Camden Streets - Mechanic Street

MECHANIC STREET lays two blocks south of, and originally ran parallel to Kaighn Avenue from Front Street to Haddon Avenue, with a gap between 7th and 8th Streets. Mechanic Street's geography in the form of streets and railroads that cross its path dictated that there two different section of Mechanic Street, with their own particular makeup and character. Mechanic Street is one of the older streets in Camden, appearing in the 1isy of streets appearing in the 1850 Camden City Directory.

Mechanic Street today starts at Ferry Avenue. The area west of sixth street had been laid out, and had many residences and a few businesses on it by the mid 1880s. The 1890-1891 Camden City Directory shows a few business in the 1200 block of Mechanic, between Louis Street and Haddon Avenue, but apparently all the development of Mechanic Street between the 7th and Louis Streets occurred after 1891.

This somewhat late start contributed the way Mechanic Street turned out in the years that followed. In the area between Broadway and Front Street, with its older homes no one ethnic group predominated. East of 8th street was a different story.

In the years between 1890 and 1920, a wave of immigrants came to Camden to seek their fortunes in the factories and shops of Camden, to live in freedom, and to raise their children to be Americans, with rights and opportunities for advancement that never existed in the "old country". Most numerous of the new arrivals were Italian, Polish, and Jewish immigrants, although not to be forgotten were sizable communities of Ukrainians, Croats, Armenians, Greeks, and Canadians- mostly from the province of Newfoundland, who came to work in Camden's shipyards.

The Polish community initially seems to have settled on an area around Chestnut and Louis Streets. Once organized, the deeply religious Poles came organized, raise funds, and erected their own church, St. Joseph Catholic Church, at 10th and Mechanic Streets. The church served as a magnet for the community, and Polish families flocked to the new Whitman and Liberty Park neighborhoods that sprang up early in the 20th century between 8th Street and Haddon Avenue.

Mechanic Street maintained its Polish flavor for many years, and St. Joseph Church remains the spiritual home of South Jersey's Polish community. Changes in Camden's ethnic makeup have changed the atmosphere along this section of Mechanic Street, although there still remain a few Polish families in 2004.

Besides St. Joseph Church, Mechanic Street is probably known for a couple of bars that are on or are adjacent to it. At 1050 Mechanic a now vacant building housed a bar for almost 50 years, last known as the Bullpen. For many years Revallo's Cafe stood at the corner of Mechanic and Louis Streets, and 400 Mechanic housed a bar for about 80 years.

Going back to Mechanic Street west of 7th, much of it consists of vacant lots where houses once stood. The riots of 1967 and 1971 doomed many of the business, the aging housing stock decayed, and most of what was fell to the bulldozer. There are still homes on Mechanic west of Broadway, but little else of consequence save for a few mostly-empty industrial buildings remains. There are still are a few industrial businesses open on Mechanic Street by Ferry Avenue in 2004.

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

Phil Cohen

200 block of Mechanic Street
	201 Mechanic Street 1929-1931 Harry Scholz bar 1933 Irving Cartin bar
	204 to 212 Mechanic Street The Gulf Service Station had a Ferry Avenue street address. The building at the far left is 212 Mechanic Street, which was home to the Boudov Coal & Ice Co., Inc., in October of 1938, when this picture was taken.
	209 Mechanic Street
	211 Mechanic Street
	212 Mechanic Street P.D. Strang & Son 1917 Camden City Directory Advertisement
	212 Mechanic Street Boudov Coal & Ice Co., Inc. October 1936 Camden Courier-Post Advertisement
	219 Mechanic Street Frank & Caroline Hughes Sr. & Family 1900s-1920s
	221 Mechanic Street Samuel Moore & Family 1900s-1920s
CHARLES M. CLARK Charles Clark, 55, a huckster of 221 Mechanic Street, died yesterday at his home following an illness of several days. The funeral will be held Wednesday. Services will be conducted at the house by Rev. Martin S. Stockett, rector of P.E. Church of Our Saviour. Burial will be in New Camden Cemetery. Clark was single.	221 Mechanic Street 1924-1933 Charles Clark Camden Courier-Post June 25, 1933
	221 Mechanic Street JYE Inc. 1980s-2006 1991 Fire Watch Magazine Advertisement
	223 Mechanic Street Andrew Shane & Family 1900s-1910s
	225 Mechanic Street James & Emma Edwards Lotte Edwards Russell Edward Louis Edwards Bessie Edwards 1900s-1910s Paul Sherer 1932
	227 Mechanic Street John Ritter & Family 1900s-1910s
	229 Mechanic Street George Diem & Family 1900s-1910s
	231 Mechanic Street August Ceransky & Family 1900s-1910s Richard Ritter Family 1910s-1920s
	241 Mechanic Street Sarah Dutton's Boardinghouse 1890s-1910s
	247 Mechanic Street George Dehaven & Family 1900s-1910s
	249 Mechanic Street Jacob Giffin & Family 1900s-1910s
	256 Mechanic Street
	257 Mechanic Street
	263 Mechanic Street
	263 Mechanic Street 1900 Robert Milne Camden Daily Telegram March 21, 1893

300 block of Mechanic Street
	300 Mechanic Street John Salvatore John Salvatore ran a grocery from the 1910s through at least the mid-1930s at 300 Mechanic Street. He also operated a bar there for a short time in the mid-1930s.
	308 Mechanic Street John & Madeline Salvatore John and Madeline Salvatore made their home at 308 Mechanic Street from the 1910s through through at least the mid-1930s at 308 Mechanic Street. Madeline Salvatore was active in politics and civic affairs in the 1930s.
Elizabeth Mary Brain, who died January 2, left an estate of $14,000 to Elvie E. Colmer, a daughter, of Beach Haven, and Alton I. Gilman, a son, of 312 Mechanic Street.	312 Mechanic Street 1938 Alton I. Gilman Camden Courier-Post February 8, 1938
	314 Mechanic Street Private Edward Beckley
	316-1/2 Mechanic Street Elmer D. Snyder Family 1919-1927 Joe Snyder
	319 Mechanic Street William Pernier
EARLY MORNING VISIT RESULTS IN $10 FINE Arrested early this morning by Policeman John Schott and charged with breaking and entering a Mechanic Street house, Rocco Martino, 35 years old, 335 Cherry Street, was fined $10 in police court this morning. The complaint was changed, to disorderly conduct after Martino said be couldn’t explain his actions at the home of Mrs. Helen Featherer, 323 Mechanic Streett. The woman testified she was awakened at 6:40 o’clock by pounding on the back door of her home. She said, Martino was trying to force the door and had broken a window.	323 Mechanic Street Camden Courier-Post January 25, 1928
	327 Mechanic Street Private Francis D. Myers
	331 Mechanic Street Elmer D. Snyder Family 1917 Joe Snyder
	337 Mechanic Street George K. Hartman Family 1900s-1910s George K. Hartman Wilhelmina Hartman Charles A. Hartman Henry Hartman Margie F. Hartman December 12, 1900 - June 1976

400 block of Mechanic Street
	400 \|Mechanic Street Niewinski's Cafe aka The Hi-Lite Tavern
	430 Mechanic Street 1900s-1910s Mrs. Jennie Shields
	436 Mechanic Street The Sage & Waterhouse Family
.....my grandmother lived at 439 Mechanic St and I remember as late as the early 60's she still had an outhouse in the backyard. Andy Tally	439 Mechanic Street
My grandparents lived on opposite side of the street [from 439]. I don't know about whole block but from at least middle of even number side of the street to Broadway they were built with indoor plumbing. I don't doubt at all that the other side of the street had outhouses as you could see they were older. The row-houses on the even side were very large inside. Not townhouses like Linden Street or Pearl, but still large. My grandparents house on Mechanic had a full size stove, old upright washing machine, full size double stationery tubs, old style furnace converted to oil, and you could still hold a party down there. They even at one point had a large table to eat on. Hell the the old coal bin was as big as some peoples living rooms! John Ciafrani	442 Mechanic Street
	443 Mechanic Street Helen May Doerr 1931
	451 Mechanic Street 1933 Earl Cunningham Sr. policeman Earl Cunningham Jr.
	452 Mechanic Street Jacob and Rebecca Silver & Family lived here in the 1920s & early 1930s
	452 Mechanic Street Thomas A. & Mary Skymer lived here in the 1950s
	459 Mechanic Street Private First Class Robert M. Hendry Click on Image to Enlarge
	463 Mechanic Street 1910s-1930s Richard S. Marter
	463 Mechanic Street 1910s-1929 William R.W. Marter

900 block of Mechanic Street
	941 Mechanic Street & 1217 South 10th Street April 18, 2004 Click on Image to Enlarge
2 MEN FACE CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE Two men are being held by police for hearings today on charges of attempting to take their lives by turning on gas burners in their respective homes. Joseph Dadich, 52, a plumber, of 1438 Louis Street, was found by his wife, Emma, lying across the kitchen stove with the burners on. Mrs. Dadich aided her husband to the open air where he was revived. Mrs. Dadich said her husband had been drinking heavily since Christmas. Joseph Grochowski, 22, of 915 Mechanic Street, was found by his brother-in-law, Edmond Kincher, of the same address, with his head bent over the burner of a hot water heater in the cellar.	915 Mechanic Street Joseph Grochowski Edmond Kincher Camden Courier-Post February 7, 1938 Click on Image to Enlarge
WOULD-BE SUICIDE SENTENCED FOR 'CURE' One man was sentenced to 60 days in jail yesterday while another was given a suspended sentence when arraigned on the charge of attempting suicide by turning on the gas in their homes. When Joseph Dadich, 52, a plumber of 1438 Louis Street, faced Judge Gene R. Mariano, the man's wife, Emma asked the court to send her husband away for the "cure" be cause he had been drinking for several months. Mrs. Dadich found her husband lying across the kitchen stove Sunday with, the burners turned on. She got him into the open air and he was revived, after which he was arrested. Dadich drew the jail sentence. Joseph Grochowski, 22, of 915 Mechanic Street, the second man to be haled before the court on the suicide attempt charge, was found with his head bent over the burner of a hot water heater in the cellar by his brother-in-law, Edmond Kincher. When Stanley Ciechanowski, Freeholder of the Seventh Ward, said Judge Joseph Varbalow had promised to give Grochowski a position, Judge Mariano suspended sentence, and he was released..	915 Mechanic Street Joseph Grochowski Edmond Kincher Camden Courier-Post February 8, 1938 Click on Image to Enlarge
	931 to 934 Mechanic Street April 18, 2004 Click on Image to Enlarge
	931 Mechanic Street Private Stanislaw Gontarski
	934 to 904 Mechanic Street April 18, 2004 Click on Image to Enlarge
	936 - 934 Mechanic Street April 18, 2004 Click on Image to Enlarge

1000 block of Mechanic Street
Looking East on Mechanic from South 10th Street
	1010 to 1050 Mechanic Street & 1400 & 14023 S. 10th Street Click on Image to Enlarge
	St. Joseph Church, 1033 to 1059 Mechanic Street Click on Image to Enlarge
Looking West on Mechanic from Mt. Ephraim Avenue
	1050 & 1048 Mechanic Street The Bullpen Also known as Chez La Joy, Club Cadix, & Chaney's Bar 1048 Mechanic was the home of Fred Klosterman Click on Image to Enlarge

	1050 Mechanic Street The Bullpen Also known as Chez La Joy, Club Cadix, & Chaney's Bar Click on Image to Enlarge
	1046 to 1010 Mechanic Street Click on Image to Enlarge
	1034 to 1020 Mechanic Street Click on Image to Enlarge
	1057 & 1959 Mechanic Street Click on Image to Enlarge
Thunder Showers Expected to Chase Heat ,Wave Today! You can cool off today-the ' weatherman predicts thunder storms! The intense heat of yesterday reaching a temperature of 84 degrees and outdone by the humidity, reaching a high of 88 degrees, resulted in the collapse of a Camden man. The man, Anthony Josisolski, 57, of 1057 Mechanic Street, collapsed while at work shifting barrels in the yard of the Taylor White Extraction Plant at Cooper River and Pine Street. He was taken to Cooper Hospital. The mean temperature yesterday was four degrees above normal for the date, giving the month of June thus far an excess temperature of 114. The excess temperature of the year is 6.53 degrees. The day, in addition to thunder storms, will be continued warm according to the weather bureau.	1057 Mechanic Street 1933 Anthony Josisolski Camden Courier-Post June 29, 1933
	1959 Mechanic Street Click on Image to Enlarge
	St. Joseph Church & 1033 to 1059 Mechanic Street Click on Image to Enlarge
	St. Joseph Church & 1033 to 1959 Mechanic Street Click on Image to Enlarge
	1033 to 1059 Mechanic Street Click on Image to Enlarge
	Looking West On Mechanic Street from Mt. Ephraim Avenue
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1100 block of Mechanic Street

Above: Looking East On Mechanic Street from Mt. Ephraim Avenue
	St. Joseph Church & 1033 to 1125 Mechanic Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	1111 to 1121 Mechanic Street
	1114 Mechanic Street Jacob Rettberg
	1115 Mechanic Street Lawrence "Larry" Doran
	1130 Mechanic Street Alexander & Annie Connon Family 1910s-1940s Sara Connon Helen Connon Ethel Connon Camden Courier-Post October 23, 1931
	St. Joseph Church & 1033 to 1125 Mechanic Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	St. Joseph Church & 1033 to 1135 Mechanic Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	1125 to 1135 Mechanic Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	1127 to 1135 Mechanic Street Click on Images to Enlarge
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	1133 to 1137 Mechanic Street Click on Images to Enlarge A baker, Harry Bicking and his wife Wilhelmina, moved into this home in late 1891 from a house on Mechanic Street below 8th, near the tracks of the Camden and Amboy Railroad. The family lived here through the beginning of 1906. They subsequently moved around the corner, to 1136 Liberty Street. The Bicking family remains on Liberty Street today, the last of the original families on their block. "My father told me the wood house nearly collapsed now was once a coal office located down town Camden then moved to Mechanic St. My grandfather's siblings lived in the house which was expanded to two floors. For almost all my childhood years it was rented out to one family, the Taylors. I also lived in this house for 15 years in my mid 30's to 40's. Their was a family named Busch in 1135 Mechanic St. for most of my childhood into my mid 30's when they moved." Virginia Bicking, May 2004


	1137 Mechanic Street Click on Images to Enlarge
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	Looking East on Mechanic Street from Rose Street
	1186 to 1154 Mechanic Street 1400 Rose Street, & 1150 to 1144 Mechanic Street
	1140 to 1138 Mechanic Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	1140 to 1130 Mechanic Street There was a plumbing outfit in 1134-36 Mechanic St. for a long time and they owned the garages now burnt down that was next to the wood house (1137). Virginia Bicking, May 2004 1140 to 1136 Mechanic Street The Hensgen Brothers Building Center. Herman Hensgen lived at 1138, Eugene Hensgen at 1136. Later Donahue & Sons plumbers located here. Click on Images to Enlarge

	1140 to 1136 Mechanic Street Hensgen Brothers, Inc. Contractors & Builders Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook January 1931 Click on Images to Enlarge
	1140 to 1136 Mechanic Street Hensgen Brothers, Inc. Contractors & Builders Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook February 1940 Click on Images to Enlarge
	1134 to 1130 Mechanic Street
	1134 to 1114 Mechanic Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	1132 to 1114 Mechanic Street
	1124 to 1114 Mechanic Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	1114 Mechanic Street Jacob Rettberg, who built carriages and wagons in Camden from the 1860s through 1900s, lived here before passing away in 1907.
	1166 Mechanic Street early 1920s-1947 Keystone Bottling Works late 1920s-1970s Anthony & Alexandra Dolinski Family 1967 Keystone Liquor Store 1920-1967 Edward A. Dolinski
JURY AWARDS $5150 IN CRASH KILLING BOY Jury Only 40 Minutes in Deciding Against Merchantville Car Owner Award of $5150 was made yesterday by a Circuit Court jury here in disposing of a $70,000 suit against William W. Clark, of Merchantville. The verdict, returned after 40 minutes' deliberation, was given Adam Jusiak, of 777 Mechanic street, for the death of one son and injuries to another. The case, heard before Judge Henry H. Eldredge, developed a question of ownership of the automobile which struck the Jusiak boys February 23, on Moorestown Pike, Pennsauken Township. Boleslaw Jusiak, 11, was killed, and his brother, Anthony, 13, suffered severe injuries. Named defendants with Clark were Herbert Marshall, of Forty-second and Federal Streets, and Gordon Cooper, trading as Cooper's Chevrolet Company, Park Avenue and Cooper Street, Pennsauken. Marshall was said to have been driving the car from the Cooper agency to the Clark Motor Company, Hamilton and Myrtle Avenues, Merchantville. Attorneys for the Cooper firm moved for relief from responsibility in the use, contending the Clark company was legal owner. The dead boy was one of a family of 10. His death occurred when he and his brother were hauling a toy express wagon over the Moorestown Pike between Haddonfield Road and Pennsauken Creek. The jury's verdict set $5000 for death of the boy and allowed $150 for injuries to the other child.	1177 Mechanic Street early 1930s- late 1940s Adam Jusiak Camden Courier-Post June 23, 1933

1200 block of Mechanic Street
	1201 Mechanic Street September 2003 Revallo's Cafe Click on Image to Enlarge
	1238 Mechanic Street Private Benjamin J. Sandlow
	1264 Mechanic Street Anthony Mattio
	1274 Mechanic Street Staff Sergeant Joseph Galiazzi
Three Children Dead After Fire in Camden CAMDEN, N.J., March 18 (AP) - A 4-year-old girl died today of burns suffered in a fire Saturday night that killed two of her brothers and injured her mother and an infant brother, officials said today. Firefighters responding to the alarm at 10:50 P.M. found the children's mother, Blair Cherry, with her 9-month-old son, Lorimar, outside her two-story brick home at 1275 Mechanic Street as flames shot from every window, the officials said. Inside, Battalion Chief Ronald Guernon said, the firefighters found the bodies of Zirer Cherry, 5, and his brother, Lawrence, 2, The fourth child, Lyasia, 4, was found by a firefighter but died today at St. Agnes Medical Center in Philadelphia. Lorimar was listed in serious condition at Cooper Hospital, and the mother was in stable condition, suffering from smoke inhalation, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. The cause of the fire was under investigation.	1274 Mechanic Street 1984 Blair Cherry New York Times March 18, 1984
	1281 Mechanic Street Mrs. Anna Wenghofler 1927-1928
	1296 Mechanic Street Radarman Second Class Michael D. Capparelli

Mount Ephraim & Mechanic Street The green tower is St. Joseph Church Photographed February 27, 2004

Looking East from Mount Ephraim Avenue	Looking West from Mount Ephraim Avenue
Click on Photos for Enlarged Views