 3rd & Vine in the aftermath of the Cyclone of April 1912
From Left: 607 and 609 North 3rd Street; 234, 232, 230, 228, 226 Main Street

Pictures from the Cyclone of 1912
Tornados struck Camden in 1885 and 1912.
The term "cyclone" was commonly used top refer to tornados in those times.

May 1936
Looking Northeast on Main Street
at the intersection of North 3rd Street, Cedar Street, and Main Street

1925 - Looking Northwest on Main Street
at the intersection of North 2nd Street, Vine Street, and Main

300 Block of Main Street
	301 Main Street 1930s Samuel D. Payne Printer
	306 Main Street 1906 Robert J. Wythe Click on Image to Enlarge
	323 Main Street 1887-1888 Benjamin F. Sweeten Contractor
	323 Main Street 1884-1922 Edward Roberts & Asa L. Roberts E. Roberts & Brother Livery Stable later North Camden Livery Stables Edward Roberts Garage Left: Alice Bradel of 316 Elm Street & child in front of 316 Elm, looking at 323 Main Street Late 1910s.
	323 Main Street 1923-1924 Hoddell Garage William F. Hoddell
	323 Main Street 1930s-1960s Main Garage Left: Dave Schneider & Ted Jones circa 1935
	325 Main Street

1952
Main Street
Between
Point Street and 5th Street

The railroad yard that serviced Main Street, and the grounds of the old Vine Street Ferry Terminal, which had stopped running in 1926m are visible in this picture. The North Camden Theater at North 2nd and Vine Streets, and Mancine's Tavern at 3rd and Main Street, can be easily seen.

1875 - 520 North 4thStreet
at the southeast corner of North 4th Street and Main
The home and business of Charles L. & Richard Reeves

400 Block of Main Street
	418 Main Street 1890-1891 Carl E. Trebing Sr.
	420 Main Street 1909 Alfred A. Holt & Family publisher, Camden Echo Philadelphia Inquirer July 23, 1909
	422 Main Street
	422 Main Street 1930 Franklin Pierce Alloway & Family Franklin P. & Sarah L. Alloway Sarah L. Alloway - Eleanor J. Alloway Florence M. Alloway - Franklin C. Alloway William R. Alloway - Anna L. Alloway Mary E. Alloway Franklin Pierce Alloway and his wife, the former Sarah Lavinia Griffee resided at 645 Willard Street when their first child, my mother, was born on November 24, 1919. Her name was Sarah Lavinia Alloway. They resided at 815 Market Street when their second child, Eleanor Jennie Alloway, was born on December 10, 1921. They lived at 718 Federal Street when their third child, Florence Mae was born on February 23, 1923. They next resided at 513 South 6th Street when their fourth child, Franklin Charles "Bud" Alloway was born on November 7, 1924. They lived at 608 Carmen Street when their fifth child, William Robert Alloway was born, December 31, 1926. The family had moved to 436 Benson Street, when their sixth child, Anna Louse Alloway came on August 5, 1928. When the seventh and last child, Mary Elizabeth was born on August 30, 1930, the family was living at 422 Main Street. The reason given for the continual moving was because of the increase in the family size requiring larger accommodations. Jim Powell, February 2013 The bottom photo was taken in the 1930s by oldest daughter Sarah L. Alloway. Her siblings Florence, Eleanor, Franklin, William, Anna and Mary Alloway and their uncle, Milton Alloway are pictured. The Griffee & Alloway Family
	424 Main Street
	430 Main Street 1888-1895 Carl E. Trebing Sr. & Family
	430 Main Street Private George E. Trebing

1952 - Main Street Between 4th & 6th Streets
	1952 Automobile traffic on Main Street ended in the 500 block. The railroad remained in use into the 1950s, servicing the R.M. McAllister coal yard in the 600 Block. Visible at the corner of 4th and Main is the building depicted above in the photo from 1875.

Philadelphia Inquirer - April 14, 1887 Click on Image for PDF File of Complete Article NOTE: "Mill Street" was Main Street. The Soap works was at 507-511 Main Street

Camden & Philadelphia Soap Works - Main Street - Isaac Lovett - Ladder Company 1 Mrs. Mary Vanneman - Birch Street - North 6th Street - James Baird

500 Block of Main Street & Birch Street - 1891
Click on Image to Enlarge

500 Block of Main Street
	505 Main Street 1883-1896 Joseph Zanner saloon 1902-1903 John S.B. Candler saloon 1904 Thomas B. Sheppard saloon
	505 Main Street A Saloon run by the following parties 1905-1943 William Oberman Sr. & Family William & Tekla Obermann William Obermann Jr. Frank A. Oberman Philadelphia Inquirer February 15, 1905 & February 16, 1905
	505 Main Street A Saloon run by the following parties 1947 Main Cafe (William Oberman's Estate) Walter E. Gross 1956 Main Street Cafe 1957-1964 Ann's Tavern Frank Malek - William Micklin Camden Courier-Post August 19, 1957 Gone by 1966

	507 Main Street 1947 B&H Trucking Company
	511 Main Street 1895 Swiss Laundry's Clean Linen Laundry Camden Daily Telegram October 14, 1895
	515 Main Street 1955 Tru-Ade Bottling Company
	517 Main Street 1947 Dominick Oleveto garage 1947 Pietro Appiccifuoco
	519 Main Street 1931 The Ambassador Club Stephen Kirby Eugene Lorenzo
	519 Main Street 1947 No Return
	521 Main Street 1878-1881 Theodore Drown & Family Theodore & Hannah Drown Wilbur A. Drown
	521 Main Street 1920s Trego & Winters Roofing Camden Courier-Post Ad March 12, 1930
	521 Main Street 1943-1947 Mrs. Grace Beutler & Family Elmer Beutler George Beutler Jr. Grace Beutler William L. Beutler Joan Beutler Camden Courier-Post November 1943
	521 Main Street 1947 Trego Roofing 1947 William M. Lewis Real Estate 1947 Mrs. Grace Beutler
	538 Main Street 1947 Mrs. Emma M. Crafchok
	540 Main Street 1947 Louis Cranfrano
	542-544 Main Street 1933 D.W. Harris 1947 Camden Battery Service

519 Main Street Camden Courier-Post * August 22, 1931

...continued...

...continued...
	ity.
Stephen Kirby - Roy R. Stewart - Eugene Lorenzo - Garfield S. Pancoast North 5th Street - Walter Smith - Alfred Shire - Edwin Mills - Gus Koerner Bernard Dempsey - Sydney Wilkins - Robert Sweeney - Betty Doyle Helen Wright - Albert Malmsbury - Frank Smith - Joseph A. Kirby John C. Gibson - Main Street - Pearl Street - Bailey Street Borton Street - York Street - Dayton Street Marlton Avenue - Haddon Avenue - Newton Avenue South 7th Street - Cedar Street

600 Block of Main Street
	1952 R.M. McAllister Coal Yard By 1947 there was no motor vehicle traffic on this stretch of Main Street, and no addresses.

700 Block of Main Street
	1952 Bridge Plaza Parking Garage By 1947 there was no motor vehicle traffic on this stretch of Main Street, and no addresses. The railroad tracks had been covered over on Linden and Penn Streets, but still were in place, unused, along Main Street.


The Vine Street Ferry Terminal	The Vine Street Ferry Terminal
Click on Images to Enlarge
Operated for many years by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Cooper's Point, or Vine Street Ferry operated between Camden and Philadelphia. The Ferry was able to remain profitable even with competition from three other ferries in Camden, but the opening of the Delaware River Bridge brought a quick end to the service. The last run of the ferry was made on October 31, 1926, only a few months after the opening of the then new bridge. Charles S. Wolverton was the superintendent of the ferry for many years, retiring when it closed, His son, Charles A. Wolverton, represented Camden in the United States House of Representatives for 32 years